013 - How Billfish Gear Redefined Fishing Apparel - A Category of One With Founder Leo Chapman
Release Date: 12/01/2024
017 - The Superyacht Industry's Hidden Challenges (And How to Overcome Them) w/ Adam Hickey of d'Albora Marine
The Rising Tidecast
In this episode, Adam Hickey shares his journey from the fast-paced world of motorsport racing to a career on the water. He reflects on the challenges of transitioning to the yachting industry, the skills required to thrive at sea, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. He also dives into the emotional highs and lows of competitive sailing, including his experience in the Sydney to Hobart race. Beyond sailing, Adam explores the world of yacht brokerage, sharing his perspective on building relationships, navigating industry challenges, and the emotional aspects of brokering...
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016 - They Stole His Store and Gear… But He Kept Going w/ Alex Qasabian of Fishing Station
The Rising Tidecast
Summary Alex Qasabian shares his journey from a passionate fisherman, to an accomplished guitarist, to the owner of Fishing Station, a staple in Sydney's fishing community. He discusses the importance of building a supportive community, the influence of his family on his love for fishing, and the challenges he faced transitioning from a music career to entrepreneurship. Alex highlights the significance of customer service in his business and the resilience required to overcome obstacles, including government challenges and theft. His story is one of passion, perseverance, and the deep...
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015 - Insights Every Marine Brand Needs To Know with Stephanie Vatalaro from RBFF
The Rising Tidecast
Summary Stephanie Vatalaro, Senior VP of Strategy and Operations at the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), discusses her journey from a water-loving family in Ohio to her impactful career in the marine industry. We talk about the importance of networking, the challenges of engaging new audiences in fishing, and the innovative campaigns RBFF has launched to promote fishing and boating. Stephanie shares insights on the significance of data-driven strategies and emotional storytelling in connecting with diverse audiences and retaining participants in the fishing community. We...
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014 - The Formula For Yacht Broker Success with Jack Warwick
The Rising Tidecast
Summary It's not all champagne and caviar. Jack Warwick shares his journey from corporate to becoming a successful yacht broker in Sydney. Jack discusses the allure of the marine industry, the hard work behind the scenes, and the innovative marketing strategies he employs to stand out in a competitive market. He emphasizes the importance of building long-term relationships with clients and creating valuable content to engage potential buyers. The conversation also touches on the realities of the job, the skills required for success, and Jack's aspirations for the future. In this episode, we...
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013 - How Billfish Gear Redefined Fishing Apparel - A Category of One With Founder Leo Chapman
The Rising Tidecast
Summary Leo Chapman, founder of Billfish Gear, shares the story of how his brand started and grew in the fishing apparel industry. The journey began with an Instagram page and the idea to provide a news source for fishing enthusiasts. Leo built a following and eventually added products to the mix, starting with stickers and then expanding to hats and apparel. Along the way, he relied on the help of individuals who believed in the brand and were willing to ship products for him. The company's culture of creativity and high performance continues to attract passionate individuals who want to be...
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012 - Communication And Marketing Essentials In Yachting From Top PR Expert Rebecca Whitlocke
The Rising Tidecast
Summary Rebecca Whitlocke, founder of Antibes Yachting, discusses her journey in the yachting and luxury industry and the importance of effective marketing and storytelling. She emphasizes the need for authentic and relatable content that resonates with the target audience. Rebecca also highlights the significance of local content and understanding cultural nuances when marketing to a global audience. She advises businesses to focus on the entire content strategy, including distribution and promotion, rather than just creating content. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of...
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011 - Leveraging Technology And Creating A Unique Offering : Aaron O'Donoghue's Journey to Create Boatbuy
The Rising Tidecast
Summary In this conversation, Stephen Govel interviews Aaron O'Donoghue, founder of Boatbuy, who shares his journey from leaving school at 15 to becoming a marine mechanic and eventually a marine surveyor. The discussion covers the importance of community in the marine industry, the role of technology in improving boat inspections, and the significance of customer feedback and content marketing in building a successful business. Aaron emphasizes the need for comprehensive reporting systems and the impact of creating valuable content for customer engagement. In this conversation,...
