Talkshop. The Workshop Talkshow by Al + Imo

G'day guys, we're in with a short announcement that we're wrapping up a long season 1 of Talkshop Podcast! It's time for us to go on a baby-growing / house building break. We'll be back with season 2 after we welcome our beautiful baby girl later in the year. A huge shoutout to everyone who's tuned into the show, it's been such a pleasure connecting with you all from all over the world! To keep up to date you can follow us on Instagram or you can join us inside Talkshop Insiders! x IMO + ALSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys, we're back with a new episode of Talkshop - and a completely different type, we thought we'd record an episode that's not 'strictly business'. It doesn't follow a plan and it's essentially just myself and Al having a chat about a few things that have been on our minds recently. We'd love to hear your feedback as to whether we should record more like this. As always, thanks for tuning in!IMO + ALSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

Do you ever post to social media and then... nothing?In today's digital age, social media has become a crucial platform for businesses to reach and engage with their target audience. However, with millions of users and ever-changing algorithms, it can be challenging to stand out from the crowd and attract new followers. In this episode, we will explore effective strategies to help you reach new audiences on social media and grow your online presence. From optimising your content to leveraging other users' audiences, these tips will help you expand your reach and connect with potential customers.We hope you enjoy this episode! My Daily Business Coach Podcast Episode with Imo https://alandimo.com.au/journal/my-daily-business-coach-interview-with-imoFiddes Hardwax Oil Discount https://www.fiddesaustralia.com/?ref=363Discount Code - al_and_imo15 Expiry: 31-3-23Limitations: Single use per customer /Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offersSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

Recently a friend with a business had their Instagram disabled, they had over 40K followers, had spent tens of thousands of dollars on advertising through the platform, and heavily relied on it as a main sales channel. This was months ago and after trying everything and anything to get their account back they kept hitting dead ends and have had to start all over, from scratch. This thought has always frightened us, we're never ones to put all of our eggs in one basket. In this episode wee chat about the importance of multi-platform marketing and the platforms we choose to be on.Enjoy! AL + IMOSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

Being productive in a woodworking workshop can require a lot of time, effort, and focus. Whether you're a professional furniture-maker or a hobbyist, there are a few key strategies you can use to maximise your productivity and get more done. In this episode, we're going to share with you our top productivity tips and things we've learned during our time full-time making. Whether you're working on small projects or large ones, these tips can help you stay focused, organised, and productive, and help you get the most out of your workshop time.Enjoy! AL + IMOSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

We'll never forget the moments when both Al and myself started working full-time in our furniture-making business. The transition didn't happen overnight, however it did happen a lot quicker than we expected. Before furniture making Al worked as a domestic carpenter working on high-end architectural residential builds. When we started Al + Imo it was a weekend side hustle. When the work picked up Al negotiated with his boss to drop Mondays to work on furniture. When we got busier again he started working one week on carpentry and one week on furniture. We set a goal to move into furniture-making full-time by the end of 2017, which became a reality six months after setting the goal. We felt confident with the switch because we had three months' worth of furniture work lined up with a constant stream of enquiries, Al had carpentry to fall back on easily and I was still working my full-time job. Basically, we had a backup plan if the work dried up. That is was in 2017 and the only building site Al's stepped back on is our own house build. In 2020 I joined the business full-time and officially quit my day job. The business was making enough to cover expenses and pay us both a wage and super. It felt like the right time to throw all of my energy into growing Al and Imo. If you want to quit your day job to focus on a new business full-time, it's important to carefully consider the decision and plan carefully to ensure the best chance of success. In this episode, we share our story and some steps you might take before you jump in!ENJOY! AL + IMOSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

Juggling the responsibilities of running a business and parenting can be a challenging task, we've had so many ups and downs since starting our furniture-making business in 2016. It requires careful planning and organisation, as well as effective communication with your partner especially when kids come into the picture.With some careful planning and a supportive network, it is possible to successfully balance the demands of both roles. In this episode, we share with you some stories of our journey running a business as a husband and wife duo & things we've learned becoming parents. ENJOY! AL + IMOSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

