creative shell

05/10/2026

OCTOBER IS NSW SMALL BUSINESS MONTH!

Did you know just how important small businesses are to our local community?

On the MidCoast, small businesses are a huge part of our economy and the numbers might surprise you!

A FEW SMALL BUSINESS FACTS...
📍 The MidCoast region was home to 7,536 registered businesses in 2024.
💛 Around 98% of businesses in the MidCoast are small businesses, employing fewer than 20 people.
👩‍💻 Almost 60% of MidCoast businesses don't employ any staff, meaning there's often just one person behind the scenes, wearing every hat!
🇦🇺 Across NSW, small businesses employ approximately 1.7 million people.

When you support a small business, you're supporting someone's livelihood, their family, their goals and dreams. You're helping create local jobs, keeping money circulating in our community and supporting the businesses that often give back through local sporting clubs, schools, charities and community events.

SUPPORTING A SMALL BUSINESS DOESN'T HAVE TO COST YOU ANYTHING
There are plenty of ways to make a difference:

✅ LIKE & COMMENT - Engage with their social media posts. It helps more people see their work.
✅ SHARE THEIR POSTS - A simple share could connect them with their next customer.
✅ LEAVE A REVIEW - A genuine Google or Facebook review can mean the world to a small business.
✅ TAG A FRIEND - Know someone looking for a particular product or service? Recommend a local business!
✅ FOLLOW THEIR PAGE - Help them build their audience and reach more people.
✅ SPREAD THE WORD - Word of mouth is still one of the most valuable forms of advertising.

So this October, let's celebrate the incredible people behind our MidCoast businesses!
And to everyone who continues to support my business… thank you :)

👇 TAG YOUR FAVOURITE MIDCOAST SMALL BUSINESS BELOW! Give them some well-deserved love this Small Business Month!

02/10/2026

💗 Creative Shell is going PINK for October!

This month, Forster Tuncurry is turning pink for Pink Up Forster Tuncurry, raising awareness and funds to support the incredible work of McGrath Cancer Care Nurses, who now provide care and support to people experiencing any type of cancer.

Keep an eye out for all the local businesses going pink this month and, where you can, support the businesses supporting Pink Up Forster Tuncurry.

It’s great seeing our community come together for something that touches so many families.

Here’s to the fighters, the survivors, those we remember, and everyone standing beside them.

Let’s Pink Up Forster Tuncurry! 💗

You can donate directly here: https://www.pinkisthecolour.com.au/fundraisers/Forster-Tuncurry/pinkupyourtown

Pink Up Forster Tuncurry

01/10/2026

I recently had the pleasure of doing some design work for Forster Gallery, with the finished signage then brought to life by Mick’s Sign Shop.

I love when local businesses support other local businesses, each of us bringing our own skills to a project and keeping the work within our community.

Always a good feeling seeing my designs leave the screen and become something real!

Thanks Mick!

26/09/2026

💦 A fresh new look for Spruced Up Pressure Cleaning & Softwashing

I recently had the pleasure of working with Ben from Spruced Up on a complete refresh of his brand.

Ben chose my Coastal Brand Package, perfect for small to medium businesses wanting a more complete, professional and consistent brand identity.

For Spruced Up, I created a new logo suite and rolled the branding out across:
• vehicle signage
• business cards
• flyers and marketing material
• social media branding
• supporting brand elements and graphics

The result is bold, modern, memorable and designed to work consistently across everything from a page to a work ute.

Thank you so much, Ben, for trusting me with your business branding!

If your business is ready for a fresh look, I offer a range of branding options, from standalone logo design, through to packages for businesses who like to DIY their own marketing, right through to comprehensive brand packages where I help build out the complete visual identity.

📩 Get in touch

03/09/2026

I’ve been caught out so many times when someone has asked, “Do you have a business card?”… and I haven’t had one on me! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Since rebranding Creative Shell, it was finally time to get my act together and design some fresh new cards.

People might think print is dead, but there’s still something special about handing someone a beautifully designed card they can hold onto. It feels more personal and makes it much easier for them to remember you and contact you later!

Having worked in the printing industry for eight years, I also know how much difference the right paper stock, finish and quality printing can make. A business card may be small, but it says a lot about your business.

Does your business need new cards? I can help with both the design and printing.

Send me a message to get started! 🐚

(Here is a bunch of cards I’ve designed over the years.)

21/08/2026

After leaving full-time employment, Shelley Kurtz turned her passion for creativity into a thriving business. With support from VERTO’s Self-Employment Assistance program, she built the confidence a

12/08/2026

❤️

Congratulations to creative shell for winning the People's Choice Award - Service!

Creative Shell is an award-winning graphic design, branding and photography studio based in Forster, dedicated to helping businesses stand out through creative, professional visual storytelling.

Founded by Shelley, the studio offers a complete suite of creative services including branding, logo design, websites, commercial photography and print design, making it a one-stop destination for businesses of all sizes.

Known for exceptional customer service and genuine relationships with clients, Creative Shell has built a reputation for delivering personalised, high-quality work that helps local businesses grow. Voted by the community, this People's Choice Service Award recognises the outstanding experience Creative Shell provides every day.

Coastline Bank MidCoast Business Awards 2026

A special thanks to ACM for sponsoring the People's Choice Award for Service.

11/08/2026

02/08/2026

🏆 MidCoast Business Awards

Woo hoo, winner of the People’s Choice Award for the second year in a row. This award means so much because it’s voted for by the people who choose to support my business.

Your support has helped turn a dream into a career I absolutely love.

A huge congratulations to all of the finalists. There are so many incredible businesses in our region doing amazing things, and it was an honour to stand alongside you all.

Here’s my acceptance speech.

Thank you for choosing me… again. 🏆✨

MidCoast Business Awards

07/07/2026

Website design completed for Steve at Mid Coast Cruise Transfers 🚐🌊

Steve’s previous website was ready for a refresh, so I created a clean, simple and responsive website that works smoothly across desktop, tablet and mobile.

Responsive design is so important, especially when so many people are searching, booking and making enquiries from their phones. The new site makes it easy for customers to find information, learn about the services and get in touch through a simple contact form.

Check it out here: https://www.midcoastcruisetransfers.com.au/

Are you after a small website refresh or a simple new site to help your business look more professional online? I’d love to help.

Get in touch to chat about a website design that works beautifully on every screen.