2 minute read
A helping hand for small business
Mentor Lesley Lalley with Ellie Degraeve Photo: Empire Art Photography
Advertisement
A helping hand for small businesses
Words Ingrid Nelson
It’s no secret that the Sunshine Coast is a mecca for start-up businesses. In fact, revered demographer Bernard Salt dubbed our region as the entrepreneurial capital of Australia!
However, the sobering reality is that 50 per cent of small businesses fail within the first five years of operation and the main reason is lack of leadership, poor management and lack of planning.
Fortunately, thanks to the Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance Business Mentoring Program, local business owners on the Sunshine Coast have access to a plethora of support and advice from experienced retired and semi-retired mentors who can help them achieve business goals and discover how to improve, grow, overcome barriers, and leverage opportunities.
Local mother-of-two Ellie Degraeve, who launched her zero-toxins, zero-plastic business Go For Zero three years ago is just one business who has benefitted greatly from the program.
Frustrated that her daughter’s skin was reacting badly to soaps and creams, Ellie started researching mainstream ingredients and what they do to our body. Shocked by the lack of regulation and amount of chemicals in products, she was driven to provide products that are safer for our people and our planet.
Sourcing products that are toxin-free, sustainably packaged and owned by Aussie families, the business quickly grew from her spare bedroom and a pop-up store in Caloundra to a warehouse with over 1000 products. Admitting she didn’t know everything when it came to running a business, Ellie credits a large part of her success to the Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance Business Mentoring Program. Her mentors helped structure her business so she could expand and develop and as a result, Go For Zero has gone from strength to strength.
“I have two great mentors who were specifically chosen to match my business,” says Ellie. “We meet monthly and run through the numbers and evaluate strategies.
“It’s fantastic, because as a startup, you work a lot in your business, but these meetings help me to stop, step out and look back.”
With more than 40 years of knowledge and experience running a business, Lesley Lalley is one of Ellie’s mentors and says she is delighted to be able to give back to the community.
“We have 28 mentors all together, with 1000 years of business experience between us,” says Lesley.
“Most of us are retired and passionate about helping young people. For every one of our mentors, their biggest thrill is seeing the business flourish. I get a real buzz from seeing their faces light up when they discover some new ideas that they may not have thought of.”
At a cost of just $200 per year, Ellie was so excited with the growth and help she received from the mentor group, she decided to expand her original 12 month membership for a further year.
And with so many new businesses needing assistance, Lesley says the group is looking for at least another 12 mentors to join the program.
If you would like to share your knowledge and experience to help shape the future of entrepreneurs on the Sunshine Coast, visit: www.mentoringusnshinecoast.com.au
