This months Start Up Hub guest is Sarah Stuart from GC Mouth Guards who has taken time out of the lab to share with us information about her custom fitted mouth guard business and how she has pushed through her anxiety to make her business work.
A little history about GC Mouth Guards. It was established in 2014 and came to life when Sarah started making mouth guards for her sons football team and realised there was a need in the community for custom fitted mouth guards at a price more families can afford.
Sarah is a single mother and has shown hardwork and determination pays off. If you are trying to take the leap of faith or want to learn from another small business owner then I suggest reading GC Mouth Guards success story below.
How long has GC Mouth Guards been trading for?
3 yrs
Why GC Mouth Guards – why did you start it up?
I started doing my sons football team and realised there was a need in the community for custom fitted mouth guards at a price more families could afford.
How has GC Mouth Guards impacted your life?
It has actually fitted in very well into my life. Most of my appointments are after hours or weekends as that is when people are available to come for an impression. My children are active in helping people fill out paperwork and packing finished work. It has been great for them to see how working hard has its rewards.
What’s the hardest decision you have had to make to date or the biggest hurdle you have encountered?
The biggest hurdle is myself. I struggle with selling myself and my product. I know it is an excellent product, meeting Australian Standards at a price more people can access but I do not have confidence in promoting it, I suffer from anxiety, which I thought was a made up condition until it happened to me. I am slowly working on pushing myself out of my comfort zone to reach more clients.
Do you outsource or employ staff?
I do all the work myself. For taking bookings, taking impressions, hand crafting the mouth guards, writing invoices and receipts and delivering mouth guards back to sports clubs. It is still quite a small business so I can handle everything by myself.
What advice would you give a new small business starting out?
Give it a go. Don’t feel like you have to have everything perfect when you start. Don’t worry if you make a mistake or make the wrong choice. You can always change it.
Talk to other people who have started their own business’, find out what did and didn’t work for them. It may be different for you but you may get ideas.
Find someone to build you a good website that comes up in searches. There is no point having something nobody can find.
I have people I call when I think I am not on the right track and they always say just the right things to get me back in the right direction.
What does the future hold for GC Mouth Guards?
I would like to get more sports clubs on as clients. As each year passes more and more people know about me and keep coming back. I would like people to want to come back as they know they are getting the highest quality product.
What makes you stand out from your competitors?
I think price is a big difference. I keep my cost down so I can pass the savings onto families. I travel to sports clubs to take impressions usually in the evening when my competitors clinics are closed. This is important to a lot of people who are time poor.
What’s one exciting moment you would like to share?
I love seeing kids get a thrill out of picking their own colour combinations. The look of joy when they get their favourite team colours or just their favourite colours is priceless. It is also great to see a child who has never had a custom fit mouth guard before insert theirs for the first time. They are surprised they do not fall out and can still talk. Happy kids = job satisfaction for me.
How do you advertise?
Directly emailing clubs, Facebook and Instagram, a lot or word of mouth, school newsletters and recall emails to past clients.
What are the links to your social media and website.
Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/gcmouthguards
Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/goldcoastmouthguards
Website: https://www.gcmouthguards.com.au/
Would love for you to go to GC Mouth Guards social media accounts and let Sarah know you have read her story and show some love!!!