October is Small Business Month! And to celebrate, we’re highlighting some of the great small businesses we have throughout the region.
Today we have three businesses built on vision and care – from designs that tell a story, to clothing made with purpose, to lending solutions that help turn dreams into plans.
Ashleigh Rote Designs
Creative design and branding for local businesses
30 Kentucky St. Armidale, NSW 2350
For almost a decade, Ashleigh Rote Designs has been helping businesses across the New England region and beyond bring their ideas to life through thoughtful, practical design. From start-ups and farmers to cafés, manufacturers and healthcare providers, Ashleigh’s work has shaped some of the region’s most recognisable brands – including Health on Rusden, The Cottage Restaurant, Kai’s Café, Complete Conveyancing, Balala Butcher Box and New England Diesel and Hydraulics.
After studying at UNSW and working in design leadership roles in Sydney, Ashleigh returned to Armidale to build a career centred on creativity and community. With a Bachelor of Design and a deep understanding of how visual identity works in the real world, she helps businesses refine their look, create functional brand assets, and communicate their value clearly – whether it’s through a new logo, packaging, signage or event materials.
Clients choose Ashleigh Rote Designs for her honesty, practical advice and genuine investment in their success. Many who start with a single project continue to collaborate for years, trusting her eye for detail and commitment to designs that not only look great but work wherever they’re seen.
The Organic Tshirt
Family-run sustainable fashion made locally in Glen Innes
2/150 Ferguson St. Glen Innes, NSW 2370
The Organic Tshirt is a family-run business based in Glen Innes, NSW, leading the way in ethical, sustainable fashion. Founded by Sandro and Stefania in 2011, the business was created to bring fashion manufacturing back to Australia and challenge the wasteful culture of mass production.
Specialising in small-batch, on-demand clothing, The Organic Tshirt ensures that every item is made with care, reducing waste and promoting responsible consumption. Their approach to slow fashion prioritises quality over quantity, and considers every link in the supply chain — from the people who make the clothes to the environment that sustains us all.
By supporting local manufacturing, The Organic Tshirt helps keep money within Australia while reducing the carbon footprint associated with overseas production. Customers who choose their products are making a conscious decision to support ethical practices and a more sustainable future.
Through their commitment to innovation and education, Sandro and Stefania are helping Australians make better fashion choices, proving that style, sustainability and social responsibility can go hand in hand. The Organic Tshirt stands as a proud example of how small, local businesses can make a big impact on the planet and the fashion industry alike.
Thunderbolt Lending
Regional lending solutions with heart and understanding
307 Peel St. Tamworth, NSW 2340
At Thunderbolt Lending, Reggie and her team help people across Australia turn their financial goals into reality. Whether it’s buying your first home, expanding your farm, or investing in property, they bring clarity, experience and care to every stage of the lending process. With a background as a Certified Financial Planner, Reggie understands how loans fit into the bigger picture – helping clients structure lending to support the life they want to live.
Proudly regional and fully remote, Thunderbolt Lending works with clients anywhere, anytime. Reggie knows what drives people in country communities because she’s one of them – balancing work, family, and everything in between. Her approach is practical, approachable and free of judgment, shaped by real-life experience and a genuine desire to help people move forward.
What sets Thunderbolt Lending apart is their focus on education and collaboration. Reggie works closely with each client’s financial team – from accountants to planners and insurance specialists – to ensure a complete, well-rounded solution. Backed by experience and guided by heart, Thunderbolt Lending is proof that regional expertise and compassion go hand in hand.
Throughout October, we’ll run stories highlighting the great local businesses we have right here in our communities. This is a free service – the businesses highlighted have not paid for this story.
Want to highlight your business? Just fill in this form – places are limited.
Please share this story to help support New England businesses! See all our Small Business Month profiles here.