A new Business Breakfast series begins in Ararat this month, providing local business owners with an opportunity to learn, be inspired and network.
Hosted by Ararat Rural City Council, the event on 17 March will be held at Ararat RSL and feature guest speaker Haley Collicoat of Pyrenees Premium Cuts, Greater Ararat Business (GAB) Network president Maria Whiteford and Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison.
Ararat Rural Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison is pleased to invite the business community back to the first post-COVID business event.
"These events are a great opportunity to support our business owners and staff, offering experience, insight and shared learnings across all industries," he said.
"Ararat's economy is growing strongly with businesses emerging and expanding, attracting investments for new housing development and an unemployment rate that has fallen to just 3.6% as revealed by data released this week by the Australian Government's National Skills Commission."
"Findings from the Ararat Rural City Council Occupancy Survey further supports this, revealing an uplift in business confidence with retail occupancy rates higher than they were a year ago.
At the Business Breakfast, co-owner of Pyrenees Premium Cuts Haley Collicoat will speak about her entrepreneurial journey, offering insights into opening a new business, rising to challenges, expanding their business footprint and thoughts on the future of food and farming – a key economic driver for the region.
"Opening a business in Ararat has always been on the cards for James and I. When the opportunity presented itself – we took it.
"We opened our Ararat store on Igore Street in December last year, providing local gourmet products and specalised meats. Our mission has always been to support local growers and ensure regional towns have access to a quality butcher.
"Demand for quality meat soared within the first few months of opening, especially as supermarkets failed to provide customers with what they needed during the pandemic.
"I remember putting in long work hours including a 24-hour shift to make sure residents had what they needed. It wouldn't have been possible to keep up with customers if it wasn't for our incredible team who put in the work.
"Education plays a big part. Consumers need to realise the benefits of local homegrown and handmade products that they find at a butcher versus supermarket quality meats. For example, our sausages are handmade with care from start to finish – it takes about an hour to make a batch of our sausages.
"Shopping local makes an incredible difference for businesses, farmers and the wider community.
"There's interest in local food and for quality products – we're looking to secure a new space and expand our butcher shop next.
"We're really excited for this next part of our business journey, including expanding to a larger site in town to transform our butchery into something greater. It's an exclusive offering - nothing like Ararat has ever experienced before.
"For those looking to pursue their own business, you only need an idea and drive for it to come to life – anything is possible."
GAB Network president Maria Whitford is thrilled to see our region bouncing back from the pandemic, not just economically but as a community.
"Our committee has been busy supporting small business operators affected by the pandemic by offering free mentoring and workshops to help them adapt and transform their strategies.
"The greater Ararat business community is very resilient - it's incredible to see the hard work of the entire community who have come together to support each other and local businesses. Moving forward, we're excited for what's to come for our region," she concluded.
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