Small businesses aren’t all the same. They’re solo operators working from home, family-run shops on main streets, early-stage tech teams, and construction crews keeping local communities moving.

In Victoria, they make up 98% of all businesses.

Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day will be Saturday 27 June 2026. It’s a day to remind us that behind that statistic is a business owner.

Business owners across Victoria bring unique and interesting ideas to life. We spoke to three Victorian businesses putting this into action.

Julia, Dummy Fairies Australia

After stepping away from life as a marriage celebrant, Julia knew her next move had to be fun, creative and genuinely meaningful.

That instinct became the foundation of Dummy Fairies Australia, a uniquely magical business that solves a very real parenting challenge.

Inspired by a suggestion from her sister-in-law and her own parenting experience, she realised there was an opportunity for someone to step into the role of a real-life ‘Dummy Fairy’. The idea was to create a friendly, reassuring presence to help little ones move on from their dummies.

Julia had seen how exciting it was for a child to have a fairy appear on their doorstep, and the concept that she would take those dummies and ‘give them to new little babies who need them’ was easy for the kids to understand. She said this was a recipe for success as it took the onus off the parents.

Her business approach focuses on emotional value: creating comfort for parents and excitement for children during what can be a very tricky stage in a parenting journey.

Expanding beyond word-of-mouth, Julia has built momentum through storytelling sessions in bookstores and libraries, while she grows her social media presence. Advertising trials through parenting blogs have also helped to build up her profile within the local community.

Her advice to others is simple but powerful: ‘go for it and trust your instincts. If you feel a buzz, you know you're onto a good thing.’

Tommy, Coffee Rider & Co

What happens when you take 15 years of coffee experience on a bike ride?

You get Coffee Rider & Co, a Melbourne-based micro business powered by resilience, passion and a commitment to exceptional service.

Tommy has lived and breathed the coffee industry for years, from barista and roaster to account manager and machine technician.

When he was approached to create a coffee bike (Melbourne's first) for a branded coffee stall, it felt like the perfect next step. After designing, building and buying all the equipment, the brand pulled out at the last-minute leaving Tommy with 2 coffee bikes and no plan.

Rather than letting the opportunity slip away, Tommy’s entrepreneurial spirit took over transforming the setback into, a classic case of ‘turning lemons into lemonade’.

As Tommy puts it, he ‘began promoting the bikes as a unique offering of premium coffee carts, different to anything in the market.’

Growth has been driven by strong relationships and an unwavering focus on service. The team prides itself on providing a 5-star customer service and creating a welcoming experience from first contact to final cup.

At its heart, Coffee Rider & Co is about connection, with Tommys noting ‘coffee is a community connector’. Word of mouth remains the biggest driver, with clients returning year after year and recommending the team to others.

Coffee Rider and Co’s advice is simple: ‘be yourself and take care of the details because providing genuine care and authenticity goes a long way. It can be as simple as remembering someone’s preferences to ensuring your suppliers are high quality.’

Tayla and Kaye, Mooey Gooey Slimes

What began as a tub of goo at a primary school fair has now grown into one of Victoria’s squishiest micro businesses.

Run by mother and daughter duo Kaye and Tayla, Mooey Gooey Slimes was established in 2019 at just 12 years old, alongside her mum.

‘It is just the 2 of us and running a business as, mother-daughter makes everything so much more fun,’ says Tayla.

Initially intended as a learning exercise, the experience instead ‘sparked a passion that continued to grow,’ leading to rapid online expansion during the pandemic and the opening of a physical store in Geelong.

Kaye and Tayla identified a gap in the Australian market for high-quality, creative slimes,’ giving them a clear point of difference for those looking for locally made products.

Growth has been driven by innovation and a genuine focus on customer experience. By ‘staying creative and connected’ and even ‘allowing customers to design their own slime,’ the business has built engagement and loyalty.

But what truly sets the business apart is the emotional impact. Many customers share that the textures and scents help them manage stress and anxiety, offering a calming, tactile moment in their day.

Their advice reflects their journey: ‘start small, build a community and stay adaptable’, a formula that turns simple ideas into lasting success. It’s a formula that has carried them from a single market stall to a loyal following and a physical store.