Mike Kellett is the Gold Coast entrepreneur behind Macro Mike, one of Australia’s fastest growing health food companies. Kellett, an ex-fitness model and bodybuilder started the business because he is gluten and dairy intolerant and found a gap in the market for people with food sensitivities. We chatted to Mike about his growing business, the surprising number of Gold Coasters that can be found in active wear drinking coffee at all hours and why he loves this part of the world.

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I’ve been a Gold Coast local for 9 years now. I’m originally from Leeds in the United Kingdom. I spent a year living in Las Vegas before meeting a bunch of wild Aussies heading home to sell pub crawls for this event they told me was called ‘Schoolies’ on the Gold Coast. I came over to see what all the fuss was about and never left.

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
For me, after spending 3-4 years as a Personal Trainer in Leeds training corporates in the 9-5 hustle and bustle I was ready for a chilled-out lifestyle.

I like the fact that it doesn’t feel like a rat race 24/7. Our traffic is minimal compared to other major cities and especially the UK. I like how no matter what time or day it is thousands of people seem to be unemployed and are in their active wear grabbing a coffee or having breakfast at 10am without a care in the world.

But most of all the weather. The cold dark winters of the UK are depressing and here it’s literally warm year round. I LOVE IT! Take the jet ski out to Tipplers, catch some waves, enjoy some pool time and then enjoy all the local Uber Eats.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m Mike, 32 years old from the UK. I’ve got 1 brother who lives in Newcastle, NSW, with his wife and my nephew Jude, who’s 5. My Mum raised me and my brother as a single mum working 7 days a week to put food on the table and make sure we had enough. She was the biggest hustler and instilled the hard work and drive I have today.

I run Macro Mike. We’re a self-funded health food business based in Burleigh Heads with 35+ staff. We make products for ourselves and some of the biggest brands in Australia along with shipping out anywhere from 5000-10,000 online orders a month.

For those that don’t know, what is Macro Mike?
Macro Mike is a plant based, gluten free, dairy free and natural supplement brand. We pride ourselves on our unique blend of natural ingredients and have brought plant based / dairy free proteins into 2023 using game-changing ingredients and challenging the status quo. We have customers all over the world and a range of over 100 products.

Our business is heavily online but you can also find us in Coles, heaps of health food, supplement stores and gyms around Australia.

How did Macro Mike come to be?
I’m both gluten and dairy intolerant and an ex-competitive fitness model and bodybuilder and after prepping for various shows I found there wasn’t anything on the market for people like me with food allergies and intolerances in the dessert space.

I started off making the products for myself and then gave them to friends/ family and started posting on social media and the rest was history. 7 years of blood sweat and tears and we’re here with over 1 million customers worldwide.

What have been some of your highlights and learning experiences along the way?
Running a business is like a bamboo tree. The bamboo tree takes 5 years of watering and fertilising the ground. After the 5th year within 12 weeks, it sprouts from the ground it grows to be the tallest tree in the rainforest. Same with business.

It can take years and years of hustling and pioneering behind the scenes before there’s even the slightest bit of growth for people on the outside to see and if for 1 week or 1 month you stop working on your business or watering your bamboo tree it’ll never reach it’s true potential.

What is the best piece of business advice that you have ever been given?
Don’t fund long-term assets with short-term cash flow. Eg if you’re buying a piece of equipment that you’ll have for many years, don’t use cash in the bank. Put it over 5-6 years and pay it off over time. Save your cash for when you need it most. Work hard and stay humble. There’s always a bigger fish than you and there’s always someone worth sending the elevator down to or giving a helping hand to who’s striving to get to where you are.

What makes running a business on the Gold Coast so great?
I mean the weather, the lifestyle, the people, the location. We’re in Burleigh Heads. Does it get much better? Food, coffee, good vibes. Plus, who would want to live in Brisbane? (No offense Brisbane readers lols).

With such a variety of products, from protein bars to baking mixes, what’s the most popular product and do you have a personal favourite?
Our most popular product is our Vanilla Buttercream Almond Protein. It’s made on our signature Almond and Faba bean base and literally tastes like a Vanilla Milkshake. Completely plant based, dairy free and easy to digest. My personal fav is our Protein Caramel indulgence bars. These are like if a protein bar and chocolate bar had a baby. Again dairy free, gluten free all natural and taste like a chocolate bar YUMMM! Brb having another!

