Soloist Spotlight: Stephen Adamson, Undicloth

Our Soloist Spotlights showcase the services our amazing Flying Solo Business Class members offer to customers in Australia, and take a peek behind the curtain of their day-to-day lives. This week, meet Stephen Adamson, founder of undicloth®, Aussie-made organic undies with men’s health and comfort in mind.

What do you do? Who for? And how does it benefit them?

undicloth® is organic fair trade underwear made in Australia for men all over the world. undicloth® underwear are designed with a 100% cotton pouch so that men can hang about naturally and more healthily. Our underwear is designed to help reduce chafe and increase overall comfort all day/night.

What was your first job – and what did it teach you about working life?

My first job was to muck out horse stables on a Friday afternoon in exchange for horse riding lessons at the local equestrian centre – I would have been 8 or 9 years old. I was not allowed to go to said riding lesson if I didn’t vacuum the whole house! What I learned from this job was you have to work for something you want. My mother was really good at keeping to her word – if I didn’t vacuum, I really didn’t go.

When did you know you wanted to start your own business?

My father had his own business and I remember going to work with him on school holidays. I loved his freedom and I wanted that. Although it did take me a while to find out exactly what business adventure I was to take. I guess it was when I was about 14 I knew I wanted to be my own boss … It just took me 25 years to build up the courage to dive on in!

What’s the best thing about being a soloist? And the worst thing?

• The best thing about being a soloist is you see just what you can achieve.
• The worst thing is you work really hard – the highs are high and the lows are low.

Share the biggest challenge you face at work?

I am still working my day job getting undicloth® off the ground. I work as Head of Stage Props for Opera Australia and generally perform 50+ hours per week. I get home from shows around 11pm each night and dive into undicloth®. I like to be in bed by midnight and generally get up at 5 or 6am to pack orders from the day before. I then head off to a 12-hour day in the theatre. If I have the day off Opera, I do sleep in till about 7am.

Tell us about your proudest moment

My proudest moment was when I had to pay tax due to undicloth® making a profit.

What would you say is your greatest strength? And weakness?

Strength: My greatest strength is, as I am uneducated (dropped out of high school year 11), I learn how to do everything off the internet. Only now that the business has a cash flow do I pay for some services.

Weakness: My greatest weakness is I’m tired and if I dare sit down, I can sometimes drift off to sleep!

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned this year?

The biggest thing I have learned this year is what you get from GIVING. At undicloth® we donate to ReForest Now with every sale to replant native trees in cleared lands and forest in Australia.

Just recently, I read a post from Wayside Chapel (an organisation that helps people on the streets) explaining how they wanted undies instead of roses for Valentine’s Day. I thought, let’s do something, and I donated 140 pairs of briefs. I selfishly felt amazing for days. I was on such a high! I learned it’s really good to give.

The best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given?

Follow your gut and do not listen to the people trying to bring you down – especially when they’re sitting in the cheap seats.

What would be your advice to aspiring soloists?

Do not give up because you haven’t had a sale in a few days. It takes time to build up a good product and the slower you grow it, the deeper the roots dive and set.

And finally, you’ve got a free half-hour during your workday. What do you do??

Sleep … ha! No, I try and do a 45-minute reformer pilates class.

Find out more about undicloth®!

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