“When opportunity knocks

Don’t let fear hold you back.”

Have you ever felt like you were at that point in your life where you wanted more? Sure, life is great…but…maybe it feels like you’re ready for change? But change is scary. Change means taking risks. It means learning new things and trying something new. It means we have to bet on ourselves and face the possibility of failure.

But here’s the clanger. We must make a choice to take a chance, or our lives will never change. (Bam! Mic drop moment!)

It really is that simple. We can’t let fear dictate our lives or else we’d never achieve anything! What is it they say? When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Or, when opportunity knocks, open the door. I guess they really mean the same thing. When we embrace new opportunities, it really can be life-changing.

Welcome to The Bigger Picture; a blog that is all about building NETWORK and CONNECTION. Each month, I feature a woman in small business within my community with the sole purpose of showing support, building solidarity and sharing stories of passion.

I am so fortunate to be surrounded by incredible small businesses in the South West run by mums in their spare rooms or out in their gardens and they each have a unique story to be told; a BIGGER PICTURE to be discovered.

I’m actually quite jealous of our feature for this month because she has done what I have secretly wanted to do all my life! My sister and I have always shared a dream of one day, owning a cosy shop; her side would include a kitchen where she could bake whatever she felt like on the day, no menus allowed, just delicious home cooking. And my side would be walls lined with book shelves, art displayed and cosy couches for snuggling up to read and eat said, delicious treats. Hey, we grew up in the 90’s, where hanging around in coffee shops with friends was all the rage! Ah, the dream of owning your own shop where you could surround yourself with things you love and share it with others!

My feature for September is a local woman who has done just this – she took an opportunity and ran with it! Mum of two beautiful girls, talented teacher and lover of literacy and the written word, I’m very pleased to introduce you to the new owner of a beloved local establishment…

Sarah Carter

Ironbird Bookshop

Tell us about your business and what services you offer.

Ironbird Bookshop is a cosy, independent bookstore in Port Fairy dedicated to celebrating the joy of reading. We curate a thoughtful selection of books for all ages and interests — from children’s picture books and YA favourites to literary fiction, non-fiction, and beautiful coffee table titles.

Alongside all this we offer special orders for those hard-to-find titles and will always try our best to source what you are after. Gift vouchers and complimentary bookmarks with every purchase, themed community events such as book week, and our newest one “blind date with a book!”.

Our goal is to be more than just a bookshop — we want Ironbird to be a community hub where stories are shared, imaginations are sparked, and everyone feels at home. A place where when you leave you feel a little lighter. This is my calm, and I want it to be your calm too.

Is there a story behind the name you chose?

I chose to keep the original name, Ironbird Bookshop, as a way of honouring the previous owners. They built and nurtured such a well-loved space in our community, and I wanted them to remain part of this new chapter. For me, it was non-negotiable — I never once considered changing it. Keeping the name felt like the right way to acknowledge their contribution while carrying their legacy forward.

Where does your inspiration come from?

I’ve always loved getting lost in books — the kind of escape that nothing else can quite match. Reading can teach us, heal us, and offer far more than a screen ever could. There’s something magical about finishing a story and feeling compelled to keep exploring it — researching the facts, learning new words, and discovering something I didn’t know before.

A lot of my inspiration comes from this pure love of reading. I have a deep passion for encouraging children to immerse themselves in stories that let their imaginations run wild. We are all grown up for so long — and often far too quickly — so it’s important to nurture that precious time when children can lose themselves in words and pictures, inventing worlds of their own. I want to help them hold onto that magic for as long as possible.

What is your favourite part of your job

I love talking with, listening to, and meeting everyone who walks through the door. Every day, I’m learning so much from connecting with so many like-minded people who share a love of reading.

One of my favourite moments is arriving early, making a cup of tea, and soaking in the calm and peace of being surrounded by books before the day begins. I also adore unpacking new stock — although my to be read list is growing at the speed of light! If only there were more hours in the day to read.

I especially love seeing little people happily colouring at the kids’ table and enjoying the space I’ve created for them. Truthfully, I love it all — every part of this journey brings me joy.

What do you offer your clients that no one else does?

I like to think we offer something more than just books — we offer a space for our community to pause, reconnect, and ground themselves simply by being surrounded by stories. It’s a place where you can wander without feeling rushed, where there’s no pressure to buy anything — sometimes we just need to pick up a book, breathe in the pages, and leave feeling a little lighter.

We offer friendly, honest service and genuine conversations. I certainly don’t pretend to know it all — there have been many times when a customer has left and I’ve thought, “They’re more qualified for this job than I am!” But I love that we can learn from each other. Whether you’re here to find your next favourite read or simply to touch the spines and take in the calm, this is your space as much as it is mine.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt since starting your business?

I’m learning to take my time. I often worry I’m rolling out my ideas too slowly, but I’m realising that slow and steady is okay — it allows me to be thoughtful and intentional. I’m also learning the importance of not carrying every stress home to my girls. Balancing motherhood with running a business is a juggling act, and I certainly don’t pretend to have it all together. The laundry might pile up and the to-do list might stay half-ticked, but my girls will always come first, and everything else can wait.

I’m learning to trust myself. Self-doubt is the biggest killer of dreams, so when it creeps in, I lean on the people who lift me back up.

My advice to anyone thinking of starting a small business is to do your research and take your time before jumping in. Don’t rush the decision. For me, it took more than six months from my first conversation with the previous owners to the day I got the keys. I was knocked back more than once, and being a single mum added a few extra hurdles. But I didn’t give up — even when it looked unlikely, I kept telling my mum, “It still feels right.” Starting this business has been my leap of faith, and so far, that leap has turned out even better than I could have imagined.

I really love how Sarah talks about chasing her dreams and like I said, I’m really jealous that she gets to spend her time surrounded by her favourite characters! I guess she is the epitome of how we never really know what we can achieve until we try. Sure, not all opportunities that come our way are the right ones or land on our doorstep at the right time, but – I hope that if those life-changing opportunities do come, just as it did for Sarah, you won’t be afraid to say yes.

Edwina xx

If you are looking for your next heartwarming read, then I strongly recommend popping into @ironbirdbookstore to find your next novel. For all information on what’s going on in the store, give Sarah a follow (and your support) on her social media pages…

Instagram: @ironbirdbookstore

Website: on it’s way - keep your eye out!