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Family-owned enterprises constitute approximately 70% of Australian businesses, reflecting a unique blend of personal and professional relationships among colleagues. While collaborating with family members may introduce specific pressures, it also presents opportunities for creativity, cooperation, and maintaining longstanding traditions. This article explores the experiences of three business owners who have embraced their family legacy and the lessons they have garnered along the way.
‘They know our business more than I do’
Manjit Gujral moved to Australia to assist in his brother’s restaurant before establishing his own venture. Currently, he is learning to have confidence in his children’s skills as they seek to modernize a business with a rich history spanning over four decades.
Manjit Gujral relocated to Australia, bringing his marketing experience from India to the family restaurant. Initially motivated by his father’s request for the family to unite in work, he dedicated himself to the kitchen, learning culinary skills from his mother, despite having no previous cooking experience.
After his brother’s restaurant was sold, Manjit and his wife opened a modest establishment in Potts Point, while their parents cared for their two young children. During this time, his working hours were so demanding that he often didn’t see his children for days.
As the business evolved and moved locations, they expanded into catering, with his wife as his trusted partner. Their sons eventually joined the family venture. Deep, initially interested in becoming a pilot, shifted gears and now serves as the general manager after some nudging from his father. Meanwhile, Varun—whose early obsession with television raised some concerns—began experimenting with cooking, merging Indian flavors into new dishes that quickly became favorites. Manjit acknowledges the passion his sons have for the business, humorously stating that they often know more about it than he does.
‘I had a lot of arguments with my father’
Tyrrell’s Memorials, a business established in the 1920s by Thomas Henry Tyrrell, is now run by his great-grandson Nathan, who expresses a sense of fortune in continuing the family legacy.
Nathan Tyrrell’s journey into the family business has been anything but straightforward. Despite the expectation that he would follow in his family’s footsteps, he initially resisted, prompted by frequent disagreements with his father over necessary changes. After a stint in commercial property and IT, Nathan returned to the family business with newfound insights and a more mature perspective on conflicts and cooperation.
Operating in a sector that has seen minimal changes for nearly a century, Nathan recognizes the importance of adapting to contemporary multicultural perspectives on death and memorialization. He also faces modern challenges, such as stringent safety regulations and the stress of online reviews impacting potential clients’ perceptions.
Though familial conflicts are a daily occurrence, he finds beauty in the challenge, expressing gratitude for his return to the business. He harbors hopes for the next generation to continue the family tradition, emphasizing the importance of choice in this career path.
‘I wanted to offer something different’
Laura Nobile’s grandmother, Filomena Tropeano, introduced artisanal gelato-making techniques from Italy when she opened Alpino Gelato in Marrickville.
Upon migrating to Australia in the 1950s, Laura’s grandparents noticed a significant gap in dessert offerings, particularly those from southern Italy. Filomena’s establishment, Alpino, was revolutionary for its time, as she found innovative ways to store gelato without modern refrigeration.
Growing up in an entrepreneurial environment, Laura naturally found her path into the family business, driven by a desire to innovate. Eager to introduce new products, such as gelato cakes, she faced the challenge of balancing tradition and modernity with her family’s values. Her mother encouraged her creativity while ensuring the essence of their heritage was preserved.
Laura’s daughters have been part of the business since infancy, witnessing the joy their family’s creations bring to their community. She looks forward to seeing how they will shape the future of their family business with their fresh ideas and perspectives.
Source
www.theguardian.com