A young Australian businessman has shared how he turned over $90,000 in three months to support his family after his 70-year-old dad passed away from cancer.
George Filopoulos, from Melbourne, became the manager of the family furniture business Windsor Furniture in January 2020 and started his own brand Zene Mirrors six months later in June.
The 21-year-old felt he had no choice but to start the new business after his dad died from lymph node cancer on January 31, 2020, leaving the family stressed and struggling to make money.
‘Dad was always the “bread provider” of the family and he taught me everything I knew about running a business,’ he said.
To kickstart his new brand, George decided to sell his dad’s commodore ute and invest the $15,000 he received from the sale to start Zene Mirrors.
George Filopoulos (pictured) became the manager of the family furniture business Windsor Furniture in January 2020 and started his own brand Zene Mirrors six months later in June
The 21-year-old (left) felt pressure to start Zene Mirrors after his dad (right) passed away from terminal cancer at the age of 70
Before his father’s unfortunate death, George deferred from studying construction management at university to learn about the family business for 18 months.
After taking control of the business he discovered the furniture store was functioning at a ‘massive loss’ rather than a profit – a small detail his father kept to himself.
‘That’s when the stress started because Covid-19 had hit Australia and we weren’t sure how it would impact our small business,’ he said.
As soon as the first national lockdowns initiated, George said the business was selling ‘nothing’ because customers prefer to come in store and feel the furniture rather than buy online.
To link furniture and e-commerce together he decided vanity makeup mirrors would be the best suitable option to sell when launching his new brand.
Zene Mirrors launched in June 2020 and George started working 12 hours a day to ensure he business succeeded
Based on his experience working at the store, he knew mirrors were a desired item that didn’t needed to be seen or touched before buying
George said he has ‘always wanted to start’ an e-commerce business but wasn’t sure where to begin.
Based on his experience working at the store, he knew mirrors were a desired item that didn’t need to be seen or touched before buying.
‘Customers often like to inspect how mattresses and couches feel before buying them, but they don’t need to do this with mirrors,’ George said.
The lush vanity makeup mirrors made $90,000 in the first three months and in six months George opened a pop-up store in the Westfield Doncaster Shopping Centre in Melbourne
But the business wasn’t an overnight success as George put all his effort into the brand, working seven days a week and often 12 hours each day.
‘I was surprised the business took off as well as it did, but I knew I had put in the hard work,’ he said.
George said he felt the pressure for the business to succeed because he knew he had to provide for his mum and sister, as his mum doesn’t work.
‘I was constantly thinking about it and how I needed the business to take off because it doesn’t just affect me, it affects my family,’ he said.
The business wasn’t an overnight success as George put all his effort into the brand, working seven days a week and often 12 hours each day
Zene Mirros sell three different high-quality vanity makeup mirrors, including a Hollywood light mirror
George said he now begins his day at 7:30am focusing on his father’s business, then from 2:30pm to 7:30pm he shifts his focus to Zene Mirrors.
Despite working long hours, he is strongly inspired by his dad who worked seven days a week for 20 years.
‘I thought if he could do it at 70, I can do it at 21,’ he said, adding: ‘I was very lucky to have a dad like him.’
Over the past year his business skills have grown exponentially and he has learnt how to make decisions under pressure and how to handle stress.
The mirrors not only would create the perfect makeup space but would be great to provide essential light when putting on your makeup
Zene Mirros sell three different high-quality vanity makeup mirrors, including a Hollywood light mirror.
Prices range from $399 to $525, with two currently on sale for $499.
The mirrors not only would create the perfect makeup space but would be great to provide essential light when putting on your makeup.
Matching vanity tables and lush stools are also available and sold separately online.
Currently George has signed a partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, with 5 per cent for every mirror sold going towards the charity.
‘Since I took so much inspiration from my dad, seeing him work and live with cancer I considered a way for my brand to help other people in need,’ he said.
When asked what advice he would give to other young people wanting to start a brand, he said to not be scared and to make sure you do your research first.