Greetings from rural Australia.
Every time someone places an order for The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover, I scour my database to see if they’ve ordered before. Since 1994, I’ve looked at names of customers on a daily basis. Sometimes I think I know them by heart.
And what do I find?
Family trees. Both personal, geographical and corporate.
Because I give an undertaking to keep personal details confidential, I’m not able to reveal the full personal names in our family tree. But when I get emails telling me this order is going to the 3rd and 4th generation of a particular family, I can tell you I get a buzz.
A recent order goes like this. Robin is ordering for her daughter. “Can you believe you now have 3 generations of my family using your cover?” Robin’s mother purchased one for herself and then gave one to Robin as a gift.
I have quite a few unusual last names on my database. Some time ago I decided to ring to find the source of their orders. Yes, it was a brother, sister, mother or father who placed the original order. Sometimes an auntie, sometimes a grandparent.
Then we have extended families of friends. Lyn’s referred 4 friends to us who purchased the cover. How did Lyn find out about us? From her sister-in-law, Jane.
Teo’s referred at least 5 friends who have purchased. Three of her friends have gone on to order covers as gifts for their friends.
Margaret’s lost track of how many of her friends have The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover because of her.
Trish has given the cover to all her children, packed a suitcase full of them for a trip to the UK and her son gave one as a thank you present to a family he stayed with.
Then there are street addresses only a few numbers apart. Neighbour telling neighbour.
Who are the best at referring? Men! Men recognise a good product when they use it and are the first to tell their friends. Stan is a champ. We’ve got many men on the North Shore of Sydney ironing on their Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Covers because of Stan. And Harry isn’t slow either.
But the most revealing are the corporate addresses we mail to. Because we send all parcels Receipted Delivery, they must be signed for. So busy executives want their cover mailed to their place of work for ease of delivery. No last minute rush home to rescue the parcel from their local Australia Post post office.
And our customers come from a wide spectrum of the corporate world. The following companies have had more than one parcel delivered to their address. So it’s co-worker telling co-worker. During a coffee break or those odd moments when they can indulge in some personal time rather than corporate time.
These companies are listed below to show you how a small business like ours grows. With the help of our customers. Perhaps you recognise some of the corporate names, perhaps you work for one of these companies, but let me assure you these co-workers are vital to the future of our business!
2MCE-FM Community Radio
A Bridal Alternative
A Current Affair
ABC Science Unit
Acacia Grove Bed & Breakfast
ADA Cottage, Kandos
ADA Cottage, Rylstone
Adams Jewellers
ADI Limited
Age Of Fishes Museum
Airlie Vails Pty Ltd
Albany International
Alfred Hospital
All Seasons Motor Lodge
AMCHAM
AMP Workspace
Amrad Corporation Pty Ltd
Angela Morris Optometrist
Anglican Church Of Australia
Anna Bennett Designs
Another Planet Design & Photography
Aon
API LTD
AREC
Astra Pharmaceuticals
Attaché Software
Audrey Jillian Bridal
Austeam Appliances
Australia Council
Australia Post Business Direct
Australia Post Marketing Dept
Australian Bridal Service
Australian Business
Australian Chocolate Pty Ltd
Australian Consumers’ Association
Australian Country Style
Australian Lace Guild
Australian Securities & Investment Commission
Australis Bridal
Autumn Threads
Awarehouse Communications
Ballan Quilt and Craft Show
Baraque School of Sewing & Style
Bathurst Copy Centre
Bathurst Florist
Bathurst Health Foods & Home Brew
Bathurst Library
