Out-of-the-box thinking leads to global retail success.
Big on Shoes owner and founder Melissa Westcott has always thought outside the shoe box.
While at school Melissa remembers reading out-of-the box on a few of her school report cards.
“Out of the box is a way I have been described for most of my life, from my parents to my teachers to university to my jobs. For me it is about finding solutions and coming up with different ways of doing things.
“It is a natural part of who I am, it drives a lot of people mad, but it has got me to where I am today.”
Melissa founded her online retailer Big on Shoes in 2008 out of passion for retail and her desire to help women easily find ‘perfect fitting’ shoes. Big on Shoes has grown from a small home-based online store to a global e-commerce platform.
“I think most people thought I was taking a risk and selling shoes online that long ago. We built it to what it is today; a retail store and an e-commerce footprint, which still amazes me with what we can do.”
Since then, Melissa has gone on to found Fox and Frank clothing store and Moranbah Blooms and Events which is a florist and event management business in Moranbah.
Melissa believes it is critical to look at our thinking and to keep moving forward and new ways of doing business, to not be left behind.
“I use things like a business coach, constantly enrolling in courses and doing different things to change my thinking, I don’t always like it, I sometimes really hate it, but the next day once my mind, has got around that new idea or strategy I can put in place which has been critical to my success.”
One of Melissa’s biggest learning curves on her journey is being open to advice, something Melissa admits she doesn’t take well; but has found with the right people you can trust as mentors and business advisors is vital.
Melissa said you need those people in your life to give you some harsh realities when you need them, to bring you up and bring you down when your head is too much in the clouds.
“It is critical for your own personal success and own wellbeing, and I think that gets left that we don’t look after ourselves on the journeys we are going on with small business.”
Melissa said she is the kind of person, who if told she can’t do something, will prove you wrong.
“That has always been me, I don’t believe I am finished with what I am doing. I don’t think I have remotely untapped what I can do with this business, and it isn’t that I have got lots to prove, it is that I have got lots to show.
With a life-long connection to the retail industry Melissa has seen the change from what retail was then to how it has completely evolved with to e-commerce. Today Big on Shoes sell from Moranbah all over the world.
Melissa said every three months she looks at her business operations as a whole and identifies ways to improve through technology.
“By far the biggest strategy we have is around video.
“With retail in the digital age there is so much potential at the moment in regards to the unknown and the way we can grow and expand our business.”
“It is hard at first to be willing to be on camera, but video is 100% the way of the future and the need to connect with customers as a brand but more importantly as a product to ensure they can have the real-world touch, feel, believe experience is so important.
“Video is something that so many oversee because they feel you can't do it online, but you can.
“I never thought 13 years ago when I started that this is where I would be. We are an international company, we are manufacturing and making, and it is all through digital solutions.”
Technology for Big on Shoes has integrated seamlessly and for Melissa, it is important to support businesses and our industry groups to embrace technology and continue the conversation through training and development across the region.
“At the end of the day we all have the same technology, and it is about how we can use that technology.
“I think with women it is very much a social and personal way of shopping, it is not about click and add it is the connection of the product, the videos that go with it and I think for success when it comes to shopping for women. It is about knowing your customer and what your customer wants and frame it in a way they can buy it online.”
For Melissa the Greater Whitsunday region is her home and is the power of the people that makes our region one of a kind.
“The crossover of industries across the region is diverse and vast and the people who live here are essential. From mining, agriculture, small business, retail and tourism, everybody is starting to work together.
“We are starting to see incredible outcomes. Our region is just starting to open the door on what can happen here and how good it is going to get.”