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The Diamond Mine Episode 4

David Fuller with Michelle Davidson

This week on The Diamond Mine, David is joined by Michelle Davidson.

Michelle Davidson is the owner of Forrest Guesthouse, a peaceful retreat in the Otway Ranges, South West of Melbourne, Australia. A perfect base for hiking, biking and all things delicious.

Key Takeaways:

  • Been in business for less than a year
  • After 14 years in a law firm
  • Attracted to the area because of the mountain bike trails
  • Made a decision to buy in 24 hours
  • Not normally a fast decision maker, but it felt right
  • Forrest is in the Otway Ranges
  • Temperate Rainforest
  • Just near Great Ocean Road
  • No experience in running a agues house
  • Practised on friends and family for 4 weeks
  • First time trying to make a bed took 40 minutes
  • Beds use the 3 sheet system - who knew?!
  • Down to 6 minutes now - practise makes perfect
  • Had to develop a website form scratch, rebranded
  • Started using social media a lot
  • Blessed for images
  • Strategy for social: does stuff she enjoys and photographs and shares it
  • Loves the area, loves to share it
  • Local Platypus colony - tours via kayak
  • Waterfall galore - over 50 within 2 hours
  • Forest of California Redwoods
  • Hire mountain bikes
  • High ropes courses
  • 1/2 hour from the beach
  • Foodie trails
  • Great coffee and hot chocolate
  • Micro brewery - loves to experiment
  • Challenge 1: fires - kept lines of communication open, used a fair refund policy
  • Challenge 2: COVID-19 - lost all forward bookings
  • Opening again on June 4th.
  • 4 Suites including 2 family suites
  • Lucky husbands business was busy, her business had no income - lesson in having diversity in income
  • Community is really important!
  • Community bands together in times of crisis
  • It’s about presenting the local town as a community offering - not competition.
  • Fun place to stay
  • Focused on experiences
  • Take the social media followers on the journey with you
  • Yet to live stream the mountain bike experience - literally take people o the ride!
  • Crisis has given rise to an understanding that longevity requires less booking, but will allow her to enjoy the business more and do it longer
  • Looking to become mountain bike instructor (international)
  • Take people on that journey
  • Drop bears… just sayin'
  • The Otways Black Panther (Google it!)

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If you like this episode of The Diamond Mine podcast, please don't forget to like, share, comment, and give us your ratings on iTunes and Apple Podcasts. We appreciate your support and feedback!

Podcast Channels:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-diamond-mine/id1511127585
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pG3a1Leraj9pud1BvvxA9
Google: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xZWFhZDU0OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw%3D%3D

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