The sense of camaraderie, optimism and regional pride was strong as hundreds of businessmen and women celebrated 2019 Small Business Week in the Scenic Rim.
More than 300 people took part in 11 dinners, breakfasts, workshops and events across the region, facilitated by the Scenic Rim Regional Council in partnership with local chambers of commerce.
The week culminated in a Council-hosted small business breakfast at The Centre, featuring a panel of winners from the hotly-contested 2019 Scenic Rim Business Excellence Awards.
Hugo Struss of Tinamba Turf, James Bartle of Outland Denim, Nikki Hobbs of Hobbs Building & Interiors and Jeff Flood of Summer Land Camels sat on the panel.
Some key themes which came out of the discussion were the ideal location of the Scenic Rim for small business, the value of collaboration and grabbing hold of funding opportunities.
James Bartle, who runs international ethical fashion label Outland Denim with his wife Erica out of a small headquarters on Tamborine Mountain, said he could not think of a better place to do business.
“The comment we’ll often hear is, ‘why on earth would you have a fashion label sitting on Tamborine Mountain? You should be in London, New York or Los Angeles’,” he said.
“But I have the choice of two airports within an hour of where we are to fly anywhere in the world really quickly, but then we’re removed from the craziness of the industry we’re involved in and there is absolute lifestyle, where my two kids come in and see me in the office after school, where we aren’t surrounded by what the industry does and we get to be different and think differently.
“So for me, there isn’t another place in Australia that is as ideal to be located.”
Other Small Business Week highlights in the Scenic Rim: