The efficiency hub harnesses the very best people.
eCommerce specialists and digital experts who care, are well-connected and make it their mission to satisfy every detail your wildest dreams could imagine. We’ve hosted webinars, spoken on panels, and awkwardly posed for features in magazines. If you’re a small business, we feel you. You have the goals, and we have the experience to make them happen.
Here are our faces.
Get to know them. You’ll be seeing them. Over coffee, over Skype… or maybe in your local knitting circle.
Together, great people can create awesome things – they just need a leader. Enter Nathalie.
Recognising an opportunity to help small creative businesses dominate online without all of the hoopla that comes with agency life, Nathalie combed her talent network for the very best and formed the efficiency hub, the ultimate digital hub and one-stop-shop for artisan business owners.
She thinks analytically and executes creatively, having worked with companies such as MyHouse, Pacific Magazines and Sephora, as well as over 900 creative makers during her years at hardtofind.com.au to develop tailored, cost-efficient strategies to promote growth and exceptional customer service.
One conversation with this eCommerce aficionado will have you re-thinking everything about the way you run and market your creative business (for the better!).
Luckily for us Nathalie is a big believer in giving back to her industry and regularly shares her expertise. She has been featured in publications such as Foundr Magazine and SmartCompany and regularly speaks on panels and webinars. Keep an eye out for where she pops up next – or there will be guaranteed FOMO!
Digital Content & CX Specialist
Alison
Turning empathy into a digital superpower
Armed with a passion for human-centric design and all things digital, Alison’s goal is to turn your customer journey from ‘stuck in traffic’ to ‘epic road trip’.
With more than 13 years’ experience in communications, she knows how to talk with your audience – better yet, she understands them.
This straight-talking, dumplings-obsessed Buffy fangirl will step into your customers’ shoes to discover ways you can delight them and keep them coming back for more.
From simple UX tweaks and effective emails to nailing blog post content that engages, Alison is your go-to gal for all those why-didn’t-I-think-of-that-before improvements. And she has some serious credentials to back her up, having worked with major media brands including News Corp and New Idea Food, as well as helping hundreds of small e-commerce retailers during her stint as Head of Content at award-winning online marketplace hardtofind.
Web developer
Marco
Talks the talk, and walks the (moon) walk
Theory is nice and all, but there’s nothing like real-life experience.
Marco has been developing websites since that So Fresh mixtape played from your chunky Sony walkman – so yeah, a while. Just because he got his start in the 90s, doesn’t mean he’s stuck there. Marco is always one step ahead of the latest technology trends to ensure that whether your website is in need of a tidy up, or a full-scale overhaul his approach is the right one.
Rewind a few years and Marco was working with some of the world’s biggest brands including Nestle, Telstra and IBM. But he won’t bamboozle you with acronyms or technicalities – in fact, he works pretty dang hard to serve it to you straight and deliver a transparent solution in plain English.
SEO and Google Ads Specialist
Eric
More effective than the Bat Signal
Once you’ve found your market, you need them to find you; that’s where Eric comes in.
Using SEO and Google Ads strategies tested and honed on the agency battlefield, Eric will turn your company from the Invisible Woman to the Incredible Hulk, leaving you saying, “I’ve never felt more seen!”
With more than 5 years’ experience and over 100 success stories in his portfolio, Eric combines his business savvy (he has a Bachelor of Finance), caring nature (he’s an accredited nurse) and entrepreneurial spirit to understand your unique business needs and uncover the best search solutions.
When he’s not helping small businesses reach the top of the rankings, Eric loves to paintball, scuba dive and go to karaoke. Thankfully, his SEO abilities are far better than his singing.
Illustrator, Creative Director and Stylist
Simon
Once upon a time there was an epic storyteller…
Let’s get real, so often we judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately that’s just how we roll. Fortunately, we have a killer illustrator, creative director and stylist on the efficiency hub team.
Simon’s speciality (some may call it sorcery) is creating imagery that takes consumers on a journey.
For the past 15 years Simon has created branded editorial content for some big international names including Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Colgate, Toni & Guy and Morrisons. Whether it’s print, digital, mobile, social media or video, Simon’s stunning visuals engage consumers and brands.
This talented UK-export now resides on the sunny Queensland coast. Simon made sure he left the gloomy weather back home, but – luckily for us – packed his a super-fresh perspective. From moodboards, wireframes – a complete new brand identity – whatever you dream for your ecommerce business, Simon will deliver it.
After five years in the copywriting biz, Nell has learnt to keep Google’s safe-search off when deep-diving for the really juicy bits that will make businesses stand out from their competitors. Nell’s background as a not-so-secret spy/federal intelligence agent has trained her how to pinpoint a business’s most interesting anecdotes, facts and figures and thread them together to tell a super compelling story.