We're stoked that you are here - it means you're keen on having a pretty epic 2023 - just like us!! We have been writing yearly goals lists together for the past 7 years, we do it at the beginning of each year. Although we don't look at them often throughout the year when we do we're pretty amazed to see we've ticked things off without even thinking about it. We've realised the power of writing down exactly what we want and in the process, we're achieving better health, wealth and happiness. Now, this isn't to say if you just write it down it's going to happen... you've got to work at it every day. Imo does a lot of goal-setting strategy sessions with clients and friends and have witnessed the unbelievable power of writing down what you want and having a clear vision. So we've decided to take all of our goal-setting notes and create a free downloadable guide - this is literally a step-by-step, break-it-down guide on setting goals and achieving them for better health, wealth and happiness.Enjoy! AL + IMODownload our free Goal Setting Guide -https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63b242ea61b8cd734be0c989Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

Good habits can help increase productivity and efficiency in your furniture-making business. For example, if you consistently arrive at work on time, you will be able to get started on tasks more quickly and be more productive throughout the day. Additionally, if you establish a habit of regularly reviewing and organising your to-do list, you will be better able to prioritise tasks and complete them more efficiently.Good habits can help foster a positive work environment. If you consistently demonstrate a strong work ethic and professionalism, you will set a good example for your employees (future employees) and create a culture of hard work and respect within your business. This will lead to higher employee happiness, which will in turn lead to increased productivity and overall success for the business.Good habits can also help you build trust and credibility with your clients and customers. For example, if you have a habit of consistently meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality work, your clients will be more likely to trust and rely on you, which can lead to long-term business relationships and increased success for your business. Overall, good habits can help you and your business run more smoothly and effectively, leading to increased productivity, a positive work environment, and strong relationships with clients and customers.In this episode we're going to share with you the benefits of forming good habits and then share some healthy habits that will help your business grow.Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

This topic was suggested by one of our listeners inside our private Facebook group Talkshop Insiders, which you can join here.“How do you get inspiration for designs, where to get it from and how to keep designs original”. - Brittney Once you start researching you'll realise there are lots of furniture makers out there making amazing things and also there is a lot of design cross-over. So how can you carve your own space within the industry and come up with designs that feel unique and true to you? In this episode we break down the design process from start to finish in 7 simple steps.We hope this helps you get into the creative zone and come up with products you can truly be proud of. Make sure to share your designs with us, we'd love to see what you're up to! Email us at gday@alandimo.com.auEnjoy! AL + IMOSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

If you want to grow your business it's really important that you think ahead and come up with a solid plan. As we lead into a new year we've been planning ahead to make sure that we allow ourselves realistic timeframes to achieve all of the things we want to in our business.In this blog post we're going to share with you our top 3 steps that we use to plan ahead for success in our furniture making business. Chances are if you're new to business, these steps may be new to you too! _____Use Code ALANDIMO for 50% off your Flodesk subscriptionGet Started With Email Marketing Free Guide Peacelily MattressesFiddes Australia _____Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

Are you an independent maker working out of your home workshop? Do you look at other furniture brands online and instantly get the feeling of imposter syndrome? Doubts creep into your mind like; I could never charge that much for my work, no-one is going to take me seriously & there's no place for me in the market. Did you know that some of the most successful brands all started from people's garages and spare bedrooms? And it's likely if you're reading this you're working from home too. Since we started our business in 2016 we've been dreaming of moving into a purpose-built woodshop. But until the time comes we need to make do with what we've got. Over the years we've been able to build a brand and produce high quality furniture from our home. Al works out of a 5.4m x 4m carport out the back of our house. At the time of writing this we are building a new house with a slightly bigger workshop - in fact we're doubling the size and using one half as a photo studio.In this episode we're going to share with you our top 5 tips for making your small business look more professional, which in-turn will give you more confidence in your work and especially in your pricing.ENJOY! AL + IMO__MENTIONS: Flodesk - Use Code ALANDIMO for 50% off your subscriptionGet Started With Email Marketing Free Guide Peacelily Mattresses Fiddes AustraliaSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Follow Talkshop Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talkshop__podcast/Email Marketing Download & Discount Codehttps://view.flodesk.com/pages/61775241998a8352f98dfb19Learn more about your hosts Al + Imo https://www.alandimo.com.au

