Today's working landscape is revealing a generation of visionary young career builders determined to expose new opportunities to satisfy modern needs.
Jareth Richardson, 23, is one such fledgling entrepreneur. His idea – to transform a shipping container into a fully portable cafe – came after an eye-opening backpacking adventure through Europe.
In particular, Richardson was struck by the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Croatian community on Hvar Island.
"They don't have what we do in Australia, so they use anything and everything they can," he says. "One lady ran a flower shop that doubled as a convenience store in a large shipping container. I loved how she'd managed to use the space."
Upon his return, Richardson set to work connecting the dots of his experiences abroad with life back home. "I knew I wanted to stay working in hospitality, and I really liked the idea of a portable event service using a shipping container and the concept of multipurpose spaces."
Discussing the idea with his family, their enthusiasm and willingness to help convinced him that he was on to something. "It really brought the family together – everyone is contributing and learning along the way," Richardson says. "My sister already had a background in hospitality, and my Dad has given me great business advice. I have baristas in the family who own a coffee truck, too, and they taught us to make great coffee. It all came together organically."
For Richardson, the key was portability. "Modern life is about being flexible. A shipping container lets me move to where the customers are."
Richardson launched his first portable cafe – Cargo Bar Australia – in May this year within the Riviera Hotel drive-through in Seaford. Run by his sister, Gemma, the cafe operates outside hotel hours – typically 6am to 10am on weekdays, and from 7am on Saturday. Since its grand opening, the cafe has enjoyed a warm reception and burgeoning popularity.
Richardson attributes his growing legion of loyal customers to Cargo Bar's text-to-order service. "Everyone's short on time and this gives time back by getting their coffee to them faster. It's been very popular."
Cargo Bar's success allowed Richardson to expand operations to Prahran. Open most days from 8am to 1pm, it shares a space on Clifton St with Melbourne's Bird Watching Society.
The reaction to Cargo Bar Prahran has been extremely positive, no doubt due to Richardson's sensitivity to his customers' needs. Targeting locals with discounts and other offers has not only succeeded in enticing them in for coffee, but also generated demand for a food service. An adjoining food truck is being developed, and he envisions offering a range of heat-busting beverages and tasty treats to Melbourne's southern beachgoers in summer.
Richardson admits his business plan has evolved considerably. "I originally wanted to open an events bar serving alcoholic drinks in a 20-foot container. There are cost issues dealing with a large container, and demand was unpredictable. But, there's always a customer for coffee and food."
To other aspiring entrepreneurs, Richardson says learn about running a business, have a good amount of initial capital, and be prepared to take risks. "It's going to be costly to start and it's going to be hard, but if you don't take risks, you won't learn."