Nell’s not just a word-nerd but is also big on numbers and loves the analytical side of counting visits and clicks, almost as much as the copywriting.
She frequently uses her magical powers to help sustainable and values-led brands effectively communicate their ‘change-the-world’ missions.
When Nell isn’t at her keyboard being supervised by her cat, Arthur, you’ll likely find her decked out in diamantes and feathers and salsa or samba dancing up a storm.
Photographer
Ben
Die-hard story capturer and camera collector
Ben may own over 100 cameras, but he knows that a great photographer is so much more than their gear. They need to understand exposure, light, depth of field – and their subjects.
His talent and passion for capturing the unique stories of people and things via high quality – and often breathtaking – photographs has won him a wealth of awards.
He’s also shown his work at over 24 exhibitions in his hometown of Adelaide and across Australia. Ben’s keen eye for the extraordinary will hunt down the beauty in the mundane to elevate your business beyond stock standard photography.
He also has secret set of Tetris-wizarding skills that assist with his fast-thinking and problem solving while out in the field.
Copywriter & Blogger
Emma
Passionate about pizza and punctuation
As a writer, content marketer and blogging coach, Emma is a big advocate of keeping it real.
Her refreshing imperfectly perfect approach to everything that needs a little word love will hit you deep in the feels.
Awesome content is all about connection and Emma’s considered musings engage in a way that’s hard to ignore.
Whether it’s penning a design blog for Canva or exposé on a wellness trend for Marie Claire or whipping up foodie puns for Deliveroo, Emma has experience writing for the country’s top digital and print brands and publications.
She gets her currents kicks via her business Blogging In Progress, her women’s lifestyle blog, A Girl In Progress and productivity podcast, A Day In Progress, helping businesses find the right words to showcase their brilliance. She takes the best, authentic parts of you and your brand and shines the spotlight on them.
Email Marketer
April
Ridiculous email expertise, incoming!
There’s nothing better than the sweet, sweet sound of a click-to-purchase. April is well versed in the art of click rates, open rates and, of course, the creme de la creme – conversion rates.
She’s been at the email game for years (namely as Showpo’s chief email officer) and knows all the brilliant lil’ secrets to creating epic emails that sell.
There’s a reason why email has the potential to be the top revenue driver for ecommerce brands. Often it’s not about adhoc sends, but carefully curated automations. Whether your database is super-sized or still growing, April has a knack for spotting opportunities that help business take the next leap – wherever they are in their journey.
She balances engaging content with tech know-how to ensure your emails are not only being delivered, they’re being read. **Cue that sweet click-to-purchase soundtrack **
Copywriter & Editor
Sabrina
Selling witticisms, not things
Sabrina’s approach is different. Rather than spin-up traditional sales copy, she starts conversations.
Her trademark witty and conversational tone is perfect for presenting complex information in easy-to-grasp, engaging terms that will resonate with your audience.
She loves immersing herself in a brand’s ethos and weaving her word magic to bring it to life, in a real non-I-have-stuff-to-sell-you-right-now way.
Sabrina loves working with eCommerce businesses to uncover their brand story and create unique and downright interesting copy. Born in Canada, Sabrina now lives on the Sunshine Coast with her husband and three young daughters and spends as much time singing the Frozen as she does putting pen to paper.
Copywriter & Content Creator
Penny
Professional word wrangler
Penny’s superpower is making sense of your message when you can’t.
She helps brands define their USP and find their voice so they can reach their target audience – and their goals.
With a background in editing, she’s also a gun at spotting typos and putting apostrophes in their place. With 15 years’ experience working in publishing both in Australia and the UK, there isn’t much that Penny hasn’t written about.
She thrives on sharing compelling stories, whether that’s your start up’s inspirational journey or a comprehensive guide to the best cafes in Byron Bay (her home, lucky duck!).
She loves meeting business owners who are chasing their own version of awesomeness and helping them craft their message. You’ll find Penny’s byline in many leading Australian magazines, including Women’s Health, Country Style and body+soul, and she’s worked with digital brands including Collective Hub and Lonely Planet.
Email Automation Expert
Karina
Crosses on the green man, but runs with scissors
If you’re after a fail-proof, rock solid email marketing strategy to take your business to the next level, Karina will sort you out – and then some.
With almost a decade of experience in digital marketing land, she knows when to push the boundaries (so you keep an edge on your competitors) and when to tow the line to ensure your email is actually hitting inboxes and not being flagged as spam.
