To mark 10 years of Worktones, we’re having a decade-themed conversation with some of our clients - the fellow business owners and leaders who have shaped, inspired and grown alongside us over the years.
This edition features Michaela Johansson, friend of Worktones and the founder of Aplenty — the creative catering team behind some of Sydney’s most beautiful and memorable events.
After delivering picnic boxes during lockdown in London, Michaela moved back to Sydney and started Aplenty. Since then, she’s created dreamy tablescapes for clients ranging from Aesop to Dior. Of course, Aplenty will be on food for the Worktones 10 year party.
Firstly, hello and thank you for helping us celebrate Worktones turning 10.
Michaela: woop woop! So happy to be helping you celebrate such a big milestone!
We often mark life by the crossing of decades. What's your favourite part about the decade you're in?
Michaela: The dirty thirties! I think my favourite part of this decade, so far, is that you figure out who you are, what's important to you, who's important to you, cut the fat, enjoy the fruits of your labour, and there's a lot to celebrate with friends/successes/babies, etc.
If I think about the decades of my life like a house renovation, my 20s were for the sketches/Pinterest board, my 30s are for the build and renovation, and my 40s I'll hopefully have some nice comfy house to live in.
What’s something you know now that you wish you knew 10 years ago?
Michaela: That everything you're doing is leading to something bigger. I feel like 10 years ago I was a bit unclear about my direction and my experience was very bitsy, so I was hard on myself. But running a small business is really just 1 million little bits all day long - so it was all worthwhile.
We're throwing a Worktones 10th birthday party, what did you do for your own 10th birthday?
Michaela: I remember I got to invite around 5 friends to Laser Tag and Pizza Hut all you can eat in Top Ryde. I may have amalgamated two birthday parties into one here, but both were iconic. I'm certainly throwing more "chic" and "elevated" soirees these days. Nevertheless, I would probably do it again.
Starting a business is an enormous learning curve. What seemed like a huge business challenge when you started Aplenty that makes you shake your head now?
Michaela: So many learning curves. A novel one is that I remember when I ordered my first 10kg bag of flour and was like, "Well, that will take 3 months to get through", and then being so surprised when I got to the bottom of it. Now I don't even know how much we get through each week - but it's a lot!
At the age of 10, what did you want to do as a career? Any through-lines with what you do now?
Michaela: I wanted to open a restaurant called "Naked On The Floor" inspired by the line in "Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia, which would play every time someone walked into the restaurant (which would have been quite problematic if the restaurant was busy). And there was not going to be any cutlery, so you had to eat with your hands.
In terms of a through line - there are boobs on my branding and we're serving a Table of Bites (no cutlery) at the Worktones 10 year party! So dreams do come true!
Think Aplenty 10 years from now, what do you see?
Michaela: 10 years from now, I see us in a glitzy warehouse, with an amazing kitchen and a big awesome team. A wedding venue somewhere regional and a contract at an iconic Sydney venue! Let's go.
