While working in a full-time role, Elly Novosel started to get poached and referred to do freelance work for other small businesses. It reached a point where she decided that she had enough work to get her by if she only focused on freelancing. Within 6 months, Milk and Butter Media was registered, she renovated an office and hired staff to help her with the growing demand.
Milk and Butter Media is an agency with a focus on PR and Marketing. Specialising in the hospitality and beauty industry, they deliver tailored PR strategies, social media management, content creation, website development and graphics design. They pride themselves on being a results driven agency and are hands on with each of their clients to ensure they are generating brand awareness and increasing their traffic.
Here’s our chat with Elly.
Was there a significant turning point when you decided to become an entrepreneur?
The significant turning point when I decided to become an entrepreneur was when I sat my parents down to advise I will be leaving my full-time job to focus on freelancing, just to test the waters. Fortunately, this was a positive decision as I started to get busier and busier which put me in a position where I realised I can either continue to work from home and either work longer hours to get the jobs done or hire staff – hiring staff however would require a proper office. At this moment, I knew that Milk and Butter Media was going to be a business venture I was ready to establish.
Looking back is there a piece of advice you wish to pass onto someone starting out their entrepreneurial journey?
If you have the passion and the desire to start your entrepreneurial journey go with the flow, however don’t force anything. Give everything a go as you would rather look back and know you’ve attempted to follow your heart than look back and regret not trying a business venture you’ve had in mind.
In addition to that, please ensure to enforce a work-life balance. It is very easy to fall into the trap of becoming a work-a-holic and over working yourself, or your staff and this isn’t good for your overall wellbeing. Schedule your hours and your breaks.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Passion
Determination
Drive
Who do you look up to in business? Who inspires you?
There are many businesses that I look up to and inspire me. I would say Richard Branson has inspired me throughout my entrepreneur journey.
What was the best advice that you have been given?
Never give up. If something fails, it is just setting you up for something bigger and better!
What do you think your key to success has been?
Having determination to deliver results has been a key to success, as well as the relationships I have built with my clients.
How have you personally measured your success?
I have clients who have been with me since the first year which I believe measures my success quiet effectively. If Milk and Butter Media was not successful, these handful of clients would have left by now.
Outsource the skill or learn the skill?
Overall, it’s always best to learn the skill, even if it is basic knowledge, otherwise how can you confidently sell the service? Otherwise, if you don’t have capacity, outsource. If you have the capacity then learn the skill.
How do you generate new ideas?
New ideas are generated by research and having a creative mind that is always thinking outside of the box.
What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
My favorite aspect is being able to be a mentor to my staff members and being able to liaise with business owners directly.
Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Two businesses that I work with who I admire the most are
Face by SM: They have wonderful work culture and look after their staff and clients in a beautiful way. Seeing Face by SM go from working in a small suite at La Porte Space in Rosebery with only the owner there, to expanding to a space with 3 treatment rooms, a staff room, powder room and reception with staff is inspiring to see how you can progress one step at a time.
Santorini on Oxford: Their passion and determination to deliver the best authentic Greek food and welcoming environment for over 15 years is something that is admirable.
Where you see yourself and your business in 10 years?
Expanded to a bigger office and working on national projects.
Who are the women around you that allow you to thrive?
My mum and my sister are my biggest cheerleaders who allow me to thrive.
