Sharing positive stories of rural businesses and communities.
As skilled stonemasons diminish in number, demand is once again growing for their services. Garden landscaping, heritage building restorations, and memorials for cemeteries are just some of the services that WT Jones Stone Masons in Kyneton delivers Australia wide. But how do you sell a thriving business?
Read MoreWhy start a small business in a rural town? In 2012, Claire Morgan created Rupanyup Living in response to a long period of drought followed by a severe flood. The community needed a positive boost and Claire was up for the challenge. But, as she has discovered during the COVID-19 lockdown, the reason you start a business is not always the reason you continue.
Read MoreCafes are a draw card in every rural town. They are a social hub for the locals and a great reason for travellers to stop. Not many cafes can claim to be named after a much loved television character though.
Read MoreTwo central Victorian businesswomen - Suzanne Carroll from Cool Clutch and Elise Brown from Fair Dinkum Dogs - who sell their products primarily online, came together for a cuppa and a chat to share their experiences and some great tips.
Read MoreAs consumers we have recently witnessed scenes of empty supermarket shelves never seen before in our lifetime. A spotlight has been shone on local manufacturers and suppliers in every rural and regional community creating a new level of loyalty and appreciation.
Read MoreAs our city counterparts start to escape the ‘Big Smoke’ to explore rural towns are you aware that they may be scoping an opportunity to relocate by purchasing an existing business or setting up a new one? Kerry and Michael Kerr from Kerr Capital discuss the opportunities for our rural towns and businesses.
Read MoreCustomers understand the benefits of shopping local. They want to support their local businesses but protecting the health of their family and household budgets will take priority. Going back to doing ‘business as normal’ is NOT an option, it is a risk!
Read MoreChatting with small businesses across Australia I am keen to learn how they have fared during the COVID-19 period to date (noting that this is far from over). Some have pivoted, a few have packed their bags (and that is perfectly OK), and the lucky ones are punching goals. More updates will be added to the top of this post in the coming weeks.
Read MoreWalking away from a business is one of the toughest things to do. But when the results don’t reflect the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into it, or the pressures are impacting on your health and wellbeing; then it is time to rethink your future. This is a GOOD business decision to make, not a failure.
Read MoreCould a life changing event when eight-year-old Janine McLean’s farming father passed away have subconsciously set her on a path decades later to specialise in succession planning? Whatever her reasons, Janine loves living and working in regional Victoria and is a strong advocate for family run businesses to better plan for their future.
Read MoreCOVID-19 has affected businesses in multiple ways with uncertainty being a common denominator. What has been most heartening is seeing new ways of thinking and doing business emerging. Quite literally, it has taken a pandemic to shake us out of our complacency and clearly, it is the most adaptable who thrive. Why would we want to return to ‘normal’?
Read MoreCOVID-19 has presented a unique opportunity for local government to effectively engage with their business community. This is one of those rare times, prompted by a global disaster, to throw out the position descriptions, roll up the sleeves and work side by side as we prepare for a government stimulated bubble to burst in September.
Read MoreAnother great chat with Zoe from Smart Connected Cities about the positive and negative impacts of COVID on rural businesses and communities.
Read MoreKerry Anderson shares how we can we be proactive rather than reactive during this difficult time as the COVID-19 impacts on Australia. It's time to bring the team together and have some important conversations. Kerry has come up with a few suggestions to get you started and reminds us that tough times also present a wonderful opportunity to innovate and improve our businesses.
Read MoreHow is the Corona Virus, or more importantly public reaction, going to affect your rural business? We are a long way from the cities and the crowds, but we know that the impact – real or perceived - is inevitably coming our way. How can we be proactive rather than reactive?
Read MoreWith an increasing number of remote workers and home-based businesses operating in rural and regional areas, it is not surprising how little we know about who is operating in our own back yard.
Read MoreDespite being created in response to adversity, these social media platforms are pure gold and full of so much positivity. I encourage you to use them to plan your next trip, buy a gift, or just to learn more about our awesome rural businesses and communities.
Read MoreWhen Ross Williams left his hometown of Sea Lake in 1986 for a career, he never envisaged himself returning. Twenty years later he was back discovering new opportunities for himself and his community.
Read MoreShopping local is great but shopping rural is even better this holiday period according to rural business advocate Kerry Anderson. “Every dollar spent in a rural town has a multiplier effect and helps keep businesses alive and retain jobs for rural people,” says Kerry, author of Entrepreneurship: It’s Everybody’s Business.
Read More30 years ago in 1989 the internet came to Australia. For the younger generation this may seem incomprehensible. How could you possibly exist without basic life necessities such as Google, Netflix and Snapchat? But for those like me that survived our early decades without these tools it is interesting to reflect back on how much has changed in the way we work and play.
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