October is Small Business Month! And to celebrate, we’re highlighting some of the great small businesses we have throughout the New England and North Coast. See all the stories here.
Today for Small Business Month, we’re celebrating three very different local businesses that each have a specialist niche: staying fit by dancing, cool rooms on the move, and finance solutions for business.
Dance Fit with Pauline
More than a workout – a community that keeps moving together
Coffs Harbour, NSW
For Pauline Weller, fitness is about far more than exercise. It’s about helping people feel good about themselves, have fun and become part of a positive, supportive community.
Pauline has been working in the fitness industry for more than 15 years, gaining her Zumba® instructor certification in 2011 before going on to add qualifications in areas including Zumba® Toning, Step and Gold, as well as other fitness disciplines. Today, she teaches classes at World Gym Coffs Harbour as well as running her own Dance Fit with Pauline classes.
One of her most special classes is the 11am Monday Zumba® session, where Pauline modifies the choreography to create an all-abilities class. More than 30 people have been turning up each week for the past 14 years, filling the Guide Hall with plenty of energy – and, according to Pauline, giving her goosebumps every time.
Her popular combination classes also bring something different to the workout, incorporating light weighted sticks into Zumba® Toning sessions to add variety and strength work.
Pauline is also qualified in VeraFlow®, a specialised stretch format, and says her class is currently the only one of its kind on the Mid North Coast.
With four children, three grandchildren and a family that has supported her throughout her fitness journey, Pauline clearly loves what she does.
For her, the best part is seeing people turn up, have fun, challenge themselves and leave feeling a little happier than when they arrived.
Chill Mate Hire
Keeping things cool, with local expertise behind the scenes
Guyra, NSW
When you need temporary cold storage, reliability matters. For Guyra-based family business Chill Mate Hire, that reliability comes from more than simply having equipment available — the business has qualified refrigeration and electrical tradespeople behind it.
Locally owned and operated by Brody Hoffman and his family, Chill Mate Hire services Armidale, the wider New England region and beyond, providing mobile coolroom and freezer hire for events, businesses, emergency services and customers who need temporary cold storage.
The business also offers 3.5-tonne car trailer hire, along with delivery and setup of its coolrooms and freezers. For customers with more specialised needs, Chill Mate Hire can also design and build custom coolrooms and freezers.
That combination of hire services and trade expertise is a key part of what sets the business apart. Equipment is maintained and repaired in-house, meaning customers can deal directly with people who understand the machinery and can provide assistance when required.
The team also aims to make hiring as straightforward as possible, offering flexible delivery and setup and 24/7 trailer hire and collection. Equipment is kept clean and well maintained, while customers have the benefit of dealing with a local business rather than a large hire operation.
From keeping the coolrooms running to building something completely customised, Chill Mate Hire is putting practical trade knowledge behind a simple goal: making temporary refrigeration and equipment hire easier for customers across the New England and beyond.
SFE Loans
No-nonsense finance, with a local connection
Maclean, Clarence Valley
When it comes to business finance, Sarah Eifermann believes there’s no substitute for understanding what is really happening inside a business.
Sarah is the founder of SFE Loans, bringing almost 25 years of experience in finance broking, with a particular focus on business finance since 2019. Based in the Clarence Valley since 2021, she works with businesses across a range of industries, with particular experience in trade and medical businesses.
SFE Loans assists with a range of business finance needs, including overdrafts, equipment finance, commercial loans, property finance and SMSF lending.
Sarah describes her approach as “No Bull” – and that directness is something her clients appreciate. With a Bachelor of International Relations and a Diploma of Financial Services, she combines formal qualifications with decades of practical experience helping businesses work through financial challenges.
Her experience includes assisting with finance for projects such as Maclean Radiology and the internal fit-outs for Maclean Medical. Rather than simply looking at the loan a client is asking for, Sarah takes the time to understand the bigger picture and work out what may be the most appropriate pathway.
That practical approach extends into the community. Sarah is currently Vice President of the Maclean District Business Chamber and is an active volunteer, seeing strong local businesses as an important part of a thriving regional economy.
For Sarah, finance is also about relationships and trust. Business owners often need to share sensitive financial information to access the right support, and she believes that should always be handled with discretion and respect.
Based in the Clarence Valley, SFE Loans is helping local businesses navigate finance with experience, straight talking and a distinctly local perspective.
Throughout October, we’ll run stories highlighting the great local businesses we have right here in our communities. This is a free service – the businesses highlighted have not paid for this story.
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