How This Small Business is Printing Success

What started as a side hustle for Diana Zienkiewicz has evolved into a successful small business selling 10,000 art prints online a year. Using her Business Card which earns Qantas Points is helping this South Australian outfit look overseas for inspiration.

Hustle Living, an online business selling personalised artworks and affordable prints sourced locally and internationally, was born out of a hobby. “I started it about seven years ago as something fun to do after I got home from work,” explains founder Diana Zienkiewicz. “About six months into it I was made redundant after 16 years at my corporate job – my life came to a bit of a crossroads.”

That setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Zienkiewicz who used her newfound free time – and her redundancy payout – to grow her side hustle into a profitable business. “It started in my spare room, then spread to my bedroom and eventually took over my whole house to the point where I needed an office and some space for my employees,” she says.

The business now operates out of an office in Prospect, South Australia, employs five people and has delivered more than 10,000 orders in the last 12 months. It boasts a sizable fan base on social media with more than 150,000 followers on Facebook, almost 60,000 on Instagram and a database of about 50,000 customers.

To help her business grow, Zienkiewicz has used digital marketing platforms like Facebook and Instagram to lead an audience to her online store, which is supported by technology like Shopify. These software platforms are “basically the brains of our business”, Zienkiewicz says. “It’s the conduit between our customers and ourselves. All of the software is paid for with our American Express® Qantas Business Rewards Card.”

The financial flexibility of the Card has been integral to running Hustle Living and paying those bills on time. “There’s constantly money going in and out as a small business,” she explains. “Having up to 51 days to pay for purchases¹ on the Card frees up funds for other things, like buying new materials to print.”

The ability to manage cash flow with her American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card is just the beginning for Zienkiewicz. With no pre-set spending limit, Card Members can grow their business purchasing power with adjustable spend capacity.² It’s a feature that has provided peace of mind.

“At the end of the month when I do my accounts I know that my outgoings will be covered by the Card,” she says. “Bills can fluctuate and unexpected costs can pop up so it’s nice knowing that if there's a $10,000 invoice, I can just pay it; if it’s $2,000 I’ll just pay it. It makes it easy.”

Over the past seven years the business has continued to evolve with Zienkiewicz expanding Hustle Living’s offering to include personalised prints, illustrated images and exclusive deals with local artists as a point of difference.

“We’ve created a new range of products where customers can upload photos of their family and pets and we digitise it, personalise and print it – those have been really popular,” says Zienkiewicz. “I’m particularly proud of how we’ve teamed up with local artists, like Elspeth Domin, too.”

Earning up to 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on everyday business expenses³ with her American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card – and 2 Qantas Points per $1 spent on Qantas products and services³ – has inspired Zienkiewicz to continue to look at ways she can grow her business. She plans to book a multi-country business trip across China and Indonesia using points earned on the Card.

“I’ve been saving up my Qantas Points and I really want to go overseas at the end of the year to look at some new manufacturing options,” she says. “The idea of earning Qantas Points, which I can use to help offset business travel and Hustle Living expenses, was what drew me to American Express originally. And I’m hoping travel opens up inspirational new ways for me to grow my business.”

Unlock the possibilities

Diana Zienkiewicz shares her top small business tips…

The key to… making finances easy

“As a small business, I think it’s best to keep things simple. If you can centralise most of your outgoing spend then, why not? I put everything I can onto my American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card. It’s really convenient knowing where my costs will be coming from and with no pre-set spending limit² on the Card, I don’t have to worry. It frees me up to go and build new relationships with upcoming artists and bring them onto the website.”

The key to… a happy workforce

“One of my goals was to have a really egalitarian workplace. If people want to learn something or try something out, I’m more than willing to teach my staff and let them have a go. I also didn’t want to have a business where people sat and stewed about things they were unhappy about. I encourage my employees to come and talk if they have a problem and I foster a workplace where that’s the norm. I know it’s easy in theory but happy staff will take care of your business.”

The key to… earning Qantas Points and an audience

“80 per cent of my expenses would probably go through the Card. That includes all my software subscriptions and Facebook ads that drive sales on my website. Earning Qantas Points³ through those expenses that can then be used on flights or rewarding my staff is a really great idea and something that adds value to using the Card.”

The key to… creating a network

“It can be lonely running a small business. If the bills are stacking up and there are no sales, it’s ultimately on you to fix it. But I’ve found that creating a network of other small businesses in the local area, finding a confidant and being able to lean on each other has been incredibly helpful.”

SEE ALSO: This Men’s Grooming Hub Went From Bedroom to Barbershops