What are your Gold Coast Favourites:
Café: Blendlove in Southport for the pancakes.
Restaurant: Changmai Thai, Broadbeach.
Bar: I don’t drink so maybe a chocolate bar.
Beach: I like North Burleigh / Miami lookout. I’ve done a lot of thinking up there. Great place to clear your head and appreciate your surroundings.

How do you choose to spend your days off?
What’s a day off? Just kidding. I spend time with my little 4 month old Jack and partner Laura. I collect/buy & sell Pokemon cards, have a 1978 classic Mini Cooper and I like spending time with friends playing boardgames or eating out at nice restaurants.

With a passion for environmentally-friendly beauty and a commitment to promoting sustainable practices, Katie Eales created the skincare brand Sabbia Co., combining the power of natural ingredients with eco-conscious packaging and manufacturing. we chatted to Katie about her inspiration for creating Sabbia Co., and how she has seamlessly integrated sustainability into every aspect of her skincare line. Get ready to be inspired!

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
10 years on and off, I moved to the Gold Coast when I was 18 for uni and then returned back to Palm Beach where I now live with my husband and son after traveling on and off for a few years.

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
The lifestyle, I love how beautiful our beaches, creeks and hinterland is. I love that you can choose to have a slow-paced weekend but there’s enough happening to have a fun-filled weekend when you need.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in Port Douglas, in a half Italian / half Australian household. Growing up diving the Great Barrier Reef, camping under the stars and eating 90% homegrown was where I found my deep love and appreciation for the planet. I moved to the Gold Coast to study marketing straight after year 12, I then went on to travel throughout many Asian countries, Europe and the States.

In 2017 I met my now husband Dave, in 2018 we found ourselves on a remote beach in Sri Lanka and devastated over the amount of single-use personal items we were surrounded by. When we arrived home we decided to minimise all single-use items in our home. As we started to research and test reusable products we fell in love with many amazing sustainable swaps. Our mission was no longer to overhaul our home but everyone else’s.

And this is when Sabbia Co was born. An ethical brand with minimal impact on the environment, that creates unique facial kits out of sustainable, biodegradable, reusable and chemical free tools. Along with sustainably sourced and packaged skincare that is formulated by myself.

We launched in September 2019, with 3 products. Our hero ‘face it face kit’, cleanse kit and tone kit. 3 kits that remove makeup/zinc, cleanse and exfoliate with just water. This was essential for us as we love to travel and pack light.

As our community grew the need for sustainable skincare was a daily request, so for our first birthday, we launched sustainably sourced and packaged skincare. Something I had always dreamt of. Over the years I have studied Cosmetic Chemistry, Traditional Chinese Medicine (Gua Sha, Facial Massage, etc), and many other ‘alternative’ (as my Mum might say) practices.

In 2022 we brought our son Louie into the world, which has made our passion to protect our beautiful planet even stronger. We also launched our Refill / Recycle Program where customers can send back old products for recycling or keep their bottles and purchase refill sachets that can also be returned for recycling. I can visually see the difference we are making and the education we are sharing. We are now selling almost 90% refills to returning customers. Our return customer rate is currently sitting at 69% which means we have reduced our carbon emissions by over 75% per product.

Tell us about Sabbia Co.
Sabbia Co offers refillable sustainably sourced and packaged skincare which is made in Australia. Along with sustainable skin tools that include biodegradable sponges and reusable bamboo makeup-removing pads that replace up to 1,000 single-use makeup wipes annually. We are a multi award-winning brand that bridges the gap between scientific chemistry and natural plant medicine to create sustainable skincare that is results driven – with over 1000, 5 star reviews to prove it.

How did Sabbia Co. come about?
In 2018 we found ourselves on a remote beach in Sri Lanka and devastated over the amount of single-use personal items we were surrounded by. When we arrived home we decided to minimise all single-use items in our home. As we started to research and test reusable products we fell in love with many amazing sustainable swaps. Our mission was no longer to overhaul our home but everyone else’s.

Why is sustainability so important to you?
Growing up immersed in nature, whether it was the rainforest, outback, or ocean has definitely made me understand its beauty and purpose. I grew up on Kukuk Yalangi land and our school always had elders sharing bush and plant medicine which fascinated me. My parents and grandparents also always shared home remedies and the importance of eating from the land and seasonally. My childhood was so focused on what we put in we get out. As I started to move and travel I noticed that not everyone had that same understanding and respect for the planet. Both my husband and I want to do whatever we can to protect and preserve our planet for our children to have healthy and fulfilling lives.

