Small-business | The Design Files | Australia's most popular design blog.

Cart (0)|Account

Architecture + Interiors

The Design Files Magazine →

The Design Files Directory →

How This Melbourne Brand Makes Buying The Perfect Paint Easier Than Ever

Meet the couple behind Tint, who are on a mission to help you find the right paint for your home.

How This Weaver Takes The ‘Ordinary’ To Create Something ‘Extraordinary’

How This Weaver Takes The ‘Ordinary’ To Create Something ‘Extraordinary’

How This Weaver Takes The ‘Ordinary’ To Create Something ‘Extraordinary’

Sundance Studio founder Emma Shepherd creates everything from textile hangings to patchwork pillows from her family farm in Flinders!

How Sense Of Self Became Melbourne's Go-To Bathing Destination

How Sense Of Self Became Melbourne's Go-To Bathing Destination

How Sense Of Self Became Melbourne's Go-To Bathing Destination

Creating a Squarespace website that embodied the brand's core ethos was a key factor in the success of the Melbourne day spa.

Meet The Designer Behind Some Of Australia’s Dreamiest Gardens

Meet The Designer Behind Some Of Australia’s Dreamiest Gardens

Meet The Designer Behind Some Of Australia’s Dreamiest Gardens

Get to know Tim Pilgrim and the inspirations behind his business designing idyllic, cottage-style gardens!

How Interior Decorator Lauren Egan Built Her Biz From The Ground Up

How Interior Decorator Lauren Egan Built Her Biz From The Ground Up

How Interior Decorator Lauren Egan Built Her Biz From The Ground Up

The Melbourne-based interior decorator shares how she did it and her advice for small business founders.

Meet Goodbye Gas: The Local Business Helping Households Go All-Electric

Meet Goodbye Gas: The Local Business Helping Households Go All-Electric

Meet Goodbye Gas: The Local Business Helping Households Go All-Electric

Ben Russell and his team of 'electrification experts' are making it easier than ever to ditch gas in favour of electric, renewable energy.

Meet The Small Melbourne Brand Reinventing The Humble Gumboot

From a humble farm in South Gippsland, Merry People has grown from a grassroots start-up, to a successful brand sold across the globe!

Inside KeepCup's ‘Reuse Revolution' + Impressively Sustainable Melbourne HQ

Inside KeepCup's ‘Reuse Revolution' + Impressively Sustainable Melbourne HQ

Inside KeepCup's ‘Reuse Revolution' + Impressively Sustainable Melbourne HQ

Co-founder Abigail Forsyth shares an inside look at the brand's innovative new Helix range and office, complete with solar power, native gardens and beehives!

A Local Business Championing Sustainable Construction Wins The Melbourne Design Week Award 2022

A Local Business Championing Sustainable Construction Wins The Melbourne Design Week Award 2022

A Local Business Championing Sustainable Construction Wins The Melbourne Design Week Award 2022

Managing director of Revival Projects, Robbie Neville, talks to us about his mission to bring change to the construction industry.

Building A Family Legacy On Local Manufacturing, With Abode Living

Building A Family Legacy On Local Manufacturing, With Abode Living

Building A Family Legacy On Local Manufacturing, With Abode Living

Amelia Marasco Adair takes us on a tour of the company's Camberwell HQ!

These Australian-Made, Non-Toxic Home Care Products Have Natural Super Powers!

These Australian-Made, Non-Toxic Home Care Products Have Natural Super Powers!

These Australian-Made, Non-Toxic Home Care Products Have Natural Super Powers!

Meet the husband and wife team behind Koala Eco - the Sydney based brand behind these all natural, divine-smelling home care & personal care products.

Julia Busuttil Nishimura's Top Tips For Building A Community Online

Julia Busuttil Nishimura's Top Tips For Building A Community Online

Julia Busuttil Nishimura's Top Tips For Building A Community Online

Our fave foodie and social media star has built a thriving, engaged online community. Here's how!

Launch It! How To Build A Website (All By Yourself) With Annie Portelli

Launch It! How To Build A Website (All By Yourself) With Annie Portelli

Launch It! How To Build A Website (All By Yourself) With Annie Portelli

Learn how to build a great-looking website, all by yourself. Seriously!

