Margaret River Brewery Tours awarded region's best start up

The ebullient tour operator and owner of Margaret River Brewery Tours is celebrating a win at last weekend’s 2016 South West Small Business Awards, where Mr Lelah received the award for the region’s Start Up Business 2016, and said the biggest risk was having faith in his idea.

“I had no prior tour operating background, having spent the last decade splitting years between working and surfing, 6 months at work and 6 months away,” Mr Lelah said.

“I had this idea to be the first tour operator working exclusively with breweries in the region, and I still believe there is lots of room for other original ideas out there.” 

Mr Lelah flew to South Australia to purchase a “too good to be true” tour van, and subsequently spent the next two weeks limping back to Margaret River with a cracked engine head. 

“It took me four days to travel the last 580km from Ravensthorpe to Margaret River.

“I was stranded for two days and then could drive 20km before the van overheated, wait, fill it with water and drive off again.”

Upon his return he discovered the van had far more problems than first encountered, and after starting from scratch and rebuilding, the new business was ready to launch.

Despite his successes and the recent award, Mr Lelah said he continued to work a “day job” when tour bookings were light.

“My record is 55 days straight, working without a break, and I recently worked 27 days in a row.

"It’s a good problem to have, but to get a small business off the ground you have to be prepared to give it a hundred percent.

“Don't worry if you have no money, I still don't. Just borrow some from the bank.”

Mr Lelah said his advice to new business owners was simple: “If you have an idea, give it a try. Buy heaps of rice and chamomile tea. You will need the rice to eat and the tea to sleep, because you will be broke and stressed.

“But the best waves in life are the ones you never thought you would make.”