How four Mount Gambier business are not just surviving COVID but thriving
It hasn’t been all doom and gloom for businesses here in the South East with a drive-in movie theatre, new food options and a new piercing parlour among the success stories. SEE THE LIST.
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There are not many people who would think it was a good idea starting a business in the midst of a pandemic but that is exactly what a handful decided to do in Mount Gambier while others got creative about keeping the doors open.
And the widening of SA’s cross-border travel zone last week from 40km up to 70km is yet another step in helping communities edge closer to normality.
A drive-in movie theatre, new food options and a new piercing parlour are among the success stories of the past few months here in Mount Gambier.
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SHE’S APPLES MARKET
After more than 30 years in Mount Gambier, She’s Apples Market was in the midst of a historic transformation when the pandemic hit.
Having outgrown its original location, managing director Phil Telfer said when Radio Rentals closed he jumped at the chance to expand the business at a new site.
The move allowed the business to add a service deli, an onsite florist and a sit-down cafe as well as incorporate a larger range of local products.
“We opened on April 30, so it was right in the middle of when everything was starting to get pretty interesting, we had a few local (COVID) cases and obviously a few cases in South Australia as well,” Mr Telfer told The Mount Gambier News.
It was disappointing, he said, to see the new cafe revert to takeaway only but was grateful to be able to keep the doors open.
With people staying home and cooking for their families more, She’s Apples had to change and they did; moving to offer home delivery – a service which has now become a staple for the business’ future.
“That exploded,” he said.
“We’ve done wholesale to the retail and restaurant and cafe market for 30 years but we’ve never actually really focused on home delivery.
“We thought we could help our customers who have supported us for so many years by taking the groceries to them through these tougher times.”
THE DRIVE IN MT GAMBIER
The Majors normally split their time between Lewis’ Australian homeland and Diana’s native France but the pandemic has caused chaos for the couple and their baby daughter Sasha.
A choreographer by trade, Mr Major grew up on a farm between Penola and Beachport and always dreamt of eventually moving home to launch Coonawarra Dance Project – a regionally-based, international touring dance company.
Now he is the director and owner of a drive in movie theatre too.
“I’ve got a small dance company that I’m trying to get started at the moment, it’s all set up but obviously nothing has been able to go ahead,” he said.
“I actually was thinking to myself how we could continue doing dance performances, the idea was actually to do a drive-in live performance for theatre, dance, opera and musical theatre.
“The drive in is just something we’ve started in COVID as a way to sort of support my company while we can’t do performances.”
It quickly snowballed from just an idea to the new The Drive In Mt Gambier selling out within a day.
Mr Major said he was blown away by the response.
“It was absolutely amazing,” he said.
“The community has really come around which is another reason why I just love being back in Mount Gambier, it’s just the community support.”
While wild whether derailed the second weekend, the nostalgic films will be back in a few weeks with drive-in performances also on the cards.
B&P TRAVEL & CRUISE
The travel industry has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic.
B&P Travel & Cruise Jenna Paproth owner said international bookings ordinarily made up to 80 per cent of her business.
“With the international borders closing and then all the state borders, there was nowhere to travel so we had no product to sell,” Ms Paproth said.
“There were quite a few months there where we were just processing refunds and cancellations.”
Finding it difficult to convince customers to book domestic trips through a travel agent when they were comfortable going direct to airline, she realised the business needed to adapt.
“Escorted tours was always something that we wanted to do but other companies in Mount Gambier had done it really well and it was a hard market to get into,” she said.
So when Gambier Coachlines retired, Ms Paproth jumped at the opportunity, launching a Kangaroo Island and Barossa Valley trip.
“Remarkably we sold out of the 10 spots within a week of announcing it,” she said.
“Everyone that was on the trip really enjoyed it so hopefully we can get some traction from that and do a few more in the coming months and next year.”
With another tour set to depart in February, Ms Paproth said plans are already in the works to make escorted tours a B&P Travel & Cruise staple.
“We’re trying to put together another one for Port Lincoln, doing the shark diving and Coffin Bay and in that area,” she said.
“As the borders stay open it will give people more confidence to travel and we’ll look at doing something in the Northern Territory on the Ghan.”
LIMESTONE COAST LASER CLINIC
Nine months ago when Christopher Qualita moved to Mount Gambier he never imagined he would become a business owner.
But last month he opened the doors to Limestone Coast Laser Clinic.
Making the most of his coronavirus-enforced downtime, the laser hair removal specialist and trainer decided to do NEIS – a 12 week government funded program designed help people launch small businesses.
He saw a gap in the market for boutique, specialist and affordable laser and took the jump, fitting out the James Street clinic in just six weeks.
“It’s exciting, but daunting, I must say. A few sleepless night. A few tears,” Mr Qualita said.
“I am passionate about what I do.
“This kind of stuff isn’t about vanity or shallowness, it’s about confidence, it’s about feeling comfortable in your own skin.
“We’re going to get results. Yes, it might hurt. Yes, it might take a few sessions, but we’re going to get results.”
The clinic offers hair and tattoo removal plus a range of skin treatments.
And Mr Qualita is not stopping there, with his next venture Gambia Piercing Parlour due to open any day.
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Contact Jessica Ball at jessica.ball@news.com.au
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