TDF Small Business Summer School : Styling + Photography, With Heather Nette King

TDF Small Business Summer School : Styling + Photography, With Heather Nette King

TDF Small Business Summer School : Styling + Photography, With Heather Nette King

Six expert styling and photography tips to help you launch your small business dream in 2021!

Our (Free!) Small Business Summer School Is Here!

Our (Free!) Small Business Summer School Is Here!

Our (Free!) Small Business Summer School Is Here!

We've partnered with Squarespace to help bring your business goals to life in 2021! First Up - Small Biz consultant Fiona Killackey shares her advice on getting started!

This Dynamic Duo Joined Forces During Lockdown, To Create The BEST Kids Prints Going Around!

This Dynamic Duo Joined Forces During Lockdown, To Create The BEST Kids Prints Going Around!

This Dynamic Duo Joined Forces During Lockdown, To Create The BEST Kids Prints Going Around!

Introducing V. Happy Co, alphabet art prints (+ more) for kids!

Expert Advice For Creatives, Freelancers and Small Business On Managing Your Finances In This Crisis

Expert Advice For Creatives, Freelancers and Small Business On Managing Your Finances In This Crisis

Expert Advice For Creatives, Freelancers and Small Business On Managing Your Finances In This Crisis

TDFs own bookkeeper shares her wisdom to help tackle the financial impact of COVID-19.

How Sussex Tapware Future-Proofed Their Family Business

How Sussex Tapware Future-Proofed Their Family Business

How Sussex Tapware Future-Proofed Their Family Business

Vanessa Katsanevakis shares how she turned around her father’s 29-year old tapware foundry.

Five Ways To Cultivate A Great Company Culture

Five Ways To Cultivate A Great Company Culture

Five Ways To Cultivate A Great Company Culture

Five ways to create a work environment that engages and inspires!

Minimum Wines, Maximum Delight From Matt + Lentil Purbrick

Minimum Wines, Maximum Delight From Matt + Lentil Purbrick

Minimum Wines, Maximum Delight From Matt + Lentil Purbrick

Matt and Lentil Purbrick of Growth and Gathered share their new minimum intervention wine label.

5 Ways To Make Instagram Great Again!

5 Ways To Make Instagram Great Again!

5 Ways To Make Instagram Great Again!

Our small business columnist on how to boost engagement and make the platform work for you!

5 Tips For Hiring A Dream Team

5 Tips For Hiring A Dream Team

5 Tips For Hiring A Dream Team

How to find and hire the right employees, with tips from Lucy, and Paris Thomson of SIRAP.

PR On Any Budget, With Tips From The Best In The Biz!

PR On Any Budget, With Tips From The Best In The Biz!

PR On Any Budget, With Tips From The Best In The Biz!

When it comes to publicity, is it simply a case of contacting media and hoping for the best? Four local PR experts respond!

How To Get That Side Project Started

How To Get That Side Project Started

How To Get That Side Project Started

Groupon, Unsplash, WeWork, Craigslist and even Twitter were created initially as side hustles – maybe it's time to get your idea off the ground?

How Can Your Business Give Back?

How Can Your Business Give Back?

How Can Your Business Give Back?

Make a positive impact through your workplace, with advice from the legends at Who Gives A Crap.

10 Top Tips From Creative Small Business Owners

10 Top Tips From Creative Small Business Owners

10 Top Tips From Creative Small Business Owners

The best advice from all the small business owners we've chatted to over the past two years!

Is Your Business All Set For 2019?

Is Your Business All Set For 2019?

Is Your Business All Set For 2019?

How to set goals for a successful new year with My Daily Business Coach.

Knowing When To Call In The Experts, According To KeepCup

Knowing When To Call In The Experts, According To KeepCup

Knowing When To Call In The Experts, According To KeepCup

This Melbourne-born business has taken the world by storm, but they haven't gone it alone.

How-To Network For Small Business · Creative Mornings

How-To Network For Small Business · Creative Mornings

How-To Network For Small Business · Creative Mornings

Two of the best professional development gurus we know share their tips on making connections to benefit your biz.

