fastest growing, remains humble and local
For TripADeal, the figures speak for themselves: revenue in excess of $100million for 2017; 75,000 travellers sent to various far-flung corners of the globe each year; a database that contains more than one million people nationwide; a team of staff that numbers 100, making TripADeal the biggest employer in Byron Bay. The company is a spectacular Northern Rivers success story.
TripADeal is an online travel store that offers discount package deals for destinations the world over. Founded in 2011 by two mates, Richard Johnston and Norm Black, the company capitalised on the changing nature of the travel industry in the digital age and created a business that, according to Australian Federation of Travel Agents CEO Jayson Westbury, is “taking on American giant Expedia and winning”.
That’s some achievement given TripADeal’s humble beginnings – Richard and Norm started out with Richard working out of a laundry in Bali and Norm from a Byron Bay office.
“In the early days we spent a lot of time battling to get some brand trust and to say it was a slog is an understatement,” says Richard. “We had to use all our guerrilla marketing skills to get customers to take a leap of faith and buy from us.
“I remember times when Norm and I would assume different personas to make ourselves sound bigger than we actually were. At a certain time each day Norm became ‘John’ from customer service.”
While those days are firmly behind them, Richard and Norm strive to keep a homely and accessible feel to the business and its many staff.
“Even in the midst of the chaos of being Australia’s fastest growing company, we have tried to keep it simple and lead the business as if it was still just the two of us in a tiny office in the Byron Bay industrial estate.”
Nevertheless, TripADeal have watched the accolades roll in: AFR 100 Top Fastest Growing Company award for two years running and Online Travel Agency of the Year at the 2017 National Travel Industry Awards are just two recent examples.
While Richard and Norm are extremely well travelled, the pair remains beholden to Byron Bay as a place to work, live, play and indeed attract talent.
But it wasn’t always like that.
“Being based in Byron was originally something we thought we needed to hide,” says Richard. “I guess the feeling was that a couple of blokes from Byron couldn’t possibly pull off what we were trying to do – there was no precedent for this scale of business in a town like Byron Bay.
“As we have grown and found our place in the travel industry this has flipped 180 degrees, to the point where Byron is worn as a badge of honour. Byron Bay is an iconic global destination and this gives credibility to our brand, and helps to attract staff looking for a real job outside of the capital cities.”
Share this story
Read more stories
an epic adventure into healing honey
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Gather-By_Product-shot.jpg 1191 893 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Gather-By_Product-shot.jpgGather By
Gather By is a closed-loop regenerative agribusiness that works with beekeepers and landholders in NSW and Queensland, and investors around Australia to produce and market rare, pure and potent Australian Manuka honey…
true blue locals making a difference
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/mountain-blue-001-copy-2.jpg 1920 1280 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/mountain-blue-001-copy-2.jpgMountain Blue
Mountain Blue is the definition of a twenty-first century business. Not only have owners Ridley and Mieke Bell expanded their blueberry production…
A planet of business diversity
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Tropical-Fruit-World_Aymon-Gow-Main-Gate.jpg 2016 1512 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Tropical-Fruit-World_Aymon-Gow-Main-Gate.jpgTropical Fruit World
It’s been almost 50 years since Robert and Valorie Brinsmead bought the 200-acre farm in Murwillumbah.
following her art’s desires
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Bingara_Angela-Parr-scaled.jpg 2560 2198 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Bingara_Angela-Parr-scaled.jpgBingara Gallery
If she wasn’t painting wild animals and birds, artist Angela Parr, 62, would most likely be rescuing them, healing them, or advocating for them…
our kitchen rules in the heart of beef country
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/all-the-best-fine-foods-casino-001.jpg 1000 664 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/all-the-best-fine-foods-casino-001.jpgAll The Best Fine Foods
From little things big thing grow, goes the saying, and Casino-based business All The Best Fine Foods is certainly proof that humble….
