Think Big, Go Micro! With Chloe Reid and Jodie Reid

Most people experience a micro-business when they are young. They might look after a friend’s pet or mow a neighbour’s lawn and receive some money or other item of value in return. Such micro-businesses teach young people valuable lessons about work, money, saving, and contribution.

Unfortunately, young people with disability often miss out on enjoying such experiences of work.

When COVID-19 changed Chloe’s plans for employment, Chloe and her family decided to think big and try a microenterprise.

In this presentation, Chloe and her mother, Jodie will outline how they

identified Chloe’s skills and interests
utilised their personal networks
and developed a successful microenterprise.

Introduction

This session was introduced by Gus Reichelt

Hi, my name is Gus. I am here to introduce Chloe and Jodie Reid.

Chloe is 21 years old. She lives in Canberra. Chloe really likes fashion and design. She is great at sewing. Chloe uses this interest and skill in her own micro business.

Jodie Reid is Chloe’s mum. She thinks inclusion is very important. She believes that everyone has a talent that can lead to meaningful roles.

Today we will hear how Chloe started her own business by following her interest and talent in fashion. I hope you enjoy listening to Chloe’s story.

Meet Chloe Reid

Chloe Reid is a 21-year-old Canberra local with a strong interest in fashion and design.

With her mum Jodie’s support, she established a small business called Mrs Clompys Closet. A conversation with one of Jodie’s work colleagues led to an order of scrunchies for a local girls’ soccer team. Suddenly, Chloe found herself with an exciting niche!

Chloe has recently launched her virtual shop on Etsy. She now sells hair scrunchies and beautiful lavender pillows to customers across Australia. Mrs Clompys Closet can be found on Etsy, Instagram and Facebook.

Meet Jodie Reid

Jodie Reid is a passionate and enthusiastic parent who loves talking about inclusion with anyone who wants to listen (and occasionally with some who don’t!). She believes that everybody has “their thing”- a talent, a passion, a skill – of value to contribute to those around them.

In her professional life, Jodie has worked in a range of government policy and program areas. She enjoys working collaboratively and looking for simple, creative solutions to complex problems. Just because no one has done it that way before doesn’t mean it can’t be done.

Jodie and her husband have two children, 15 and 21. Their daughter attended her local schools, from preschool to secondary college, and completed Year 12 in 2018. With Jodie’s help, she then followed her interest in fashion and sewing and runs a successful small enterprise in Canberra.

Resources mentioned in Chloe and Jodie’s presentation

School to Work Project

This is a three-year project funded by the Department of Social Services. It will run until June 2023. The project hopes to see the trend reversed on poor disability employment figures. When work goals are set early in a child’s high school years, there are many potential benefits

The Barefoot Investor