Brad Smith (entrepreneur)
| Brad Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Bradley Smith 1 July 1987 Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Residence | Legana, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation |
Entrepreneur Motocross Champion |
| Years active | 2007 – present |
| Known for |
Founder and Director of braaap 2010 Young Australian of the Year for Tasmania Australian Young Entrepreneur of the year |
| Website | http://www.braaap.com.au |
About Brad
Bradley “Brad” Smith (born 1 July 1987) is an Australian entrepreneur, keynote speaker, champion Superlite MX motocross rider and advocate for safe motocross riding practices. Smith is best known for establishing the motorcycle brand “braaap” and the recipient of several achievement awards including Young Australian of the Year for Tasmania, Australian Young Entrepreneur of the year twice and International Young Entrepreneur of the year runner up.
Braaap
In 2005 Smith launched the first braaap store, a retail outlet intended to be “the motocross equivalent of a surf shop”. braaap has since expanded via company owned outlets and existing dealerships in Australia and via Distributors in Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, Ecudor, Mexico.
In 2010 braaap signed a deal with NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose to launch into the United States in 2011. braaap Exited from the US in 2013 after winning a title at the Las Vegas Indoor MMSX.
Braaap is the 4 time Australian Specialised retail business of the year. Smith now resides between Launceston, Tasmania and Frankston, Victoria. Australia.
2007: Despite being told “street clothes and motorbikes won’t sell under the one roof”, Smith collaborated widely to develop a business model for a motocross lifestyle store aimed towards families and recreational riding. As a result, braaap stores not only sell mini bikes but offer a variety of street apparel, DVDs, equipment and motocross paraphernalia. Each store also has a club and provides access to coaching and in-store bike mechanics.
braaap’s exponential growth created challenges when procuring funding. Smith overcame this obstacle after winning awards for 2008 Australian Small Business Retailer of the Year and Australian Young Entrepreneur of the Years, both sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank. After the award ceremony Smith informally propositioned Commonwealth Bank officials who in turn agreed to provide braaap funding.
The first the braaap store opened in Launceston in 2005, with additional Tasmanian stores in Hobart and Devonport, and another in Frankston, Victoria.
“We are in the business of affordable adrenaline sports, my passion is the Superlite industry but as a retailer our concept store is designed to be the affordable adrenaline sport super store, we are using what we have learned from the Superlite industry to engage other affordable adrenaline sport that line up with our mission and values, E.g. BMX, Extreme POGO, Extreme Scooter, etc.” — Brad Smith, December 2010
2013: Refining the brand The braaap brand went through a major refinement in 2013 as its core customer went from the youth off road market with an average age segment of 15-23 year olds to the more sophisticated road segment with the average customer becoming 28 - 44 year old male. The over 50’s segment grew with the introduction of road motorcycles as did the female segment. braaap Concept stores took a major shift with the introduction of street legal range of motorcycles.
The product mix took a pivotal shift as braaap moved into the road legal market with the 125cc superlite Street and the 250cc “CAFE RACER”. The cafe racer proved a phenomenal success as reported by the Australian Financial review in December 2015.
"A 250 engine may not be huge on a normal road bike," Smith says. "But a cafe racer is stripped-back and light, so you get performance and fuel economy. A city bike really needs performance from zero to 80." – Brad Smith
Family
In 2015 The weekend Australian revealed that braaap has become a family business: "what makes this family business a little bit different from most others is that Brad didn’t inherit this firm -- he actually started it from scratch -- and among his loyal troop of employees are his parents, Paul and Andrea. His father is head mechanic, while his mother oversees the group’s retail operations, and his younger sister Sheridan is brought into the business for special projects. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/business-spectator/a-young-entrepreneur-whos-powering-ahead/news-story/3ccccb28a2d0118cb66b63d5268f4092
DIRB it UP
in 2015 New Holland publishers launched Brad Smiths book” Dirb it UP”
Competitor Pressure / Legal Allegations In 2016 braaap came under competitive pressure and allegations turned into a legal matter for braaap to defend. Motorcycle company braaap founded by the young Brad Smith has denied allegations pressed upon him and is preparing to lodge a defence.
Source: https://www.tasmaniatalks.com.au/the-show/6218-braaap-founder-brad-smith-to-lodge-defence-against-fraud-charges The Show © Tasmania Talks
Academy of growth
smith is the key talent for the “Academy of growth” charing the advisory board program. http://www.academyofgrowth.com.au Together, with the chairmen of your board and the 7 other board members we will open your business up for examination and teach you the same tools and strategies that are used by the top performing companies in the world.
The Academy of growth focus on both Impact and Income:
Reserve Bank of Australia Smith served on the reserve bank of australia advisory panel for a full term of 3 years finishing in 2016, representing small business.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZmhXeH1pNE http://www.rba.gov.au/about-rba/panels/
The Small Business Finance Advisory Panel was established by the Reserve Bank in 1993. To gain a variety of perspectives, panellists are selected from a range of industries and locations across Australia and serve on the Panel for three years.
Keynote speaking
Thanks Heaps
Brad Smith 2 x Australian Young Entrepreneur of the year 4 x Australian Business of the Year