Pinterest is an underused platform that drives really great website traffic! The best thing about Pinterest is that it takes little time but the pins you do create are evergreen which means they'll continue to drive results long after you've created them! People use Pinterest to gather inspiration - particularly for people building, renovating or styling their homes. Which makes it a great place to promote your furniture or wares.We've been using Pinterest over at Al and Imo  since we started our business. I was already in the habit from my previous job and I transferred those habits when we started our furniture making business. Pins I created in 2016 years ago are still directing traffic to our website today.In this episode we discuss the benefits of using Pinterest in your business and how you can get started. We hope you enjoy this episode! Mentions:Pricewise Insulation al+imo-save50 - $50 off Knauf Earthwool orders over $750al+imo-save100 - $100 off Knauf Earthwool orders over $1,500Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

Last week we opened up our orders, we book out 4 months worth of work and do this 3 times per year.  We had a really successful intake of orders and in this episode we thought we'd take you behind the scenes and share with you what our our ordering process looks like. If you're interested in implementing this sales strategy in your own business we do teach this inside our online course which we will be running again in Jan 2023 (details below).Enjoy!AL + IMO___ Mentions:Pricewise Insulation al+imo-save50 - $50 off Knauf Earthwool orders over $750al+imo-save100 - $100 off Knauf Earthwool orders over $1,500Email Marketing - Flodesk  : use code alandimo for a discountCRM Program - Dubsado : use code  alandimo for a discountSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys, we're back with another episode of Talkshop. This topic was inspired by a couple of members within our community who recently had some close calls in the workshop. ** Disclaimer - we are not teaching safety, just sharing our experiences and thoughts. If you're a maker or work in an environment with hazards, this is a good episode to refresh your thoughts when it comes to being safe.Stay safe everyone! AL + IMO Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys, we're back with another episode of Talkshop Poscast! This week's topic was suggested by a listener inside our private Facebook group and we thought it was great because some of the best things we've done in our business has been a result of a major f*ck up! In this episode we discuss - Money, Customisation, Deliveries, Photoshoots & more. Then we discuss the benefits of learning from our mistakes! We really hope you enjoy this episode and we'd love to hear your business mistakes so make sure the share them over at Talkshop Insiders (private FB Group).Enjoy! AL + IMO___Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course -  https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.auSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys, we're back with another week of Talkshop. This episode topic was spurred on by a message we received from a listener. We hope that you enjoy this one and make sure to get in touch! We'd love to hear from you! "Hello lovelies! Poddie question for you. Wasn't sure whether to ask this in talkshop insiders or on here. Anyway, I'm making my way through all your episodes and it's giving me so many ideas for my private practice (dietitian)

