Sean Ashby
Founder of aussieBum Swimwear.
Profile
Sean Ashby is the great Australian and international rags to riches success story. A self made multi-millionare who created his own product and business when no one would employ him. In 2000 Sean was still unable to find a job after a sea change working for a major multinational company, so Sean became a Aussie beach bum to help slow down him spending his life savings. It was at this moment Sean decided to start his own cottage business aptly named ‘aussieBum’ and made his own swimwear after Speedo stopped producing the Aussie classic swimwear style Sean had grown up wearing.
After successfully selling to his mates on Bondi Beach, Sean presented his much-loved styles to Australian retailers like David Jones who all rejected the brand and himself for being ‘too Australian’ and ‘out of touch’ with the buyer. Undeterred and savings practically all spent, Sean built his own e-commerce website aussieBum to sell directly to customers globally. Ironically Sean started in e-commerce when the infamous Dot bomb occurred in 2001.
Current Work
Sean shares incredible moments about his simple beginnings, the painful rejections in Australia and how he overcame his greatest fear of failure to build and sustain a brand that is highly regarded and recognised as one of the most successful apparel brands in Australia today.
Fast track the next 20 years and grossing over quarter a billion in sales, winning every major Australian Export award in manufacturing and e-commerce. Sean has set a new bench mark high in e-commerce retail sales records earning $1 million in sales in 48 hours selling underwear sold at $15 each. Sean is a ray of light for entrepreneurs worldwide and for those wanting to start their own online e-commerce business. Sean’s business was chosen by NAB to feature in a national media campaign highlighting ‘The moments that matter’ in business and his success globally.
Sean has now come full circle from having courage at the start, the knowledge and lessons learnt to share his wisdom through story telling talking about what it means to be a true entrepreneur whose motivation and inspirational words are proven by the media documented accounts of his past.
