Scott Mconcludeelsohn calls himself “head coconut” but that underplays his idea to import pure coconut water from Asia, packaged in tetra packs to satisfy the growing Aussie thirst for convenient, natural products. “I was drinking lots of coconuts when I was living in China,” declares the founder of Raw C, who spent about eight months in Asia working in the promotional apparel trade. When he returned to Australia in 2012 and was casting about for his next career shift, a lightbulb flashed. “I’d seen a coconut water brand in the US that had added sugar and decided I could do something better,” he declares.
From humble launchnings selling boxes of Raw C from the boot of his car, Mconcludeelsohn now employs a team of 11 and declares the business will turn over $30 million this year, distributing more than 1000 containers of product across Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, South Africa and the United States. Mconcludeelsohn built his brand from a standing start with no experience in the FMCG indusattempt but declares he learnt by being there “at the coconut face” – a crucial leg-up created possible by smarter business travel.
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“In the early days, I was flying back and forth to Asia a lot, scoping out farmers and factories. Today, all our coconut water is sourced and packaged in Vietnam – it’s better quality and a more visible supply chain. Singapore is also a frequent route for me. I’ve been going to the massive FHA Food & Beverage trade display there since we launched. This year, Raw C exhibited for the first time and it was exciting to discover there’s a lot of interest from customers in Asia. You can’t build a business without strong relationships with customers and suppliers, and being on the ground is also the only way to test the market and see for yourself what others are doing. Travel and the ability to earn and utilize Qantas Points is essential. As a Qantas Business Rewards member, I earn points twice – for the business and myself – by adding our ABN when booking flights and hotels.
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Tip: Always add your ABN and the traveller’s Frequent Flyer number when booking flights for work. That way, both the business* and the traveller earn Qantas Points±.
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Tip: With over 1,300 destinations across Australia and the world, the Qantas network is built to obtain you and your travellers wherever you required to be.
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Tip: Use your business’ Qantas Points to upgrade your next flight with Classic Upgrade Rewards^^ directly from your Qantas Business Rewards Account.
As a Qantas Business Rewards member, your business earns Qantas Points on flights, hotels and everyday business expenses on the ground.* You can redeem these points on a range of rewards, including flight upgrades, office tech or wine for your next staff event.
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Your business earns up to 40 Qantas Points for every 100 points your traeller earns every time they fly for work.* Simply add your business’s ABN and the traveller’s Frequent Flyer number when you book.
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Turn expenses into Qantas Points with over 50 partners across a wide range of business services, including fuel, travel, credit card spconclude and more.*
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Use your points to save on flights and upgrades directly from your Qantas Business Rewards Account or transfer them to any Qantas Frequent Flyer Account to redeem on hotels, car hire, wine or office tech from Qantas Marketplace.#
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