Businesses across Melbourne’s South-east have been upskilling and modernising their operations during the pandemic.
Two women standing side by side in a shoe shop
Retail & Hospitality
These stories and associated images and/or video listed on these pages were produced before physical distancing regulations were introduced in Victoria.
Ripe Cheese stall at the Queen Victoria Market
Business mentoring program central to the maturing of Ripe Cheese
Hakim Halim is a Singaporean Asian cheesemonger who founded Ripe Cheese at the iconic Queen Victoria market, and whose online business is now growing.
Boronia Community Breakfast program volunteers
Free breakfasts helping the Boronia community access vital support services
A community breakfast program is connecting Boronia locals with support services and each other.
Shippy's cafe: a popular spot along the Murray.
Ship to shore: Mildura’s famous shipping container café is moving
Mildura’s riverfront isn’t the only place going through a transformation. Meet Michael Shipsides, owner of Shippy’s café.
Susie Arambasic
Embrace the festive spirit: buy local
Victorians are supporting small businesses across the state over the festive season and beyond.
Andrew Cox (Photo supplied by MLA)
Putting Victorian red meat on international tables
Andrew Cox, who heads up international markets at Meat and Livestock Australia, speaks about new markets while managing the impact of the pandemic.
Image of steam over bamboo trays. Text overlay - Chefs out West
Around the world on a plate in Maribyrnong
Get a taste of cuisines from around the globe in Melbourne’s west.
Laura, the owner of the Little Bumble business is smiling and standing in infront of a Little Bumble signage.
From Little Bumble to big buzz
Business mentoring helps Little Bumble beeswax food wraps business grow from local hobby to national success.
Harry holding a bucket of coffee beans ready to be roated. He is standing next to a coffee roaster.
Rutherglen bakery rises above the challenges
Valentines Bakery strengthened its business with a Victorian Government Regional Jobs Funds grant, helping it to expand.
Chris from Sailors Grave pouring his brew in a glass structure
Sailors Grave sets sail on new adventure
VIDEO: After the 2019 bushfires, the couple behind Sailors Grave brewery are finally about to realise their ambition of building a tourist destination
Owners of the Mallacoota's Greek Soul Food in front of their portable food business..
Dreams come true for Mallacoota’s Greek Soul Food
VIDEO: The Mallacoota bushfires destroyed Carol & Paul family business, but a grant from the Victorian Government helped them get back on their feet.
Image of the Royal Exhange Hotel in Horsham
From Vietnam to Horsham: a business migrant’s journey
In 2018, Tuan Nguyen left Ho Chi Minh City to begin a new life in regional Victoria as a pub owner. Here’s his story.
Image of an industrial coffee machine
A fresh brew: Abbotsford coffee operation gets a reset
With help from a free, online Business Victoria-supported course, Abbotsford’s Bureaux Coffee is getting through the pandemic.
Photo of Kylie Sambrooks - Your Memories
From funeral items to PPE: how a Croydon business reinvented itself
Croydon’s ‘Your Memories’ has expanded to sell Personal Protective Equipment to funeral directors, helped along by a Business Support Fund grant.
4 glasses with red duck logo
Brewing up a new business plan
Take a look at how Ballarat’s Red Duck microbrewery is riding out the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
panoramic view of vineyard in the grampians
Here’s cheers: Grampians wineries throw open their virtual cellar door
Revenue dipped between 40 and 95 per cent at Grampians wineries during recent restrictions, but a virtual cellar door is helping to turn that around.
Portrait shot of Miyuki Nakahara with artwork in the background
Cooking up a new way of doing business
A Business Support Fund grant is helping Izakaya Den swivel to a take-away model during the pandemic.
Judy sitting down for interview, recording equipment present
A champion of Victorian small business
VIDEO: The Victorian Small Business Commissioner is supporting commercial tenants & landlords during this uncertain period, we revisit our interview.
