Formosa Gardens Nursery has been serving the Ballarat community for 43 years. Situated on Leith Street in Redan, it offers a huge range of indoor and outdoor plants. That's not the only attraction. Expert advice and very friendly staff have also helped maintain its success all these years. Today, third generation co-owner Katie Wright is up in the early hours everyday to make sure the plants and trees are ready for inquisitive customers from across the city.

More: https://www.formosagardensnursery.com/

Deregulation of the dairy industry 20 years ago has forced a lot of milk producers to go under or struggle to make ends meet. In 2011, Inglenook Dairy, which has produced milk for generations, decided to take matters in to its own hands. Director, Troy Peterken, explains how they started their own label. It’s since built a reputation as a producer of premium milk used in cafes and sold in supermarkets around western Victoria and beyond.

More: https://www.inglenookdairy.com.au/

Do you live in a passive house? More and more people are looking to design a house which is environmentally friendly and which can save them on their energy bills. Well, Talina Edwards and her team at Talina Edwards Architecture have a reputation in designing the healthiest homes and buildings in the country.

More: https://talinaedwards.com.au

When John Harris teamed up with his in-laws, the Mitchells, to start a new wine label, John had already cut his teeth at renowned vintages, Brown Brothers and Domaine Chandon. Today Mitchell Harris Wine Bar - which sells its own wines sourced from the wine-growing regions of western and central Victoria - is one of those places in Ballarat that attracts food connoisseurs far and wide.

More: mitchellharris.com.au

Emma Conroy was understandably anxious those pivotal days in March, when almost overnight her bakery was hit hard by COVID-19. But, by setting up an online store, she was able to turn her business around and start re-employing her staff. In fact, Emma’s Homemade Cakes is even busier than even before the crisis.

More: emmashomemadecakes.com.au

Businesses across Ballarat – like the rest of the country – have felt the full brunt of lockdown restrictions as a result of COVID-19. Although things are starting to open up now, we're still not out of the woods. Ewen Fletcher, Director of Sharp Accounting, encourages small businesses to take advantage of tax incentives and other government measures designed to help businesses through the crisis.

More: https://sharpaccounting.com.au/

Ballarat Business is a new podcast dedicated to those of us doing business in Ballarat. Each fortnight Nicole Ashby chats with business owners and business leaders in our great city.

It's a chance to listen directly from others who have built their own businesses, the hurdles they've faced, and tips and ideas you can implement in your own business.

We all have a story to tell, and we hope the podcast can help motivate and inspire you and your own business, whether you’re a start-up or more established business.