Nick Addison doesn’t run a typical business - and Adelaide Oval isn’t a typical organisation.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard goes behind the scenes with Nick Addison, CEO of the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority, to explore what it really takes to operate a world-class stadium and the collection of businesses that sit behind it.

Originally from Melbourne, Nick relocated to Adelaide in 2022 with his young family to take on the role, bringing a deep passion for sport and a sharp commercial lens. He shares his personal story, while also lifting the lid on how Adelaide Oval actually works, who owns it, how it became a world-class venue, and what it takes to stay there.

Inevitably, the cost of a pie comes up. Nick also explains why great “content” - from elite sport to major concerts - underpins everything, how Adelaide Oval competes with the couch, and why the Oval’s grounds expertise has become globally sought-after, including being approached by the ICC to support the Cricket World Cup in New York.

A fascinating look behind the scenes of one of South Australia’s icons, offering insights into leadership, diversification and world-class performance - applied to a very different kind of business.

Connect with James Orchard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesorchard1/

See other episodes: https://accruharrisorchard.com.au/podcast/

Follow Owner Insights for future conversations with business owners building great businesses.

In this episode of Owner Insights, James Orchard speaks with Ben Lumbers about the remarkable story of Gliderol - a South Australian manufacturing success founded by his father in the 1970s. The company pioneered roller garage doors and was known for a culture that was anything but ordinary, including long lunches and footy trips on the infamous “Gliderol Bus”.

Gliderol grew into a truly global operation. But this is not just a growth story.

Ben takes us inside the decision to sell the family business in 2011, and the point at which he realised the future he had imagined wasn’t going to play out as expected.

Four years later, Ben spots the business back on the market - this time making losses for the first time in its history. What follows is a tense negotiation, a bold decision to buy it back, and a rapid turnaround driven by reuniting key people, restoring culture, and refocusing on the customer, before eventually selling the business again a few years later.

This episode of Owner Insights is a reminder that nobody understands a business quite like the people who built it. When decisions drift too far from the customer and the culture, even strong businesses can lose their way, as this story shows.

Imagine combining the systems and efficiency of Amazon with the design flair of IKEA - and applying it all to kitchens.

That’s the business Steven Bosley has built with his two sons at Amorini Australia.

In this episode of Owner Insights, Steven modestly describes the company he founded as “purveyors of chipboard,” despite employing more than 65 people and generating around $30 million in turnover. At its core, Amorini is a logistics business, managing hundreds of moving parts behind every kitchen, with systems and processes doing the heavy lifting.

Fuelled by more than 100 overseas trips, Steven has built the business around his love of travel and a drive to innovate. Growth, he says, is an outcome - not the objective. The conversation also explores Amorini’s distinctive approach to recruitment, relying entirely on word of mouth and creating opportunities for people who might not otherwise get them, alongside the disciplined systems that support growth without complexity.

A thoughtful discussion on building a scalable business without losing the joy that started it all.