Once she has a handle on your business and goals, she’ll draw on her know-how to automate, automate, automate so those conversions roll in while you’re counting sheep.
She knows how to keep things lean after spending 7 years running the marketing team at a start up company, but also how to scale quickly and efficiently. Some companies under her expert care include Showpo, Coco Republic and Pet Circle.
Copywriter & SEO Expert
Erin
Saves the smoke, brings the fire
People don’t read content.
Spoiler alert: It’s not them, it’s you.
It’s Erin’s job to serve you up engaging, scannable copy that is written to actually be read.
Instead of peppering text with convoluted jargon, Erin unscrambles heavy-going ideas and concepts so that your visitors – and Google – easily understand what you’ve got on offer.
Brisbane-based Erin is an SEO-fanatic and ensures all copy is geared for SEO and comes complete with relevant keywords and Google-friendly titles. She has written copy for a range of businesses and outlets but cites brands Student Flights and The Urban List as her favourites because of the adventures and VIP access to cheese festivals. Who doesn’t love a little work perk?! (especially tasty ones).
Graphic Designer
Annie
The smell of freshly printed pages is her fragrance of choice
Annie loves to create – and she’s spent over 6 years doing just that!
Her exposure to multiple projects with fashion and homewares at the helm (think brands like Camilla, Jets Swimwear, The Iconic and MyHouse) has definitely guided her style over the years.
Nothing gets her knickers-in-a-knot more than the realist san-serif typeface, Impact – except perhaps someone vandalising a magazine by dog-earing its corners!
She is motivated by perfection, creating immaculate layouts in both print and digital. Above everything, Annie believes that consistency is key to communicating a strong brand message that consumers can relate to.
She can handle a project from conception to completion and goes to great lengths to ensure that each pen stroke or click of the mouse is positively contributing to a brand’s visual identity – whether that’s a sales report, event invitations, a press release or website imagery.
Design & Copy Experts
Bec & Andy
The dream team and dream makers
Bec and Andy are a couple of true believers in the power of good design, good writing and great communication.
They’re married (to each other), enjoy spicy food and like to stay busy.
As makers and creatives they understand that turning an idea into a viable business can be a daunting process and that’s exactly why they formed their design-led business, Like Flamingo.
Part of this duo’s strength is their pick ’n’ mix repertoire. They have over a decade of experience in design, web, social, small business and government communications, which means they’re well versed in what works and what doesn’t.
They’ll happily collaborate with you to come up with a creative solution to make it happen. Why not start with a logo and then see where these visual geniuses can take you and your business…
Facebook Advertising Specialist
Nicky
Your go-to Facebook architect
Switching on a quick carousel Facebook ad is one thing, developing a robust Facebook strategy that actually brings in customers to your website is another.
Nicky has been in the Facebook game for over three years (a veteran in this young industry!) and set up her own business Outpost Advantage.
She is well-versed at the tricks of the trade necessary to create a successful campaign. It’s not ‘click your fingers’ kinda stuff, but Nicky has had the luxury of playing with the budgets of big agencies and brands so you don’t have to waste money on costly ‘experiments.’
Instead, she’ll use her expertise to deliver maximum results for your spend – and actually explain it all to you – so you’re not left wondering where all your hard earned marketing budget is going.
Facebook is a powerful beast and it’s Nicky’s job to tame it for you. Generating revenue for you is her number one objective for you.
Pinterest Expert
Lola
Pin it to win it
Be helpful, be visual and inspire on Pinterest and you’ll reap the ($$$) rewards.
Lola helps eCommerce businesses supercharge their web traffic by pinning oh so pretty things. Of course it’s way more complex than that, but after 20 years in corporate IT Lola knows how to simplify things for maximum impact – so that you get to enjoy the lucrative results without the thumping headache.
Lola has worked with dozens of savvy creators to set them on the right Pinterest path. It all comes down to purpose and strategy and Lola will help you identify yours. If there’s a change to the platform Lola is onto it right away, massages it until it’s palatable and then serves it straight up to you. It’s little wonder that she’s had clients who have increased their Pinterest engagement by 5000% in the first month!
While other eCommerce businesses may be faffing around (read: flushing their budget) on other saturated social channels you can slide on in under the Pinterest radar.
Copywriter
Tricha
The eagle eye has landed
All online businesses have one thing in common, they need words. But not just any words. That’s where clever wordsmith, Tricha, comes in.
She helps businesses create compelling copy that sells, not only by using the right words, but using the best words.
With more than a decade of experience as a brand storyteller and a scrupulous eye for detail, Tricha knows how to push ‘dem words real good so that you get real results. She understands the value of persuasion so goes straight to the heart of your business to draw in new customers. Subtlety is her policy of choice, and combined with passion, it makes for a winning combo.