Bathurst Pet Grooming Salon
Bayer Healthcare
Bellevue Guest House
Bendigo’s Hat Shoppe
Bills Pets Paradise
Blayney Vet Hospital
Blue Mountains Funerals
Body & Soul Metamorphosis
Books On Bronte
Borland Australia
Bowring Macaulay & Barrett
Bridal Magic
Brides Of Bromley
Brides Of Parramatta
Brides Of Picadilly
Brisbane Implant Dentistry & Perio Care
Bruce Mann Hair & Beauty
Burke & Wills Roadhouse
Burra Heritage Cottages, Tivers Row
Business Services
Buxton Construction Pty Ltd
Canon
Canowindra Trading Post
Capitol Records: Los Angeles, California USA
Cartridge World
Celestial Arts & Craft Studio
Central West Consortium
Charles Parsons & Co
Cheney & Wilson
Chief Minister’s Dept; Corporate Services
Chloe’s Bridal
Choice Magazine
Choice Personnel Services Pty Ltd
Christina’s Bridal & Formal Hire
Cisco Systems
Clare High School
Clayton Utz Solicitors
Clean Up Australia Ltd
Cleworth & Barini Optometrists
CMRI
Communications Direct
Community Memorial Hospital: Virginia USA
Connect East
Coober Pedy Hospital
CORPimage Pty Ltd
Corporate Culture
Corporate Public Affairs, Australia Post
Count Wealth Accountants
Countryside Caravan Park
Cranberry Crafts
Creative Lifestyle Publications
CTC Productions Pty Ltd
Dairy Farmers
David Jones Limited
DB Promotions
DD By Megan Salmon
Deutche Bank AG, Sydney
Dial A Laundry
Dimension Data
Dome Books
Dominic Taranto
Drummoyne Sailing Club
EGO Group
Elegant Occasions
Embryo Designs
Emoda Couture
Empire Film Services
Enterprise Marketing
Erics Mower Centre Pty Ltd
Ernst & Young
Export Adviser TradeStart
Express Publications
F B Rice and Co
Fabric Fair
Fairview Café and Guesthouse
Fairway Motel
Fanatik
Fashion Identification
Fast Track Pty Ltd
Federation Press
Fins Restaurant
Fintechnix Pty Ltd
Forty Winks
FOXTEL Management
GEORGE
George Street Medical Centre
GHD
Gilbert & Tobin Lawyers
Gladesville Veterinary Hospital
Glanmire Boarding Kennels
Glenview Community Care Inc
Goddards Pharmacy
Gold Panner Motor Inn
Grant Samuel
Graphix Hair Studio
Grazing Management Systems Pty Ltd
Green Gables
GT Distributors
Guides NSW
Harbour View Hotel
Hazelton Airlines
Heaps ‘a’ Bargains
Hedley Garner Pty Ltd
Hi-Fert Pty Ltd
High Valley Vineyard
Hirst Investigation Service
Hollywood Bridal
House Of Hepzibah
Hugs For Brides
Hunt Leather
Hunter Valley Cheese Co
Hunters Hill Quilters Inc
Hylen Success Coaching: Canada
Ilias
Illy Caffe
In Touch Boutique
Inland Marketing Corporation
Innovations
Inside Out Interior Decorating
Inside Out Magazine
Integral Event Management
Intentia Australia
IPEC, Level 28, Grosvenor Place
J I Moore and Partners
Jen’s Sewing Basket
JL Lennard
John Fairfax Publications Pty Ltd
John Heine & Son Pty Ltd
John Pearce Optometrist
Julia’s Fabric Boutique
Kalari Vineyard
Kandos Handy Hardware
Kanimbla’ Olive Oil
Kaps Patchwork: Germany
Karinya House Inc
Karratha Caravan Park
Ken’s Pet Barn
Kenson Hotel Services
Kerry Price Designs
Killara Village Quilts
Kiola Wines
KPMG
Laing O’Rourke
Land McKaig Accountants
Laura Star
Lavender & Lace
Lawler Partners
Leading Pacific
LED Retail Displays
Lee Hostel
Leeaky Hose
‘Leesa KM’
Lifestyle Matters
Limon Financial Services
Liverpool Courthouse
LJ Hooker
Locks Hair Services
Logan’s Patchwork
Lucy Watts Artwork
Macquarie Bank
Macquarie Graduate School of Management
Marriott Tree Equipment
Masson Wilson Twiney
McCoy, Grove & Atkinson
Mckellys
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Mercedes Benz Airport Express
Mobile Bookkeeping
Moneypenny Business & Tax
Moree Education Office
Morning Bulletin
Motel Riverina Leeton
Mount Eymard Retirement Villa
MRBEC
Mudgee Agpower
Mudgee Bookcase
Mudgee Carpet Court
Mudgee Veterinary Hospital
Murdan Rural Supplies
Musica Viva
National Bank
National World Travel
Nationwide Promotions Pty Ltd
Newham Rural Supplies
Nine Network Australia
NNTT
North Shore Private Hospital
NSW Dept Of Agriculture
NSW Police Headquarters
Numsbar Business Solutions
O2 Networks
Office Of The Governor
Omega Travel
Ophir Gold B&B
Orange Community Health Centre
Ord Minnett
Orica
