July 1, 2014
Karla Johnston, The Happybox
Bio The path that led her to this point
I grew up in a fun-loving Australian house full of joy and celebrations.
The best times were birthdays, Christmas and Easter. These were celebrations with a generous and thoughtful gift-giving spirit. Central to all celebrations was my Mum, the ultimate awesome gift giver and lover of all things colour.
School, study, travel and careers in accounting and real estate followed. My love for colour grew and wove itself into my life, home and wardrobe.
In my mid-twenties my life changed with my Mum's diagnosis of cancer. Treatment over the next five years brought many long stays in hospital which left Mum feeling terrible.
To help, we did our best bringing little care packages to give hope or strength or just pretty things to make Mum feel herself again.
I saw so much love and thoughtfulness from other friends and family bringing and sending gifts unfailingly as well. I realised then how powerful the spirit of giving is and how the right gift can delight, inspire and totally turn someone's day around - even on really bad days.
It was during this time that the seed for The Happybox was planted.
Several years on, with husband Cris, children Leila and Ollie, and the day job on the backburner, my thoughts were never far from my passion for The Happybox.
I spent four years completing my MBA part-time, learning more about e-commerce, marketing and the big picture of business. I realised that in this exciting modern world of e-commerce the opportunity for big-hearted creative businesses to succeed is possible. After many months of research and planning, the time for The Happybox is now.
Q&A Insider advice & tips
What's been your greatest achievement to date?
Seeing The Happybox come to life from a simple vision and having our online presence grow day-by-day. The branding of The Happybox has been a particularly enjoyable achievement as it has evolved into exactly what I dreamed about starting the business and I feel it really reflects our values - modern with an eco-luxe vibe.
What's been your biggest challenge so far?
Gearing the start-up to cope with growth slowly, as I am starting as a sole operator. It has also been challenging to learn to trust my gut instincts on decision making. Of course, balancing a business and family is a challenge. Working from home with an 18-month-old and four-year-old is challenging but I wouldn't change it for anything!
Best lesson you've learned along the way?
The one thing I would do differently if starting again would be to call upon outside help a little more. Because I want to understand the business inside out, I have been very involved in every aspect and it's too easy to get caught up in small things - like perfecting every word of web content - and forget about the bigger picture. Next time I'd get more help.
A website, book or resource that has helped you in your business or inspired you and why?
I love the simple beauty and technical strength of Shopify. Shopify makes selling online so accessible. It is invaluable for startup companies to have the confidence that the technical side of things is sorted by the leaders in online selling. Shopify has also allowed me to invest savings in web development in other areas of the business.
Which person or brand do you most admire and why?
I truly admire Clare Bowditch as an artist and businesswoman. She just glows with wisdom and conviction for her passions. I would love to attend her Big Hearted Business Conference next year. Clare makes you feel like anything is possible and that we can do what we love and make money!
What advice would you give someone starting an independent business in your industry?
It's OK to start small and grow organically. Don't try to be anyone else and always carve your own path.
Finish this sentence
Everything changed for me when…
My husband told me to just do it.
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