Pioneering E-commerce and Scaling 'The Party People' with Dean Salakas

In this episode of Youngpreneur Society Podcast, we sit down with Dean Salakas: entrepreneur, advisor and the former ‘Chief Party Dude’ behind The Party People, one of Australia’s most iconic party supply businesses.  

Dean shares how he turned a small family-run store into an e-commerce pioneer, becoming the first Google advertiser in Australia and introducing click and collect long before it became mainstream.

We unpack the mindset behind his success: spotting trends early, building with limited resources, and ignoring the rulebook when it doesn’t make sense. Dean also opens up about what happens after a business is sold including how it felt to step away from his identity as a founder, and how he rediscovered purpose through consulting and supporting other businesses.

Start Early, Move Fast

Growth often rewards those who are bold enough to go first. Whether it’s a new platform, tool, or trend, being an early adopter can unlock outsized results. When you're the first one in the room, you control the pace.

Dean notes success doesn’t always come from playing catch-up: it comes from trusting your instincts, jumping in, and iterating fast while everyone else hesitates. His key takeaway? Don’t wait for the perfect moment; create it.

Build What You Can Afford

Dean explains you don’t need all the bells and whistles to get started. In fact, trying to embrace “best practice” too early can drain your resources and stall your progress.

Instead, he says what matters is resourcefulness. Whether it's using a spreadsheet instead of expensive software or learning to wear multiple hats, there’s strength in scrappiness. Hack your way through and upgrade later. What you build now just needs to work, not be perfect.

Rethink the Rules

The path to success doesn’t always follow the manual. Sometimes, the boldest move is doing the exact opposite of what conventional wisdom says.

Whether it's launching publicly, selling publicly, or saying no to trends like “free shipping”, Dean says you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. You just have to do what’s right for your business. Trust your judgment. The best strategies are often the ones you create for yourself.

Let Go to Grow

Leaving a business, even successfully, can bring unexpected emotions. When something has been your identity for so long, letting go feels like losing part of yourself.

That shift can feel like standing still after sprinting for years. But it’s also a chance to rediscover your strengths outside the structure you built. Fulfillment doesn’t end when one chapter closes: it’s found again when you step into new spaces with curiosity and confidence.

Every Conversation Counts

No matter how big or small someone’s business is, there’s always something to learn. Dean believes everyone you meet has a story, a perspective, or a skill that can teach you something valuable.

He also notes leadership isn’t about status: it’s about humility. When you approach people with openness instead of assumptions, you open doors to new relationships, ideas, and inspiration. Stay curious. Stay connected. That’s where real growth happens.

Highlights

• 00:00 Meet Dean Salakas

• 01:00 The origin story: From family clown business to online retail pioneer

• 02:00 Taking over the business and early e-commerce strategy

• 03:00 How being first to market paid off (Google, Bing, marketplaces)

• 04:15 Building systems from scratch: Excel, Access & DIY ERP

• 06:30 The realities of hacking growth as a startup

• 07:10 The truth about work-life balance and family sacrifices

• 08:00 Going public with a business sale: Why it worked

• 09:00 Managing risk: suppliers, staff, and customer perceptions

• 10:00 Challenging convention and rewriting the rulebook

• 13:00 Life after exit: identity crisis and the search for purpose

• 14:30 Consulting and rediscovering the “thrill” of business

• 16:00 Transitioning to employee life: humility, tact, and learning culture

• 18:00 Embracing the role of the “new kid” in a new team

• 19:00 Final reflections: every person has a story, every business has value