Michelle Rossiter is reluctant to call herself an entrepreneur but when you look back at her business journey, she has a knack of seeing a gap, filling it and doing so with great success. 

Michelle left school at 15 to become an apprentice hairdresser. At 21, she set out to travel around Australia, practicing her hairdressing skills along the way. It wasn’t until the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001, that Michelle felt a strong desire to return home and be near family. She soon relocated to Tumut, where her sister was living. It was in Tumut that Michelle's entrepreneurial spirit was sparked.

Recognising a lack of eateries in their hometown, Michelle took the initiative to establish a cafe of her own. She successfully launched The Coach House. Although the cafe has changed ownership over time, it continues to flourish.

Not stopping there, Michelle ventured into additional entrepreneurial pursuits, founding another cafe and operating a mobile coffee and pancake van. However, wanting a job that was less labour-intensive, Michelle decided to pursue her passion for outdoor riding. This led to opening Ground Up in 2017.

Ground Up stock a full range of bikes that cater to all needs, from seasoned professionals to beginners. The business outgrew its first store, and is now the largest bike store in the NSW Snowy Valleys region.

In this episode, recorded amongst the bikes at Ground Up, Michelle shares her business journey along with the challenges of running a retail business, the importance of a strong online presence,  and the impact of the pandemic on the bike industry. The mum of three also talks about balancing work and family commitments.

This episode is part of our special rural NSW podcast van tour. It was an absolute delight to meet these women in person and explore the place they live, work and drive change.

ABOUT OAK MAGAZINE

This episode was hosted by Kimberley Furness, founder + editor of OAK Magazine. We are a proudly independent media publisher dedicated to sharing stories and amplifying voices of female change makers and women in business in regional and rural Australia. OAK is an award winning community ecosystem of print, digital, audio and events. We have demonstrated outstanding quality, innovation and impact through our print magazine, podcasts and audio version of OAK Magazine. OAK is where you will find in-depth chats and courageous conversations with women in business from regional and rural Australia.

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For more inspiring stories, visit OAK Magazine website. Hosted by Kimberley Furness, Founder + Editor, OAK Magazine.