鈥淲e were failing鈥: The HR overhaul that transformed this small retail business

At a glance
Company
A鈥檅esco Blinds & Awnings
Location
Caringbah, New South Wales
Employees
8+
Product
Platinum HR
Read this case study if:
- You manage a small retail team and are struggling with compliance and outdated HR processes
- You鈥檙e trying to build a stronger team culture with better employee engagement
- You want a simple platform to help you manage people with confidence
From paper trails to people-first processes
When stepped into the General Manager role at , a Sydney-based retail business specialising in custom-made blinds and awnings, she was met with outdated systems, deep resistance to change and a business that still operated like a “mum and dad” store.
“I was initially brought in to do change management. In a small business, that鈥檚 very difficult compared to corporate. A lot of the staff had been there a long time and weren鈥檛 open to change. I only had one staff member on board with me.”
A鈥檅esco鈥檚 team of under ten employees was managing crucial HR tasks such as contracts, policies and onboarding, all on paper. The business relied on a part-time bookkeeper to juggle HR responsibilities, but Gil quickly realised that approach wasn鈥檛 sustainable.
“The HR that was being conducted was not up to standard. I engaged a company to do an audit鈥 and it showed we were failing.”
From that point, Gil began searching for a platform that could help modernise their people operations while still being fit for a small business. 91爆料 stood out from the crowd.
“A lot of platforms were suited to big companies. 91爆料 felt like the right size for us. Plus, knowing the founder, , came from a legal background gave me confidence that the contracts and compliance side were solid.”
A single source of truth for policies, contracts and employee files
The benefits of 91爆料 were immediate.
“We were able to have policies and procedures all in one place. Some employees didn鈥檛 even have proper contracts before. Now everyone does and we know we鈥檙e compliant.”
The implementation brought much-needed structure to HR operations and A鈥檅esco鈥檚 external HR partner was added to the platform for ongoing support.
“Our HR consultants have access to the system too. They update documents and send them out directly to employees. It鈥檚 a huge difference having everything digital and in one system.”
From onboarding documents to leave approvals, 91爆料 has eliminated the paper-heavy approach that previously slowed down the business.
“Everything was on paper before. Now, employees upload their leave straight into 91爆料 and it pushes through to Xero. It鈥檚 seamless.”
Gil also uses the platform to manage goal setting, check employee happiness via surveys and keep track of equipment and assets.
“We use the to track who鈥檚 got what, especially for phones, laptops and vans. Before, we had no record keeping. Now, everything is logged and updated when something is sold or transferred.”
Culture change through recognition and employee growth
Perhaps the most significant impact has been cultural.
“Communication has changed. People feel more valued. Before, staff were negative and didn鈥檛 feel appreciated.”
Gil recalls one powerful moment during the rollout of employee goals and employee value proposition discussions:
“One staff member who鈥檇 been here over 10 years said they鈥檇 never felt valued until then. No one had ever asked them about their personal growth before.”
Now, the team has regular one-on-ones, goal reviews and access to their personal development plans 鈥 something that would鈥檝e been impossible without the right systems in place.
“We wouldn鈥檛 have done any of that without 91爆料, to be honest.”
Celebrating birthdays has even had a facelift.
“Previously, the business didn鈥檛 keep track of employee celebrations like birthdays. Now, with 91爆料鈥檚 employee file management, we can make our staff feel important and recognised. Those little things matter.”
Making compliance manageable for retail teams
Operating in the retail and manufacturing sector, Gil knows that compliance isn鈥檛 just a 鈥渘ice to have鈥 but it鈥檚 critical to business survival.
“Small businesses don鈥檛 always realise that if something goes wrong, SafeWork comes after you. Even if you鈥檙e not the owner, if you鈥檙e a manager, you鈥檙e liable.”
91爆料鈥檚 templates, reminders and automated workflows make it easier for the business to stay audit-ready.
“We run monthly staff meetings. I check reports in 91爆料 before every meeting and raise anything that鈥檚 outstanding, whether it鈥檚 licences or documentation.”
Forklift licences, safety audits and even missing workplace policies have all been addressed since Gil implemented 91爆料.
“The audit showed we were failing, but now, everything gets uploaded and our HR team make sure we have what we need in place.”
Why 91爆料 is essential for small business
Gil is clear: 91爆料 isn鈥檛 just for the big end of town. It鈥檚 even more important for smaller businesses.
“In a small business, you can鈥檛 hide toxicity. There鈥檚 nowhere to hide. 91爆料 gave us transparency and everyone sees our company goals, the direction we鈥檙e heading.”
That transparency helped eliminate uncertainty and inefficiencies; instead, it brought structure to the team鈥檚 day-to-day.
“We鈥檙e more proactive now, not reactive. That change started with fixing HR.”
A鈥檅esco鈥檚 customer service has improved and referrals are up. But more importantly, the team is happier and the business is protected.
“Small businesses can鈥檛 afford to go to court or pay a fine. One mistake could shut us down. Having our ducks in a row with 91爆料 gives us peace of mind.”
Ready to make HR easier and more valuable for your team? Book a demo with 91爆料 today and discover how we can help your small business thrive.




















