Transcript
Despina Karatzias 0:00
Hello I am here at Point of Sale with the beautiful Sharon Radon, from Boat Harbour Jetty in Port Albert. Tell me a little bit about Port Albert and your beautiful business, Sharon.
Sharon Radon 0:12
Port Albert is the gorgeous little gem in Gippsland. We are a little fishing village, it’s actually the oldest port in Gippsland. And it’s had a wonderful history that really rich, it’s been really popular during the gold mining era. It’s also been a very popular fishing port with sharp boats at one state, we had a fleet of 15 boats that were there. At the moment, it’s a really quiet little hamlet, and what’s perfect about it is more about what we don’t have. And by that, it’s the best place to get away, relax and forget about everything outside lifestyle, beautiful nature, gotta go to sort of pull port walk around, were part of the Ramsar site, which is his important wetland for migratory birds that come in. So there’s a lot of great things, little hidden secret, to go and discover.
Despina Karatzias 1:10
Sounds like a perfect hidden gem. And what I love about what you are phase is the sanctuary is like adult only experience. But to stay with you.
Sharon Radon 1:21
We do we have three fully private studios. So we have what we like to call the modern big belly. And so you can come and stay, you get all the little comfort some pampering and knowing that there’s someone around if you need it, but it’s also fully private. So you have your own studio with an open plan for the for dining. There’s a 54 inch Smart TV on the wall, got a beautiful oversized bathroom, everything is modern and have views every room about how to have a view. Oh, wow.
Despina Karatzias 1:54
Sounds magic. Now we’ve been on a journey together, we met a few years back now just pre, you know, pre-the funky time that we’ve had. And just tell me starting with and looking at your digital footprint from where you started. And you’ve had now been involved in a couple of our programmes through tourism tribe, both tourism tribe and Navii. How has it been seeing your business progress through having these incremental Digital Engagement Health Checks (TM).
Sharon Radon 2:30
are absolutely fantastic. As a new business coming into it with no experience at all, and not knowing what to do, there’s so much information out there, not knowing who to go to and kind of having that feeling. It’s all too much. I don’t know what to do. Being able to take part in these courses where you’re nurtured. And you’re given the information that’s actually specific for you to help you learn and develop and grow has been absolutely wonderful. We’ve really found that it’s enabled us to get them on the right track, to target ourselves where we need to, and everything workable. That been the main part that I’ve taken out of it. It’s all doable.
Despina Karatzias 3:12
love, and it’s all doable. And working together. Thank you to Wellington Shire and East East Gippsland for this collaboration, this particular digital program, how are you feeling after actually working together one on one
Sharon Radon 3:27
today, as soon as I heard about this program that enabled the one on one I jumped on it because a lot of things that is really great to learn, and good to do. Virtual but there’s some quick things that you really need someone to sit next to you and just give you that little bit of guidance and actually show you how it’s done. And it’s been a great experience. I’ve taken away so much. I’m really excited.
Despina Karatzias 3:50
Oh, you see behind us. We’ve got the two Macs here and we just got into the background and makes and get got to work. I’ve just enjoy. I’ve enjoyed watching your growth. Sharon it’s been it’s given me great pride to see you not only achieved great things for your business, but for this gorgeous town. I think you’re just such a great ambassador and advocate for everything that visitor economy is. So I congratulate you on that. Thank you. I want to also just what advice you would give you a busy and you always show up and you sign up and you take advantage of all these opportunities that whether it’s a local Shire Council or the tourism, you know, Victorian Tourism Industry Council, what would you say to other businesses that just see these opportunities, but there’s, I don’t have the time.
Sharon Radon 4:48
Make the time because at the end of the day, by making the time you’re going to learn these little tricks and you actually be saving time because you’re going to learn the answer and learn the smart way to do that. It’s not always about working harder. Sometimes it’s working smarter. You make a little bit of time to learn the thing, create the network, the people that can help you, you get the ideas and you learn how to manage your time and do think better.
Despina Karatzias 5:16
You’re amazing. And going back you remember in when we first met just getting getting to getting you accredited. Yeah, you’re now being a finalist, you just epitomise excellence in our industry. And I wish you all the best of the Victorian tourism awards.
Sharon Radon 5:34
Thank you so much. Doing bootcamp to get my Victorian tourism industry accreditation and I’ve pretty much been following her around where to go and whenever she’s doing a course I’m like, Yes, I’m in. Oh,
Despina Karatzias 5:47
ditto, thanks guys.
