I’m proof that absolutely anyone can start a business! And that you don't have to have all the answers right away...but you do need a great support network. Hey! I'm Shelley Cox, the creative force behind two regional businesses, Workspace Barossa (co-working space) and Makers & Merchants Barossa (a regional retail & e-commerce biz).My journey includes learning on the battlefield pre- & post-Covid, gaining skills in building and nurturing businesses, away from my qualified world of winemaking.I’m a busy mum of three, a passionate netball and active community member.Ok, so business is haaaaard... but I love it & wouldn't have it any other way!A little more to my story...imagine its 2019-2020 and we've started not one, but two regional family businesses, and then bam – Covid hits! The next surprise? You're expecting your third baby! Suddenly, it's all about survival.I don't know how we got throught this insanely tough period - I had a strong vision, a tough work ethic and a commitment to trying my best. And guess what? Not everything worked out. The great thing for you? The lessons from that wild ride are now yours to learn from!Let's turn your business dreams into reality together - I'm so excited and passionate to support your journey, to make it a successful one!

FROM MAY 1st 2024 - LITTLE CITY COWORKINGAs a former winemaker and IT guru who has commuted to work in the city for the past 16years, we love thinking outside the box and providing solutions. We believe that we can do good, nay great things—and be productive in our work from anywhere. And that's how Workspace Barossa was born in July 2019.Here we strive to provide a professional regional office & meeting space; our community is a welcoming space of focus & support for those in business for themselves as satellite offices or regional teams & entrepreneurs. To inspire collaborative business & challenge the way we work.We offer services from hot desking to permanent desks & offices; casual meeting spaces (including workshops); foyer events spaces; and more...Let's chat about how we can help each other succeed.Workspace Barossa acknowledges the Ngadjuri, Peramangk and Kaurna people and their ancestral connection to land and pays respects to Elders past, present and emerging.do good things.

Born in 2020 as an opportunity to create something that would be bigger than the sum of all the parts.I saw a lot of duplication happening, especially with small producers and startups. They create, test, and perfect their products. But then they need to market it, find somewhere to sell, message and deal with customers, learn website skills and social media management. That doesn’t leave much time to improve or update products each season. That’s a lot of either time and resources to invest in your business. I knew we could provide a streamlined solution, while championing the authenticity of each individual brand from our region.Makers and Merchants removed the need for individual business owners to overcome the barriers that prevent them opening an online or brick and mortar store.It very quickly became clear that it was a sustainable model that could support regional growth, especially in areas affected by bushfires, droughts, and COVID-19. Membership includes the cost of the lease and shop fit out, hiring and training staff, skilled store management, content creation and social media marketing, ongoing licensing, website updates, and hosting. Managing and effectively marketing an online ecommerce store takes skills and time, which many creatives don’t have.For some makers, committing to the membership was the first step in realising they were running a business rather than dabbling in a hobby. They no longer had to put off marketing, finance, and administrative tasks until they had time. By taking on the day-to-day marketing and selling so they can focus on making, since its inception, Makers and Merchants has allowed over 35 members the opportunity to scale and diversify their offerings. Since the closure of our retail site, we have placed a hold on our operations, seeking to refine our offering and how we can best help service our regional makers & merchants.