Category: B2B

What Happened To TradeSquare?

At Trading Tree, we were disappointed to hear the recent news about TradeSquare shutting down its operations in Australia without notifying its customers directly. We understand the shock and frustration that many small businesses must be feeling, having relied on TradeSquare to connect with wholesalers and retailers.Maintaining personal relationships with suppliers and customers is at the heart of what we do at Trading Tree. We believe that building a strong community of small businesses that support each other is essential for long-term success. We can’t imagine how such a situation could occur, but we suspect that pressure from venture capital backers of TradeSquare may have been to blame. That’s why we prioritise building a sustainable business from day one and avoiding any unsustainable business decisions that could put our customers at risk.
As we grow, we intend to offer comprehensive training and support services to help businesses grow and succeed. We believe that introducing more community and training can support sustainable business growth. By working together and promoting ethical practices, small businesses can build a thriving community that supports long-term success.We take pride in our commitment to transparency and openness in our operations. Unlike some other marketplaces that rush to market or cut corners to save costs, we take the time to ensure that our platform is sustainable from day one.We want to assure our customers that we care deeply about their experience and want it to be amazing. That’s why we have not rushed to launch our platform. We encourage you to join us in our mission and let’s build a better future for small businesses together.

Meet Sue

Sue is the inspirational leader behind Trading Tree, a company dedicated to improving the lives of Australian businesses. Her new marketplace Trading Tree provides a valuable platform for small businesses to connect, share knowledge, and receive support to help them flourish.

Sue recently shared her personal story, unique perspective, and the valuable lessons she has learned throughout her career in a compelling interview. Through her passion and unwavering commitment to her vision, Sue is a driving force in the industry, making a positive impact on the lives of countless businesses across Australia.

Passion for Health & Business

Sue is an entrepreneur who has dedicated her life to health and wellness, both physically and holistically, and helping others. After starting her working life as part of the first group of Australian employees for Microsoft, she soon found another love, business.

She pursued her passion and started her first side hustle as an Aerobic Instructor. At the age of 25, she opened her first retail Health & Fitness business in Bondi Junction, which grew into a national chain with the assistance of business partners.

Over the following 30 years, Sue’s business won a highly sought-after NSW Government Tender for Fire & Rescue and beat some of the country’s biggest suppliers to secure a massive Australian Army contract (largest capital works project since WW2), expanding into wholesale distribution. 

After starting a family and opting out of city life, Sue moved back to the coastal country town she grew up in and continued to operate her wholesale business in a side hustle capacity while juggling life raising her two sons.

Unique Perspective

Sue’s drive to succeed comes from the grit to survive and push through when she doesn’t think she has the energy or the will to get out of bed. At the age of 23, and only a newlywed, Sue tragically lost her new husband to cancer.

She was alone in the city, with a newly “purchased” (read mortgaged) home with interest rates at 17.5% and unemployed. She had to pick herself up, dust herself off, and find a job to cover the mortgage, which eventually led to her starting her first side-hustle business.

Sue’s experience has given her a unique perspective on the struggles of small business owners, especially those who are juggling a side-hustle while also balancing their personal lives. She believes that the journey of life can be especially challenging for women who are struggling to balance their responsibilities. And that is why she has started the Struggling Sister of the Side Hustle program, to provide support and guidance for women in similar situations.

Vision and Purpose

Trading Tree’s mission is centred around empowering small businesses to grow and succeed. At the heart of this mission is Sue’s BHAG, or Big Hairy Audacious Goal, which is to help improve the lives of 500,000 Aussie businesses and assist 10,000 sisters of the Side Hustle to achieve their dreams through the program by 2027.

The platform achieves this goal by providing a space where small business owners can connect with each other and buy and sell quality wholesale goods. Through Trading Tree, entrepreneurs can network with other like-minded individuals, share their experiences, and learn from one another.

In addition, Trading Tree offers the Sisters of the Side Hustle program, which is specifically designed to support women entrepreneurs. This program provides a community of support and resources to help female business owners achieve their goals and realize their dreams.

The ultimate goal of Trading Tree is to contribute to the economic vitality of Australia by supporting the growth and success of small businesses. By connecting business owners and sharing knowledge, Trading Tree is helping to foster a supportive network that can provide valuable resources and advice to entrepreneurs seeking to grow and succeed.

Important Lessons

Sue has a mantra in life that she lives by, and that is the belief that happiness is contagious. Her infectious smile and positive attitude earned her the moniker of “Smiling Sue”.

She firmly believes that by leading a life filled with positivity and happiness, others around you will be drawn to your energy and want to be a part of what you are doing. This is particularly relevant in business, where positivity and happiness can help foster strong relationships with clients, employees, and other stakeholders.

