Running a business in a time of bushfires and a pandemic is tough but Louise Lugg, the owner of Goddess Health and Wellness Day Spa, sees positivity in all things she faces.
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The Burrill Lake business owner saw the bushfires as a way to support the emergency response teams and help people who had lost their homes in the fire.
Louise then took on COVID-19 with her normal enthusiasm and also had time to be a voice of comfort during the tough weeks of lockdown.
It's easy to see why Louise and the team from Goddess Health and Wellness Day Spa are in the running to win several business awards.
The Illawarra Business Chamber recently announced the finalists for the 2020 IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards with Louise in line for Health and Beauty and Inspiring Business sections.
Louise and her business were also nominated again for AusMumpreneur Awards.
She won the NSW Business Excellence award at the AusMumpreneur Awards ceremony last year.
She is awaiting announcement in regard to the 2020 AusMumpreneur Awards.
Louise remembers being amazed she won the national award last year because the calibre of the entries "was amazing".
The AusMumpreneur Awards celebrate and acknowledge the outstanding achievements of Australian mums in small businesses.
This year, the luxury spa is up for several awards including making a difference in health and wellness.
The Burrill Lake-based business owner thinks her experience could inspire others.
"I have been in business for about 30 years and I could write a book on how not to run your business and send it back in time to myself," she said.
"I love teaching and inspiring others on what not to do and also on how to run a really successful business."
It was hard to run a business this year with the coronavirus pandemic and bushfire crisis.
She came up with a way to survive those tough times and foremost to that was was staying positive.
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During the COVID-19 lockdown earlier this year, the luxury spa was shut for nine weeks.
"I was grateful for the nine weeks and it was a gift of time," she said.
"This place [the spa] needed to be ripped apart after 15-years and painted.
"I bought new furniture and I used every moment of time to refresh, restock and the whole time I was also doing live feeds on Facebook and doing heaps of demonstrations."
The online retail side of the business was also busy.
Louise and her team also tried to stay in contact with their community.
One young mother reached out to Louise during lockdown.
"We talked for more than an hour - she cried a lot and was not doing well," she said.
The mother-of-two called Louise for support rather than calling Lifeline.
Louise said the underpinning reason why her business is successful is they care about people.
"We do get to make a difference to people's days," she said - adding helping people is much better than winning awards.
The luxury spa often gets heartfelt feedback from its clients.
"To be honest, I don't really need a pat on the back," she said.
However, Louise added being part of such prestigious events, like business awards, was smart business practice.
"I feel really proud of us and proud of our community. I am a big community-minded person," she said.
During the bushfire crisis, the Goddess Health and Wellness Day Spa team made up gift packages for the firefighters and people who had lost their homes.
Louise said many other business owners and community members did some wonderful things during the bushfire crisis.
Goddess Health and Wellness Day Spa is a place that does have a heart but its team needs to make a living.
"Good management is crucial," Louise said, to explain how to be successful in business.
"You have to run a healthy business and I had to learn how to become a good businesswoman."
The 2020 IMB Bank Illawarra Business Awards black-tie gala ceremony will be held on Friday, October 16 at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
