Enterprenuer
Anthony Tuong conceived an inside out idea when he began selling smoothies at the Northern Beaches’ Farmers’ Markets during the summer.
Anthony was a huge success at the markets and used his commerce law degree to crunch numbers to increase the business.
Soon, he tried his hand at almond milk production, eventually taking over his kitchen and bottling 17 bottles within four hours.
Anthony and his team expanded their almond milk offering to include a variety of non-dairy dairy milk.
These are available in both fresh and flavored varieties and cold brew coffees.
Inside Out, which initially focused on fresh almond and oatmeal milk, recently expanded into the long-life category.
This allows them to be more accessible and more relatable to consumers.
They have maintained their commitment to making only the highest-quality, natural products to make the best almond and oat milk.
Inside Out products can now be found in thousands of supermarkets throughout the country.
What is the story of Inside Out?
Inside Out wasn’t meant to be a business. My friend and I sold juices and smoothies in Bondi Farmers’ Markets while at university.
We decided not to use dairy or soy milk as the base of our smoothies, so we tried almond milk.
However, most almond milk available on the market were from overseas and were very average and full of preservatives.
Our homemade almond milk was a hit with farmers’ market customers. It took off from there.
How do you stay productive?
Chaos!. There is no routine to my day. Every day is different, and it all depends on the current business project.
There are usually 5-10 projects going at once. We have 13 people in non-production roles.
They are the most loyal, engaged, motivated, and dedicated members of our team.
I have many responsibilities.
I manage our management team, manage our finances, manage all shareholder and board relations, and develop our strategy.
Then I go out and implement it. You can go on and on.
Discipline is the best way to achieve productivity, in my opinion.
It is essential to keep the things that drive you forward, motivate you to go, and use them to accomplish one task.
I am very methodical and calculated in my approach to work.
I can complete immediate tasks with discipline while still understanding the bigger vision.
However, I believe that being responsive is more important than being reactive.
Things will often go wrong before things go right.
How do you bring ideas to life?
All things come from the customer. Please do your best to get to know them and what they are looking for.
Plant-based products are so new that there is plenty of growth potential.
Once you have a clear idea of the products consumers want, it is time to evaluate whether they fit market parameters.
Woolworths and other major channels such as foodservice are consistent in their operations.
No matter how great your idea is, if it doesn’t fit or work for Woolworths, it won’t work for anyone.
What’s your favorite trend?
Although this is not a topic that excites me, I believe it is rapidly changing.
Our generation finds it increasingly difficult to buy homes in the cities they want to live in a while still pursuing their chosen career.
Many people are giving up on their dream of owning a house and still enjoying their youth.
As people spend more money in this area, the variety of food and beverages available increases.
What habits make you productive?
To get the job done, you need to be hungry or obsessed. It’s not difficult to keep going until the job is done.
What’s your advice for the Noob?
When I was 16, I tried pro tennis and was in an accident with a motorbike when I was 18.
Maybe you shouldn’t ride that scooter. If you need business advice, start a more profitable business and ensure you support real people.
What is one thing we can all agree on?
I can say many things that people would not believe, but I know firsthand!
The main point is that working with major retailers isn’t as difficult as it seems.
What do you recommend as an entrepreneur?
Do the difficult things first.
What’s your rich strategy?
I believe I have made more mistakes than good decisions. In all honesty, however, I think that focusing on brand positioning and a long-term strategy has been key to our success.
My team and I were simultaneously working on and delivering both long-term and fresh initiatives.
This has opened us up to a new world, and we are now more approachable and relatable than ever.
How do you overcome Failure?
This journey is not without its failures. My mum and dad were the ones who started my business, with less than $1000.
We had no experience, money, or knowledge, and we didn’t have patent protection.
Although almond milk was new, it wasn’t revolutionary!
I have had many strategic failures. There have been funding and partnership failures.
But what keeps me going? I am having perspective. Knowing what is important and then working hard to get it.
But that doesn’t mean you should lose sight of the crucial things in your life.
Can you share a business idea?
Although this is unlikely to make anyone any money, it could be a way to create a labor-intensive company and then use your business and labor force to employ the homeless and those less fortunate.
You could build/sell/service cool things while also providing a public service.
Micro-loans are also a crucial part of our future, and I agree.
It is essential to discuss income and wealth distribution.
I believe our current finance system makes it easier for the wealthy to become super rich than for those who struggle to make ends meet.
We should seriously consider micro-loans for lower-income earners.
What’s your recent best buy?
You can get Pokemon cards. My life is so full of adulthood; nostalgia makes it super powerful!
What are your favorite Softwares or Apps?
I am a bit old-fashioned and prefer to keep everything written by hand. My notes app and reminders for my diary are both on my phone.
Which book would you recommend?
When I started my business, I read every book on entrepreneurship and startup.
I was not prepared for everything that would come. You won’t start your own business if you read too many books.
Learn materials that will help you accomplish your goals. You can learn the craft but keep your vision.
What’s your favorite quote?
“No one was born to hate another person because of their skin color, his religion, or his background.
Learn to hate, and then you can learn how to love. Nelson Mandela, It is my desktop background! Love is more natural to the human heart than hate.
TL;DR by Anthony Tuong
It was very reflective, which is difficult when you are involved in your business.
Recognize your failures and speak up. It’s impossible to win without losing some of your stuff.
Think about the future and look forward! This is important.