G'day guys and welcome to our 50th episode of the podcast & our 1 year birthday of Talkshop! First of all, thank you to everyone for tuning in each week and sending in your feedback, we absolutely love it! In this week's episode we wanted to talk about attracting high-paying clients and turning them into your biggest fans. If you're a maker or service based business this is a great episode for you to listen to, we hope you take away some really great tips that you can apply to your own business.Enjoy! AL + IMO___Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course -  https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.auSuccessful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys and welcome back to another episode of Talkshop The Workshop Talkshow with Al and Imo. It's common that at this time of year people tend to slow down and wait till 'next year' to start on something they've wanted to for a long time  we hope that this episode encourages anyone out there with goals to use this final quarter of the year to achieve something great and finish the year with a bang! In this episode we discuss: Reasons to set goalsTips For Goal SettingQuarterly ReviewEnjoy! AL  + IMO___Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course -  https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys, we're back for another episode of Talkshop Podcast. This week we asked you, the listeners for questions. In this episode we chat about these topics:How to stay unique and not feel like you're straight up copying someone else's idea? Or how to not get disheartened when you see other people already doing something similar to what you want to do?Do you think promotions, giveaways or discounts around different events (Black Friday, cyber Monday ect) are worth trying?How do you guys balance parenting & business? How does it work when you have projects?What are your thoughts on Google Adwords to build natural SEO?Favourite things you've ever made?I'm just starting out, what's your biggest piece of advice?We hope this episode answers some of your questions, gives you some valuable tips or inspires you - and if you ever have any questions feel free to send them through! Enjoy! AL  + IMO___Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course -  https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys, and welcome back to another episode of Talkshop. Stories have the ability to change the way people think and feel – which can be very powerful, particularly in business. In this episode we will explain some key reasons why using storytelling can benefit your business and how you can start implementing storytelling straight away. We hope this episode inspires you to write and share your stories, we look forward to hearing them, learning more about you and connecting. Enjoy! AL  + IMO___Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course -  https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersFiddes Hardwax Oilhttps://alandimo.com.au/brand-ambassadorsDIY Surf Board Rackhttps://alandimo.com.au/journal/diy-surfboard-rack-free-downloadable-plansCUSTOM BED + DESKhttps://alandimo.com.au/journal/at-home-with-phoebe-and-chris-of-sage-x-clareFlodesk Email discount code - alandimohttps://flodesk.com/Join Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys, we're back again with another episode of Talkshop The Workshop Podcast, in this episode we're diving into 6 ways  you can get more work  - this is for the people just starting out who are nots sure how to get work but are driven to making their dreams of having their own business a reality. We really hope you enjoy this episode! AL + IMO___Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course -  https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersFlodesk Email discount code - alandimohttps://flodesk.com/Join Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys, we're back for an other week of Talkshop Podcast. A few weeks ago we received a request from a listener to chat about what Al does to stay strong in the workshop.  Health is a passion of Al's so I jotted down a few questions and asked about  his fitness journey. We hope you enjoy! In this episode Al answers these questions: What got you into fitness & when did you start? How long have you been exercising for & how has your training changed over the years ? What does your training routine look like now?You listen to a lot of fitness podcasts & research, who do you listen to & where do you find info?You're also passionate about food & diet, can you share a little more about what you eat in a day?Tips for someone who was to add something simple into their routine to help their strength in the workshop?For someone starting out with health & fitness, what's your key advice?____Mentions: Fitness Podcasts - Mindpump, Melbourne strength culture, Mark Bells Power Project. Fitness websites - Liftvault has good free programs with spreadsheets,  Stronglifts 5x5Online Pilates - Fluidform____Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course JOIN WAITLIST -  https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au   

G'day guys, we're back again with another episode of Talkshop The Workshop Podcast, in this episode we're chatting all about something Imo is super passionate about ... email marketing. Did you know that emails are 5 x more likely to be read than a post on social media... and on average only 6% of your social media followers see your posts... those stats are scary if you rely solely on social media as your marketing strategy. In this episode Imo breaks down the how, the why and the what around email marketing.How do we use email marketing in our businessWhy you should be using email marketing What you need to do to start email marketingEnjoy! IMO & AL Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course OPEN-  https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersFlodesk Email discount code - alandimohttps://flodesk.com/Join Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys, we're back again for another episode of Talkshop. Having a business idea is great but actioning that idea and making it a working business is another ball game. In this episode we chat about taking action on you ideas and ask you, what is something you can do today to move your business forward?We hope you enjoy this episode! Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course OPEN-  https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersJoin Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys, we're back with another episode of Talkshop Podcast, We've been having some *pinch me* moments recently and feeling really proud of the lifestyle we've built with our business, the amazing community we are surrounded by & the opportunities that keep presenting themselves. We've been chatting about this a lot and it felt timely to record an episode highlighting our top 6 benefits of running a business. If you're wanting to start a business,  working on launching one, already own one or have been in business for a while this is a positive episode to get you motivated to chase your big dreams!We hope you enjoy! IMO + AL  _____Join Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Join the waitlist for  Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersCreative Directory - Hey Lenny Student Featurehttps://www.furniturefriends.com.au/directory/hey-lenny-australian-ceramicist Learn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.auPeacelily Eco Latex Mattress Affiliate Link

