From inception up until the setting up process, how did you start your business?
Our business started with the concept that Authentic Greek Dips would one day be part of the new Australian table.
My brother Christos started to sell Tarama (caviar dip) at the South Melbourne market some 35 years ago and soon found that he could do sufficient business to sustain himself.
I joined him shortly afterwards and together we set out to make the concept a reality.
We were very small to begin with and did most things ourselves, handmade the tarama, personally sold the products and of course handled the money.
We have outgrown several manufacturing facilities over the years and have settled in our large purpose built facility since 2000.
The steady unabated growth we have delivered since those humble beginnings has also provided me with the hands on experience and confidence to lead our business in a way that I hope our team finds is honest and natural.
Did your Greek Australian background help you or impede you during your early days?
I guess that my Greek Australian background was not something I had a choice about.
It has certainly not been an issue.
In fact my Greek background is a natural and obvious fit for our business along with my love for good home-style food of course.
I would like to think that our customers and our team at Black Swan would agree that Greeks and great tasting food are an obvious partnership.
What would you say stands out as the comparative advantage of your business over the competition?
We are good at many things. We are, after all, Australia’s favourite Dip brand – market leaders in our category.
At the end of the day it is the culture of our business, the way we do things at Black Swan, that sets us apart from our competitors.
Some of these differences are easy to express: for example, responsive to market trends and customer demands in a shorter time than our competitors – a real advantage given we are a medium sized company.
We also have great staff retention.
The differences associated with our culture are not so easy to express – it is just the way we are.
All of these go together and at the end of the day result in products and a brand that Australians trust.
How is business currently?
We continue to trade strongly. We have been in growth since year one and over the last four to five years have enjoyed double digit growth.
What is your vision for the future of your business?
Our business will continue to expand into related food areas where fresh, no preservative products are highly valued by consumers.
Products that are part of social occasions small or large.
Do you have any tips for young entrepreneurs?
Face reality head on yet still dare to dream.
Respect yourself and those around you at all times, be passionate.
Make sure you think long and act short. And always look after the money!
As a founding member and recent President of the Hellenic Business Forum I would be delighted to give feedback to young entrepreneurs and can be contacted on 03 95510611 or csaris@blackswan.com.au