G’day Legends,
New year, new me, or a new workshirt, or maybe all of it? Beats me. Welcome to TradeMutt’s 4th edition of the Yarn, and the first of 2023. This year is shaping up to be a little beauty. We have plenty of exciting things happening in the pipeline, and we can’t wait to share them with you. As you make your way through the yarn, let us know if there’s anything we’re missing or something that you love. We’re keen to hear your feedback!
Dan, Ed and the TradeMutt Team
Let’s put another shrimp on the barbie
By Daniel Allen
We’ve kicked off the new year with a bang after our first shirt release of the year was cleared off the shelves in just two days. This caught all of us here at TradeMutt completely by surprise.
For those of you who were lucky enough to jag yourself one of our limited edition “Shrimp on the Barbie” (SOTB) shirts, you can count yourself incredibly lucky because we’ve been getting hounded ever since by TradeMutt lovers who sadly missed out on getting a shirt in time.
SOTB was a bit of a test case for us here at TradeMutt HQ given it was the first time that we brought a placement print shirt to market. For those of you not in the loop with design terminology, a placement print is the controlled position of artwork within the product. This is different to our usual repeat print process which is the continuous tiling of artwork all over a shirt. Now, this might not mean much to you, but in the world of fashion and design, it was a completely different process for us and one that broke new ground. The only real difference to you legends is that the production costs for us are higher and so the RRP of the product was also higher than our standard full print work shirts. But from the feedback that we continue to receive from very satisfied customers, the higher cost was well worth it to score such a limited edition shirt. While we won’t be recreating this print, we will certainly look to explore more unique placement print shirt options in the future so watch this space.
While I’m on the subject of print releases, we’ve got some incredibly exciting designs in production this year but just a heads up, we’re doing things a bit differently. Depending on how long you’ve been a mutter, you’ve probably become fairly familiar with our collection drop cycle - four collections a year released every quarter including three print options across a range of products. Well, we’ve decided to change it up a bit this year with a focus on releasing fewer print options but dropping more frequently. We plan to release one print at a time every month and with a much sharper product offering with each print collection. This change is in line with our company goal to improve efficiency, improve our stock holdings and iron out the swings in business activity in between drops.
Now, what exactly does that mean for our legendary mutters?
Well first and foremost, we hope that you love what we bring out and that our prints are worn loud and proud in serving their function of starting positive conversations. Sadly though, it means that we likely won’t be able to please everyone’s wild hopes and dreams for the different product requests that come through. One example of this is that we won’t be bringing out both yellow and orange high-vis work shirts in every print. Instead, our brilliant design team along with Ed, Dan and the wider TradeMutt team decide on which colour hi-vis works best with each print. It also means that we won’t be bringing out every design in every style (women’s, men’s, long sleeve, short sleeve, full button, half button, polo, hi-vis, full print etc).
We know that it’s disappointing when you can’t get a particular design in a particular style, but believe me when I say that we have a very dedicated team who analyse various data sets as well as listen to feedback from individual customers and businesses to meet the needs of our broad and diverse community.
As a top-tier TIACS Alliance partner, TradeMutt is committed to not only sustaining its contribution to TIACS but hopefully growing that contribution to set a new bar when it comes to using business to create long-lasting impact within blue-collar industries. To achieve that, we need to ensure that we continue to give our community what they want while continuing to optimize business practices and processes.
As we march on into what is shaping up to be a very exciting year ahead and TradeMutt HQ, our promise to you is that our laser focus remains on ensuring that whether you’re a tradie, truckie, farmer or blue-collar worker, together with TradeMutt and TIACS, you’ll never walk alone.
No more Fridays for us
By Ed Ross
We’re taking a punt. Dan and I have launched a 6-month trial for all staff to have Fridays off. Same pay, one less day and with any luck just as much impact.
Now we understand that most businesses are unable to even remotely entertain the idea of working 4 days and having 3-day weekends. However, as a product-based business, we are a little flexible. The data doesn’t lie. 4 Day work weeks have been proven to have some incredible benefits.
All the trials seem to suggest the same thing. Everyone working less – with no reduction in pay – could be a solution to everything from Australia’s productivity problems and the mental health pandemic. It’s better for the planet, too. When we’re overworked, we drive more, eat more processed food and buy more disposable items. Less pressure means more time to breathe.
