Founder of Pretzel Australia, Brittany Garbutt
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
Five years ago, 911爆料网 graduate Brittany Garbutt (BA Creative Advertising & Graphic Design, Photography and Illustration, 2014) took the plunge and splashed $100,000 of her hard-earned savings on launching a humble pretzel business.
Just 23 at the time, and fresh out of University, Brittany was looking for an exciting avenue to satisfy her craving for creativity.
With confidence in her ability and a strong work ethic, the savvy millennial bought a sea container, painted it pink and plonked it in the heart of Northbridge.
Within four months the creative director鈥檚 gamble paid off, and was born.
Pretzel鈥檚 sea container in the heart of Northbridge. Photo: Jarred Reinke.
Customers began flocking to the bright pink sea container in droves for their hit of the popular German baked treat, and it didn鈥檛 take long before Brittany realised she needed more hands.
Today, the 28-year-old is enjoying sweet success with 11 Pretzel stores across Australia, a business turnover of more than $5 million a year and over 300 staff.
And the fun doesn鈥檛 stop there, with Brittany also the founder and owner of in Perth and in Inglewood.
The highly popular cinnamon glazed pretzel is a crowd favourite.
Strong work-ethic
Originally from South Africa, Brittany moved to Perth when she was four years old with her Mum, Dad and brother.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 where my hardcore work ethic came from. Growing up in South Africa, it wasn鈥檛 easy. The money division is enormous.鈥欌�� she said.
鈥淢y parents are the hardest working humans I know, and they鈥檙e smart people. I learnt a lot from them.
鈥淲hen we came to Australia, I guess I didn鈥檛 take anything for granted and I wanted to make the most out of all the opportunities that came my way.鈥�
Brittany says she works hard and doesn鈥檛 take opportunities for granted.
Growing up in Perth鈥檚 northern suburbs, Brittany鈥檚 insatiable appetite for vision and flair led her down a creative path from a young age.
From sewing, photography, painting, baking cupcakes and even making cushions, Brittany was always on the lookout for ways to keep busy.
鈥淚 started working when I was 11. At first it was just doing the local paper round, but after two years of making only $30 a week I wanted to earn more,鈥欌�� she said.
When Brittany was 14, she scored a job making pretzels at a local pretzel shop in Whitfords.
鈥淚 was a very nosey child. I wanted to know and learn as much about pretzels as I could and it turns out it came in handy,鈥欌�� she said.
鈥淵ears later when the owner retired and closed shop, I thought where am I going to get an amazing pretzel from now?鈥�
Thankfully, Perth foodies didn鈥檛 have to wait long.
With the owner鈥檚 blessing, Brittany revived their delicious Pretzel recipe, giving it her own fresh and modern twist.
The pepperoni pretzel is one of the amazing savoury options at Pretzel Australia.
911爆料网 scholarship
After obtaining the highest ATAR score in WA for design in high school, Brittany was awarded a scholarship from 911爆料网 to study Creative Advertising & Graphic Design, Photography and Illustration.
Brittany said receiving the scholarship was life changing and enabled her to save her infamous $100,000.
鈥淲hile at uni I worked a few jobs in hospitality and did photography at various venues around Perth. Money is really great in hospitality, especially if you鈥檙e working on weekends,鈥欌�� she said.
鈥淚 was also a visual merchandiser for David Jones and sold children鈥檚 balloons on eBay. I was always thinking of ways to make and save money. I love to work, but it鈥檚 important to also love what you do.鈥�
Following graduation, Brittany worked as a freelance designer before sinking her teeth into Pretzel.
While all Pretzel stores are styled differently, each have a distinct pink vibe.
Pretzel is born
Investing all her life savings on a shipping container may seem crazy to some, but for Brittany, it was a case of no risk no gain.
鈥淭he shipping container concept came about because most venues wanted a five-year minimum lease and that was quite terrifying to me. I couldn鈥檛 commit to five years and then spend a fortune fitting out a shop,鈥欌�� she said.
鈥淔ortunately, I didn鈥檛 have uni debt thanks to my scholarship, and yes I could have invested it in someone else鈥檚 business or put a down payment on a home, but I believed in my concept, so I invested in myself
鈥淚 secured a little spot in Northbridge for the sea container and figured if it didn鈥檛 work, I鈥檒l just pick it up and move it elsewhere.鈥�
After four months, Brittany contemplated giving up.