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010 - Building A Personal Brand In The Marine Industry with Ben Taylor
The Rising Tidecast
Summary Ben Taylor is a journalist and reporter in the marine industry who focuses on B2B content. He started his own media production company, Ben Taylor Media, to provide authentic and entertaining content for businesses in the industry. His consistent tagline, 'What's Going On?', has become synonymous with his brand and helps to engage his audience. Ben emphasizes the importance of being authentic and entertaining in social media content, and advises small businesses to focus on the most interesting aspects of their company. He also shares his workflow for creating content, including the...
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009 - Being Intentional: Growing A High End Marine Carpentry Business with Jason and Crystal Lucas
The Rising Tidecast
Summary Jason and Crystal Lucas are the husband and wife team behind Southern Craftsman Marine, specializing in fine marine carpentry. They have a big following on Instagram and are known for their excellence in craftsmanship. Jason's love for the ocean started from growing up on the water and working on headboats, which eventually led him to marine carpentry. Crystal, on the other hand, had a background in biology and education but learned about marketing during her political campaign. She applied her marketing knowledge to their business and started using Instagram to showcase their...
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008 - Nurturing Cacti and Marine Businesses with Nona Pedersen
The Rising Tidecast
Summary Nona Pedersen, the founder of Yessss to Growth, shares her expertise in helping marine businesses thrive through fast and effective growth. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the needs and goals of clients and working backwards to create a marketing strategy that delivers results. Nona also discusses her passion for the marine industry and the satisfaction she gets from helping businesses rediscover their passion and achieve success. She highlights the significance of storytelling in marketing and the importance of finding the purpose behind every marketing activity. In...
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Leo Chapman, founder of Billfish Gear, shares the story of how his brand started and grew in the fishing apparel industry. The journey began with an Instagram page and the idea to provide a news source for fishing enthusiasts. Leo built a following and eventually added products to the mix, starting with stickers and then expanding to hats and apparel. Along the way, he relied on the help of individuals who believed in the brand and were willing to ship products for him. The company's culture of creativity and high performance continues to attract passionate individuals who want to be part of something bigger. Leo discusses the importance of having a competitive edge in business and leveraging unique skills and advantages, and how his background in media and fishing gave him an advantage in starting Billfish Gear. We also discuss the concept of 'ikigai' and how it can guide career choices.
If you're keen to get your own Billfish Gear, use the code ‘30knotcruise’ for 15% off your next purchase.
Connect With Steve Govel
Connect With Leo Chapman
Website | Instagram 1 | Instagram 2 | Instagram 3
Takeaways
- Building a successful brand takes time and perseverance.
- Creating a strong logo and aesthetic can help legitimize a brand.
- A culture of creativity and high performance can attract and retain talented individuals.
- High-quality content and customer experience are crucial for brand growth.
- The first interaction with a brand is through content, so it needs to be excellent.
- The brand is the key differentiator in a competitive market.
- Identify what you are uniquely good at and leverage that advantage.
Sound Bites
"Continuous learning is key. I mean, I listen to 3-4 business podcasts daily just to keep up and fill in the gaps in my knowledge."
"Understanding financial documents like P&Ls and balance sheets was a huge challenge at first, but admitting what I didn’t know was the first step to learning."
"Humility, empathy, and understanding are fundamental. You really need to appreciate the challenges each team member faces and treat everyone well."
"My media skills and connections within the fishing community are my competitive edges that help our business stand out."
"Starting from just selling stickers, it's amazing to see how we've grown. Our first big break was an advertorial for Garmin that earned us $350."
"Our custom gear program is a big part of what we do. Customers love being able to design their own shirts, and that connection is really special."
"Our focus is on producing custom, high-quality fabrics. We're not interested in competing in the 'race to the bottom' — we want to stay unique."
Chapters
00:00 The Essence of Billfish Gear
02:45 From Passion to Profession: The Fishing Journey
06:06 The Birth of Billfish: From Media to Merchandise
08:58 Navigating Early Challenges and Product Development
12:11 Building a Brand: The Importance of Community
15:00 Creating High-Quality Content and Customer Experience
17:50 Finding the Right Manufacturing Partners
21:06 The Future of Billfish Gear: Innovation and Growth
31:00 The Value of Quality and Love in Products
33:53 Custom Gear: Personalization and Community
37:05 The Billfish Lifestyle: Adventure and Travel
39:58 Building a Global Brand: Community and Recognition
42:49 Product Development: Iteration and Innovation
46:11 Lessons Learned: The Challenges of Entrepreneurship
49:06 The Importance of Continuous Learning and Competitive Edge
51:58 Final Thoughts: Giving Back and Community Support