Tom O'Toole

The Baking King. Australian business success story – from very humble beginnings in a small Victoria town, he has grown an impressive bakery business from 2 part timers to a staff of 64 and is an inspiration for all aspiring and practising business owners.

The Baking King. Australian business success story – from very humble beginnings in a small Victoria town, he has grown an impressive bakery business from 2 part timers to a staff of 64 and is an inspiration for all aspiring and practising business owners.

Tom O’Toole is the charismatic and inspirational “Baker” from Beechworth. He has built his bakery into one of Australia’s greatest retail success stories. Tom shares how he took a bakery in a small country town with a population of under 4,000 people – from two staff to 64 full and part timers, an annual turnover of $100,000 to in excess of $3 million and serving well over 600,000 customers per year.
Tom’s Beechworth Bakery has become the highest earning single bakery retailer in Australia and winner of National & State Marketing & Business Awards. His business model is being emulated around the world.

A self-described kindergarten drop-out who doesn’t know his ABC’s or his two times tables, Tom believes “business is so simple you can miss it”. He attributes the growth of the company over the last years to getting back to basics, emphasizing product quality (“if you wouldn’t buy it, don’t sell it”) staff empowerment, customer feedback, aggressive promotions and finally, injecting passion and fun into the workplace.

Tom has a loose and unorthodox, happy-go-lucky style that has audiences riveted to his presentation. His story is a must for all people who fantasize about customer stampedes at their shop door. “My bread is probably no better than the rest, but our service vision lifts us right out of the crowd.”Tom preaches a constant philosophy on quality of product and service. Ever-changing quotes appear around the working environments of the bakery and in the staff newsletter. He believes if staff are to perform, they must be a part of this culture. Customer service training for staff includes extensive ongoing education programmes in tourism marketing, business planning, Aussie Host and industry exchanges from Australia and Overseas. Product knowledge is shared extensively in Australia and overseas through visits to other bakeries and visiting bakers.

Tom’s passion for spreading the word on motivation and achievement has resulted in a natural “metamorphosis” with speaking engagements throughout Australia and overseas. His passionate, witty and natural way of presenting has caused much interest. Tom now is in constant demand as a speaker.

Presentations:

Topics:
• Management & Leadership
• Teamwork
• Customer Service
• Motivation
• If you wouldn’t buy it, then don’t sell it
• Attitudes are contagious
• Marketing