Meet David and Dee, owners of The Gazebo Florist, a small business in Raymond Terrace NSW
David and Dee run The Gazebo Florist near Newcastle. With help from their business coach Dylan, they have been able to get their dream off the ground and open their doors.
Hear out about the ups and downs of their small business journey below.
Working with Many Rivers
Before starting The Gazebo Florist, David was a stay at home Dad and Dee had been working as a florist. She had done lots of other things for work throughout her lifetime but wanted something that she could see herself doing for a longer period of time.
“It was important to find someone at the beginning of the journey that we could relate to. Dylan guided us through most of the business planning and all that kind of stuff. I think it’s a real struggle to cope with the amount of change in such a short period of time, even if they are little things. That guiding process makes it a lot better than if you were doing it on your own.”
“Many Rivers helped us initially with a small loan to get our idea off the ground. It helped us sign a lease for the business and get a fridge.”
“If it wasn’t for Dylan I don’t think that we would have coped for the whole first year, we would have burnt ourselves out. He was our backing saying ‘come on you can do this’. It is good having that person as a support but who also enjoys all the good things of the business, the fun and the excitement.”
“Small business is good for isolated places because, I believe, it helps create a sense of community.”
“One of the best things is all the friendships you get to know people and their families as well. You get to know people.”
“Not everyone can go that traditional way that everyone else does to succeed and that’s why we need alternative ways like Many Rivers. They help people succeed in this world in what ever that is for them.”
Thank you David and Dee for sharing your business journey. We want to encourage more and more people to take that first step towards building on their business ideas. We’re here to support you the whole way.
Please take the Small Business Self Assessment and see if we are right for you.
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