Hayley's Hustlers - Design By Thea

Hayley is shining a light on the local girls who are getting it done with their side hustles! 

Design By Thero:

I discovered my passion for sewing in Year 6 when I was gifted my grandmas sewing machine, and my mum taught me how to sew. I started by making scrunchies and selling them to friends at school, sparking my entrepreneurial journey and the beginning of Design by Thea. Over time, I expanded my product ranges to include wheat bags, tote bags and book sleeves, with some of my designs now stocked at Dymocks Glenelg. The week after I completed my Year 12 exams last year, I launched the website for my jewellery business, Thea Nicole. Running these businesses has fueled my love for entrepreneurship, allowing me to develop new skills, connect with amazing people, and continuously explore new opportunities.

@designbythea_au

@theanicole_au

@theacommunications

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
My Heart podcasts here more mixed one or two point
three podcasts, playlists and listen live on the free iHeart app.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Now he was a hustler.

Speaker 3 (00:19):
This is Hailey's.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Hustlers celebrating South I was East side hustles Nicks.

Speaker 4 (00:27):
All right, we're doing this because in my other life
in Adelaide and hellosay, I celebrate the businesses, the local
small businesses in South Australia and something I'm so passionate about.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
And I love when people start a.

Speaker 4 (00:39):
Side hustle that turns into a little business for them
and they deserve to have a platform so we can
sing their praises.

Speaker 1 (00:45):
And we love seeing South Australia businesses succeed because when
they succeed, it feels like we've contributed.

Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yes, just by living near these people.

Speaker 4 (00:53):
And you can register on our website, jump on, get
on Facebook, Instagram, dm us. We have found someone today
who's not just doing a side hustle. But what I'm
more interested in is this person is young. This person
started business when they were in school.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
Yeah, so it's not the I got to the age
of forty and decided my career I'm going to do
this on the side.

Speaker 4 (01:14):
This is inspiring for young entrepreneurs. Please welcome far who.

Speaker 5 (01:20):
Thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 3 (01:21):
Hello, we are so excited that you're here.

Speaker 4 (01:23):
Can you share with us how you started your beautiful business?

Speaker 2 (01:28):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (01:28):
So I have two small businesses, Disagned by THEA and
THEA Nicole disarn By. There is my sewing business where
I sell handmade wheat bags, books, leaves, tote bags and
custom doorbows.

Speaker 1 (01:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
I love wheat bags and.

Speaker 3 (01:40):
You love the custom doorbows at Christmas time.

Speaker 4 (01:42):
You know those big bows.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
A bow on a door that does have sense to me?
I understand now.

Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (01:47):
And then Nicole is my jury business for I sell
handcrafted Greek inspired necklaces and bracelets on my website, THEA Nicole.

Speaker 3 (01:55):
How young were you when you started?

Speaker 1 (01:57):
So?

Speaker 5 (01:57):
I was in year six, So I was twelve when
I was gifted my grandmother's sewing machine and my mum
taught me how to sew. I started sewing scrunch cheese
and I would sell them at school to my friends.
And that's just really how my loveentrepreneurship began and how
Designbathia started.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Why did you start doing businesses?

Speaker 5 (02:12):
Well, I had really good role models and lots of
business experts that I was looking up to. Well, I
just really loved creating things and that's really how I
started sewing, because I loved creating and selling products that
brought people joy.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
And that's really what I've really carried.

Speaker 5 (02:26):
Through my business journey as I've developed new products and
I've loved interacting with business owners and customers.

Speaker 4 (02:31):
As a young person, what do you find the hardest
thing about having a business.

Speaker 5 (02:35):
Well, there's many challenges small businesses face, but trying to
get yourself out there in the community. So I love running,
I love having market stores, and that's sort of why
I created my new account called The Communications, which is
a business where I'm connecting, collaborating and connecting with small
business owners and big businesses within South Australia. So I've
just been filming short little interviews, getting to know the

(02:57):
businesses and promoting products and the businesses that have supported me.

Speaker 4 (03:01):
That is exactly what you do in Adelaide, in a
town like Adelaide to get your name out there. It
is about collaborating with people and not making any enemy
as well.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
Can I just get a confirmation with how old are
you to have all of these businesses?

Speaker 2 (03:12):
I'm eighteen now.

Speaker 3 (03:14):
Three businesses, she's eighteen. You are a juggernaut. You're going
to go places? Where do you want to be as
a business owner.

Speaker 5 (03:23):
I just hope to continue to grow them. I just
have to see because the communications I hope to grow
that continue promoting businesses. And then with design by they
just continue developing and designing your products, and I just
have to see where where I can take it.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
We never ask anyone their salary, but as an eighteen
year old with three businesses, are you making some money?

Speaker 3 (03:40):
Well?

Speaker 5 (03:41):
I also have a couple part time jobs, but small
business is hard, so trying to juggle it all and
you have to try to make your money back once
you spend it all on stock and supplies, and.

Speaker 3 (03:50):
It's a lot of it's all my time.

Speaker 5 (03:52):
So yeah, I don't know how you equate that in
money because I just spend all my days working on
it when I'm not at UNI.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
So yeah, it's a bit tricky.

Speaker 1 (03:59):
But because then a lot of people get into these
sort of things, is they're like, this is a million
dollar idea, but it sounds like.

Speaker 2 (04:04):
You are in it because you just love being in business.

Speaker 1 (04:07):
I do.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
I just love it.

Speaker 4 (04:09):
Thea you have brought in some of your products today
to show us what have you got.

Speaker 5 (04:13):
So I've brought in my wheatbags, which are made with
Australian premium food grade wheat. I have them stocked in
stores across Essay including DIMIs on Gitty Road, and they
are also available to purchase on my website. But I
bought three in in the mixed colors pink and black.

Speaker 4 (04:27):
Oh yeah, topic Max is always sore because he's a
as an athlete.

Speaker 2 (04:33):
All the time, every wheat gets the biggest workout.

Speaker 3 (04:37):
Same.

Speaker 5 (04:38):
I've also brought in my book sleeves wit.

Speaker 2 (04:41):
To keep the books warm more well.

Speaker 5 (04:42):
I designed this product for Dimmix because I noticed that
they didn't sell a product like it. And it's for
when you're traveling and just to keep your book safe.
It's got parted pocket.

Speaker 1 (04:51):
For at the top because you travel with your book
and all of the corners get folded. Go and have
a look designed by THEA, THEA Nicole and THEA Communications
all on Instagram. Thank you THEA.

Speaker 5 (05:04):
Thank you so much for.

Speaker 1 (05:05):
Having me put a spotlight on your small business through
Hailey's Hustles.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
Just register at mix one O two three, dot com
dot U