We are proud to celebrate a few milestones achieved by our local businesses this year. Learn more about what the decades have taught them and continue to shape them to serve our community.
The Beginning
My late dad, Bernard, bought this hiring company in 1996 and was excited about the prospect of owning his own business after working in the banking industry for so many years. Dawn, my mom, now retired, joined him after selling her shares in her Home Industry shop that she had run with her sister, Home Sweet Home. Working with family was an easy transition, as we share a passion for hospitality, making this combination a recipe for success.
The Motivation Behind Our Business
My dad wanted his own small business so he could escape the hustle and bustle of the corporate world. He had organised many bowls tournaments and all associated events for many years, so planning and organising events was in his blood.
Core Values
Customer service and excellence have always been the cornerstone of the business. As a family-run business, we’ve always been a place where customers can come to know that they’ll receive advice and care as if they’re part of the family. We have always treated staff and customers as though they were part of the Muirhead family.
Overcoming Challenges
The biggest challenge was the pandemic, but we have an amazing team and incredible customers. We walked the road, did our best to keep our team together, while serving our community.
Memorable Experiences
I remember working with my dad on the opening of Hulamin, where we catered to 500 people a day for both lunch and dinner, over two consecutive weekends. Through the years, we’ve had the honour of being involved in numerous local businesses, government initiatives, and special occasions—from milestone birthdays and weddings to engagement parties, baby showers, and, with respect, funerals. Our customers truly become like family to us, given the depth of our involvement in these moments.
Lessons Learned
In hospitality, you never know when you’re going to get a curveball, so we try to be ahead of our game, ready to face any challenges that come our way. Open communication with staff and customers is the core of it all. If we understand each other, we can get it right!
Staying Ahead in the Ever-Changing Industry
We observe what’s happening around the world because we know our brides will start asking for those items. This means we have to continually invest in new products, the latest colour trends for fabrics and different types of furniture. Sometimes, we’re asked to do things we’ve not done before, so we’re learning all the time.
Timeless Advice for Lasting Success
A business cannot run on its own; it is only with our dedicated team that works together that we can produce the goods for our loyal customers.
The Next Chapter
We are looking forward to growing our draping, lighting, and décor division with on-site setups and floral design. We have found that our customers have less time available to them, and so we need to make planning events as easy as possible! We have some exciting news that we will release soon, so watch this space.