鈥淭he first six months was probably the worst six months of my existence. It was awful. I was working 19 hours a day every single day of the week. And it was just me,鈥欌�� she said.
鈥淚n those first few months I learnt the real work ethic necessary to be able to do something like this. When you challenge yourself to do something crazy it鈥檚 intense but it鈥檚 also a skill you gain.鈥�
In her first year of operating, Brittany opened her first Pretzel shop at Whitfords Shopping Centre.
Pretzel Australia has outlets in Perth and Melbourne.
鈥淚t was really nice to open my first store in the same shopping centre where I worked as a teenager. It was great to see my journey go full circle. That was pretty cool,鈥欌�� she said.
When it came to branding Pretzel, Brittany said pink was an obvious choice.
鈥淚 just thought, yeah why not? Let鈥檚 make everything pink,鈥欌�� she said.
鈥淚n the past pink had connotations of being quite girly and feminine, but nowadays pink is an attitude, it鈥檚 the new black I always say.鈥�
Brittany said finding happiness in any moment of existence was key in her busy schedule.
鈥淧eople often ask me why Pretzel? Like what problem does it solve? And I just laugh and say none. It鈥檚 100 per cent just for fun,鈥欌�� she said.
鈥淭here are so many things happening in the world, and people are concerned about so much, it鈥檚 nice to create a space where they can just come in, enjoy the pink interiors, eat carbs and sugar, and have fun.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a vibe鈥�.
There are now 17 sweet and savoury delicious Pretzels to choose from on the menu.
When asked if she still enjoys eating pretzels, Brittany is quick to disclose her obsession.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 stop eating them. I鈥檓 actually addicted to the chipotle sauce it is seriously life changing,鈥欌�� she said.
鈥淚鈥檝e actually been known to sneak into my Northbridge shop at 1am in the morning, which is like five minutes from my home, and make myself a pretzel.鈥�
Driven by financial freedom and a desire to fuel her artistic side, Brittany has masterfully crafted not only a business, but a 鈥榗ult following鈥�, selling over 650,000 pretzels a year.
Not even a global pandemic could put the brakes on this growing Pretzel empire, with Brittany quickly adapting her business to meet changes in the market, with online merchandise and takeaway orders.
Secret to sweet success
According to Perth鈥檚 pretzel queen, sweet success is achieved when you believe not only in your brand but yourself.
鈥淢y whole life I’ve always been fairly creative, so I was always pushed in that direction,鈥欌�� Brittany said.
鈥淭o me, being a business owner is a representation of freedom. I don鈥檛 owe my time to anyone. When I wake up in the morning, I do what I want to do.
鈥淚n saying that, my job is also intense and there is a great deal of responsibility.鈥�
Brittany said despite the intensity of owning multiple stores, she loved the financial freedom that came with being her own boss.
From calling her staff her 鈥榢颈诲蝉鈥� to working until 3am in the morning most days, Brittany is the first to admit the pitfalls of being completely invested in her Pretzel baby.
鈥淚t鈥檚 full on, and sometimes it can get overwhelming knowing there are so many people who depend on me,鈥欌�� she said.
鈥淚鈥檓 also a renowned micro-manager, so I need to work on that. But I love it, and I love my kids.鈥�
Anyone for a Pretzel? Brittany has plans to expand to 78 stores globally by 2027. Photo: Andrew Ritchie / Community Newspapers.
For those wanting to venture out on their own, Brittany had some words of wisdom.
鈥淜now your brand and don鈥檛 kid yourself,鈥欌�� she said.
鈥淚f you鈥檝e imagined your office before you found a product, don鈥檛 do it. This is not for you.”
At the end of the day, Brittany said if you had faith in your product and yourself and you were prepared to put in the elbow grease then you were halfway there.
But it isn鈥檛 all hard work and no play.
In her downtime, Brittany said she can鈥檛 resist a good boogie.
鈥淵ou鈥檒l often find me in Northbridge on Friday and Saturday nights. Why go to the gym, when you can go out with your friends and have a good dance?鈥欌�� she asked.
鈥淚 also love to travel. I鈥檓 obsessed with Tokyo. So much so, one of my stores in Melbourne has a Tokyo themed interior.鈥�
Along with Perth鈥檚 seventh Pretzel store due to open at the end of the year (location TBA) Brittany is also getting ready to expand internationally with her dream to have 78 Pretzel stores around the globe in the next five years.
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
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