Ira Puspita,
Kayu and Co

I came to Sydney when I started a Master’s degree in Social Entrepreneurship in 2018. I’m from Indonesia where I ran my family’s jewellery business. I was also an English teacher for kindergarten students in a free school in Surabaya. Most of my students lived in slums and orphanages, which inspired me to study and start a business while also giving back to the community.

At Kayu and Co., I’m selling wooden homeware products including wooden tableware and brushes. I work with three artisans in Indonesia, I design the products and they manufacture them for me. 

Before I started Kayu and after I finished my degree, I was trying to look for jobs, but I didn’t have experience in working in Australia, and I didn’t really have connections in Australia. I also finished my degree during Covid, when so many people lost their jobs. It was a big problem for me to find employment so I started my own business.

I sell from my online store and supply 11 stores across Australia and the US. I’m manufacturing for a brand called Beechworth Honey Australia, making wooden honey dippers for them – that was a deal I got through Global Sisters, they connected me with the CEO and since then we’ve been developing a product. I’m really excited – they’ve helped me connect with people I wouldn’t normally connect with. Without them, I don’t know how long it would take to reach those big businesses, it’s really accelerated my portfolio and my business.

They’ve helped me a lot, especially with photoshoots and preparing for my next round of fundraising. I used to run my family business but I didn’t start it from scratch, it was already established and easy, everything I did was successful. But when I started this business by myself, it was the hardest thing ever, I have never been so stressed and under so much pressure. It can be really good and then the next day, no orders at all. It’s a rollercoaster unlike anything I have ever experienced. Global Sisters are always there to help, I can reach everyone there easily and they are just one email or phone call away. 

As a migrant woman, I feel like we really need to reach out to people who can help and support us, especially to connect us with people. One thing that I really appreciated when I was at my lowest point was signing up to Beyond Blue’s small business owners’ mental health program.