General News
3 February, 2022
Doors open for young business owner
TERANG’S Aaron Robertson began a life-changing venture this week, with the 22-year old officially opening his own business.
TERANG’S Aaron Robertson began a life-changing venture this week, with the 22-year old officially opening his own business.
The doors to ‘Robbos Country Cuts’ butchery opened to the public for the first time on Monday. The business takes over from ‘A Cut Above’ butchery, where Mr Robertson has spent the last five years working as an apprentice.
He said the opportunity to purchase the business and make a go of it on his own had been on his radar since ‘A Cut Above’ owner Kieran Dart first mentioned a potential change.
“Kieran had said a little while ago that he wasn’t going to be here forever,” Mr Robertson said.
“I thought do I want to stay here and have someone tell me what I’m doing or can I get in and have a crack?” he said.
“So why not? That’s the biggest thing. Do it now while I’m young, and if it doesn’t work then it doesn’t work.
“But this is my hometown. I have always lived here, so it’s the best place to do it.”
Mr Robertson said he owed his knowledge of the industry to what he had learned under his former bosses Kieran and Carly, which gave him the confidence to open ‘Robbos Country Cuts’.
“I thank Kieran and Carly a lot,” he said.
“They taught me about butchering and about life in general.
“A lot of credit goes to them because they gave me a chance and have made me feel more comfortable in myself.”
Opening a business is a daunting task under the best of circumstances, but to open one at such a young age is something Mr Robertson views as an opportunity to build a long-term career.
“If I looked back five years ago I probably wouldn’t have thought I would be where I am now, but I’m as happy as Larry,” he said.
“There has definitely been a lot of learning over the last two weeks. Just the simple things, not just work but what actually goes in play to get everything in place.
“I’ve already learnt so much in such a small amount of time and the sky is the limit.
“I feel I’ve been given a great opportunity here as a young person, from school and now to a job which could set me up for the rest of my life.”
Mr Robertson admits setting up for opening over the last few weeks had been surreal but said an inundation of support from the community had been a source of excitement, with the Facebook page he created for the business gaining more than 725 followers within a week and plenty of customers on the first day.
“The community support has been huge,”he said.
“Someone asked me how it feels and I said it feels the same, but I’m more aware of the responsibilities.
“It makes me want to work harder, make sure the finer details are there, and so far it’s been great with people coming in to congratulate us with plenty of buzz around the town.
“I just have to do the best I can to provide for the community, at the end of the day.”
‘Robbos Country Cuts’ is located at the same location where ‘A Cut Above’ was at 76 High Street, Terang.
