Feature Profiles
23 July, 2026
Putting trust in the locals
ON A freezing Monday morning, I arrived at Ergo + Mane on Main Street, Bridgewater, expecting a country hair salon. Instead,
By LUZ RESTREPPO
ON A freezing Monday morning, I arrived at Ergo + Mane on Main Street, Bridgewater, expecting a
country hair salon. Instead, I stepped into a stylish boutique space that would not look out of place in inner Melbourne.
With eight styling chairs, three wash stations and a calm, welcoming atmosphere, it’s hard to imagine a business like this in a town of just 341 people.
Ergo + Mane employs six local women, operates Monday to Friday and offers everything from hair colouring, balayage and styling to Scandinavian head spa experiences, hair and scalp treatments, curly hair specialist services, beauty treatments and bridal styling, all using certified organic products.
This week, the business has taken another step forward by introducing a barber service for men.
When I first visited the salon, I found myself wondering how a business of this scale could thrive in such a small town.
The answer became clear as Amanda Goodman shared the story behind the salon and the determination that turned a bold idea into one of Bridgewater’s busiest businesses.
Born and raised on a sheep and cropping farm in Derby, Amanda always knew she wanted to work
in hairdressing. After leaving school, she completed her apprenticeship in Bendigo and, at just 19, bought her first salon in Eaglehawk. She has now been self-employed for more than 21 years.
Despite building a successful career in Bendigo, she never lost her connection with the region where she grew up.
That connection changed everything in 2021. Amanda spotted a building for sale on Bridgewater’s main street and immediately saw possibilities. The property was tired and in need of extensive work, but she could already picture the salon she wanted to create.
“I just fell in love with the building,” she said.
When the real estate agent did not return her first phone call, Amanda turned up at the office first thing on the morning she learned the building was on the market and arranged an inspection.
Her husband was not convinced. “He told me we weren’t buying it and that I should cancel the inspection,” she laughed. She inspected the property anyway.
Walking through the building brought back childhood memories of visiting Bridgewater every
Saturday morning with her grandmother to collect the newspaper, buy bread and milk, pay bills and visit the local shops.
“It just felt right,” she said.
After a second inspection with her builder uncle, who assured her the building could be restored, Amanda made an offer.
That evening, when her husband suggested they needed “a serious conversation” about the property, as she had been talking about the building constantly and he still believed buying it was a mistake, Amanda smiled and replied, “Yes, we do, because we’ve already put in an offer.”
Then, they bought the building. For three years, it remained rented while Amanda saved enough money to renovate it. When the lease ended, she and her family carried out much of the work themselves before opening Ergo +
Mane in July 2024.
Rather than hiding the renovations behind closed doors, Amanda invited the community to follow the transformation.
She placed a sign outside to introduce herself and explain her plans. Curious locals regularly stopped to ask questions and were welcomed inside to see the progress.
Many also questioned whether such a large salon could survive in Bridgewater.
Amanda had already done her homework. She researched the demographics, incomes and population trends, then trusted both the numbers and her instincts. “Yes, I can make it,” she told herself.
Today, she laughs at those early doubts, including her husband’s. These days, he proudly supports
the business by looking after the building and handling its maintenance and repairs.
“In fact, I probably should have built it bigger,” she said. “We’re often fully booked, and on some days, I wish we had another basin and more styling chairs.”
Around 60 per cent of clients are local, while others travel from Bendigo, Melbourne, Geelong, Echuca and Swan Hill. Many also stop for coffee, visit the nursery, buy from local shops, have lunch at the pub or continue to nearby towns such as Inglewood.
“Small towns and businesses complement each other,” Amanda said. “When people come here, they don’t just visit us. They support other local businesses too.”
Amanda believes strong communities are built when businesses support one another. Ergo + Mane buys locally wherever possible, recommends nearby businesses to clients, and has created a workplace where staff are paid above-award wages, start at 9.30 am to accommodate school drop-offs, and are encouraged to prioritise family when needed.
“I don’t want people coming to work stressed, Our workplace culture is one of my biggest priorities.”
Looking back, Amanda says the biggest investment she ever made wasn’t the building. It was trusting her instincts.
“If I’d listened to everyone who said it wouldn’t work, including my husband at first, none of this would exist,” she said.
“I didn’t buy an established business. I created one.”
Amanda’s reputation has also put Bridgewater on the international stage. In 2025, she was a finalist in an international colour competition, presented at the World Beauty Forum in Bangkok, and next month will travel to Denmark to train hairdressers as an international educator.
Her advice is simple.
“Trust yourself. Know your numbers. Plan carefully. But most importantly, support local. Before looking elsewhere, look in your own backyard.”
Standing in the warmth of Ergo + Mane while another busy day unfolds, it is easy to see that Amanda has created far more than a successful salon.
She has created local jobs, restored a prominent building, attracted visitors to Bridgewater and proved that backing a small town can help transform it.
* Luz Restrepo is co-ordinating the inaugural Loddon Shire Business Expo at the Serpentine Recreation Reserve September 17. This the first in a series of Loddon Herald special stories looking at local businesses shaping the Loddon economy.
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