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WOMEN IN BUSINESS
SARAH
SANDERS THE PROVE DOR ES
with CATH FOWLER
F R O M T H E D I G I TA L L A N E W AY
C
an you tell us a little bit about your business? The Provedores turn five in October, so it’s still our baby! We started with three founding staff: Ron Walker, Paul Sanders and me. Since then we’ve grown the business to over two sites and a hundred employees now. As an all Australian, family run and operated business, we’re a wholesale food distributor that caters to the needs of various sectors; Cafes, Restaurants, Schools, Clubs, Pubs, Hotels, Motels, Nursing Homes, Service Stations, Tourist Parks. Servicing areas from the Central Coast to Kingscliff and out west to Armidale. What’s your favourite part of the work you do? Going to work to see what challenges that day will bring! I hate doing the same thing, so once it feels like groundhog day, I look for new things to do. My highlight of my day is always walking in and seeing the staff. They are like family. I always say they are like having more children. Who is your greatest influence in business? Hands down my parents! I was an only child and I always looked up to them. They
were hard workers and gave anything and everything a go. I saw them go through the ups and downs of business ownership, but they never gave up. I was lucky growing up I was allowed free rein at their workplaces so I was instilled with a good work ethic. Have you always lived on the Coffs Coast? I moved here when I was ten years old because my parents bought businesses in the area. After uni, I did a stint in Sydney before returning to Coffs Harbour with children in tow, to give them the privilege of growing up on the coast. Even when I was away, I’ve always called Coffs home. We love the outdoors and spend our weekends discovering new tracks and swimming places. The accessibility for quick trips is a big tick for us. So after a big week at work we can hook up the caravan and have mini breaks. The people and community also make living here feel special. I love that I can go out and always see someone I know, whether it’s a customer, someone I went to school with or another friendly business owner. I love shopping locally and that country town feel. Shop owners know your name and remember what you like before you do! I love that local businesses support each other.
Especially Covid has shown that when times are hard, we all truly care how each of us are faring. What piece of advice would you give women making their way in the business world? • You can’t do everything. I’m a control freak, yes I’ve admitted it in print! But you can’t run the perfect family, house, business and life by yourself. Have a great support network and be organised. My husband is my number one supporter. I’m very lucky, ladies, that he cooks every night. We also have a great business partner (Ron) and together we’ve identified our strengths and weaknesses and work to these. • Embrace change. If you don’t, you won’t survive. Covid has been a great reminder of this! • Remember why you went into business. For me it was foremost flexibility. Having four children and working full time, I love being able to leave work when I need to be there for them. I also love watching my kids’ independence grow because of us having a hectic life. • Never stop listening to other people in business. Learn from their successes and mistakes. Surround yourself with people who you can always bounce ideas off. COFFS COAST
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