Founders Interview in Celebration of Father’s Day

Austin Austin was founded by daughter and father, Bessie and Richard Austin. 

To mark Father’s day, they sat down to discuss what it’s like founding a business together and what they’ve learnt along the way.

Q. How did you come to start Austin Austin together? 

Richard: When Bessie came to me and casually asked if I wanted to start something with her, it was an immediate yes. With my experience, I wanted it to be organic and she wanted it to be something that lent into her art school education. It wasn’t by design, but this meant Austin Austin has always felt like a good balance of our different interests. 

We made lots of crafty things together when Bessie was a child, like paper mâché trees. So we knew we could do things together and enjoy it. That’s the main thing.

Q. How has it played out working together?

Richard: We were very fortunate that this wasn’t the ‘common model’ of the child coming into the family business. When the child knows very little of the business, and the parent is leading everything, the child has got to adapt into the way the business already is.

In fact I knew very little about the bodycare category when we started, so I had to defer to Bessie. Bessie has a strong sense of the aesthetics and certain elements she didn’t want to compromise on. For example it was critical to Bessie that the 100% post consumer recycled bottles were an intentional shape and colour. With my experience in organics I was focused on about our organic principles and certification.

Q. What do you think being a cross generational team brings to the business? 

Bessie: It’s been hugely beneficial. Working with someone at the other end of their career has brought a lighthearted, more daring, carefree approach to the decisions we take. 

I wonder whether we currently undervalue the expertise and wisdom of older generations. Perhaps there is an outbalanced emphasis on newness, freshness and immediacy. I have found it easier to adopt a longer term outlook and calmness working alongside my dad. He’s rooted in a certainty and knowledge of having been through most ebbs and flows of business before.

Richard: In today’s culture I think disruption, which is definitely valuable, is sometimes overrated. I believe you can do something that has been done before a little differently and you can still be successful. 

Q. What have you learnt from working together?

Bessie: Richard’s attitude is unwaveringly enthusiastic and positive; his mantra, “don’t worry, see what happens, have a go”. He brings a brilliant aura of fun and joyfulness. And perhaps a lesson on carefully executed subversion. 

Richard: With Bessie it’s all in the texture. She has an aesthetic sensibility and I have learned to pay more attention to that element. The joy you get from something that looks beautiful, that feels great when you receive it, I have learned that from her. I have learnt from Bessie to look twice. 

Q. What is your advice to those thinking about starting a business with family? 

Bessie: The best piece of advice I can give is to make sure you both have a role. We are separately focused on different things to do with what we are making. Ensure whatever you set out to do is jointly engaging and fulfilling. 

Richard: Every time I would say do it. Take as much care as you can but just do it.