Hey there, I'm Nikki Milne
In 2006 at just 23, I arrived in Perth, and in partnership with my parents purchased my first business, a hair and beauty salon in Subiaco. I loved being a small business owner, but struggled to connect with like-minded business owners - there was no network exclusively for creatives to establish and build their businesses.
I attended small business and social media workshops, only to discover that the people hosting them, had little to no social media following of their own, or were start-up businesses trying to teach me how to build my start-up business (this didn’t exactly inspire confidence!)
I learned so many valuable lessons along the way, from managing 13 staff to having days without a single client walking through my doors, with a $1,000 weekly rent hovering over my head!
Now 15 years on, I pass on my experience and knowledge to thousands of business owners annually via online courses, business mentoring, and The Perth Collective PR & Marketing Agency.
Emma - The Woodfired Baker
"Nikki you have been an angel for our business in regards to our business strategies, analysis and education. We now have renewed energy, objectives and the knowledge to evolve our business into one that is more time efficient and profitable. You are able to swiftly identify key business improvements and directions and naturally connect people to their highest business goals."
The start of my business journey
I’ve always had a passion for marketing, but growing up in a country town limited my career path, so I ended up hairdressing at age 17. This took me on adventures travelling across the country from working in Broome, to styling celebrities on the exclusive Hayman Island - every day was an adventure!
In 2006 at just 23, I returned to Perth, and in partnership with my parents purchased my first business, a hair and beauty salon in Subiaco. I loved being a small business owner, but struggled to connect with like-minded women - there was no network exclusively for creatives to establish and build their businesses. I attended small business and social media workshops, only to discover that the people hosting them, had little to no social media following of their own, or were start-up businesses trying to teach me how to build my start-up business (this didn’t exactly inspire confidence!)
I learnt so many valuable lessons along the way, from managing 13 staff, to having days without a single client walking through my doors, with a $1,000 weekly rent hovering over my head!
My biggest lesson? All businesses, even the small ones, are full of daily challenges.
After receiving an offer I couldn’t refuse, I sold the business with a heavy heart in 2014. After eight years in operation, I could no longer run the business to my fullest potential while I raised my young children, and I knew it was time to move on…
Passion & Purpose
Within a few months, I fell into my next career path - private small business consulting for the creative industry, after a former client asked me to help with her marketing and business profile. Thanks to word of mouth, this snowballed into a new small business venture and I found my true passion in helping people turn their hobbies into small businesses.
All those years of challenges, staff issues, failures, great successes and experience, turned out to be the most valuable 'unofficial degree in small business’!
The Perth Collective
In 2015, I conceived a simple idea: A free platform to promote WA female-owned small businesses. Just two hours later, I launched The Perth Collective on Instagram and watched it grow at rapid speed.
In the first week alone, TPC’s Instagram featured 123 Perth small businesses and amassed 2,223 followers - this was just the beginning! Seven weeks later, The Perth Collective launched in spectacular style at C Restaurant, with 200 female small business owners from all over WA, bonding over champagne and canapés, whilst taking in the stunning Perth skyline views.
Two other fabulous events followed: The Breakfast Session at Fraser's Kings Park, and a Summer Long Table at The Cottesloe Beach Hotel.
The Perth Collective Directory
After 5 months' maternity leave following the arrival of my second son, I returned in 2016 with brand new fearless ideas to build The Perth Collective brand and continue to help grow and inspire WA female-owned businesses.
Shortly after, I launched TPC Directory, featuring WA small businesses with an average of 22,000 monthly views.
Later that year saw the launch of the first SALTED print magazine at our second sky-high event, featuring over 100 local female-owned businesses across 66 pages. The SALTED Summer edition followed in November. I printed my first book in October too, “How to influence your creative market” - 2016 was a big year!
The Perth Collective PR & Events
In 2017, I proudly launched the Event Management and PR division of The Perth Collective.
My focus: Connecting the right small businesses with the right brands & influencers.
I had the opportunity to work with big brands such as Diesel Motors, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Roxy Jacenko and Moët & Chandon, and create media events in beautiful venues like Fraser Kings Park and unique spaces such as the South Perth Foreshore, a luxury boat and even an aviation hangar.
Fast forward to 2019, and our PR Brand Portfolio has grown to include Mercedes-Benz Perth, Westfield, Stirling Capital, Sparkling White Smile and Empire Homewares, as we continue to work with our growing portfolio of long-term clients.
In early 2020, we launched Furaibo Perth, an in demand and highly reviewed Japanese Restaurant in Raine Square to an event of 200 including WA Media, influential people and food writers.
The Covid Opportunity
Covid-19 saw our hospitality PR Clients temporarily on hold, giving me the opportunity to focus on educating small business owners. I quickly identified a huge need for online education in business marketing and social media.
With this in mind, www.nikkimilne.com was launched in May 2020 - an online course platform connecting where global students can take my courses to expand their knowledge, systemise their business and gain back their freedom and flexibility.
Within the first 4 months, I welcomed 500+ students through my new online entrepreneur platform.
I’m proud to have created a guided option for those who may not have the budget to completely outsource their PR and Social Media to an agency.
April 2022 saw me launch the Passion to Profit business podcast. Week 1 it debuted at #74 on the global business charts.
Now in June 2022 I will launch my new signature course, a 12 week roadmap to working less but earning more. Join the waitlist here
The future for business owners is bright!
DISCOVER MY MENTORING PROGRAM