Osman Insurance Brokers
P&O Cruises
P&O Ports
Patchwork On Pittwater
Petal Bridal Couture
Peter Hill Media Sales
Peter Shipway Real Estate
Peter’s of Kensington
Philippe Xavier Hairdressers
Phillips Fox
Pioneer Studios
PittwaterB&B
Poet’s Corner Winery
Port Melbourne Paints & Wallpaper
Premier Cork & Timber
Price’s Service Station
Prime Television
Products Of Excellence
‘Pure Blyss’ Skin Care Centre
Pussy Foot Shoe Boutique
Quay Restaurant
Quilt Fabric Delights
Quinn’s Jewellers
Rabo Bank
Radio 2CR
Radio 2LT
Ray White Real Estate
RCE Sales
Regency Jewellers Bathurst
Reiter Tooling
Restoration Centre
River Lane B&B
Riverlands Drug & Alcohol Service
RM Williams
RNCAS
Rock Around The Block
Rock Lily Cottages
Rosewood Eucalyptus Oil Farm
Rough Country Off Road
Rowville Post Office
Royal Adelaide Hospital
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
RPR Consulting Pty Ltd
Rural Press Limited
Rylstone Ag Supply
Rylstone Licensed Post Office
Rylstone Newsagency
Rylstone Shire Council
Saab Systems
Salgo
SAS
Seven Wentworth
Sew Fine Designs
Sheer Indulgence Lingerie
Shell Company Aust
Sime Darby Automobiles Pty Ltd
Sinclair Import-Export Pty Ltd
Sleepless No More Pty Ltd
Smart Presentations
Spencer Stuart
Sporte Leisure Pty Ltd
Spring Hill Wines
Spring Search & Selection
SSASS
St George Bank
St George Bank Club
St John Ambulance
Stacks Shoes Pty Ltd
Standard & Poors MMS
Stewarts
Sun Studios Australia
Suncorp
Susie Graham Living
Switzer Communications Pty Ltd
Sydney Film Company
Sydney Ports Corporation
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Tanner Menzies Pty Ltd
Teapot Ministries
Telstra Licensed Shop
Ten Capital
That Picture Framing Place
The Australian Image Company
The Bridge View Inn
The Clothing Workshop
The Curtain Company
The Hon Duncan Gay
The House of Jean Fox
The Kitchen Inn
The Lavender Shop
The Logo Works Pty Ltd
The Lonely Palate Winery
The Marketing Store
The Patchwork Studio
The Peninsula Group
The People for Places and Spaces
The Purple Patch
The Quilters Guild of NSW Inc
The Quilter’s Lantern
The RSPCA
The Salvation Army
The Spare Chair
The Westin Melbourne
Thiess Services
Thistle Hill Vineyard
Tierney House Mudgee
To Market To Market Pty Ltd
Trade Commisioner, AUSTRADE
Trumps Music Northpoint
Uniting Church
Universal Dry Cleaning Solutions
Universal Pictures (Aust) Pty Ltd
Vacy Hall B&B Inn
Vancon International Consultants
Venture Creek Pty Ltd
Vero
Village Roadshow Ltd
Vision Super
Vogue Entertaining + Travel
Vogue Living
Walgett Police Station
Wall’s Pharmacy
Wangarang Industries
Wangi Pharmacy
Warburton Road House
Wattle Flat General Store
Weekly Times Advertising
Wellbeing Pharmacy
Wenonah Lodge
Western Region BEC Inc
Westpac Banking Corporation
Westpac Staff Club
Westview Apartments
Willoughby City Council
WIN Television
Windy Hill Nursery
Woodhead Architects
Woodley’s Motors
Worley Parsons
YKK
Young Designers Gallery
We’re very proud of our customers and are always in awe of the help and encouragement they give us. They allow us to develop personal relationships with them and tell us their stories. We wouldn’t have this rich tapestry of corporate history if we sold only to retail stores.
This is our reward for staying small, friendly and personal. Nothing beats this!
Although we are an accidental business, there are now more than 150,000 covers in use around the world thanks to our very supportive customers.
And growing daily.
Since 1994 our covers have been made with love and care in rural Australia by men and women who have a disability. They love what they do and it shows in the quality of our product.
To learn more about The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover, visit my website to find out why We Always Show Off Our Bottom.
And also visit my Home Page at Simple Solutions For Difficult Problems to see how far we’ve come.
And there are more stories to come!
It’s 4AM and America is calling.
Wow! It’s a small world!
It’s always a pleasure to hear from you. Share your stories and comments with me.
Take care,
CAROL