Step back in time for ‘reel’
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Yamba-Cinema-Debbie-scaled.jpg 2560 1920 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Yamba-Cinema-Debbie-scaled.jpgYamba Cinema
Yamba Cinema is not just a popular venue to see the latest movie in an idyllic Northern Rivers town.
lights, camera, action in ballina shire
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Byron-Studios-team-photo-scaled.jpg 2560 1750 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Byron-Studios-team-photo-scaled.jpgByron Studios
Northern Rivers has long been a hub for film makers and a popular backdrop for film and television productions. But there has been one thing missing to tie it all together…
back to the future with new inspiration
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bennett-construction-lismore-003-2.jpg 1920 781 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bennett-construction-lismore-003-2.jpgBennett Construction
It would be fair to say that Bennett Construction and Ballina High School have come full circle with each other. It sounds like a back to the future…
crowd pleasing innovation creates a buzz
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/flow-hive-featured001.jpg 1210 864 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/flow-hive-featured001.jpgBeeInventive
It’s difficult to know where to start with the remarkable story of BeeInventive. Perhaps in the humble shed in Byron Shire bushland…
Position, people, poached eggs and a president
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Caperberry_James-Allan-scaled.jpg 2560 1920 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Caperberry_James-Allan-scaled.jpgCaperberry and Flinders Rose
What makes an entire family move from three different cities to live together in a quiet coastal town? Great coffee.
Alternative. Accessible. Affordable.
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Nimbin-Apothecary_Sammy-Feature-scaled.jpg 2560 2553 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Nimbin-Apothecary_Sammy-Feature-scaled.jpgNimbin Apothecary
Nimbin Apothecary is a herbal medicine dispensary providing acute over-the-counter consulting for herbal medicine prescriptions.
simply better for you
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/simply-clean-lismore-001.jpg 1600 533 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/simply-clean-lismore-001.jpgSimply Clean
It’s probably no surprise that it was a cleaning company that was the most well organised of all the businesses Huw and Becky Jones found for sale…
love, peace and artisan cheese
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/nimbin-valley-dairy-003.jpg 666 500 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/nimbin-valley-dairy-003.jpgNimbin Valley Dairy
Not every goat in Australia has its own nutritionist and its own vet. But the goats at Nimbin Valley Dairy definitely do. Bill, the nutritionist…
Farmers in the fields
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/E0A8334.jpg 2048 1366 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/E0A8334.jpgNorco Primex
Bruce Wright has made his career by bringing together and supporting many of the region’s farmers and primary producers.
Passion, patience and protein
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Hemp-Foods_product.jpg 2400 1350 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Hemp-Foods_product.jpgHemp Foods Australia
When Hemp Foods Australia founder, Paul Benhaim, discovered hemp as a food choice in the early 90s during his global travels, he had his own preconceived ideas.
It was time the level the paying field
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Zepto-image-e1669713021167.jpg 1500 562 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Zepto-image-e1669713021167.jpgZepto
What do you do next after more than a decade building up a Byron Bay skydiving business to become a national success and then stepping back after listing it on the Australian Stock Exchange?
A community cornerstone bouncing forward
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Coraki-Post-Office.jpeg 2048 1260 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Coraki-Post-Office.jpegCoraki Post Office
For all that has been thrown at the small town of Coraki in recent times, the owners of the town’s post office are rolling with the punches.
Cool to be kind and cans it
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Kind-Coffee-Co.-Product.jpg 957 1277 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/The-Kind-Coffee-Co.-Product.jpgThe Kind Coffee Co.
The KIND Coffee Co, reflects its name in everything it does.
Hovering across the wave of success
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FliteImage.jpg 1139 749 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FliteImage.jpgFliteboard
It was meant to be an extended break for David Trewern and his family. A chance to rest and reset in Byron Bay after decades of building and selling fast-growing digital marketing agencies. But as he looked out over Belongil beach in 2014, an idea struck him.
not just a business, a community partner
https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/stone-and-wood-001.jpg 960 761 In Good Company | Northern Rivers In Good Company | Northern Rivers https://ingoodcompanynorthernrivers.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/stone-and-wood-001.jpgStone & Wood
“That’s like asking parents to name which of their children they prefer,” says Jamie Cook, Stone & Wood co-founder. He has been asked which of the…