We received this message inside our Talkshop Insiders - our private Facebook group, so we decided to record a podcast on this topic and share our thoughts around knowing your worth & confidently charging for your services. "I was wondering if you've done or plan to do a podcast about knowing your worth? I feel like that something I really struggle with in pricing things correctly, I always tend towards wanting to give my services away so much cheaper than I ought to, would be a great listen to hear about how you price up after starting out. Love listening "We understand being a solo maker / creative small business owner can be really challenging.  Imposters syndrome is REAL  and it can feel awkward charging for your services when you love what you do. We hope this episode gives you some practical tips to get you on the right track to pricing correctly & knowing your worth!Enjoy!AL + IMO_____Join Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Join the waitlist for  Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersLearn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

We received this message inside our Talkshop Insiders - our private Facebook group, so we decided to record a podcast on this topic and share some of the strategies we use to maintain a healthy work / life balance and stay on top of our mental health. "How are you guys coping with stress, anxiety and your own mental wellbeing when running your own business? I've had a 5 anxiety breakdowns over the last 6 weeks and been neglecting myself and pushing too hard, not sleeping and running tight on deadlines due to work volumes.  Any tips and methods you use to give yourself that mental stability? I run and cycle but don't get enough time to do it around work and family."We understand being a solo maker / small business owner can be really tough and isolating - you have to wear so many different hats at once. We hope this episode help you achieve more balance in your work & life. Enjoy & take care of yourselves! AL + IMOIf you are struggling - Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14_____Join Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Join the waitlist for  Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersLearn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys and welcome back to another episode of Talkshop, this week Al and I discuss all things brand and product photography. If you're an online business, good photography it vital to your success. In this episode we answered the questions you posted inside Talkshop Insiders, our private Facebook group. A reminder that we teach an entire module on photography inside the Successful Furniture Makers online course - enrolments are opening in August with classes starting in September.In this episode we cover -Product & Brand Photography Advantages of getting in front of the cameraHow to plan for the shootEditing Programs, tips & tricksHow you set up if you're taking the photos yourselfHow to convey what you want if you're hiring a photographerEnjoy! AL + IMO_____Join Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Join the waitlist for  Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersLearn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys, welcome back to another week of Talkshop. In this episode we chat about the benefits of celebrating wins in business, we share some of our Talkshop community wins and ideas for ways you can celebrate your business & life wins. We hope this has inspired you today to pay attention to your small victories. We want to hear from you! Post in Talkshop Insiders or send us a DM we'd love to hear from you. Enjoy - Al + Imo_____Join Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Join the waitlist for  Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersLearn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

G'day guys and welcome back, in this episode we ask a series of  questions to help you decide if you need to rebrand in your business, then we share 6 steps to rebranding.If you feel like you've looking to take your business to the next level, this could be a great episode for you. Heads up - we had a mic problem & Al had a pretty gnarly cough so if you notice the recording feeling a little disjointed ... that's why! Enjoy - Al + Imo_____Join Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Join the waitlist for  Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersLearn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

By living a life of passion & purpose you do the things that make you happiest, that you are most proud of and enthusiastic about, and that leave you feeling fulfilled. In this episode we ask 5 questions to help you identifying your purpose so that you can get started in pursuing your passion (and possibly turning this into profit). Enjoy - Al + Imo_____Join Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Join the waitlist for  Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersLearn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

Are you tired of putting heaps of effort into an Instagram post only for it to flop? In this episode we take you behind the scenes of our latest DIY project, how we created marketing content and how we've distributed this across different platforms to drive traffic to our website. To watch the Doll's House Reno YouTube video click here - https://youtu.be/ItxPLJvkOj4To check out the Blog Post about this project click here - https://www.alandimo.com.au/journal/modern-dolls-house-renovation-diy-projectTo see our marketing email click here - https://view.flodesk.com/emails/62a94fb4af66f2ea08f53591_____Join Talkshop Insiders private Facebook group for creative makers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Join the waitlist for  Successful Furniture Makers 12 week online business & marketing course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersLearn more about your hosts Al + Imohttps://www.alandimo.com.au

