Enterprise: Little Spurs & Co
Social media impact: This rural venture has evolved from being a side project into a six-figure business that now has a nationwide network of stockists.
Vanessa Challacombe started Little Spurs & Co in 2021 as a passion project. Living on the family cattle station north-east of Capella, Queensland with her husband Trent and four children, Vanessa had the idea of creating fashionable but practical clothing suited to people of all ages living on the land.
“Our mission is to challenge the retail industry with our unique blend of functionality and stylish clothing designed here in Australia,” Vanessa says. “Our clothes are designed to work whether you are coming in from a day’s mustering or are heading off to a Beef Week celebration.”
To get Little Spurs off the ground, Vanessa focused on marketing the brand through social media, particularly on Facebook and Instagram. “Social media is a very powerful, cost-effective tool,” she explains. “We love the visual medium, being able to create and share educational, engaging, entertaining and promotional content about how our products help you embrace life on the land and running a business in rural Australia.”
Vanessa’s preference for the visual elements led her to establish Little Spurs’ presence on TikTok also, a platform she has come to love. “TikTok is less polished, allowing more real content you can share and connect with,” she explains. “There are so many other like-minded people.”
Through both organic and paid social media tools, and partnering with influencers, Vanessa has been able to connect with customers and communities not only in Australia but also internationally, all of whom appreciate the brand’s love of rural living and clothes that complement a rugged, adventurous lifestyle.
In just a couple of years, the venture has achieved significant growth, evolving beyond a side project to become a six-figure business that now has a network of stockists nationwide, alongside a dedicated online following Vanessa has nurtured through its social media channels.
The brand has participated in and gained recognition at, various national events, such as winning the commercial exhibitor award at the 2024 Sydney Royal Easter Show, a feature in the Courier Mail during the 2024 Beef Week Australia event. One of the accolades that is most special to Vanessa is being named one of Inside Small Business’s Top 50 Small Business Leaders in 2023. She recalls the moment she learned of being included in the prestigious list, saying, “It was a moment when I was surrounded by other business owners and felt honoured to be acknowledged for all the hours of love and effort that’s gone into building the Little Spurs & Co community, particularly online.”
With the growth and success Little Spurs has achieved, Vanessa feels no need to move the business away from its rural home. “The true beauty of running a business in rural Australia lies in the peace and serenity of my ‘office’ surroundings on the farm,” she shares. “Surrounded by the vast expanse of the outback, I find inspiration in the simplicity and tranquillity of rural life, infusing every aspect of Little Spurs & Co with the essence of the land.”
Throughout her business journey, Vanessa values what she has learnt from experts, partners and customers – insights that have helped not only on the business side but also on a personal level. “I have learnt the ability to accept, appreciate and embrace my competing demands, points of view and problems,” she says. “I embrace a growth mindset and continuously [accept the] challenge of new experiences, to step out of my comfort zone by pushing my boundaries in developing Little Spurs & Co to a worldwide competing business.”
PQ: “I find inspiration in the simplicity and tranquillity of rural life.”
This article first appeared in issue 45 of the Inside Small Business quarterly magazine
