A Sunshine Coast distillery has grown from humble beginnings at the Eumundi Markets into a national success story, with products now stocked in the Qantas Brisbane Business Lounge.
The business behind Montville Dry Gin began after Twelve and a Half Acres Gin founder Andrew Lancaster’s 35-year military career. The distillery was built from the ground up on his hinterland property.
“You can spend a lot of time developing a product, but until you put it in front of people, you don’t really know how it will land,” Andrew says.
“The markets give you that immediate feedback. You see what people respond to, you adjust and you keep improving.”
As Queensland prepares for Small Business Month this month, Experience Eumundi is highlighting the critical role the popular Eumundi Markets play in launching and growing small businesses.
New research confirms their status as one of the region’s most significant business incubators. The independent research shows the markets are not only a major tourism drawcard, but also a critical platform for micro and small businesses, offering regular access to high foot traffic, immediate customer feedback and the ability to scale over time.
It also highlights the broader economic role of the markets in generating $54 million in annual visitor expenditure, attracting about 1.2 million visitors each year and supporting more than 1000 jobs.
Experience Eumundi general manager Mark Cameron says the markets have long provided a pathway for emerging businesses to move from concept to customer.
