Business booming in Denmark
Denmark has experienced a surge in new business growth in the past year, according to the Denmark Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber business manager Liz Jack said membership had swollen from 350 to more than 400 in the past year and there were 1156 business owners listed with the Australian Taxation Office as of January.
“There is a dominance of sole traders,” she said.
“One could argue that this reflects the attraction of Denmark as a lifestyle choice and the need to create a source of economic flow once living here.”
For Mitle Southey and Simon Rodgers, Denmark was the ideal place location to open their Luscious Organic store and café in December after moving to the town a year ago.
“We had been dreaming about it for a long time and everything just came together here,” Ms Southey said.
In a similar move, Jenna Eliot expanded an online store that stocked hers and sister Natalie’s children’s clothing designs to a store after relocating to the small town six months ago.
Skootz Kidswear opened its doors six weeks ago and Ms Eliot said it had been going really well.
“I have never had a business before so this is totally new for me so fingers crossed, but so far demand has been good,” she said.
Hair and beauty salon Zenphire also opened in February, the first family business for owner Tanya Hadfield and nieces Danika and Kira Dickie.
Ms Hadfield moved to Denmark in September and said the venture had been a success.
“We are really looking forward to seeing how the busy Easter period goes,” she said.
But it is not just new faces setting up shop — residents are also giving it a go.
First-time business owners Kaye Millar and Wendy Bunbury are looking forward to running Denmark’s newest nursery, florist and giftware store when they open Blossoms Denmark tomorrow after 15 and five years living in the town respectively.
Similarly, nine-year resident Colin Sainty opened Col’s Mechanics in September.
“It has been absolutely brilliant — all I have done is put a sign up and the work has been flying in the door,” he said.
Business partners Jane Kelsbie and Ali Osborne have lived in Denmark for four and six years respectively and the women echoed Mr Sainty’s positive sentiments about booming business since opening Nebraska Jones in November.
“It is going so well that we are gearing up to go online by the end of the month and are branching out into festivals,” Ms Kelsbie said.
“Our dream is to represent local producers of products we stock in the wider business market Australia-wide.”
