Geoff Bainbridge Spills the Beans about his Successful Track Record as an Entrepreneur and Investor
Australia – Geoff Bainbridge is a serial entrepreneur based in Australia. His success story as an entrepreneur is an inspiration to several others who are looking to launch their own business. Geoff went against the grain to launch his first venture at a very young age. There was no turning back after that in his entrepreneurial journey as he began to conquer new milestones with his determination and perseverance. Geoff now wants to help others replicate his success story.
“I have always been excited about becoming an entrepreneur and starting my own business,” says Geoff. “I am driven by challenges. I believe success is about finding the right opportunities and grabbing them with both hands.”
At just 21 years of age and armed with a fierce entrepreneurial spirit, Bainbridge co-founded his first company Studio Ongarato; an award-winning and internationally recognized Australian design studio at the top of its field, and a business in which he remains actively involved to this day.
Ongarato was a startup that taught Bainbridge all of those classic business lessons about biting off too much too quickly, not having enough cash, and not having enough hours in the day. While ultimately successful, Bainbridge learned the painful lesson about how long it actually takes to achieve overnight success.
Following his business mantra of “Get Things Done”, Geoff Bainbridge has carved out a signature leadership style that is all his own. This energy comes from in-depth insight and knowledge into trends and global markets, and being able to engineer brands and business models to successful outcomes in dynamic operating environments.
“I am inspired by people who live and pursue their vision. My role as an investor, partner or CEO is to put structure, strategy, and teams around that vision. Be it a creative start-up or corporate enterprise, it’s people first,” Bainbridge says of his career to date. “If you don’t have good people, you don’t have a good business. I am passionate about the pursuit of knowledge, insights, and opportunities in business. It’s something I have always been very passionate about. Couple that with the right people, that’s the formula. So, while I invest in a business, at the core of it, I am actually investing in people.”
Bainbridge’s achievements showcase his sharp business acumen and firmly establish him as one of the savviest consumer- and design-focused entrepreneurs in Australia. His previous roles include a ten-year tenure at Foster’s Group ultimately as Head of Business Development & Strategy for Carlton United Breweries and Continental Spirits before he moved to global eyewear & lifestyle brand Oakley eyewear as Managing Director of Asia Pacific.
In 2004, Bainbridge was one of three co-founders in Grill’d – which quickly became a rapidly expanding gourmet burger restaurant that now stands at 140 stores nationwide. The following year saw Bainbridge acquire a major share of Icon Brand, a UK-based men’s jewellery brand that distributes in 13 countries and is reported as the world’s largest men’s jewellery brand. This was the first brand that would eventually enter what is known today as THE BRAND STABLE.
It was in 2007 when Bainbridge was privately approached by designer Samantha Wills to become a Shareholder and Director in her self-titled accessories brand, becoming the second label to join THE BRAND STABLE.
Bainbridge plays three key roles across all businesses he is involved in:
* Strategic planning/troubleshooting
* Leadership development and coaching
* Organization structure: financial and non-financial
“The role I play is more organic in its application, in that I expand and contract depending upon the specific needs of the business or the relevant team at the time. I work closely with the team or brand to enable and empower their vision while providing a commercial framework for success,” adds Bainbridge.
Bainbridge’s diverse business interests and investments have one common theme, which is that they are all consumer-driven. Bainbridge is highly attuned to consumer insights and behaviors and developing businesses to address their needs or wants.
According to Bainbridge, market conditions, people, time, and cash are the key ingredients to scaling a business. “Scale and growth while intoxicating are such dangerous periods in which a business can lose its way, get distracted, and burn cash,” remarks Bainbridge. “There is a real art to managing growth. Keeping a level head, researching the industry, market and trends, and then being able to anticipate the road ahead are key to ensuring sustainable growth.”
With a long track record of success behind him, Bainbridge has no plans on retiring yet and will continue to either make early-stage investments in startups or actually start up another company himself.
“At 50 years of age and with an active mind, retiring is not an option for me,” says Bainbridge. “Business is my interest and hobby, and I don’t look at it as work. I am energized by people who want to bring change, and who look for creative solutions. It’s something I always want to be a part of.”
For more information, inquiries or to connect with Bainbridge, send an email or reach out via the website.
Media Contact
Company Name: Social Cover
Contact Person: Jenny Sanchez
Email: Send Email
Phone: 1300438743
City: Gold Coast
State: QLD
Country: Australia
Website: https://www.socialcover.com/