What does a typical day in your life look like?
I start my day between 5 and 6am, Louie and I have breakfast, I tried to journal and meditate, and walked down to the beach for a play. He then has a short nap and I go through my emails and prioritise what I need to get done for the day. I love Pilates and am so thankful to have found a space that has crèche and then we head into the warehouse together or sometimes I can get to go solo and Louie hangs out with his grandparents. A lot of my day is based around our community. Helping with skin concerns, making content to educate on our products and working on new formulations. I also host a podcast – Authentic Verdict, which I record fortnightly. We head back down to the beach for an afternoon dip before starting Louie’s bedtime routine. Dave and I have dinner around 6.30pm, wind down with stretching and are usually in bed by 8.30pm.

What is your most popular product?
We have 3, the Matcha Clay Mask (which is currently on preorder for the 100th time! It’s impossible to keep up with the demand), Collagen C Serum and Mineral BB Cream.

What does the future have in store for Sabbia Co. products?
I am currently in the final stages of a cream cleanser and our community has requested a Vitamin A. We are also in the final stages of testing our mum and bub range.

What are your Gold Coast favourites…
Café/coffee spot: Espresso Moto is our local and the team are so beautiful.
Restaurant: Etsu, Glenelg Public House and Jimmy Wah’s
Bar or place for a drink: We love Balter, the vibe is always good or out the front of home, where we’ve met some beautiful families that we spend most weekends at the beach with.
Beach: Palm Beach, we’re lucky to live out the front of the reef break which makes for a very happy husband!

How do you choose to spend your days off?
I love walking to Talle Creek and catching up with friends, treating my body to a Suana at Freedom Float or something crafty, a big goal for this year is to get back into pottery.

We interviewed Arisa last year when making the Olympic team was a dream. Little did she know, her next move would secure her a place in Australian sporting history and an Olympic gold medal. At just 14 years and 86 days old, Trew became Australia’s youngest-ever gold medallist, dazzling the Paris crowd with a score of 93.18. “My coach Trev just told me to go all out,” she said. “I thought, ‘Why not? It’s all or nothing.’”

And indeed, it was all.

Trew flawlessly executed her tricks, including a backside 360 into a 540, and capped it off with a spectacular kick flip over the corner, catching her skateboard mid-air and landing with finesse…

Here’s the interview from August 2023…

Arisa Trew is not your average 13-year-old. She recently catapulted into the limelight by achieving a groundbreaking feat: becoming the first female to successfully execute a 720-degree spin in a competition. And not just any competition. Arisa landed the move at the Tony Hawk Vert Alert competition in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is significant because Tony Hawk pioneered the move as a teenager back in 1985.

Arisa’s skateboarding journey is a testament to her dedication and perseverance. With each day spent on her board, she hones her skills, mastering new tricks and techniques. With each kickflip and grind, she’s contributing to a more inclusive and diverse skateboarding community. Arisa Trew is a name that’s sure to shine brightly in the skateboarding world for years to come.

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I’ve been living on the Gold Coast for 11 years.

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
I love my skate friends, Gold Coast skate parks, the beach & school.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Arisa Trew. I’m 13 years old from the Gold Coast Australia, I love to skateboard and surf.

Can you tell us how you started skateboarding and what initially attracted you to the sport?
I surf a lot, but one winter 5 years ago the water got too cold so I started skateboarding and never stopped. I just love it.

What has been your biggest achievement in skateboarding so far?
My biggest achievement in skateboarding is winning 2 X Games Gold Medals in Ventura, USA this year, as well as being the first female to land a 720 in competition, a move invented by Tony Hawk over 20 years ago.

Are there any skaters, athletes, or individuals who inspire you and have had a significant impact on your journey?
One of my favourite skaters who I look up to and who inspires me is Moto Shibata, because he is a really good skater has an amazing style and is also my friend. He is a Vert skater which is my favourite thing to skate.

What are your goals and aspirations in skateboarding? Are there any particular tricks or competitions you’re aiming for in the future?
I would love to try a 900 or a kicky flip body varial 540. One of my biggest goals is to place in World Olympic qualifiers and win a medal at the Olympics.

What advice would you give to other young people who are interested in skateboarding or other competitive sports?
Never give up and if you really want to be the best then just keep on working at it.

What are your Gold Coast Favourites:
Favourite café or restaurant: Salt Mill in Currumbin, Doki Doki Cafe, Palm Beach
Favourite skatepark: Elanora and Level Up Skate Park
Favourite beach: Currumbin Alley

How do you choose to spend your days off?
If not skating I am usually surfing, hanging with my friends, bike riding or at recovery hot and cold pools.