Glow Capital Partners

What we're talking about on Whatsapp: ⭐ Ecommerce Equation Founder & CEO Jay Wright appeared on the @Chew the Fat podcast. We’d particularly recommended from minute 27:09, where Jay talks about making the decision to partner with Glow. https://lnkd.in/gPizV8Bt ⭐ We’ve all been listening to Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team, on Cargo Crew CEO Matthew Blashki's recommendation. A great insight into the importance of trust, conflict, commitment, accountability and attention to collective results. Plus, it’s short! (3 hours & 42 minute audiobook) https://lnkd.in/gYdiNKh7 ⭐ We are seeing significant global interest in Australian software businesses….and beauty brands. See Phocus courting global buyers, and Coco & Eve's sale to Gage Capital https://lnkd.in/gJ44tmKD and https://lnkd.in/gjzCbhsE ⭐ In 1930, 23% of couples met through family and 22% through secondary school. Today, 61% of couples meet online. See more from James Eagles’ great data visualisation https://lnkd.in/g2bJ3Qi4 ⭐ There were a few bruised egos in the office as a result of the LinkedIn roast web app tool (see here: https://liroast.web.app/ if your ego can take it)

Next week we’ll be hosting EdTech Alley in partnership with Study NSW and the University of Technology Sydney on 17 October 2024. EdTech Alley presents an opportunity for EdTech founders, educators and the broader EdTech community to connect and collaborate as we grow the NSW EdTech ecosystem. We’re pleased to present the following industry leaders who will take to the stage with more to still be announced!! Genevieve Gilmore | CEO at Prosper Education™ Murray Hurps | Director of Entrepreneurship at University of Technology Sydney Fiona Anson | Director of Enterprise Learning at University of Technology Sydney Jonathan Warrand | Managing Director and Founder at Greenwich Capital Partners Annie Chen | Associate Director at Glow Capital Partners David Linke | Managing Director at EduGrowth: Australia's EdTech Hub This is a FREE event but tickets are strictly limited - register via the below link to secure your spot today. https://lnkd.in/d9BqxsM8

Our team is excited to be joining Kate Morris at the annual Australian Investment Council conference next week. It’s always a highlight on the calendar and a fantastic opportunity to hear the latest insights and reconnect with our network and peers. Kate Morris, Annie Chen, Isabella Mortimore

We’re thrilled to have Matthew Blashki join Cargo Crew as CEO! Matt brings a wealth of industry experience and will lead the talented CC team as they push forward with their ambitious growth plans in Australia and the US. https://lnkd.in/gejDuDhx

As consumers, we often don’t realise the extensive work eCommerce businesses put into preparing for Black Friday and end-of-year sales. These major events demand not just effort, but a meticulously crafted strategy to truly succeed. Last week, our portfolio company Ecommerce Equation hosted its annual conference in Newcastle, fully immersing its members in the critical planning and execution required for these high-stakes sales periods. Here are some highlights that our team observed:   🔥 600+ eCommerce founders from all over Australia and New Zealand came together, creating an electrifying atmosphere. 🤝 Networking and learning: Members connected with industry leaders to gear up for the biggest sales event of the year. 💡 Sales Strategy: Jay Wright shared actionable tips for planning a record-breaking revenue strategy. 🏷️ Discount Insights: The team shared effective discount strategies, highlighting both successes and pitfalls. 📈 Promotional Planning: EE coaches covered insights on ad campaigns, creative selection, and customer base expansion. 📦 Inventory Management: The members heard expert advice on inventory planning, along with real-world experiences in managing stock and delivery during past Black Fridays. 🌐 Collaboration: Founders expanded their network and community by breaking into groups to troubleshoot challenges, explore new opportunities, and learn from each other's experiences.   We’re proud to be a supporter of Ecommerce Equation and its members. If you are an eCommerce founder or if eCommerce is becoming a growing focus for your business and you want to learn from some of the most experienced minds, the EE community is worth exploring. 🚀  

What We're Talking About on Whatsapp: ✨ Anko now accounts for 85 per cent of sales at Kmart Australia Limited, with more than one billion Anko items sold each year in Australia. Kmart’s managing director Ian Bailey told investors at a May Wesfarmers strategy day that “a single brand helps in so many ways that you wouldn’t immediately appreciate” - https://lnkd.in/gKzSqydH   ✨ The Acquired team are back with the final instalment of their look into Microsoft, which became the most valuable company in the world in 1999 ….. and again in 2019. A fascinating mix of high profile mistakes (Windows Phone and Internet Explorer) and higher profile successes (Azure and the enterprise) https://lnkd.in/gaT2DpPq   ✨ Shopify Inc continues to win market share amidst a mixed consumer spend environment, with gross merchandise volume up by 22% last quarter and free cash flow significantly beating analyst expectations https://lnkd.in/gCwGFpAv   ✨ Australian software design juggernaut Canva faces a formidable new rival, as Microsoft launches a new design app (the AI-powered Designer) available for free to all users. Microsoft’s huge install base and distribution represents a potential medium term threat to the Sydney-headquartered company and its IPO plans https://lnkd.in/gY5tiV_x   ✨ Another sign of a tough retail environment: Mosaic Brands Ltd, whose brands include Katies, Millers, Noni B and Autograph, is understood to be working with Deloitte’s distressed advisory division. https://lnkd.in/gjJCYef4   ✨ Texan private equity firm Gauge Capital has purchased a majority stake in Australian beauty brand Coco & Eve for more than $100M. It is the latest in a string of international buyers circling local beauty brands, including PATRICKS (Shiseido), Bondi Sands (Kao Corporation) and Aesop (L’Oreal). https://lnkd.in/gjzCbhsE

