Overview
The podcast features Greg Brebner, founder of Blunt Umbrellas, discussing his journey from early tinkering to building a globally recognized brand. Topics covered include product innovation, business evolution, retail strategy, personal motivation, sustainability, and future plans for Blunt.
Early Influences and Background
- Greg grew up in rural Auckland, inspired by his engineer father and time spent tinkering in the workshop.
- Attended Bay School and has an older sister.
- Early dream was to be an inventor, finding fascination in creating products from scratch.
Origin and Development of Blunt Umbrellas
- The idea for Blunt arose from personal experience with dangerous umbrella tips in rainy London.
- Initial attempts at product development involved various failures before settling on umbrella design.
- The name "Blunt" references the rounded, safe umbrella tips—a core feature of the product.
- Eureka moment came from reengineering umbrella tensioning and developing the unique "blunt tip" component.
Business Evolution and Milestones
- First job at Fisher & Paykel Healthcare provided exposure to all aspects of business.
- Transitioned from startup "heart-led" phase to a more structured, "head-led" company requiring specialist skills.
- Opening the flagship Kent Street store in Newmarket aimed to improve direct customer engagement and service.
- Major validation came from collaboration with designer Karen Walker and seeing Blunt in international markets.
Product and Market Strategy
- Repairability and sustainability are central; aim is for umbrellas to be user-repairable, like replacing light bulbs.
- Different markets (Auckland, Melbourne) show varied buying behavior; wind and rain are key factors for demand.
- Global expansion uses both direct staff (Australia, US) and local agents (UK).
- Building community through complementary products like dog jackets and seasonal UV/sun umbrellas.
Personal Insights and Motivation
- Greg finds relaxation and renewal on the water, reflecting his upbringing around boats.
- Has no major regrets; views challenges as learning experiences and values the slower, credible brand growth.
- Stays focused on core business, though interested in innovating in other stagnant product categories.
- Desires to repeat Blunt's success in future ventures, timing and focus permitting.
Current Initiatives and Future Vision
- Expanding UV and beach umbrella offerings to broaden seasonal relevance, especially targeting the Australian market.
- Pursuing further product miniaturization and enhanced repairability.
- Committed to sharing brand story authentically and learning from experienced entrepreneurs.
Decisions
- Open flagship Kent Street store to directly engage customers and combine service with retail sales.
- Expand sun/UV product lines to target new use cases and markets.
Action Items
- TBD – Blunt Team: Continue developing beach and UV umbrella products for launch in coming year.
- TBD – Blunt Team: Enhance user-repair capabilities and support for global customers.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- Effectiveness and scalability of user-repair system for global markets.
- Long-term strategies for entering and succeeding in additional markets beyond current focus areas.