Lately we've been practising a lot of gratitude... especially for our little family, our business that we've been nurturing & growing for the past 5 years and the opportunities that have come from having our own business.Instagram is a hub of business owners and a while ago we reached out to all of the amazing creators / makers for the things they wished they knew when they first started in business.As usual we had such an incredible response with so many nuggets of PURE gold!The most common answer that kept popping up was - find a great accountant and we cannot agree with this more! We came across our amazing accountant Lauren very early on and she has held our hands throughout out business journey - she completely understands our vision and truly wants the best for us. So shoutout to Lauren at @bromleyphillipsaccounting - we love you!On this week's episode of the podcast we share the best tips for someone wanting to start their own business (from the people who have done it before) and you can  listen by searching for Talkshop The Workshop Talkshow via Spotify or Apple Podcasts. We hope this episode inspires some of you to start your own thing and experience the joy of being your own boss!AL + IMO___Online Course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersSquarespace Website Template - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/squarespace-website-template-for-furniture-makersTalkshop Insiders - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/Flodesk Email Marketing - Use the discount code ALANDIMO Dubsado CRM -  Use the discount code ALANDIMO About your hosts - https://alandimo.com.au/

6 years in business...We started Al + Imo in 2016 as two baby faced dreamers

G'day guys, where back and in this episode we are answering all of your questions about the course!Enrolments are open until the 12th June (unless spots fill out sooner), we are so excited to spend the next 12 weeks with you! SIGN UP NOW:https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makers

G'day guys, back again with another episode of Talkshop The Workshop Talkshow - this week we're chatting websites... and for those of you who don't know Imo's got a whole lotta experience in this department. So in this episode we chat about common mistakes to avoid when creating a website for your business, it's jam-packed full of useful & actionable information. A must-listen for anyone who has a website! We hope you get value out of this episode and if you do - get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!Enjoy, AL + IMO___Online Course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersSquarespace Website Template - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/squarespace-website-template-for-furniture-makersTalkshop Insiders - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/About your hosts - https://alandimo.com.au/

The first couple of years of Al + Imo we built everything and anything - beds, joinery units, coffee tables, dining tables ... you name it, we made it. When we decided that we were going to focus on bedroom furniture everything fell into place and our business started growing significantly and quickly. We absolutely LOVE making beds... we found that it was a great mesh of our passions (Al's building + Imo's styling), "forever beds" also align with our values of buying once & buying well.In this episode we chat about our experience niching down, the benefits of getting specific about what you do, who you do it for and tips on how you can do it in your business too.This is a great episode for anyone in business, particularly if you're a creative maker. Enjoy! IMO + AL__ Online Course:SUCCESSFUL FURNITURE MAKERS ONLINE BUSINESS & MARKETING COURSELearn more about your hosts:AL + IMO 

This week we received a message on Instagram from the partner of a maker and we thought we'd respond via the podcast! In this episode we chat about:How we jumped straight into our furniture making businessWhen we started to feel successes in businessHow to be a supportive partner to someone in business “Hey hey hey guys!! My name is Paige. I am a huge fan of you guys and love what you have got going on with the furniture business. I am the partner of my amazing man who is also a furniture maker with the dreams of one day making it a career and business for himself. I am wondering how you guys jumped into it all, how many years was it til you started feeling the successes and how me as a partner could be supportive amongst it all? The business is based in a small country town and I wondered if you think that affects the business at all? I am a midwife and completely non-design/wood working, so not a super help. But I want this to become a reality for him and wondered what the big tips were?” - PAIGE  We hope you enjoy this episode, have a good day!AL + IMOTo get in touch with us, send us a DM over at @al_and_imo on Instagram _____Enrolments opening soon:SUCCESSFUL FURNITURE MAKERS ONLINE BUSINESS & MARKETING COURSELearn more about your hosts:AL + IMO

G'day guys, we're back with another episode of Talkshop, The Workshop Talkshow! Ever have those weeks where you feel like you're already have a lot you need to get done and then all of a sudden things just start to go wrong... and then more things go wrong? Always happens in threes amiright??? Well, that was us last week and I'm pretty sure we  used every single stress-management tip we had up our sleeves. We thought it was appropriate to record an episode all about troubleshooting business problems and tips for managing stress.This episode is worth a listen regardless of whether you run a business or not, because regardless of your situation everybody in life experiences stressful times!To get in touch with us, send us a DM over at @al_and_imo _____Enrolments opening soon:SUCCESSFUL FURNITURE MAKERS ONLINE BUSINESS & MARKETING COURSELearn more about your hosts:AL + IMO

