Meet Dee and Julie, the owners of “Cafe 2823” a family-owned small business in Trangie, NSW.
Dee and Julie opened a small coffee shop called “Cafe 2823” in Trangie NSW in 2020. It is a small, family run café where they offer a simple menu of fresh, simple homemade style breakfast, lunch and catering options.
Tito, my business coach from Many Rivers, has been great. He helped me with every part of my business. We received a grant from the NSW Government, and Tito played a big role in that. I’m very thankful for his help and guidance at all steps. – Dee
Read more about Dee and Julie’s business journey so far:
Dee and Julie’s Business
Tell us about your business? How long has your business been operating?
My sister, Julie and I opened a small coffee shop called “Cafe 2823” in Trangie NSW in 2020. It is a small, family run café where we offer a simple menu of freshly cooked breakfast, lunch and catering options. I make coffee and my sister Julie loves to cook so it’s a perfect partnership between us two.
We started off with a small spot west of Dubbo on the highway in Trangie. After 10 months, to cater to the growing demand, we decided to buy a bigger shop nearby and turned it into a proper kitchen and coffee shop. It’s a double block now, so we can also host events and more customers.
We received a grant to build a dining area, so now we can host up to 80 people at our events. Before that, we could only fit 10. We provide catering at events and support the local community, especially farmers and people living nearby. Our food is simple and fresh like good old-school burgers. When COVID hit, it was really hard, but we kept going by delivering meals around town. We never had to close; we just found a new way to keep things running.
Moreover, with the help of Many Rivers loan, we have bought a coffee van so we can go to other places and serve coffee. We started small, just coffee and a few menu items but now the business has grown a lot.
What motivated you to take the next step in growing your business?
The demand motivated us to grow our business. We had lots of customers even in our original tiny shop. We always had our eyes on a nearby building and luckily we were able to buy it and that is when things really took off. The location is great, and it all has worked out so well for us.
Our small business has now become into a whole family business where everyone helps, my son, husband, sisters, and nephews. My daughter-in-law is the head chef. We have also hired another lady who has been with us since the start. We have a kitchen hand and a few high school kids who work casual hours during holidays and weekends. In total, we now have about 7 to 9 people on the team.
How did you hear about the Small Business Development program?
I first got in touch with Danny when I started my business and, then later when we wanted to grow our business, we were introduced to Tito who has been supporting us for over a year now.
Have the planning workshops and business tools offered by Many Rivers helped you? If so, in what way?
Yes. We went to Dubbo and did a full-day business planning workshop with Tito and Anthony. It really helped us with our business vision and planning.
Since joining our SBD program, what changes have you seen in your business?
The biggest change is that we are making more profit, and I understand the money side much better now. I even made a plan with Tito for how the business could run smoothly even if I am not there.
In what ways has your business grown or changed over time, such as increasing revenue or expanding your team?
It has probably tripled in the last five years.
What has been the most valuable part of the program for you?
The coaching and support. Having someone to talk to and help make our business ideas a reality.
What are your next steps for your business?
We just want to keep things running smoothly for now and we hope to use our function space more for bigger events.
What advice would you give to other Indigenous business owners considering the SBD program?
I would say without a doubt reach out to Many Rivers. If you have a vision and want to grow your business, then Many Rivers is the right place for you.
Thank you Dee and Julie for sharing your business journey with us. We wish you the best of luck with future endeavours and business success.
If you would like to stay updated with Dee and Julie’s small business, follow “Cafe 2823” through the following links:
We love to encourage people to take the first step towards kick-starting their small business ideas. Do you have a business idea?
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