Brett Lucas

Age:

Brett Lucas' family opened its first video rental business as an independent store in Huonville, Tasmania.

In 2003 he opened their second in Kingston and joined the Blockbuster network as the first and only franchise in Tasmania. Throughout 2007 he bought another five Blockbuster stores in Tasmania, and in 2009 bought his first store in Victoria.

Today he operates one of the largest Blockbuster franchises in Australia with eight stores and expectations of turning over closet to $6 million this year. It's a tough industry, with challenges including competition from cable TV, piracy and downloads. Success means being agile, flexible and reactive to change.

"What you start out to do may not be what you end up doing," Lucas says. "Take opportunities when they come up and allow your business to grow."

The downturn was good to Lucas as consumers chose a cheap night in with a DVD, and gave him the chance to focus on new ways of marketing and new revenue streams.

"As a result we increased turnover by almost $1 million and was voted the Blockbuster Franchisee of the Year," Lucas says.