Scaling Up A Small Business, With Firecracker Event

Scaling Up A Small Business, With Firecracker Event

Scaling Up A Small Business, With Firecracker Event

Our small business expert chats to caterer Cassie Lucas about scaling up, feeling the fear and doing it anyway!

How To Build Community Around Your Business

How To Build Community Around Your Business

How To Build Community Around Your Business

How investing in Community has been the secret to success for Australia's favourite independent bookseller, Readings.

Demystifying Supply Chains + Logistics With T2

Demystifying Supply Chains + Logistics With T2

Demystifying Supply Chains + Logistics With T2

Overwhelmed by business buzzwords? This case study with the legends who turned a single shop in Fitzroy into a global powerhouse should clear things up.

EOFY Money Matters With Counting Clouds

EOFY Money Matters With Counting Clouds

EOFY Money Matters With Counting Clouds

TDF's very own brilliant bookkeeper gives us the lowdown on small business finance.

5 Steps To Launch A Business

5 Steps To Launch A Business

5 Steps To Launch A Business

Our small biz whiz, Fiona Killackey, talks with the founders of new locker brand, Mustard, on launching with a bang.

Analysing Analytics · Studio Elke

Analysing Analytics · Studio Elke

Analysing Analytics · Studio Elke

Fiona Killackey chats to Elke Kramer and Kate Hurst of object and jewellery brand Studio Elke, about the importance of crunching the numbers.

Building A Team · Foolscap Studio

Building A Team · Foolscap Studio

Building A Team · Foolscap Studio

Adele Winteridge, founder of award-winning Foolscap Studio, talks balancing people, purpose and profit.

How To Collaborate Right · Robert Gordon

How To Collaborate Right · Robert Gordon

How To Collaborate Right · Robert Gordon

It may be trending, but is creative collaboration worth the effort for your business?

New Year's Resolutions Of An Overly-Ambitious Multitasker · Elle Murrell

New Year's Resolutions Of An Overly-Ambitious Multitasker · Elle Murrell

Our Managing Editor, Elle, tackles 'Adulting', with three key 2018 goals.

New Year's Resolutions of a Filmmaker · Paris Thomson

New Year's Resolutions of a Filmmaker · Paris Thomson

New Year's Resolutions of a Filmmaker · Paris Thomson

How to make your dreams come true in 2018, according to the ever-inspiring founder of SIRAP motion studio!

The Planthunter's 'Things to Meander Towards in 2018’

The Planthunter's 'Things to Meander Towards in 2018’

The Planthunter's 'Things to Meander Towards in 2018’

Our gardens columnist Georgina Reid keeps new year's goal-setting real, with a trio of 'things to meander towards in 2018’.

New Year's Resolutions of a Freelance Photographer · Caitlin Mills

New Year's Resolutions of a Freelance Photographer · Caitlin Mills

New Year's Resolutions of a Freelance Photographer · Caitlin Mills

A fortnight into 2018, Caitlin Mills has her sights set on the balancing act of professional improvements plus chill-out time and companionship.

A Business Guru's Guide to 2018 Goal Setting (Part 2!)

A Business Guru's Guide to 2018 Goal Setting (Part 2!)

A Business Guru's Guide to 2018 Goal Setting (Part 2!)

Our Small Business Columnist Fiona Killackey offers her tips for setting and reaching your business goals.

Goal Setting with 6 of Australia's Fave Creatives · Part 1

Goal Setting with 6 of Australia's Fave Creatives · Part 1

Goal Setting with 6 of Australia's Fave Creatives · Part 1

A bunch of brilliant local creatives and entrepreneurs talk 2017 highlights, aims for 2018, and big-picture planning.

New Year's Resolutions of an Editor/Stylist · Lucy Feagins

New Year's Resolutions of an Editor/Stylist · Lucy Feagins

New Year's Resolutions of an Editor/Stylist · Lucy Feagins

Our Editor/Founder/Boss Lady shares three of her 2018 goals.

Going Global · Georgia Perry

Going Global · Georgia Perry

Going Global · Georgia Perry

Our last Small Biz column for the year offers global inspiration for local small business.

