Sombrilla Business Blog – Lets Meet Wayne Brightman

October 31, 2017

in Business Blog, Marketing, Networking

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We were lucky enough to interview Wayne Brightman from Promo-More. Wayne has opened up about his journey to where he is today and shares his insights into business and his future plans to come. Enjoy the following interview and get to know Wayne a little more…

Name: Wayne Brightman

Business Name: Promo-More

Industry: Uniforms Supplier & Promotional Products Dist.

What Country were you born in?

I was hatched in New Zealand

What was childhood like for you there?

I was exported at aged 10 to Sydney, prior to that I was in an orphanage my 1st 6mths before being adopted, I broke both legs when I was 6-7 , Romper Room was on and I didn’t want to miss it and slipped over running into the house, age 8, I had 2 paper routes (1st job), I was bad at baseball, ok at rugby and quite good at swimming.

What did you do after leaving school?

School asked me to leave early in year 9 and at the same time we were moving house to a totally different suburb so I decided it was time to get a job, 4 days later I was employed by a fashion cutting service in Surry Hills

What were you doing before you started your business?

I was in charge of Australia’s greatest sales force in the Hardware Industry

Why did you start your Current business?

I’d been working for 20yrs and decided to take time off with our newborn son, plan was 6-12mths but the wife said go and take one of the jobs I’d been offered after 2 weeks so I decided to look at working for myself and went to a business franchise expo. I decided to start PROMO-MORE to enable the freedom I wanted to be able to any and all events my children wanted me to.

Who do you look up to in business or who do you strive to be like?
( can be friend, famous or foe)

There’s no single individual for me, I like to be inspired by those around me who have gone through the hard times and come out the other side in a positive light

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Adding a new business to complement our existing one

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs starting out in your Industry?

Do your research,
Plan to fail,
Outsource specific services,
Join a networking group,
Make it a saleable asset within 5yrs,

What is the best thing about owning your own business?

The freedom to take time out to attend events my children are involved with,
Being able to close early to coach junior soccer,
Not having to deal with rude people,
I’ve noticed in the last 14yrs I’ve taken less sick days so it must be healthy

What is your greatest achievement to date? (business related)

Unfortunately my greatest achievement since starting PROMO-MORE was something I did for a competing business who buys through us a specific brand on a wholesale arrangement. They had the opportunity to pitch a national business and lacked the skills to do so in a boardroom environment so they asked if I would do it, I explained what they would need to do to secure it then did the pitch, we won them the business which in the 1st 6mths generated them $180k in new sales.

I’ll add in another one which we were successful in, it was also a national business with 550 staff, all the major industry players were quoting and we by total luck stumbled into the frey on the 11th hour, we needed a point of difference and what is fairly standard today wasn’t in 2005, online ordering!!! We WON!!

What is your greatest achievement to date? (non-business related)

Pretty much standing in line waiting to meet the hottest girl in the room then getting a date and taking her off the market for ever.

If you weren’t doing what you’re doing now, what would you be doing?

I would be in a senior management role running a national sales force

How do you plan to grow your current business?

Networking, attending various events to engage with new businesses that can assist mine and maybe become potential clients as well, Outsourcing various aspects of the business to enable more time to engage with clients,
Improve our marketing, pretty much the weak spot of the business

What platforms are you currently using to Market your business?

Facebook,
LinkedIn,
Mail-chimp,
Twitter,

What other activities do you do to advertise your business?

BNI, (networking breaky)
BX Connect, (networking breaky)
Sponsor Junior Soccer Team with Training Shirts, Engadine Crusaders
Sponsor Summer Soccer side with Playing Shirts, Bosco Soccer
Field sponsor at a local Soccer Club for their ground flags, Heathcote FC

Are there any platforms you want to start using to achieve success
(but don’t have the time to)?

We are still trying to understand the “Social Media” minefield, the goal posts seem to change daily.

What is one skill you would love to learn?

Well it’s not business related but I like cars and Motorsport and would love to learn how to Drift

When you were younger, did you ever think you would become an entrepreneur? If yes, why?

Yes I think it was always going to happen, I’ve been working since age 8 and never unemployed since leaving school so I have a decent work ethic and tend to judge those that don’t accordingly so it stands to reason I would start my own business, I thought it would be something in retail not a B2B supplier

What does a typical day of yours consist of?

I think my first word is “Seriously?” that’s when the alarm goes off at 5am,
I’m in the office by 6am processing supplier invoices from the day before, then moving on to processing new orders, design layouts, quotes, chasing up deadlines and working through any issues that arise and attending any client appointments

What is the best business idea you’ve had, that you’ll never use?
(I promise I won’t steal it)

Outsource my graphic design

What did you want to be ‘when you grow up’?

Trial Lawyer

Do you prefer working solo or as a team?

As a team, you cannot beat input from others no matter how right or wrong they may be

What is your goal in life?

Walk our daughter down the aisle

What are your 3 best traits?

Honest, (too honest sometimes)
Good work ethic
I find it hard to say no

Who is your number #1 idol?

Sylvester Stallone

What meal or food is your number one weakness?

Seafood Platter from Sea Level in Cronulla

What is your favourite colour? and why?

Blue, I’m a boy

What is the best book you’ve ever read?

no this is unfair as I read a book a month, their all good, I’ll answer with favorite author, Vince Flynn who recently had one of his novels adapted to the big screen, American Assassin, Vince passed away in 2013

What activities, sports or hobbies do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Coach junior soccer in both winter and summer
Ride my mountain bike
Reading action novels
I love movies

If you were granted one super power, what would it be?

Flight, have you seen the traffic around Sutherland Shire these days!!!

What advise would you give to the 10 year old you about work and life?

Ok Wayne pay attention,
All the mistakes you made were not mistakes at the time so plan ahead a little more to lessen them
When leasing your 1st office ask if you have allocated parking do not assume you do
Winks wins 21 races in a row, get on it!!
Sell your CH10 shares in 2015
Do not marry Gay she cheats on you!!,

Connect with Wayne on Social Media

Facebook Link

https://www.facebook.com/promomore/

Website Link

http://promo-more.com.au/

Twitter Link

https://twitter.com/PromoMore

Personal LinkedIn Profile

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-brightman-1444a147/

hello@sombrilladigital.com.au

0295442424 or 0414783677

Office 1/ Suite 8/ 33 Gerrale St Cronulla NSW 2230

0414 783 6779544 2424

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