The decision to start her own small business began with Isy Galey picking up a flyer while waiting in a dole queue at Centrelink.
That flyer turned out to be the Government’s new enterprise incentive scheme (NEIS) program, which gave Galey the training she needed to start up her first In.cube8r store in Melbourne in 2007. In.cube8r is based on Galey’s desire to support artists and designers who craft beautiful, handmade products without taking any commission on their work.
To keep her business profitable, while never taking a commission from her suppliers, Galey rents out glass cubes, 2D partitions and racks in the store to artists for a small sum each month. This means that the artists can then display their products any way they like and get 100 percent of any sales through the shop.
Less than three years later, Galey has franchised her business and opened another store in Brisbane.
In.cube8r business plan provides a great balance between the needs of both designers and business owners, says In.cube8r franchisee Vicki Sinclair.
“I wanted to find a way to spend my days doing something that I love. I (also) have accounts, marketing & clerical experience as well as my personal arts practice and I know that all of these attributes will be used daily,” Ms Sinclair said.
“I’m artistic myself and the ethical model behind the in.cube8r concept supports my own personal ethic and practice,” Ms Sinclair added.
In.cube8r has been nominated for NEIS awards and Business of the Year two years running.