So to all you data monkeys out there, enjoy!

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 38,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 14 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Fate however decided otherwise, and probably for the best, as just a few weeks ago I was named B&T Young Achiever of the Year for 2011.

Chris Maloney B&T Young Achiever of the Year 2011

But enough about me, in this post I want to recognise the incredible Innovate or Die interviewees that have taken home awards themselves this year.

two black sheep

In 2010, two black sheep were named Cafe of the Year in the 2010 City of Sydney Business Awards.

In 2011, the boys took out Cafe of the Year again, then stepped it up a notch to take out Small Business of the Year.

Well done Adam, Dave and the two black sheep team! You make my day (and coffee) every morning.

Two Black Sheep taking out Small Business of the Year

Jump Tours

Greg Price and the team at Jump Tours have been nominated for Best Tour in Tasmania at the Golden Backpack Awards for the last 3 years.

This year Jump Tours took out the major prize against some much bigger competition.

I remember the day Greg quit his investment banking job to start Jump Tours, and I couldn’t be more proud of what he has achieved.

Jump Tours taking out the Golden Backpack Award

Chimu Adventures

Another Greg. Another award winning tour company.

This time the award winner is Greg Carter and the team at Chimu Adventures who took out the Australian/Latin American business council’s Business Excellence Award for 2011.

If you are heading to South America, don’t tour with anyone but Chimu!

Chimu Adventures taking out the Business Excellence Award

Digitalpress

The final award winner (that I am aware of) is Theo and the team at Digitalpress, who were awarded a Gold medal in the Print Innovation category at the NSW Printing Industries Craftsmanship Awards, for their work for Castrol.

Theo easily takes out the most innovative person I have interviewed, and this award does not come at a shock. Well done Digitalpress!

Digitalpress award winning work for Castrol

You

Innovate or Die is a labour of love, and I’ll probably never get rich off it.

So it is your support that keeps it going, and for that I have to say the biggest thank you.

I wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday season, and I look forward to sharing more inspiring Innovate or Die interviews with you in 2012.

Much love,

Chris Maloney.

Related articles

• Top 10 Innovate or Die Interviews Revealed (innovateordie.com.au)

Having personally done a bunch of award-winning work with Chris and Peter in my time at Commonwealth Bank, I just had to meet up with the Bohemians to see what they were up to.

And they certainly didn’t disappoint. Here they share the Bohemia story in another Innovate or Die exclusive.

What is Bohemia?

Bohemia is a new agency operating system that brings together a collective of experienced and networked individuals, unencumbered by traditional agency buying models, licensed to go deeper into a client’s business than ever before to put media and data led strategy at the centre

The Bohemians - Chris Christofi, Brett Dawson and Peter Leaver

Where did the brand name “Bohemia” come from?

We first saw the name Bohemia and its definition on the wall of a pub in Caxton St, Brisbane.

Bohemia: A community of persons who adopt manners and mores conspicuously different from those expected or approved of by majority of society.

It went into the mix of over 50 potentials and surfaced top as it pointed to a community of people (as opposed to agency naming conventions around principal names), being different and the link to our positioning of marrying the art of strategy with the science of media and direct response.

Why did you start Bohemia?

We saw an opportunity for a new way of thinking about solving business problems.

When client budgets come under pressure then they look for their agencies to deliver more and more pressure is applied on the outcome, our agency is based on the premise of both, so we expect to be an attractive proposition to clients looking to get more out of their relationship.

We feel the time is right for our new model as it is designed around the time. The huge growth of social and smart phones and the importance of a customer’s own digital assets mean clients have more opportunity to influence existing and potential customers via the non-traditional media channels.

We want to provide them with a partnership which will help them make the most of their own, social and the external media options all in the one place.

How is Bohemia different and innovative compared to traditional media and advertising agencies?

What makes us different is where we start i.e. our starting point is what our clients own (their customer data, their brand, their web assets, their sponsorships etc). Our objective is to leverage and/or create owned assets before we even consider advertising.

Media agencies have traditionally been custodians of the largest portion of a client’s budgets and use an abundance of data and research combined with strategic planning and robust management tools to make decisions around media placements.

We plan to take the core elements of this discipline further into a client’s business and merge this with the clients internal data sources to put a new level of strategic thinking around a client’s own assets and communications to their existing customers.

What are influence maps and how are you using them?

We believe that in every category there’s an influence network that we need to understand if we are to effectively drive customers attitudes to brands. These influencers can be media personalities, experts, celebrities or experts.

Our approach is, with the aid of proprietary research, to build an Influence Map that identifies the key sources of influence. This allows us to explore how to leverage these sources within a communication strategy i.e. build an “influence the influencer” strategy.

Brett and Chris, you spent many years in senior roles at Ikon, one of Australia’s leading media agencies. Why go out on your own?

The need to feed our entrepreneurial was growing and after many years driving the success of other people’s business we saw an opportunity to put our experience and philosophies to work for ourselves and our families.

Peter, after a successful career at Commonwealth Bank, why the move agency side?

I wanted to challenge myself to apply all the skills and experience I have gained on one of Australia’s great brands, to help other companies build their businesses.

It is really exciting working with really talented people like Brett and Chris, and our combination of skills provide a unique positioning for us in the market.

We talk to clients about optimising their owned assets first, making sure they have the right foundations in place to maximise lead conversion or drive positive brand experiences, and my time at Commonwealth Bank taught me a lot about how to do this effectively.    

What has been the best part of starting Bohemia?

The first pitch we did together as Bohemia reinforced the excitement of the journey we’ve undertaken. It was with enormous pride that we stood up and presented the child that we had created for the first time.

What has been the hardest part?

The hardest part so far is to resist taking on business because its available rather than because we want to work with the particular client. So far we’ve been able to resist and work with like-minded people.

