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Barry Barber
With over 25 years’ experience across retail, franchising, and small business, I help business owners strengthen operations, improve performance, and achieve sustainable growth. Having led teams, supported franchise partners, and worked closely with business owners, I understand the realities of managing people, operations, and competing priorities while trying to plan for the future.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked with dozens of store teams and franchise owners to lift performance, build capability, and deliver consistent results. My focus has always been on helping business owners identify what matters most, simplify complexity, and take practical steps that lead to measurable improvement.
I bring together commercial insight, leadership experience, and professional coaching knowledge to create a mentoring approach that is supportive, pragmatic, and focused on results. While my mentoring is not coaching, it is informed by coaching principles – helping business owners gain clarity, make better decisions, and lead their businesses with confidence.
Focus areas: business planning, operations, leadership, franchising, marketing, and sustainable growth.
Skills:
- Operations-
- Planning-
- Grants-
- Exit/Succession-
- HR-
- Management-
- Marketing-
Industries:
- Retail trade-
- Franchising-
- Tourism, hospitality, accommodation and food services-
- Food Production-
- Home Services-
Spoken Languages:
State: Victoria
Locations by request:
- (I conduct online sessions with clients across Australia and I am also available for in-person sessions in Sydney's CBD and Inner West. )
Mentoring available by:
- By Phone and online
Current Occupation:
Leadership Development Coach | Business Coach | Strategy and Growth Consultant
Detailed CV:
Barry Barber – Small Business Mentor, Sydney & Australia-wide
With over 25 years’ experience leading and supporting businesses across retail, franchising, and not-for-profit sectors, I understand what it takes to build a sustainable, profitable business. I’ve worked directly with business owners, franchise partners, and store leaders to help them strengthen operations, lift performance, and grow with confidence.
I help business owners solve practical challenges – from improving systems and managing people to refining strategy, planning growth, and balancing competing priorities. My mentoring focuses on clarity, confidence, and practical improvement so owners can make better decisions and achieve lasting success.
AREAS OF SUPPORT
Business planning and strategy | Operations and systems improvement | Leadership and team development | Marketing and customer growth | Financial management | Franchising and scaling | Leasing and site selection | Exit and succession planning.
MY APPROACH
Every business is different, but most face similar pressures – limited time, rising costs, and the challenge of doing everything themselves. My role is to help you take a step back, see the bigger picture, and identify practical, achievable steps that will make the biggest difference.
I draw on extensive business experience and professional coaching insight to shape my mentoring approach. While mentoring is distinct from coaching, my coaching background helps me ask the right questions, listen carefully, and guide business owners to uncover solutions that fit their goals and circumstances. Each session is focused, practical, and designed to deliver real progress.
EXPERIENCE
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Director – Programs & Partnerships, Small Business Mentoring Service (SBMS) – Lead mentoring programs with government, council, and industry partners to strengthen small business capability and resilience.
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General Manager, Top Juice – Scaled a growing retail and franchise brand, developing and executing brand and retail strategy to position Top Juice as a national leader in healthy fast food. Implemented systems, training, and compliance frameworks that helped more than 50 franchise owners build profitable, customer-focused businesses.
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Retail and Operations Leadership – Extensive experience mentoring and developing store managers and teams across large retail networks, focusing on business performance, customer experience, and operational consistency.
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Founder, Stratcoach Consulting – Provide leadership and business development support to business owners, drawing on accredited expertise in organisational coaching, communication, and performance.
LOCATIONS
Available for online mentoring Australia-wide and in-person sessions in Sydney’s CBD and Inner West.
EXPERTISE
Small Business Growth | Strategy & Planning | Leadership | Franchising | Retail | Operations | Coaching-Informed Mentoring | Profit Improvement | Team Development | Business Confidence
Qualifications:
- Graduate Certificate in Organisational Coaching
- Diploma of Business
- Accounting Certificate
- Accredited DISC, Driving Forces & EQ Practitioner
- TAB StratPro Facilitator
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