As a loyal husband, Aaron desired to protect his handmade, bespoke wedding band in any respect costs – which meant not with the ability to wear it at his job.
“It might have been caught in a machine, or my hands could swell and the ring would should be cut to save lots of the finger,” the Perth father, who works at an underground power company, tells Kidspot.
Not wanting to go without one as he desired to acknowledge his marriage in his every day life, Aaron purchased a silicone ring from an overseas website in 2018.
“It was a giant leap”
After wearing the makeshift ring for a yr with much success, it was Aaron’s wife, Kacey, who suggested they create their very own in order that Australians would not should organize them from overseas and encounter long delivery times and exchanges like they did for Aaron’s.
“None of us had designed any jewellery before, or created a product, so it was a giant leap,” Kacey, whose background is in naturopathy, says.
It took $9,000 (about $5,726 USD) of their savings and just three months for the couple – together with their business partner and Kacey’s sister, Fiona – to bring their side hustle idea to fruition in launching TUFF Rings Australia.
The rings, which retail from $16.50 (about $10.50 USD), can be found in sizes six to 16, constructed from 100 per cent medical and food grade silicone, are waterproof, can withstand 240 degrees, and are designed to snap after 20 kilograms of load being pulled onto it.
While sales were slow to start with, word of the product spread, and orders began to flood in.
“Our first big order was from the police dog squad, who ordered 60 rings, and at first we thought it was a mistake, or that we were being investigated,” Kacey, 42, laughs.
“But seeing how needed it was really motivated us to place more effort into the business.”
“We sell $7,000 (about $4,450 USD) value of rings a month”
Inside a yr, the business broke even, and sales now top greater than 5,000 rings in only 4 years.
“We sell $7,000 (about $4,450 USD) value of rings a month now and it’s a bit unbelievable,” Kacey says proudly.
Despite the business’s growth, the couple are still capable of run the complete operation from a spare room of their home.
It’s truly a family affair, with Aaron and Kacey’s eight-year-old daughter, Tilley, chipping in to assist.
“Our daughter is involved – today she earned $5 putting stickers on for gifts with purchase,” Kacey says.
“It’s nice to see her learning lessons about business and money. She’s beginning to sell her own dog treats now and she or he has incredible confidence about it, which I feel got here from being around us.”
“We’re smashing our sales goals, however the feedback is one of the best”
As for the way their first business together has affected their 14-year marriage, the couple – who’re proud to say that they’ve worked on their relationship through therapy – say that acknowledging one another’s strengths has been key.
“It’s been quite easy and we keep on with our own sections and we understand what we’re all good at,” 37-year-old Aaron, who even shares his own experience in nurturing a pleased marriage on the TUFF Rings Australia website, says.
For Aaron and Kacey, probably the most rewarding a part of their business is seeing the impact their product makes in people’s lives.
“We’re smashing our sales goals but the largest thing for us is that we all know we’re making a difference by the feedback we get,” the mom-of-one says.
“One lady said she felt safer on FIFO sites wearing one because she wasn’t hit on anymore and that’s what made us open our eyes that this has a spot apart from for married people to symbolise the love and trust they’ve for one another.”
With Kacey also wearing a TUFF ring as a result of her own wedding band causing eczema, she’s now more appreciative than ever for Aaron’s decision to wear one, although he didn’t should.
“I never nervous about Aaron wearing his wedding ring at work, but it surely’s all of the more special that he desires to wear one which we created together.”
As a loyal husband, Aaron desired to protect his handmade, bespoke wedding band in any respect costs – which meant not with the ability to wear it at his job.
“It might have been caught in a machine, or my hands could swell and the ring would should be cut to save lots of the finger,” the Perth father, who works at an underground power company, tells Kidspot.
Not wanting to go without one as he desired to acknowledge his marriage in his every day life, Aaron purchased a silicone ring from an overseas website in 2018.
“It was a giant leap”
After wearing the makeshift ring for a yr with much success, it was Aaron’s wife, Kacey, who suggested they create their very own in order that Australians would not should organize them from overseas and encounter long delivery times and exchanges like they did for Aaron’s.
“None of us had designed any jewellery before, or created a product, so it was a giant leap,” Kacey, whose background is in naturopathy, says.
It took $9,000 (about $5,726 USD) of their savings and just three months for the couple – together with their business partner and Kacey’s sister, Fiona – to bring their side hustle idea to fruition in launching TUFF Rings Australia.
The rings, which retail from $16.50 (about $10.50 USD), can be found in sizes six to 16, constructed from 100 per cent medical and food grade silicone, are waterproof, can withstand 240 degrees, and are designed to snap after 20 kilograms of load being pulled onto it.
While sales were slow to start with, word of the product spread, and orders began to flood in.
“Our first big order was from the police dog squad, who ordered 60 rings, and at first we thought it was a mistake, or that we were being investigated,” Kacey, 42, laughs.
“But seeing how needed it was really motivated us to place more effort into the business.”
“We sell $7,000 (about $4,450 USD) value of rings a month”
Inside a yr, the business broke even, and sales now top greater than 5,000 rings in only 4 years.
“We sell $7,000 (about $4,450 USD) value of rings a month now and it’s a bit unbelievable,” Kacey says proudly.
Despite the business’s growth, the couple are still capable of run the complete operation from a spare room of their home.
It’s truly a family affair, with Aaron and Kacey’s eight-year-old daughter, Tilley, chipping in to assist.
“Our daughter is involved – today she earned $5 putting stickers on for gifts with purchase,” Kacey says.
“It’s nice to see her learning lessons about business and money. She’s beginning to sell her own dog treats now and she or he has incredible confidence about it, which I feel got here from being around us.”
“We’re smashing our sales goals, however the feedback is one of the best”
As for the way their first business together has affected their 14-year marriage, the couple – who’re proud to say that they’ve worked on their relationship through therapy – say that acknowledging one another’s strengths has been key.
“It’s been quite easy and we keep on with our own sections and we understand what we’re all good at,” 37-year-old Aaron, who even shares his own experience in nurturing a pleased marriage on the TUFF Rings Australia website, says.
For Aaron and Kacey, probably the most rewarding a part of their business is seeing the impact their product makes in people’s lives.
“We’re smashing our sales goals but the largest thing for us is that we all know we’re making a difference by the feedback we get,” the mom-of-one says.
“One lady said she felt safer on FIFO sites wearing one because she wasn’t hit on anymore and that’s what made us open our eyes that this has a spot apart from for married people to symbolise the love and trust they’ve for one another.”
With Kacey also wearing a TUFF ring as a result of her own wedding band causing eczema, she’s now more appreciative than ever for Aaron’s decision to wear one, although he didn’t should.
“I never nervous about Aaron wearing his wedding ring at work, but it surely’s all of the more special that he desires to wear one which we created together.”
