Marketing guru finds community and connection in small town

With two marketing degrees and a passion for helping small businesses thrive, she's become a vital resource for local entrepreneurs navigating the complex world of digital marketing.

Ms Haylock founded the Creative Marketing Company in 2020, and we sat down with her to find out what she's working on improving and the best advice she's received.

What do you love about living in Narromine?

It's the sense of community, it's the people. It's a really close-knit community of people who support you.

I'm a single mum and I moved out there with my daughter, and I just feel like we have all the services you need, and it's just the people for me. They're really, really kind and nurturing.

What inspires you?

People inspire me. In terms of people, I would say mum and dad. Dad's the hardest worker I know. He's a businessman, and I look up to him in every regard, business-wise, and then my mum is the most caring person, you know, if you need love and support, you go to my mum.

What is your greatest achievement?

Personally my greatest achievement is my daughter, and she just brings a lot of joy and she's a beautiful girl. Professionally, my biggest achievements are finishing my degrees, which was a huge achievement, lecturing at the university in Bathurst was a pretty big win and then starting the Creative Marketing Company.

What do you wish was more widely embraced by Central or Far West women?

I just wish more people would support small businesses. I understand that you can buy things online and I understand that, you know, bigger corporations offer things for cheaper prices, but I just think in general, if you were to support local and buy local and shop local, it would be better for the economy and it would be better for small businesses.

What's something that you're working on improving?

I'm working on improving my consistency, so I have no trouble engaging with people and getting clients. I just need to maintain consistency because, and I'm not blaming my bipolar, but I get bored really easily.

I like the challenge of securing a client. I just need to be nice and consistent with my communication and the ongoing process.

What's the best advice you've received?

The best advice I've ever received is 'stay in your lane' because I think if you can become amazing at one thing, people will know you for that one thing and they'll gravitate towards you because you're the expert in your field.

I used to have my hands in every pie, I was working at the TAFE, I was working at a cafe, I was trying to start the Creative Marketing Company and it wouldn't take off. I was holding myself back because I wouldn't just put all the eggs in one basket.

Best business - My favourite business in Dubbo is Touchwood Creatives. If you need photography, videography, he's your man. My favourite cafe is the Deaf Chef, and my favourite boutique is Jade Boutique.

Best place to eat - The Deaf Chef has the best coffee. I'm not sure where the best place to eat is, I'm normally a coffee girl.

Best event to attend - I'm going to say the Dolly Parton Festival in Narromine - get among it. It's really fun, very, very well organised and well run and it's just fun.

Hidden gem - I just think the whole narrow strip of shops is a hidden gem because we're 37 kilometres west of Dubbo, and we don't get visitation that I think we deserve, so the whole town is a bit of a hidden gem.