Seven years ago, Jodie Minto was looking for career options which would allow her more freedom and flexibility while raising her young children – and her Erina-based online fashion label, island co., was born.
Minto has been named as a finalist for the 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards in three categories – the Fashion NSW award, the Retail NSW award and the overall Ausmumprenuer of the Year Award.
Looking for a way to combine a love of fashion and marketing with a business idea that would free her from corporate life, Minto came up with the concept of a range of ladies’ resort wear that’s vibrant, colourful, and carefree.
In 2014, she poured her energy into mastering online ecommerce and digital marketing to build her online store.
Within three years, iland co. was turning a healthy profit and Minto’s success was being noticed by others in the ecommerce fashion space.
To help other women master their own marketing and scale their businesses online, Minto launched an online business coaching service in 2017.
She has mentored and coached more than 100 women with online fashion and lifestyle stores through her blueprint for ecommerce success.
“Like many mums, I was tapped out and exhausted,” Minto said.
“I had a prestigious career working in the corporate world but was missing out on my young children’s lives, outsourcing their care to someone else.
“We were living in Dubai at the time and although life was happy, I was unfulfilled.
“Feeling like a square peg in a corporate round hole, I needed a way out.
“Nothing about my career path inspired me; I wanted a solution that would enable me to quit my job, earn the income I deserved, and have the freedom I really wanted.
“I recognised an opportunity to create a ladies’ fashion range that was unique.
“Starting iland co. gave me what I was looking for.
“As it has grown, I have also found fulfillment mentoring other women to grow their online stores.’
Minto has achieved 300 per cent growth in revenue over the past 12 months, moving into a commercial office space at Erina and expanding the team to four team members.
She has also launched a new initiative, where customers can buy, swap or sell their previous iland co. pieces.
The AusMumpreneur Awards, presented by The Women’s Business School, celebrate and recognize Australian Mums in business achieving outstanding success in areas such as business excellence, product development, customer service and digital innovation.
The awards are designed to recognise the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family.
The winners of the 2021 Awards will be announced at an online event in September.
Source:
Media release, Aug 10
The AusMumpreneur Awards