The Glow Capital Partners team recently participated in a corporate volunteering day at ReLove, a relatively new organisation in the social sector founded just 2 years ago, which has quickly grown due to the overwhelming demand for their services. ReLove provides crucial support to women and children impacted by domestic violence, individuals experiencing homelessness, people transitioning from incarceration, and asylum seekers, who often have very little to make their social housing feel like home. Their simple yet effective solution involves rescuing furniture and household goods from hotel defits, corporate relocations and the community, preventing these items from ending up in landfills and putting them in the hands of those needing a fresh start in what is often a traumatic time. During the day, we learned about the significant impact their work has on both the community and the environment. Our team assisted in their free store and warehouse and helped deliver furniture to their clients' homes. Watch this video to see the incredible work they do - https://lnkd.in/gZx8uKEg If you're looking for a meaningful volunteering experience as a business or individual, we highly recommend considering ReLove. Thanks again to Ben Stammer and the entire ReLove team. The Glow Capital team looks forward to continuing to support the great work you are doing for our community.

What we are talking about on WhatsApp👀

What We're Talking About on Whatsapp: ⭐ Rising attacks on Red Sea shipping are delaying shipments out of China, leading to narrowing delivery windows and tight deadlines on Chinese manufacturers. https://lnkd.in/gx9qx_D3 ⭐ Private Equity funds are increasingly filling a gap left by VCs, with investments made both directly and via portfolio companies. Terms can vary from what firms previously received – for example, Delivery start-up Sendle announced a US$11M funding round with investors guaranteed four times their money back in any sale.  https://lnkd.in/gPMmdJDf ⭐ The original Top Gun didn’t just launch Tom Cruise into mega stardom – it also transformed the VHS market forever by lowering the cost of home movies, which were previously extremely expensive. Top Gun retailed for US$26.95 rather than US~$80 using Pepsi ads to offset the costs. https://lnkd.in/g9dcKZTB ⭐ We enjoyed listening to Pat Grady on Invest Like the Best. Pat talked about how Sequioa’s legendary culture owes in part to selfless leadership decisions – from Don Valentine handing over the firm in the 90s, to another subsequent number one Doug Leone changing legal docs to make sure that he could be removed. https://lnkd.in/gMrcwmXw ⭐ We’ve been reading ‘That will never work’, the biography of Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph. Netflix has long used tests to guide all decisions – including testing its one-day delivery proposal in Sacramento and observing that while retention didn’t change, there was an associated increase in new customer sign-ups. ⭐ Another day, another commercial application of AI – Qantas has used AI since 2018 to dynamically adapt flight routes to weather patterns and aircraft capability as well as for fuel supply, https://lnkd.in/gWY74i97.

A fantastic turnout at the Ragtrader Breakfast of Big Ideas this week, Justin Ryan spoke alongside the wonderful Kristy Chong OAM, founder of Modibodi. They shared fond memories of her scale-up journey. Some interesting takeaways from the event were: 🌟 Market Adaptation: The retail landscape has dramatically shifted. It's no longer 2019 - we're in a new normal with players like Temu and SHEIN disrupting the market. High-quality brands are the ones that will survive. 🚨  Warning Signals: Keep a close eye on aged stock, overreliance on markdowns, decline in basket size and cashflow. These are critical indicators of a business's health in the retail sector. 💡 Customer Understanding: Respect your customer and truly understand their motivations. Remember, in retail, we often sell things nobody needs - purchases are driven by emotion or perceived value. 🛠️ Operational Efficiency: Costs are enemy #1. Continuously review and optimise your operations. Don't wait for annual reviews - the less you spend, the better you do. Don’t get caught “speeding.” 🏷️ Brand Positioning: Clear brand identity and positioning are crucial. Understand what makes your brand special and why customers choose you. Stay true to who you are and your values. This clarity can drive successful transformations, as seen in cases like Seafolly and R.M.Williams. 📊 Margin Matters: A good margin gives you room to manoeuvre and is often an indicator of quality and brand strength. In tough markets, it provides the ammunition to fight competitive pressures. 🔍 PE in Consumer Goods: While the consumer sector can be challenging due to seasonality and supply chain issues, it still offers great opportunities. The key is finding that rare combination of a great founder, strong brand, sizeable market, and healthy margins. Annie Chen Isabella Mortimore