Small Town Business with Erika McInerney
Want practical marketing strategies, real-world business lessons and honest conversations from people building successful businesses in small towns?
You’re in the right place.
Small Town Business shines a light on the people building big things in small places and pulls out the practical insights you can actually use in your own business.
Each week, I bring you conversations with business owners, regional leaders and everyday operators growing dream businesses surrounded by community. And sometimes, it’s just me - Erika from Mac&Ernie - sharing honest thoughts, practical strategies, what I’m seeing work right now and what's going to work into the future.
I’m a marketing specialist and customer experience strategist with 30 years working with businesses who want growth that feels sustainable, not stressful.
I'm focused on regional, suburban and small town businesses because, outside the big cities, things work differently. Relationships matter. Reputation matters. Community matters.
Small Town Business is about marketing, customer experience and driving sales in a way that feels authentic and not pushy. Strategic but not overwhelming.
If you’re building a business in a small town (or thinking about it), this is your space.
If you want help building your business, head to www.macandernie.com.au/contact and tell me what you need - I'm here to help.
Small Town Business with Erika McInerney
Andy on ‘Resilience’
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Andy McCarthy is an entrepreneur, best known for building a renewable energy business from a tiny town called Mirboo North in South Gippsland Victoria. He later sold his company ‘Gippsland Solar’ to the RACV but he hasn’t lost his passion for renewables.
Andy now delivers keynote speeches, leadership training and workshops, and advises businesses, government and regulators on policy, strategy and authentic leadership.
He also recently published a memoir called ‘Here Comes the Sun’. He’s a husband, a father of a handful of very energetic boys and alongside all of that, he’s an active member of his local community.
Despite that list it’s that last point that we focus on in this episode.
In early 2024, Andy’s home town was rocked by a freak and incredibly destructive storm. What the town did next has been fascinating to watch and I think a lot of small towns can learn from their experience.
If you’d like to find out more about Andy, you can grab his book here or find him on LinkedIn.
Also mentioned in this episode was The Mirboo North and District Community Foundation, The Gippsland Community Leadership Program, TAFE Gippsland, South Gippsland Shire Council, Sikh Volunteers Australia, Mirboo North Op Shop,
Join the Small Town Business conversation on Instagram or Facebook or visit online where you can get in touch.
The Small Town Business Podcast was recorded on the lands of the GunaiKurnai and I wish to pay my respects to their Elders; past and present.
Audio production by Laura at Podcast Support Services.