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When Te-Anu Braidie returned from her dream vacation in Egypt, the wife and mother of two worried that her employer’s sudden decision to sell the business could leave her without a job. With the global economic crisis in full swing, she knew that if the worst should happen, her chances of finding another job in her hometown were slim. Then in a stunning reversal of fortune, Te-Anu was given the opportunity to buy the business and on 1 July 2009, she took over the reigns of Snap Printing in Williamstown, Victoria.
Te-Anu Braidie had long wanted to see Egypt, but family and work commitments had always come first. As well as working full-time, Te-Anu is raising two sons, the oldest of whom is Autistic. During her son’s formative years, Te-Anu was a single parent and doing it tough financially. But then she met a wonderful man who loved her enough to take on the role of co-parent to her Autistic child. The couple married and eventually had a son together.
For her 40th birthday, Te-Anu’s husband surprised her with a trip to Egypt in early 2009. But an even bigger surprise was waiting for Te-Anu’ when she returned home. After maxing out the credit cards on her dream vacation, the news that she could be out of job was the last thing Te-Anu wanted to hear on her return to work.
“I had just arrived back home from a life-changing trip to Egypt to the news that I could be out of a job, depending on the new owners. They were actually selling because I had done a good job turning the business around,” said Te-Anu.
Te-Anu is no stranger to the printing and publishing industry, having worked in print management, web-printing and sales for the Hobson’s Bay Leader and whilst it was true, she had done a wonderful job turning her employer’s small business around in the preceding months, her position at Snap Printing in Williamstown was no longer secure. However, the team at Snap Franchising had other ideas.
Snap Franchising had heard about Te-Anu’s outstanding contribution to the business and they weren’t about to risk losing such a talented member of the Snap Printing family, to one of their competitors.
Te-Anu explains, “Snap Franchising suggested that I would be an ideal person to buy the business. One minute I was on holiday and the next, I was making a decision about investing in a printing business.”
Although she did take up the offer to buy the business, Te-Anu didn’t take this decision lightly.
“I did my homework. My husband and I poured over the books until we were satisfied it was a sound investment. It certainly wasn’t part of the plan – but here I am, a small business owner!”
When she was two weeks into her new career as a business owner, Te-Anu told me she was having loads of fun. And while she is confident the print and design centre would continue to do well, she was well aware of the difficulties she could face due to the economic environment.
“If I can borrow from the military, I like to think I can ‘improvise, adapt and overcome’ any problems that come my way.”