EOFY sale small business spotlight – Flashpoint Labs

This End of Financial Year, Cashrewards is here to help you stack your savings, with big discounts plus cashback. And if you’re a business owner, those savings can be even better, thanks to the ATO’s instant asset write-off for eligible business-related purchases.

To kick off our EOFY campaign, we chatted to award-winning photographer, Tomasz Machnik, to find out more about what it takes to run a company, how giving back is ingrained in his business and how Cashrewards helps him with his purchases for both work and play.

Hi Tomasz. Can you tell us a little about what you do and why you decided to start your own business?

I run a social enterprise called Flashpoint Labs that provides paid work experience opportunities in photography and film shoots to Indigenous and multicultural youth. I started this company because I felt I wasn’t getting enough from the photography jobs that I was shooting alone. I wanted to have a job which gave back to the community.

What have you learned from growing your business?

I’ve learned that you need to have faith and belief in yourself and your cause and not give up. I love that it’s a continual learning experience too.

How does Cashrewards help with the costs of managing your business?

The fact that I can earn cashback for many business expenses I incur, such as car hire, flights, hotels and team dinners, means I save money that can go back towards buying new equipment for the company. Before buying anything new, I always check Cashrewards online to see where I can save. Even if it’s not a huge deal or a sale, it all adds up. I treat it as a savings scheme, and I like seeing my balance grow. I’m aiming to get to $10,000 before I withdraw it!

What are the greatest challenges you’ve faced as a business owner?

In the early days, there were a few lows when business was slow and cold calling felt like it would never bring in new leads. Then suddenly you make one breakthrough, then another, and before you know it, business starts to flow. It’s a great feeling when all your hard work pays off and you build a respectful name for your company.

Where do you see your business going next?

Ideally, I want the business to continue to grow at a comfortable pace that doesn’t dilute or derail the quality of our work. In the next couple of years, I’d love to run more workshops for kids through the company. In the longer term, I’d like to end up having retainers with some of the biggest brands in Australia, if not the world.

What are your top tips for people looking to start their own business?

If you have a great idea, and you’re passionate about it, then go for it and don’t look back! But I also think it’s healthy to know when to say “enough is enough” if the idea isn’t working for you. I’ve had people pull out of my company, claiming it wouldn’t work, and that was the right decision for them at the time. Thankfully, I persevered and it’s doing great now. And I think it has a lot more growth still to come.

What inspires you to keep running and growing your business?

Giving back to youth and having the freedom to be creative are the two main things that keep me going every day. I also love seeing clients who back us and support our cause, because they also end up feeling great by participating in the story and contributing to a positive social impact. One day, I believe every company will have a social impact division within their business. It’s important to give back, and it’s fulfilling to have meaning in what we do every day.

Finally, what are your favourite stores to shop at with Cashrewards?

I enjoy a drink after a good day’s work, so I love being able to get cashback on wine or beer through Dan Murphy’s or Liquorland, especially when there’s a boosted cashback deal on. I also got a great deal on my iPhone with cashback through Apple. And when overseas travel is back on the cards, I’ll be first in line to get cashback on my flights and hotel stay!

Why not join Tomasz and maximise your savings before the end of June with cashback on your business purchases from hundreds of brands? From upgrading your tech to new furniture for your workspace or a great deal on travel, there’s cashback for all of it!

Check out the Cashrewards EOFY year sale on now and get $10 free cashback when you join today.