G'day guys and welcome back to another episode of Talkshop The Workshop Talkshow. In this episode we chat about:How having regular business meetings will set you up for success What we cover each week during our business meetingsAll students inside The Successful Furniture Makers course receive a template of our Weekly Meeting Agenda.AL + IMO-FACEBOOK GROUP - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/ONLINE COURSE  - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersABOUT YOUR HOSTS AL + IMO - http://alandimo.com.au/

G'day guys, welcome back to another episode of #talkshoptheworkshoptalkshow #podcast.We've absolutely LOVED planning, producing, editing and sharing this show with you over the past 7 months - we've connected with so many incredible makers from all different corners of the world and we thought it was about time to bring you all together! We've created a private Facebook group called Talkshop Insiders where you can join our community of Independent Makers who are serious about succeeding in business. This is positive space for people of all skill levels who want to connect, collaborate, learn and encourage one-another. We don't believe in scarcity mindset, tearing each other down or negativity - we have a a strict 'no dickheads' policy and want to create a place where everyone feels supported and bring each other up! In the group we'll be chatting :Business tipsWorkshop tipsSupplier tips Tool tipsProcesses & Programs Marketing It's our hope that we create a juicy resource that you can refer to if you have a problem and you're looking for a solution , searching for a little motivation, guidance or want to share a win with like-minded people who JUST GET YOU!So if you're a maker, creator or artist who wants a place to chat business come and join us and let's be mates.AL + IMO-FACEBOOK GROUP - https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkshopinsiders/ONLINE COURSE  - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersABOUT YOUR HOSTS AL + IMO - http://alandimo.com.au/

We received the following email from a listener and recored an episode all about starting a second business: "Hey Al + Imo, I was thinking about podcast topics for you, and I'd love to hear about the ups and downs of starting your new business Furniture Friends. Most of what you discuss is about Al + Imo, from a place of experience and hindsight, which is super helpful and definitely inspirational for someone just starting out. But I'd also love to hear about how you've found it starting a whole new thing again!" In this episode we answer these questions:Are there any differences you've felt between starting Furniture Friends vs. Al + Imo now that you've learnt some business lessons over the years?Do you still feel doubt or imposter syndrome?What are the things you've done better this time around that you wish you knew the first time?What would you do differently if you were starting Al + Imo from scratch?_____Enrolments opening soon: SUCCESSFUL FURNITURE MAKERS ONLINE BUSINESS & MARKETING COURSELearn more about your hosts: AL + IMO

G'day guys and welcome back to another episode!We were on a live Zoom last week and one of our students inside the Successful Furniture Makers Course asked us to record an episode where we share all of our favourite podcasts. So sit back and enjoy hearing about what we listen to. If you have any podcast episodes that you think we'd enjoy, please send them through to @al_and_imo or gday@alandimo.com.auMORE ABOUT US - http://alandimo.com.au/ONLINE COURSE - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makers ------Podcast Mentions & Noteworthy Episodes:0:03:11 -  Casefile Podcast | True Crime0:06:00 - Jocko Podcast | Leadership & DisciplineEp 100: With Tim Ferriss. Musashi, and How Warrior Way Relates To Life 0:07:45 -  The Goal Digger Podcast | Business & Marketing0.09:40 - Mind Pump | Fitness & Business0:12:12 - Make Your Break | Business for Creative Entrepreneurs0:16:07 The Grin Reapers Podcast | Weekly Podcast in WA0:18:45 - My Daily Business Coach | Business & MarketingEp 106: Elise Heslop, founder of Plyroom Ep 102: Becca Stern And Jess Stern, Co-Founders Of Mustard0:19:55 - The Nine Club | SkateboardingEp 159 - Chad Muska0:21:46 - The Jason Ellis Show | Radio Host, Skateboarder & Mixed Martial Arts0:22:26 - The Rich Roll Podcast |  Personal & Professional DevelopmentEp 379: John McAvoy: From Armed Robbery To Professional Athlete0:22:53 - The Joe Rogan Experience | Long Form ConversationsEp 1200: Ross Edgley: Swimming Around Great Britain 0:25:04 - House of Style Podcast | Australian Design0:25:04 TDF Talks | Australian Design0:25:26 - Do Go On | ComedyEp 68 - Shackleton's Endurance0:27:46 - Australian Birth Stories | Stories of Pregnancy and Childbirth0:29:09 Tall Tales & True - ABC | Short Stories0:30:04 - Gossip Mongers | Comedy

