Skip to main content Skip to log on Skip to search Accessibility at CommBank

Brighter / / Young entrepreneurs with a bold idea that worked

The young entrepreneurs with a bold idea that worked

Four friends with the courage to give their business idea a go reflect on their journey of opening a hot-chip bar in Noosa.

  • Rhi Pearce, Josh Leach, Ysabella Buckley-Tyree and Lisa Tyree had the bold idea to build a self-serve hot chip bar in Noosa, Queensland. 
  • The four entrepreneurs sought out advice from CommBank’s business team and brought their idea to life.
  • A tasty product and refreshingly relatable social media strategy were central to the business’ success, resulting in lines out the door from day one.

Rhi Pearce and Josh Leach were taking a stroll through Queensland’s Noosa National Park when Rhi announced she wanted to create a self-serve loaded fry bar. “My jaw hit the floor,” says Josh. “We talked about it nonstop for about a month.”

The concept was smart and simple: build a hot-chip bar with a spread of serve-yourself toppings. “It seemed like quite a scary venture, initially,” says Josh. But when a lease became available on Noosa’s bustling Hastings Street, the opportunity was too good to pass up. After friends Ysabella Buckley-Tyree and Lisa Tyree jumped on board, the four entrepreneurs began the life-altering journey of starting Chip ’n’ Mix.

Connecting with CommBank’s business team, the group secured funding and a dedicated relationship manager who helped guide them through the process. “It was all systems go, which was scary but so much fun,” says Ysabella. The idea came to life in four months and despite challenges, the team’s faith never wavered.

Customers can choose from a spread of serve-yourself toppings.

“Day one, we sold out twice,” says Josh. “We were getting fast-food numbers for a product with quality prep. It quickly became apparent that we needed to expand our operations.” The team opened their doors on a Saturday and by the following Monday they had set up a second kitchen. “The traction we got in the first week was unbelievable,” recalls Ysabella.

Behind this wave of interest sat not only a quality product that people wanted to try but a fun and relatable social media strategy that kept customers intrigued. “Initially, we wanted to be more professional with our social-media posts but that’s just not us,” says Ysabella. Josh adds, “We just started filming exactly what we were doing and sharing all our thoughts along the way.” Their young and fun tone quickly built traction. “It wasn’t long before we had people from all over the world following our posts,” says Ysabella.

A fun and relatable social media strategy helped generate interest.

From a crew of 10, the Chip ’n’ Mix staff is now 35 strong and they’ve been swamped with offers to develop further. “We had a franchise offer two weeks before we even opened,” says Ysabella. While they’re careful not to take on too much too quickly, nor compromise on quality, the plan is definitely to expand in the future. 

To learn more about the Chip 'n' Mix story, watch and stream The Brighter Side, Fridays at 8.30pm on 10.

Related articles

 

Published: 3 October 2025

Tags

Things you should know

This article provides general information of an educational nature only. It does not have regard to the financial situation or needs of any reader and must not be relied upon as personal financial product advice. The views expressed by contributors are their own and don’t necessarily reflect the views of CBA. As the information has been provided without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs, you should, before acting on this information, consider what is appropriate for your circumstances, and where appropriate, consider the relevant Target Market Determination, Product Disclosure Statement and Terms and Conditions available on our website. You should also consider whether seeking independent professional legal, tax and financial advice is necessary. Every effort has been taken to ensure the information was correct as at the time of printing but it may be subject to change. No part of the editorial contents may be reproduced or copied in any form without the prior permission and acknowledgement of CBA.