Website Optimisation · Cultiver

Website Optimisation · Cultiver

Website Optimisation · Cultiver

A case study on the Sydney-based linen brand, with tips to make the most of your online presence.

Partners in Life and Work

Partners in Life and Work

Partners in Life and Work

Words of wisdom from successful couples who live and work together.

Get CV Savvy

Get CV Savvy

Get CV Savvy

We talk stand-out job applications with Anna Ross of Kester Black and Abigail Crompton of Third Drawer Down.

Recommended Reading

Recommended Reading

Recommended Reading

Two of our favourite book lovers share their top reads.

Marketing Strategy · Bonnie and Neil

Marketing Strategy · Bonnie and Neil

Marketing Strategy · Bonnie and Neil

Fiona Killackey discovers how the homewares studio has managed to balance marketing needs with creative output.

The Value of Mentors

The Value of Mentors

The Value of Mentors

Sommelier Matt Skinner, artist Reko Rennie, and the Dowel Jones duo reflect on the importance of positive role models.

Retail Strategy · Dinosaur Designs

Retail Strategy · Dinosaur Designs

Retail Strategy · Dinosaur Designs

Dinosaur Designs Co-Founder and Creative Director Lousie Olsen shares insights into the success of her iconic retail brand.

Advice on Changing Tack

Advice on Changing Tack

Advice on Changing Tack

Annie Abbott of footwear phenomenon Habbot, and Mr Draper’s Alistair Birrell talk plotting a new career.

Achieving Work/Life Balance

Achieving Work/Life Balance

Achieving Work/Life Balance

This afternoon we explore the ideal of ‘work/life balance’. Is it ACTUALLY attainable? Tamara Maynes of The Establishment Studios and Emilio Fuscaldo from Nest Architects think IT IS, and kindly share some of their valuable insights!

Mastering Visual Content · Pony Rider

Mastering Visual Content · Pony Rider

Mastering Visual Content · Pony Rider

A case study on creating a strong aesthetic and consistently engaging visuals for your brand.

Tips on Motivating Teams

Tips on Motivating Teams

Tips on Motivating Teams

Amanda Henderson of Gloss Creative, and Berry Liberman of Small Giants share food-for-thought on motivating their respective teams.

Kitchen Essentials

Kitchen Essentials

Kitchen Essentials

The tools restauranteur Michael Pham, cook/author Julia Busuttil Nishimura, and caterer Cassie Lucas can't cook without!

Email Marketing · Third Drawer Down

Email Marketing · Third Drawer Down

Email Marketing · Third Drawer Down

Our Small Business columnist talks segmenting audience, the power of personalisation and loveable GIFs.

Top Creative Apps

Top Creative Apps

Top Creative Apps

Inspiring intel from our favourite local creatives.

Ideas on Productivity

A new short and snappy series of inspiring quotes from our fave local creatives.

Profit with Purpose · Koskela

Can money and meaning co-exist?

Chelsea Bagan of Trophy Wife Salon

Chelsea Bagan of Trophy Wife Salon

Chelsea Bagan of Trophy Wife Salon

Chelsea Bagan runs Trophy Wife, a unique nail art service and beauty salon in Richmond.

Abigail Crompton of Third Drawer Down

Abigail Crompton of Third Drawer Down

Abigail Crompton of Third Drawer Down

Lessons learnt with Abigail Crompton, the inspiring entrepreneur behind Third Drawer Down, a multifaceted creative retail and design / production business in Melbourne.

Sophie Storen and Nicole De Bono of Cookes Food

Sophie Storen and Nicole De Bono of Cookes Food

Christopher Boots

Christopher Boots

Annie Abbott of Habbot

Annie Abbott of Habbot

Annie Abbott of Habbot

Daine Singer, Gallerist

Jeremy Wortsman of The Jacky Winter Group

Cindy-Lee Davies of Lightly

Cindy-Lee Davies of Lightly

Cindy-Lee Davies of Lightly

Amy and Joel Malin of Modern Times

Amy and Joel Malin of Modern Times

Anna Ross of Kester Black

Anna Ross of Kester Black