Promoting change

Adam Jarny (BPsychMgt/Mktg 2008) is hoping to instil community pride in Melbourne’s streets - one wall at a time.

At only 25, Adam manages his own graffiti removal company – Graffiti Was Here.

After working in promotion and sales for three years after graduation, a chance encounter with graffiti on a fence at his workplace set the idea for the business in motion.

“After four months of passing the graffiti every day, I asked my manager if I could attempt to remove it for him. I did a little research, bought some basic products and gave it a shot. I then asked him what he would have paid to get it removed and realised that there was a good business opportunity there,” Mr Jarny said.

It has been more than two years since that light bulb moment and business is booming.

“My original career path involved getting various experience within different sales and promotion companies, with the ultimate aim of operating a strategic marketing company,” Mr Jarny said.

“Although this is still my long-term plan, I found driving the same road to work and sitting at the same desk each day was limiting my growth. It took me six months to get my business up-and-running. Now I’m out and about and loving it. I make my own deadlines, set my own working hours and I love being my own boss.”

Mr Jarny believes Melbourne and its business community has been mentally beaten by graffiti.

“There’s an attitude of ‘what’s the point, it will just come back’. If you believe that, then the vandals have won,” Mr Jarny said.

He says he has a particular aim to rid Melbourne’s communities of graffiti that is racially vilifying.

“I have a policy to remove racist graffiti as a priority and for free. Not only is it unsolicited vandalism; it’s hurtful and offensive. I think Melbourne would be a much prouder city if we could rid it of this type of graffiti,” Mr Jarny said.

Mr Jarny said only when Melbourne was clean and rid of its graffiti image would he work out what’s next in his career journey.

“I thought wearing a suit and tie each day was the only measure that I’d ‘made it’ after I finished my degree. At the moment I am truly enjoying what I do and I am challenged by it.”