Let The Research Begin

1. MOVE TO MORE WEBSITE

As we began to research we had to figure out which direction we were heading. While the Domain app was helpful in property available, we also went through the Australian government funded website Move to More. The website showed population, median house price, infrastructure, weather, community and gave us the ability to compare our options.

We chose Dubbo as it had a good sized population, was a regional hub servicing a larger area, house prices within our expected affordability and still accessible to Sydney to visit my family. movetomore.com.au/

2. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

As a business owner who had been a member of the Chamber of Commerce, I wanted to get a feel for the types of businesses in the region so I looked up the Dubbo Chamber of Commerce website. I liked the variety of people featured on the website and that they also had a women in business initiative.

3. DUBBO REGIONAL COUNCIL

I looked up the region’s strategic plan for the years ahead, as well as the infrastructure investments being made. I noticed that they had recently redeveloped the hospital to include a state of the art maternity ward so I figured there must be a need with plenty of pregnant women who may also need to utilise my services. I have since learnt how vital the Dubbo Base Hospital is, not just for those in this town, but also in the far reaching towns of Western NSW that this hospital services.

4. SEEK

Relocating was a scary prospect so while I had plans to open my business, I also considered a back up plan of securing stable employment. Seek gave me an idea of the types of jobs available but also helped me find other businesses within my industry. I almost applied for a job as a way to get to know people but turns out I didn’t need it.

5. SEARCHING GOOGLE FOR SIMILAR BUSINESSES

As part of my research, I looked into what businesses were already in place and if there was a place for me. I looked up Remedial Massage, Pregnancy Massage and explored the fitness options.

6. ASK THOSE THAT HAD GONE BEFORE ME

I reached out to a colleague who had moved to a regional town on the North Coast of NSW. I asked her if Massage was needed and how she was finding the transition. She told me that the regions are in desperate need of all services, massage included.

7. A FAMILY HOLIDAY

After completing our research and deciding that Dubbo was likely the best place for us, we booked a week in Dubbo after Christmas in 2021. We took the opportunity to have fun by exploring the zoo and aquatic centre but also looked at rental properties from the outside (as most real estates were closed for the holiday period) and got to know the areas we could aim to live in. My favourite moment of the holiday was striking up a conversation with a pregnant mum at a playground. She asked what I did for work during the conversation and when I shared my business, her response was ‘we don’t have anything like that here’. This encounter was what sealed the deal for me as I was talking directly to my target client and there was space for me here.