Buster McGee is a retail destination that prides itself on offering a warm welcome, personal service, and products that punch above their weight for a regional store.
We sat down with Creator & Owner Alexander Hancocks to chat about the brand’s beginnings, what makes them so special, and how they do business with Tyro.
How Buster McGee came to be
Having tired of the demands of his media planning and digital marketing career – managing a large team, P&L responsibility, and extensive domestic and international travel – Alex left the bright lights of Melbourne for the rural town of Daylesford, Central Victoria.
After relocating and settling into his new home, Alex noticed a gap in the Daylesford market for guys wanting to purchase a nice shirt or pair of jeans; and that’s when the wheels started turning. With his next opportunity on the horizon, Alex got to work. “I set about working on the concept in November 2018, secured premises, supplier partners and then opened the store in February 2019.”
Picking the name was an important part of the process, and it certainly wasn’t a random choice. It’s a combination of the name Alex’s mum used to call him as a child, particularly when he was less than angelic (Buster), and his partner’s who has an Irish heritage (McGinniss). Alex says “having an affinity to your brand is important. Customers are always interested to know where the name originates from and it provides a persona for the store which is relatable”.
What sets Buster McGee apart from other clothing stores
“Whether you’re a guy wanting a complete new look for your wardrobe, an Auntie looking for a gift for her favourite nephew, or Grandma looking for something for her grandson, then we feel that we are the store for you,” explains Alex.
Extremely hands-on with the business, Alex handles all of the buying for the store, website management, visual merchandising, and more. He also makes it a priority to really get to know his customers and what he’s stocking on the shelves. “I listen to feedback from customers and I take time to understand the stories behind the products which the store sells. Product knowledge such as fit, fabrication and styling is so important and people are after a more customer-centric retail experience which is tailored to the individual.
“I know my customers and what it is they like in terms of style. I try to remember previous purchases, sizing and small stories about customers, which create customer delight.”
Why Buster McGee turned to Tyro
Alex’s journey with Tyro began back when he was starting the business. “I wanted all my banking to be simple and straightforward so was using my bank’s own terminal for merchant processing. As the store grew, fees started to grow and my bank notified me that they were retiring my current terminal and moving to a new ‘Smart’ terminal. Unfortunately the new terminal was not smart enough to integrate with my current Point of Sale system.”
Unsatisfied with his current set-up, and knowing friends who were already using Tyro, Alex made his move. “I made initial contact via email and was quickly contacted and provided with fee details and EFTPOS options. The most pleasing aspect being that Tyro fully integrated with my current POS system and the fees are much lower than my previous provider. Tyro has been a game changer for Buster McGee.”
Considering the regional location of the store, Alex chose Tyro Mobile EFTPOS as his new payment solution and is extremely pleased with his service. “I opted for the Mobile EFTPOS machine as Daylesford has a relatively poor electricity infrastructure and is subjected to frequent power outages. The Tyro Mobile EFTPOS machine works across the NBN network and when there is a power outage, I can switch to the 3G network and still accept payments. The EFTPOS machine also integrates with my Lightspeed POS system and set-up was super easy.”
“Most importantly”, he adds, “the Tyro EFTPOS machine allows me to automatically transfer over the total transaction charge to the EFTPOS machine without the need to manually type in the transaction amount. This saves time and decreases the opportunity for user error.”
The future of Buster McGee
Like many businesses, Buster McGee has navigated the COVID pandemic and is currently weathering the headwinds from the increase in interest rates. However, Alex remains excited about what lies ahead. “Our online store continues to grow and once people have purchased in store, they are comfortable to move to purchasing online. Moving forward, I would consider opening a second bricks-and-mortar store, should the timing and location be a good fit for the business. I would also like to start to stock more Buster McGee branded products.”
Advice for aspiring business owners
As a retail business owner, we asked Alex what advice he’d give to someone getting started in the industry. Here’s what he had to say:
“My advice would be to research your intended market and offer a clear point of difference from your competitor set. Launch with a website from day one, and explore all options in terms of banking, accounting and tech stack, so you can easily stay across the financial health of your business.”
Visit Buster McGee at 10-12 Howe St, Daylesford VIC 3460
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