#GIRLBOSS Episode 6: Haidee Lorenz / The Station Brisbane
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My long-time gal pal Haidee Lorenz, co-owner of The Station Brisbane, sat down with me to talk all things about being a #girlboss in Brisbane. Watch us get carried away as we try to debunk ways to get out of a creative rut!
Mikki: Thank you so much for, firstly, doing this with me but, also allowing us to do this in your beautiful space - I love it so much. So you’ve created a space that not only compliments your talent as a photographer, but it supports local artists and creatives and small business owners through communal working space and collaboration opportunities. Can you share the challenges that you’ve had in the early stages of bringing this to life?
Haidee: Wow, so many challenges. It’s been a big journey. I guess when we sort of started it was meant to be a space for me and Athena (friend). Overtime I’ve come to realise that there are a lot of other people in Brisbane that needed an outlet, a space to work from at a low cost, no committal kind of basis. In the beginning it was just literally figuring out how to actually make it work on a day-to-day practical level, with bookings and rates and all of that sort of stuff. I’d never really done any thing like that at all before. I’d worked a little bit in the photography industry before so I had an idea about studio maintenance and that sort of thing. As far as actually doing it yourself is a whole ‘nother level. It’s still very early, we’ve been open for 2 months so it’s still pretty fresh, still working out the kinks and flow of day-to-day. I think the biggest thing in the beginning was actually… there are just so many different types of art practices that come through here as well, not just photography. It’s not just events, it’s such a mixed group of people who’ve come through. People who do water colour painting, sculpture or workshops, and things like that. It wasn’t a one size fits all for each person that have reached out to us. With my background in managing photo studios, it’s always an hourly rate or daily rates… this is included, this isn’t included… So working out how to approach different people. Me and Athena really wanted to keep it cost effective for younger people who seem to come through.
Working out what was there but also not and not ripping ourselves off or making it harder for us. I guess that’s the biggest challenge.
That’s aside from all the physical reno’s, which is a whole ‘other learning curve. Still working out the kinks with that, like how do we approach this, how do we even market it, how do we sell our selves? We didn’t want to pretend that we’re something we’re not. There’s a lot more really established studio spaces and art spaces in Brisbane that are a lot fancier, like super polished concrete... we didn't want to pretend we’re something we’re not but we didn’t want to undersell ourselves, so figuring out where we fit in the art bubble in Brisbane. It’s been challenging.
Mikki: I really believe that environmental sustainability is integral to the long term success of any business. Can you share how you have embraced sustainability at The Station, and do you have any tips for girl bosses who want to make their day-to-day business operations more Earth loving?
Haidee: Well, I think in our space, mostly for cost reasons as well, we’ve made a point of all the furniture and things we collect for the actual space are second hand. We’ve spent a long time trawling Marketplace and Gumtree and Instagram groups to find pieces. Not only because there’s already so much stuff out there furniture wise, there’s actually some really great finds. Like we found this amazing table, which is a favourite of mine - we found it on Marketplace. It’s cost effective but it’s also.. there’s just so much junk already being produced, so what I was meant to say shift economy, up cycling, people do clothing swaps, there’s already such a movement of second hand clothing, but I think we have a long way to go as far as house things go, furniture, not just art and decorative things, even just practical things. You can get most kitchen appliances, lighting, you can get so much stuff second hand from the tip. I always go out to the tip and get second hand lightbulbs… everything you can get you can find somewhere, so I think it’s better to just try and find it if you can instead of buying it and consuming more stuff. It just ends up in landfill. You go out to the tip and it’s horrifying. You can find lounges and fridges and a whole bunch of stuff. Even just building the space, we’ve found local tradesmen and friends of friends and paid them to keep that going for other small businesses as well. Everything has been stuff what we’ve found at the tip, like this bench which is made out of old ply wood.
Mikki: Making mistakes has been the driving force behind so many great things at MAH, can you share your biggest business fuck up to date?
Haidee: ‘Cause we’re still pretty fresh things, haven’t gone too wrong yet - which I’m grateful for. The biggest fuck up was more when we were renovating the place, that was probably the biggest hurdle. Just physical things as far as setting up the actual space goes. We were fixing the side office room and I just spontaneously decided to pull down one of the old shelvings - there used to be lots of shelves in there. I just got way too excited and I pulled this shelf down, and it had probably been there for 70 years, and I was covered with cockroaches… and they all just went into my mouth. Like, ancient cockroach carcases in my hair, it was the most real I have ever felt in my life. I was just really working hard and just filthy, covered in head to toe in paint and cockroach carcases. I was like, this is a low point right here. That was a big fuck up as far as just like, going at a thing a million miles and hour, so determined to just smash it out and get it done.
Mikki: As a photographer, do you have a go to remedy when you’re stuck in a creative rut? Can you share with us?
HAIDEE: THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVEN’T HAD DOING AS MANY PERSONAL PROJECTS AS I’D LIKE, WHICH IS IRONIC BECAUSE I STARTED THIS TO DO MORE BUT I’VE ALWAYS FOUND MORE INSPIRATION FROM HELPING OTHER PEOPLE DO THEIR WORK.
I’ve always been more interested in helping, sometimes, than doing my own things. So I find a lot of inspiration from helping. So when I am in a rut, helping people out or just working on whatever jobs that someone’s doing. I actually find a lot of inspiration from that because you sort of see something from someone else’s eyes and how they’re doing it. You can realign with what you want to do, when see how other people are doing things. I think when I’m in a rut it’s good to be amongst it, if you’re not feeling inspired by yourself.
Mikki: What is the number 1 online tool or app that has made your life as a business owner more creative and easier?
Haidee: That’s one tha' I’m still struggling with. I’m still one that sets an alarm for reminder. I think investing those sort of programs, all the calendar note taking programs… I’ve actually noticed such a big difference already. But it is about keeping up that maintenance. I think in the beginning we got away with not really worrying about it so much, now that we’re getting busier I’m ready to invest in more tools.
Mikki: What does balance mean to you when it comes to business and life and how do you achieve it?
Haidee: That’s a good one. I think it’s hard especially when you do love what you’re doing. You think ‘oh i’m having fun’ even though I’m doing stuff, and often assisting on shoots I have such a good time. Sort of forget some times that you are actually working which is a great thing. Definately a plus. I find I’m actually a pretty low-key person, I find just sleeping and recharging, walking in nature, all that sort of stuff is enough to keep me ticking over. Mind numbing reality TV every now and then.
Mikki: It is! I never liked it until I started a business! Like, I always would watch something that was stimulating.
Haidee: It’s too much for your brain.
If you’d like to find out more about Haidee’s space The Station in Brisbane, make sure you check out their website (here) and Instagram (here).