Logan City locals were treated to business and life advice from one of the country’s most successful business owners, Phil Di Bella.
He spoke to Logan City business owners at the Meadowbrook Golf Club this morning (Friday November 13).
He shared his story, and some of his secrets for success.
In 2002, Phil Di Bella was a young entrepreneur with a passion for coffee, who started a small coffee-roasting operation in the Brisbane suburb of Bowen Hills. He named this company Di Bella Coffee.
Over the next decade his humble coffee roasting operation began to expand quickly.
Di Bella Coffee was even recognised in the 2006, 2007, and 2009 Business Review Weekly Fast 100.
He then merged his four coffee companies, Di Bella Coffee, Roasting Australia, Di Bella USA, and Evolution Roasters NZ, to form one of Australia’s largest roast and ground coffee enterprises, Di Bella. Which he then sold for nearly $5 million.
He said his business advice was applicable to anyone who owned or worked for a business in Logan City.
“It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in….I don’t care if you’re an expert in law, accounting, IT, you’re a great photographer…it’s about people,” he said.
“At the end of the day all you’re doing is connecting a person to a product or service.
“In your business it’s about how do you get people emotionally engaged to choose you.
“My first suggestion is to spend a lot more time becoming an expert of people, rather than becoming an expert in what you do.”
He says he drove home to Logan City businesses that the key to success was selling their story to create emotional engagement.
“You need to let people know you have a solution to their problems through your compelling story” he said.
“It’s about personal branding. Yours and your businesses. You’ve got to be the best you can be and be consistent.
“And not just you but everyone who works under you. Everyone needs to be selling your compelling story and upholding your personal brand. While solving your customers’ problems.”
Mr Di Bella says he’s currently working on a new project called ‘Coffee Commune’.
Coffee Commune is scheduled to go live in March next year at Bowen Hills.
He said it will aim to educate and network suppliers, roasters, baristas, coffee enthusiasts, and venue owners in a membership-based consultancy business with an upmarket café on-site.
“It’s kind of like a coffee chamber of commerce,” he said.
