Winner Best New Business 2007 - FLIPP Management
Joclyn McCahon FLIPPed at the news she had won the 2007 National NEIS Association Award for Best New Business. It was recognition that the energy and drive she had put into creating her business, FLIPP Management, just over a year earlier had shown through in her business performance.
FLIPP Management was born out of Joclyn’s desire to utilize her strongest professional and personal skills with subject matter that was of great interest to her. She had always had a demanding career, had travelled extensively and been fortunate to be able to continuously challenge herself both personally and professionally. Feeling dissatisfied and frustrated in her last job at a major agency, Joclyn made the spur of the moment decision to leave. She felt that she had been giving all her passion, experience and drive to another company and was seeking a way to make it rewarding for herself.
Not in the financial position to be out of work, Joclyn attended Centrelink to investigate her options for financial assistance whilst she sought a way to structure her vision. In her first interview she was advised to investigate NEIS and made an immediate appointment with her local NEIS provider, Eastern Suburbs BEC. The rest, as they say, is history.
FLIPP stands for Food Lifestyle Images Production Photography, and FLIPP Management is an agency that represents photographers and stylists in the genre of lifestyle advertising. Joclyn had firm confidence in her business concept, her skill base and her reputation in the industry. NEIS provided the guidance on how to structure a small business from the ground up while accommodating her specific business individuality. While being initially skeptical as to the value of delaying trading to complete the NEIS training, hindsight has made Joclyn grateful that she did not heed her reservations and did proceed with the training.
“NEIS training gave me a balanced overview of all the issues I would face in a competitive market, rather than just allowing me to rely on what I knew and avoid the difficult or unexciting elements of a small business,” she said.
“It also gave me both physical and mental time/space to gather my business concepts, discuss them with family and colleagues and not feel pressured to rush the creative process in order to generate sales.”
“Plus I was forced to structure a 12 month plan, set goals and consider issues that I had not previously understood needed to be factored into my business structure,” she added.
After completing the training, Joclyn found that the greatest benefit she received from NEIS was the mentoring.
“I knew I lacked strength in finance and my mentors pushed me to perform and be accountable financially. This was the most fantastic and appropriate way for me to keep my standards high for a whole year. I was unable to ignore the “hard” parts of business because I had to justify and be completely up-to-date with my figures. Now this has become a habit and my accountant and I will be eternally grateful for the advice, support, interest and pressure that was brought to bare on me to ensure that I kept track of my financial viability.”
The business has done extremely well in its first year of business and Joclyn’s testimonials are glowing. You will see some of the work that Joclyn has produced in leading lifestyle magazines, and specialist publications. Her niche market has been targeted with great success and Joclyn has been able to employ a staff member and travel abroad through her business. Once again Joclyn has a demanding career and can challenge herself personally and professionally – this time however, the business that benefits is hers!
