We are so proud to now have 70+ independent OMG! Decadent Donut business owners throughout Australia and now New Zealand.
We sat down with the beautiful Gabby Hartin who is the owner of OMG! Decadent Donuts Casey, in Melbourne’s South East, to ask her about her business.
What made you decide to become an OMG! Donuts business owner?
From the moment I walked up to that first OMG! donut stall at a local market in between the chaos of Melbourne lockdowns in 2021, I was hooked. From the incredibly professional and brightly coloured branding of the marquee to the ethos of an all-natural, inclusive product, to the array of amazing donut flavours on display (Beet-a-Licious anyone?) … to the friendly OMG! team serving me and to that very first bite when I exclaimed OMG! … little did I know I was on the path to a new, joyful, challenging and very smart business journey!
It was one of those crazy (not so crazy) COVID pivots from a professional career in Training, Education & Management Consulting, to everything in foodie heaven as I transitioned to being Chief Donut Maker and Happiness Creator with my own business. This OMG! journey has resulted in an incredibly joyful lifestyle which feeds my creativity and stimulates my business brain.
You arguably started a new business trajectory at perhaps the worst time in history! Plus, you have other businesses and are quite the entrepreneur, how do you manage?
I started the OMG! business in 2021. Despite the stress of myself and my training business living on welfare as a COVID-impacted industry whilst working to start a new business in the food industry which was completely new to me, not to mention the multiple lockdowns of 2021, it certainly was a journey and baptism of fire, but I made it!
As a long-term entrepreneur, I thrive on spotting opportunities when they present themselves and committing 150% to making things work. That tenacious commitment and drive always be moving forward is a great motivator to juggle everything that life throws at you.
My secret superpower is to be super organised with a red-hot internal radar for anticipating potential potholes ahead and planning well in advance.
How have you found the OMG! business in terms of doing something so different to your previous career?
It is always a lot of hard work to do something outside of your comfort zone, but with the right support network in place and a dogged determination to find a way through the challenges, the rewards are always there for the taking. One of the reasons I decided to detour my life and join the OMG! Business was the structure and support in place from HQ and the entire OMG Licensee family. It has provided me with the Donut know-how and a wide, ready-made, support network of fellow OMG! business owners who are always willing to share their smarts with the rest of us. It’s this blend of social interaction and technical expertise that supports me when I’m frustrated and feeling at my wit’s end and celebrates with me when I’m winning (which is most of the time haha!).
What are the best parts of owning your OMG! Decadent Donuts business?
The flexibility, the lifestyle (hanging out in the most beautiful workspaces of nature reserves, literally amongst the gumtrees with kookaburra songs, magpie serenades and cockatoo screeches), the beautiful customers who never fail to tell us how much they appreciate our donuts – from the simple way their faces light up to the beautiful feedback we receive on socials and beyond. The fact that I can work independently on my own business whilst dipping into the wider support network as required, these are the perfect ingredients for my personality.
Warts and all – what are the worst parts?
Taking revenue hits from the unscrupulous and greedy market and event organisers. Showing up on the dreariest of days with nonstop rain (thank you four seasons in one day Melbourne!). Living through economic downturns, inflation and cost of living crises…holding out for better times to come (and they always come…).
Any highlights that stand out??
That time Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds popped by for donuts! Lol – joking (but a girl can dream). Seriously though, transitioning from the marquee set up (hello gusts of wind from no-where that lurk in the background threatening to take my set up skyward…) to my Spitfire Vintage Caravan Trailer which I named “TP”, aka Tenacious Pete, after my late father was a game changer. Not only does TP keep me and my team safe and warm through everything that Melbourne weather wants to throw at us, but he never fails to charm the local crowds with his vintage persona, winning awards and attracting loads of attention.
It’s a highlight every single time I engage with my OMG! customers and supportive market, event and pop-up organisers and am so grateful for their beautiful natures.
I guess I’m also proud of my dogged determination to ignore the naysayers who want to tell you, as a single female owner/operator that you can’t do it on your own – I have proven a lot of negative people wrong.
Seeking out and surrounding myself with a varied team of supportive and positive people who see my strength and expertise, continues to be a highlight
So what are your dreams for your OMG! Decadent Donuts Business in Casey?
My foodie passion has been well and truly ignited and I am continuing to grow my OMG! business with delicious new offerings that keep emerging. Our new drizzles and flavour combinations are just amazing and I love that everything we offer is free from gluten, dairy, egg, wheat, yeast, nuts and sulphites and also 100% natural with nothing artificial.
I also dream of being able to bring the donuts to more and more people in the Casey community, I’d love to do more work with schools, sporting clubs and other community events
As I’m never happy with the status quo and always on a learning trajectory, I have gone back to school this year (Hello Certificate IV in Patisserie).
And finally, how do you find working in your Casey community?
My customers are aged from 1 to 91, from the newest members of the human race to our dearest elders both spritely and infirm. Recently, a customer bought a few boxes of donuts for her baby’s first birthday cake and used them to create a tower; the baby (and mum!) are allergic to eggs, wheat and dairy. I have a regular customer who brings his darling dad, who suffers from Dementia for a Sunday outing. With his son’s love and support, this older customer gets to enjoy a simple donut out in the beautiful surrounds of my busiest market. I love being able to help people like that.
I love all that beautiful Casey has to offer – the people, the places, the smiles on their faces. I also love the four-legged doggy darlings that are soooo happy to see us. And I am forever grateful we can provide the people of Casey with some pure delight and deliciousness to anyone who enjoys a hot fresh donut, but especially when it’s someone who has not been able to have a donut in a long time due to dietary restraints– the look of delight on their faces, always make my day.
