Catastrophic Muck-Ups Archives

The One Where Maison Design Had a $28,000 Crash and Burn

Peter Merchant’s business, Maison Design, often involves importing outdoor furniture from overseas. A few times his plans were foiled when the products he imported didn't meet his expectations.

Catastrophic Muck-ups With Cupcake Central

The One Where Cupcake Central’s Cookbook Got Burnt

After she was fired from her IT job in the 2009 Global Financial Crisis, the founder and director of Cupcake Central, Sheryl Thai, decided to chase her dream of opening up a cupcake store. Once she’d achieved that, she set her sights on another dream – publishing a cupcake cookbook. And she did, but it turned out to be a catastrophic muck-up.

The One Where Mid Life Cycles’ Shop Fit Out Stalled

After six years in business, Mid Life Cycles outgrew its shop and needed a bigger and better premises. Providing a memorable and pleasurable experience for customers has always been a core focus for director Michael Catchpole. And once he found the right location, nestled in Cremorne, Melbourne, he was ready to get building, but it was a rough ride.

The One Where Funch Got Rolled by Payment Terms

An exciting opportunity to be stocked by one of Australia’s largest online retailers seemed too good to be true. But before too long, excitement turned to despair when the retailer went into liquidation and vaporised Funch’s cash flow and growth momentum.

The One Where Mel Almost Cooked Her Cash Flow

Mel's had her fair share of Catastrophic Muck-Ups. Most recently a kitchen fit out was delayed three weeks, which could've devastated her cash flow, but she saw it coming and planned ahead. And the secret to her intuition? Diligence, attention, and forecasting.

The One Where Tammy Got Hit With a Product Recall

An ACCC product recall would be one of the worst imaginable catastrophic muck-ups for most brands. And it was for My Little Giggles when their Play Gym Rings were recalled and their competitors took to social media to sink the boot in while they were reeling from the ramifications of this catastrophic muck-up.

The One Where Hannah Wasted $50,000

A decision to open a pop-up store quickly became one of the worst and most expensive mistakes in Francesca's history, but Hannah was able to turn it into a resounding positive for the business.

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