As we turn 5 our priorities are firmly fixated on the longevity of our business, team and impact. Getting a social impact workwear brand up and off the ground and launching a free text-and-call counselling service while employing 25+ staff takes its toll. What we have realized is that we have been running flat out for the last few years and it’s time to look at our priorities.
So how are we going about this? Well here are a few FAQs:
How will we manage customers?
We will be clear on the website and in all comms that we are only working Monday thru Thursday. With transparency being one of our main values we must live by that and ensure the community is informed of our new working arrangements.
Why are we doing this?
In all honesty for ourselves. We want to live a life that is not just all work and no lifestyle. After being in business for 5 years Dan and I are keen to invest more time into ourselves and our team and we feel the best way to do that is to work less and for the same money! What’s not to love?
What does a successful trial look like?
- Maintained efficiencies and productivity with reduced working hours.
- Reduced employee stress
- Increased staff happiness and job satisfaction
- Improved relationships both internally and externally
- Maintained financial position
- Sales targets met or exceeded
- Customer service efficiency and quality maintained if not improved
- Dispatch time for orders is still within KPI and customer satisfaction high
So as we embark on this trial we want to hear your feedback and want you to keep us accountable. We need to maintain what has got us here, impact, care for the community and transparency.
We can’t wait to see how the next 6 months go!
Meet the Team: Donna
Role: Sales Executive
How does TradeMutt utilise your skills and abilities?
As TradeMutt Sales Executive, I am to deliver a high-level service to our broad customer base. My core focus is typically responding to our clients and ensuring orders are expedited with efficiency, accuracy and provide a positive experience in this fast paced role. I consider myself to be highly organized and self-motivating.
What unique challenges and opportunities does working with TradeMutt provide?
Meeting a diverse communities I actually learn something new every day in this customer service facing role. Historically, opportunities presented in all roles within TradeMutt business model have allowed me to learn new skills/processes through collaboration with my awesome team members.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in your career?
Love what you do, consistency is key!
What is your favorite print, and why do you enjoy it?
I love too many to name just 1! I gravitate to the darker background shades, with bright pops of colour - Ventura, Huey and Spun Out!
What are some of your favorite activities or hobbies that you enjoy outside of work?
Self care!
TIACS Impact update
Peter (pseudonym) is a mid-40’s male who previously worked as a FIFO worker but now lives in the city. At the time of connecting with TIACS, he was unemployed due to physical and mental health issues and had just been discharged from a psychiatric unit after an attempted suicide. Peter was at a very low point in his life, as he had lost many things he valued, including his children due to an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO). His physical health was also deteriorating, and he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness that he believed was a result of his working conditions. Both situations made him very angry and he felt like things were out of his control.
Through 8 sessions with a counsellor, Peter worked on finding hope and gratitude, visualizing being reunited with his children, and making plans for the future. They also worked on finding Peter’s self-worth again and setting goals for his mental and physical health, as well as his work situation.
In small, manageable steps, they broke down Peter’s feelings of being overwhelmed and his constant state of despair, which had made it almost impossible for him to see any other option than not being on the planet anymore. A crucial part of this was exploring some of the unhelpful thought patterns tied to the adversity he faced.
As the sessions progressed, Peter began to feel more worthy of a place in the world and in his children’s lives. He changed his perception to understanding that they wouldn’t be better off without him and began to build his support network, seeking out more opinions and consultations about his illness. As a result, Peter’s self-confidence and worth increased, and he successfully represented himself in court and was reunited with his children. He also sought further medical advice about his diagnosis and was reassessed with a better prognosis for a longer life span, with hope that advances in treatment and clinical trials could extend it even further. He began working again and no longer felt powerless and hopeless.
It’s already unique, make it personal?
Your brand is already unique, so why not make it personal and support mental health at the same time? TradeMutt is here to help you do just that. We specialise in creating custom workwear that is not only stylish but truly represents your brand. Imagine your team rocking apparel with your logo and designs - it’s a game-changer! And it’s not just about making a statement, it’s about making it personal. For every item sold, 50% of the profit goes towards TIACS, which offers free mental health support to blue-collar workers.
So, don’t wait any longer, contact Shannen at shannen@trademutt.com today and let’s make it happen. It’s time to take your brand to the next level while also supporting a good cause!
