It’s Family Business

In this episode of It's Family Business, Cheryl sits down with Lizzie Renkert— founder of Lizzie Renkert Creative and former fashion magazine editor — to talk about the realities of running a business, working with family, and building a career that actually fits your life.
Lizzie shares her journey from the fast-paced world of fashion publishing to co-founding successful fashion label We Are Kindred, before ultimately launching her own boutique creative agency focused on brand storytelling, marketing strategy, social media, content creation, and small business growth.
Lizzie also shares powerful advice for aspiring business owners and creatives, including why experience matters, how to navigate uncertainty, and the importance of building a business that aligns with your lifestyle and values.
If you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, creative, marketer, working parent, or someone dreaming about starting your own business, this episode is packed with relatable insights and practical wisdom.
🎧 Listen now to hear an authentic conversation about family business, entrepreneurship, creativity, resilience, and finding success on your own terms.

What does it really take to run a successful family business with your partner—without it tearing your relationship apart?

In this episode of It’s Family Business, we sit down with Dale and Kirsty Neale, owners of a thriving service-based business in the funeral industry, to unpack their journey from humble beginnings to building a 40+ staff operation.

They share honest insights into:
Scaling a business from scratch while raising a family
Managing a growing team and creating a strong workplace culture
Navigating the challenges of working with your spouse
Balancing business demands with family life and personal priorities
The reality of 24/7 businesses and how it impacts relationships
Lessons learned from business failures, partnerships, and big risks
Defining success—beyond money, status, and growth
From “never saying no” in business to learning when to step back and prioritise family, this episode is packed with real, unfiltered advice for business owners, couples in business, and anyone thinking about starting a family-run company.
Whether you’re scaling your business, struggling with work-life balance, or wondering how to successfully work with your partner—this conversation offers practical takeaways and relatable moments you won’t want to miss.

Building a strong community is one of the most powerful ways to grow a successful fitness business — yet many business owners struggle to move beyond transactional relationships with their clients.
In this episode of It's Family Business, Cheryl and Kirsten share 5 practical strategies to help Pilates studios, boutique fitness businesses, and wellness brands build a loyal, engaged community that keeps clients coming back.

Learn how to create meaningful connections with your members, increase client retention, and stand out in a competitive fitness market filled with franchises and discount-driven offers.

Whether you're running a Pilates studio, gym, yoga studio, or wellness business, this episode will give you actionable ideas to transform your space into more than just a place to work out — but a place where clients feel seen, heard, valued, and part of something bigger.

In this episode, you'll learn:
The difference between transactional vs relational client experiences
How listening to client feedback strengthens loyalty
Simple gestures that create lasting member relationships
Ways to show value beyond discounts and promotions
How to connect with your local community to grow your brand
Ideas for events and touchpoints that encourage member connection
If you want to improve client retention, strengthen brand loyalty, and build a thriving fitness community, this episode is for you.

🎧 Perfect for:
Pilates studio owners, fitness professionals, boutique gym operators, wellness entrepreneurs, and small business owners wanting to build stronger customer relationships.

Following the success of a recent online webinar hosted by Pilates Reformers Australia on equipment maintenance, this episode continues the conversation — diving deeper into how to properly care for your Pilates equipment and protect your investment for the long term.
In this discussion, Adrian shares practical insights from years of hands-on experience working with Pilates equipment, highlighting why regular maintenance is essential not only for preserving performance and longevity, but also for ensuring safety for every user. Through exploring key equipment components i.e. springs, clips, wheels and more, Adrian highlights the key warning signs to watch for, the most common maintenance mistakes, and the simple checks that can prevent costly issues down the track.
Whether you’re a studio owner or a home user, you'll learn how small, consistent care can:
significantly extend the life of your equipment,
support warranty protection,
and maintain the high-quality experience your clients expect.
If you own Pilates equipment — or are considering investing — this episode will give you the knowledge and confidence to protect its performance, safety, and long-term value.

Want to review our live Equipment Maintenance Masterclass? Access the Webinar recording here:
pilatesreformersaustralia.com.au

In this heartfelt episode of It’s Family Business, we sit down with Charmaine Smith, Director of Cut It Out Hair Design, to unpack the realities of building a successful business while raising a family.

With over 23 years in business, multiple salon locations under her belt, and three children at very different life stages, Charmaine shares an honest look at what it really takes to juggle growth, staff leadership, motherhood, and the ever-present pull of mum guilt. From opening a second salon while pregnant, to navigating COVID, staffing challenges, and consolidation, this conversation is a powerful reminder that success doesn’t come without vulnerability, resilience, and a whole lot of grace.

If you're a business owner, a mother, or simply someone trying to balance ambition with family life then this episode is for you - because behind every “she’s got it all together” moment is someone quietly figuring it out as they go.

In this episode, you will learn:
How to navigate business growth while raising a young family
The importance of delivering exceptional service
Why mum guilt is inevitable—and how to manage it without burning out
The importance of building a family-first culture with staff and clients
How to lead confidently through change, even when you don’t have all the answers
Why giving yourself grace is essential to long-term success

A candid, relatable, and inspiring conversation about leadership, motherhood, and showing up—especially on the hard days.