What is the best piece of business advice you have received? 

Costs should follow revenue.

Where do you see Bohemia in 5 years time?

At the forefront of the reborn full service agency model where creative and media happily co-exist to drive communication solutions that are truly interactive.

Also working with a few clients who have become our friends and for whom we’ve done the best work of our lives.

Related articles

• STW and Simon White launch media + DM agency Bohemia (mumbrella.com.au)
• Ikon hands Dan Johns national CEO role, Brett Dawson and Chris Christofi move on (mumbrella.com.au)

Danielle Allen and Jayne Lewis - Founders of Two Birds Brewing

If you believed every TV ad campaign that Australian beer companies put out, you would be convinced that women don’t drink beer, let alone know how to brew it.

Two Birds Brewing, founded by Danielle Allen (ex-Woolworths) and head brewer Jayne Lewis (ex-Little Creatures, Matilda Bay Garage and Mountain Goat) has set out to change that perception.

Following the launch of their Golden Ale last week, I sat down with Danielle to find out more about Two Birds Brewing, in another Innovate or Die exclusive.

What is Two Birds Brewing?

Two Birds Brewing is a brand new craft brewing company that I started with my long time friend, Jayne Lewis (Brewer) in June of this year. We have set out to make flavoursome, interesting and approachable beers and share our passion with others.

We officially launched our first brew with much excitement in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth last week, in both bottled and draught options.

Where did the name “Two Birds Brewing” come from?

We spent a few months coming up with names ourselves, and ended up with an enormously long list. It was actually really tough narrowing them down. However, we sent a design brief to a number of agencies and included a short list of our favourite names. We also left it open for the agency to suggest something new.

Red Jelly, in Tasmania is our chosen design partner and they initially presented about five totally new names, and brand territories for us to consider. Two Birds Brewing felt right from the onset. It’s quirky and a bit of fun which is exactly what we wanted.

When people realise its two women who are the “Two Birds”, it’s quite funny to watch their reaction.

What are you doing at Two Birds Brewing that is different and innovative?

Two Birds Golden Ale

Craft beer is a rapidly growing segment of the total beer market, and we are just one of many small players who are introducing new and different flavours for people to enjoy.

Taste profiles are changing and people are looking for new and exciting options to engage their changing palates, and desires not to settle for the average. Our first beer is a Golden Ale; it’s a clean, crisp and refreshing beer, that we hope appeals to a broad range of people.

What type of person drinks Two Birds beers?

One that has good taste of course!

The early adopters will be people that are already seeking out and purchasing new and different brews, and appreciate the craft aspect of brewing. These customers may have heard of us via social media networks (facebook, twitter) and be craft beer advocates.

Jayne has a great reputation in the brewing industry, which I am forever grateful for; as it makes the job of selling so much easier. She learnt the ropes at Little Creatures, Matilda Bay Garage and most recently was head brewer at Mountain Goat in Melbourne.

As our main aim is to create beers that are flavoursome, interesting and approachable, we welcome all drinkers. So far, we have had enormous support from all ages and genders. It’s just a matter of getting it in to people’s hands, whether they are avid craft beer punter or a friend being polite and tasting it.

More often than not, the people that have come along to our launches or tasting showcase generally say, “Wow, this is actually really good”!

Two Birds Golden Ale on Tap

What were you doing before Two Birds Brewing and what inspired you to start your own business?

I was working as a Product Development Manager for Woolworth’s ‘Select’ brand, developing longlife food products. I had been in the role for 4.5 years and although I thoroughly enjoyed my job, I always had a disconcerting feeling that I was destined to do something else.

I know it sounds lame, but travelling with Jayne in the US for 2 weeks and discussing our dreams not to have to work for someone else; it all became clear to me that “this beer thing” was the opportunity I had been waiting for (to spread my wings …pardon the pun!).

I’m not one to say that I’m going to do something and not follow through, so we arrived home and went back to our respective lives in Sydney and Melbourne and I set about discussing the great beer plan with Jayne, sober!

What has been the best part of starting Two Birds Brewing?

Waking up every day and realising that all my efforts of the day are for Two Birds Brewing and I’m one of the Birds!

Jayne and I worked hard to pull our business plan together and make some pretty big decisions about our direction. I couldn’t be more than happier about the way things are panning out, everyday is different and sets a new challenge that I love to crack.

Oh, and did I mention that I now have a fully stocked fridge of my very own beer that I am so proud of Jayne for making so damn tasty!

What has been the hardest part?

Probably wearing the many different hats that a small business owner has to wear and be across.

Obviously Jayne has her skill of brewing to bring to the table and although we make most of decisions together, I’m doing my best to be the accountant, logistics coordinator, marketer, sales person, lawyer etc etc, it goes on.

What is the best piece of business advice you have received?

“Slap a barcode on it”. As said many many times by my boss at Woolworths.

You can sit around talking about a product, tweaking this or that, adjusting ingredient percentages or formulations, and by the time you get around to launching it, the market has moved on. If it doesn’t work, learn from the experience and try again.

He also said that “Opinions are like @ssholes, everybody has one”. I’m still a work in progress on that piece of advice and tend to get really close to anything that I’ve had a hand in developing.

At the end of the day, it most likely won’t please everyone’s tastes, but that’s ok!

What’s next for Two Birds Brewing?

The balancing act of Sell, Sell, Sell and Brew, Brew, Brew.

Getting that crystal ball working in our favour, so we manage a business built on “just in time”. Meaning, we never run out of beer and we never have too much.

Finally, what is one piece of advice you would give to someone wanting to start their own business?

Give it a crack. The world needs more entrepreneurs.

What doesn’t kill you, will just make you stronger.