SmartCompany50 rank: 18
Revenue: $2.5 million
Growth: 63%
Founders: Peter Piercy
Based: Melbourne
Employees: six in Australia
Industry: Retail
Website: www.biscote.com.au
Peter Piercy (59 right), has always been in fashion, working at Sportscraft before starting his own business, Biscote Sportswear, to sell fashion brands in 1980.
The company recently moved from being a wholesaler to an online operation, which resulted in a jump in revenue as customers deal directly with the company and not via traditional retailers. Piercy says he was also driven online by the poor payment methods of Australian retailers. “Now we are paid as the buyer makes the purchase,” he says.
Challenges lie ahead: larger retail groups are now souring direct from suppliers offshore which is causing concern to regular wholesalers. This is pushing more people to sell online or direct to the consumer.