One of the most important lessons Sue has learned in business is the value of clear communication with all stakeholders. This means taking the time to ask powerful questions and ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands who is doing what. When communication is not clear, it can lead to misunderstandings and confusion, which can impact the success of the business.

Motivation and Beliefs

The development of Trading Tree has been met with obstacles and challenges, but Sue’s determination to succeed remains unwavering. She firmly believes that the platform will flourish as long as she dedicates her time and attention with love. 

Sue’s drive for helping others comes from the 3 people she considers inspiring in her life. First is Sue’s mum, a dedicated teacher.  Even though her job wasn’t directly related to business, Sue’s mum always went above and beyond to help the students. Her selflessness and work ethic left a real impact on Sue and gave her the drive to help others. 

As a professional, Sue got inspired by her close friend Lisa who runs Coach Global Australia.  Lisa’s determination to build a business that helps people all around the world is truly inspiring to Sue. Sue tells us that Lisa always finds a way to solve problems and her people-centric approach has earned her respect and admiration in the industry.

Lastly, Sue’s personal inspiration comes from Louis Hay the philosopher behind “Heal Your Life”. Sue pursued coaching and teaching certifications under Louis Hay. In that work, Sue found deep fulfilment in witnessing the transformation of people attending her workshops. It gave her a real sense of purpose. 

These big three sources of inspiration shaped her determination to succeed and her commitment to helping others. She recognizes that purpose, teamwork and delegation are key to achieving success and is committed to put in the hard work and effort to make her vision a reality.

And the story continues…

Sue’s journey is an inspiring example for anyone facing challenges in their personal or professional lives. Her passion, unwavering determination, and optimistic outlook have enabled her to overcome obstacles and achieve remarkable success.

Sue’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, positive thinking, and a strong sense of purpose. Her unwavering commitment to helping Australian businesses succeed is a true inspiration, and a reminder that with hard work, dedication, and a positive attitude, anything is possible.

Now you can join the movement!

Here’s the exciting part for Australian wholesaler buyers and sellers! You can now become part of Sue’s vision. Simply head to Trading Tree’s website and join with a free trial. 

Get Our 5 Secrets to Soaring Wholesale Sales in 2023

Is Wholesaling an Art or Science?

We think it’s a balance, albeit tilted. When you get that balance right, sales skyrocket.
The following secrets we’re sharing today can help you achieve that balance and make your brand stand out against competitors.At Trading Tree, our mission is to help Aussie businesses by providing them the tools they need to shine in wholesale sales.Let’s explore the fullest potential of your brand to skyrocket in 2023. We’ll keep it short and simple here.Once you’re revved up and ready to soar, get our FREE downloadable full guide (with formulas) via the link at the end of this post!

The Secrets To Soaring Wholesale Sales

1. Pricing

Now we all can agree on one thing, “Pricing is Hard!”. It’s not only about putting a price on your products and offering up these products to the worldIt’s about finding that sweet spot to grab the attention of potential buyers – that perfect balance between value and cost.Unfortunately, there is no other way to go around it. One of the many factors that influences your brand’s success will be its price. We’re talking about factors like:

• Materials Cost
• Labour
• Time
• Overheads
• Profit

But don’t let that discourage you! All you need is the right formula based on your business model.Whether you’re manufacturing inhouse or offering subsidised freight – we have the formulas for you in the complete guide!We’ve listed pricing as the first point. Why? Because if not set correctly, it could result in negative figures in your books, even when you’re selling your products like hot cakes!

2. Processes

Love them or hate them, Amazon has set the standards for fast delivery and efficiency.Meeting customers’ expectations is crucial in keeping your brand competitive today.In order for your brand to be competitive, your ordering and delivery process should be simple and swift!Take a moment to reflect – what are your current end-to-end processes like? Stock levels, order processing, delivery – is everything running smoothly? Any hiccups might impact your customers and cause them to look for a more reliable wholesaler on their next order.

3. Customers

Getting more of the right wholesale customer is a great way to grow your business.These buyers can boost your business by helping to promote your offerings to their contacts. This way, your brand is able to tap into many networks and gain more reach in the wholesale industry.Word-of-mouth has always been one of the best ways for a brand to grow. It increases your customer base through positive testimonials.Now that you know how the right buyers can benefit you, the only question left is how do we get them?Hint: You can join Trading Tree where we do all the heavy lifting for you!Buyers can find and order products listed on our wholesale marketplace with ease! By joining us, you can potentially reach these new buyers.Raring to bring your brand to the next level? Hold your horses!We’ve saved the best for last! The remaining 2 secrets are turbo charged to skyrocket your business into the stratosphere!!What do you think they could be? So far we’ve only touched on parts of the 5 Secrets in this post to keep it brief and inspire you.Want to know more? Click on the banner below to download the full guide and formulas now for free:

5 Secrets to Soaring Wholesale Sales in 2023