If you're looking for an episode all about business and marketing this is NOT the episode to listen to! Today we're answering the big questions like ... What fictional place would you most like to go to?If you had unlimited funds to build a house that you would live in for the rest of your life, what would it be like?What is the most annoying habit other people have?And wild questions like - When was the last time you climbed a tree.... I bet you're itching to know...We hope you enjoy getting to know us a little more! AL + IMO__Successful Furniture Makers Online Course https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersAbout Al + Imohttp://alandimo.com.au/

Raspy voice and language warning! This week's episode was inspired by a beautiful email I received last week from a student inside our Successful Furniture Makers online course. We were deep in covid isolation land, sick and feeling a little sorry for ourselves. In essence the email said "What you're doing is valuable, keep going" and the words of encouragement couldn't have come at a better time - so thank you Phoebe for turning my day around completely- you inspired and motivated me. In this episode we share 5 ways to stay / get motivated and inspired. A great listen for anyone out there who is a creative, runs a small business or is just looking for some ideas to get going on a project!We also share all of the things we're currently consuming - podcasts, books, audiobooks, music, shows etc. Education & Resources for makers - https://www.furniturefriends.com.auMore about us - http://alandimo.com.au/

Over the weekend we were at a wedding, a common topic of discussion was around burnout, a lot of people were talking about how they're feeling overwhelmed with post lockdown work/life balance.We get it! For 2 years we had no other obligations than work and then all of a sudden the gates open up and here we are socialising every weekend and the workload has stayed the same. In this week's episode we chat all about things to consider and strategies to implement to avoid burnout.Enjoy! IMO & AL ____Successful Furniture Makers Course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersMore about us - http://alandimo.com.au/

Sourcing Instagram content can be a struggle. Coming up with concepts and then actually finding the right visuals for your feed is easier said than done. Because not only does your Instagram content need to be relevant and interesting to your target audience–it also needs to look good.Instagram is a highly visual platform, and generally speaking, successful social media marketing campaigns are heavily dependant on eye-catching and engaging images. So, the pressure is on.Content is the lifeblood of your Instagram account. But create content doesn't have to be a huge headache, in this episode we chat about things to get you started when planning your business Instragram content.Enjoy!IMO + AL Successful Furniture Makers Course -https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/Learn more about us -https://alandimo.com.au/

This episode was spurred on from a conversation I had with a business mentor, she mentioned optimism and opportunity in the same sentence and it got Al and I thinking about the time in our lives our optimism has lead to opportunity. We recorded this in bed after spending 2 hours trying to get Goldie down and goshhhh it would have been easy to just skip this week... but we pushed through and we hope that wherever you're listening from you take something away from it!Big shoutout to our listeners near & far - thanks for your support!Online Course - https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersAbout Us - https://www.alandimo.com.au/DIY Surfboard Rack - https://www.alandimo.com.au/journal/diy-surfboard-rack-free-downloadable-plans

G'day guys, welcome back to another episode of Talkshop The Worshop Talkshow. Last week inside in the Successful Makers course we had some questions come up about setting and growing an Instragram account for your business.If you have a business and Instagram is a platform you struggle with, have a listen - you may just pick up some useful tips!Big shoutout to all of our listeners, we're really enjoying recording these episodes and connecting with you all (wherever you are in the world!!)____ONLINE COURSE -https://www.furniturefriends.com.auLEARN MORE ABOUT US -https://alandimo.com.au/

Time = money and in this episode we thought we'd share some of the game-changing things we've added into our furniture making business to help it run smoother.We always love hearing from you, so if you have any recommendations please send them through!Successful Furniture Makers Online Business Course: https://www.furniturefriends.com.au/successful-furniture-makersLearn more about us:http://alandimo.com.au/Mentions:Flodesk & Dubsado, discount codes - alandimo