Byron Bay Gifts began, like many businesses, humbly. In 2012, Zoe Gordon and her husband, Tony Cox, were well-established in their chosen careers, but something was missing. Zoe had a strong desire to make something of her own, to move away from the confines and pressures of corporate advertising to discover a unique business idea. Whilst visiting a friend on a weekend away in Byron, Zoe was impressed by the offerings at the local markets. So many fantastic products from family-run companies were thriving in the region for a good reason! And with this, the concept of Byron Bay Gifts was born!
Before she knew it, Zoe had registered her business name and began the arduous journey of creating a website to start selling these local products. Having worked for years in advertising, her experience in marketing was limited, but this didn't phase her one bit. Hours upon hours were spent navigating and researching the world of e-commerce - an ever-changing space with an endless slew of platforms to master, and master she did! With this new chapter, Zoe and Tony decided to relocate to the area to be more intertwined with the community they were working with. As soon as they got settled, Zoe was busy beginning an online cleaning directory to help get Byron Bay Gifts off the ground with the support of a second income; working tirelessly, they both put in their all. Despite others having their cautions and voicing their doubts about this leap of faith, they were not deterred; it simply boosted their motivation to establish a truly successful business.
Zoe and Tony’s point of difference is their passion and deep commitment to hard work, business development and supporting other local businesses in the process. Like anything, slow and steady wins the race, but with a clear goal and strong desire to fulfil their dreams, things gradually started to pick up. By 2016 they quit their cleaning business but still took on part-time jobs for extra earnings that went immediately into further building Byron Bay Gifts. By channelling this positive energy and determination, in 2018, the business was making enough profit to become their full-time job and shortly after this, they got the keys to their first warehouse; merely a year later, they were already in need of a bigger space. The customer demand was constantly rising, which fueled their desire to keep going and keep growing. When Covid-19 hit, the market changed, and everyone needed everything delivered! From individuals to corporate companies, sending hampers and thoughtful gift boxes began trending, and Byron Bay Gifts was set up to help. Having spent a lot of time dedicated to establishing their presence online and within the local community, their sales and business were in a good place to significantly increase.
Today, they have a dedicated team of employees working year-round to send out their expanding range and offerings across Australia. The hard work certainly continues, and as business owners, Zoe and Tony are forever adapting to the changing climates, but by following their intuition, the only way is up!