Tricha has worked with a range of eCommerce businesses and start-ups to help them hone their message to get noticed. She’s also a devout enviro-warrior and on the weekends you’re likely to find Tricha combing Sydney’s Coogee Beach for plastic waste.
Small Business PR
Susie
The smaller the package, the better
Specialising in public relations for SMEs, Susie from Hullabaloo PR understands how to make your small business make a big splash.
Whether you’re online or have a physical premise like a pop-up shop or café, Susie will help summon a stampede of loyal customers.
Susie loves looking out for “the little guy” and brings her creative approach to ensure small businesses harness their PR power. PR is more than being in the news, it’s about building relationships with customers and the community around you.
Susie first discovered her knack for ‘PR with a difference’ whilst tasked to create an array of catering, retail and leisure services, within a busy Naval Base. From concept to open day, each outlet was successfully created with a unique personality, aimed at a very specific market.
She’s continued this signature formula of using unique and quirky concepts to connect businesses with the community around them.
Graphic Designer and Brand Stylist
Jo
There’s immense power in presentation
Jo’s design repertoire is wide and varied – and addictive. You may start with a basic logo and end with a bespoke branding package that captures the very essence of your business.
To illustrate your belief systems through your brand, is to build your customer’s trust. Jo’s creative approach and commercial experience as a former National Visual Merchandiser for a major retail brand, will help shape your message so that your customers think and feel the way you’d like them to.
When designing with her business, Design Feather, Jo starts by sitting down (although endless enthusiasm means she struggles to sit still for too long) and listening to the story that drives your brand and then communicates it in a tangible way. It’s a collaborative process and Jo delights in working closely with clients to deliver the very best results. Colour, photography and typography combine together to kick serious branding butt.
Social Media Expert
Jarrah
A definite scroll-stopper!
Jarrah is one of those extremely rare, smart humans in a world of bots. Her brain works overtime devising off-the-chart, audience-driven Facebook and Insta ads that work.
As owner of boutique social media marketing studio, SBJ Studios, Jarrah has seen it all.
Over the years she’s learnt that the secret to successful social media strategy is about more than just a ‘like’, ‘follow’, or ‘comment’. She uses her ‘humanness’ to help brands connect with their customers via thought-provoking campaigns and action-inspired copy.
Jarrah loves working with all walks of eCommerce business life but crushes particularly hard on ethically conscious brands.
Graphic Designer
Kaitlin
Fresh, bold design & dancing
Kait’s designs radiate just as much fun as living room dance parties and spontaneous cartwheels. As a globe-trotting graphic designer, Kait takes inspiration from the places she visits, typically gravitating towards unique projects where she can use interesting colours and shapes to showcase fierce personality.
She’s worked on everything from an 80s-themed National Campaign to the re-branding of Zen Music Festival. But it’s not always a rave, Kait knows how to tailor things as required and collaborates with purpose driven groups and individuals to bring their brands to life. When Kait’s not busy creating or cartwheeling, you’ll find her snacking on fajitas.
Our partners
Running a business requires a lot more than just uploading some wonderful products to a website. Just the mere thought of having to deal with accounting, insurance or legals often make us want to hide. That’s why we have partnered with clever individuals who get small business and will help you keep your business baby safe and organised.
Julie-Anne, better known as Jewlz, is not your average accountant.
Not only does she ride a motorbike, but she doesn’t believe in number-crunching for the sake of number-crunching.
Rather than drip-feeding information, Jewlz prefers to empower business owners to understand their key metrics and numbers and not have them attached at the hip. It’s one of the reasons we so enthusiastically recommend her.
Jewlz has also created the ‘Three Pillars of Business Growth’, a kick-ass system designed to help businesses and entrepreneurs grow efficiently and in a way that works best for them and their goals.
One of the many reasons we choose to partner with Malisa Howard from boutique law firm, Jaide Law, is because of her fixed-rate approach.
She doesn’t believe in clock-watching law but is client-led. The result? First-class service.
Malisa lives in the real world. She gets that small businesses don’t have unlimited dollars to burn on endless legal hours, so packages up her meticulous advice in a way that makes sense.
Specialising in commercial, corporate law – and camping – Malisa steps out from behind her desk on the weekends for a starry night and surf adventures.
Between all of us, we have worked with some wonderful businesses, and we’re not afraid to show it.
We’ve curated quite the following of happy little vegemites. Small and large, from fashion, retail, travel, beauty, IT, health – and everything in between. They’re diverse and marvellous.
