By
Jenny Dikranian
Content Writer, My Business
Since their humble beginnings in 2014, Tanja Lagoon Camp has established a reputation for excellence in providing luxury safari tent accommodation – ‘glamping’. However, in a period of around three months, they faced not one – but two, one-in-a-100-year disasters. The 2019-20 Black Summer Fires followed immediately by the global pandemic.
Although Tanja Lagoon Camp was fortunate to escape direct destruction from the bushfires, they took a flow-on hit. The natural disaster had a startling impact to tourism for the far south coast region of NSW where they are located. And by mid-March with the pandemic at its peak in Australia, like many tourism businesses they were forced to shut their doors and stop taking bookings until further notice. With no option but to take a break, General Manager and co-owner Lorraine ‘Loz’ Hunt had two choices – give up or seek support. For Loz, giving up was not even a consideration.
An entrepreneur’s mindset
Loz discovered the Strengthening Business service via the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme. She was appointed a strengthening business facilitator, Paul Coker, who provided a vast range of assistance to the business, from strategy to systems and procedures. Paul explains, “I provided a roadmap, strategic and business planning guidance and support, assistance identifying and securing finance (Bushfire Recovery Loan), helped clarify target markets and customer profiling, assisted to develop a new costing and pricing model and connected them with energy and waste audits.”
With all the ground work in place, a financial injection from a series of low interest disaster loans and business grants, Loz has been able to expand the business. Two new cabins have been added allowing capacity to be increased by 50%. A separate communal facility which doubles up as a bushfire refuge is nearing completion and given the growth, a new staff member has been appointed to manage the workload.
Accessing business mentoring support through the Strengthening Business service was invaluable in helping us build resilience and sustainability into what we do
Loz also tapped into community resources to boost her business recovery. “There was plenty of support available … I took free courses with the Bega Valley Innovation Hub, signed up for business mentoring, and applied for the small business grants,” she said.
Are you looking for practical support to drive business growth?
The Entrepreneurs’ Programme delivers advice and grants to enable high-potential businesses and businesses impacted by the summer bushfires to strengthen, grow, innovate and
commercialise nationally and globally.
Conserving sustainability
Surrounded by Mimosa Rocks National Park, Tanja Lagoon Camp is nestled in a vibrant ecological habitat. Preserving the environment and advocating responsible tourism is a core business value. With this ethos and the desire to enhance the natural ecosystem, additional landscaping with minimal impact has been deployed.
Energy and waste audits have also been conducted. The energy analysis has confirmed the operation can increase the solar power being produced and also store it on site rather than relying on the grid. A smart way to reduce its carbon footprint.
By building on their resilience and implementing sustainable solutions, the future looks promising for Tanja Lagoon Camp. Bookings are strong and with increased capacity, improved and additional facilities, the business is in a better position than ever before. So what’s next for Tanja Lagoon Camp - they are nudging their way to becoming a B Corp certified business.
Jenny Dikranian
Content Writer, My Business
Jenny Dikranian is a content writer passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation in inspiring business success.
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