Starting The Business

The Inspiration

Our journey was only just beginning. Three months in, I found myself drawn to the game 'Genshin Impact,' where I encountered the lyre harp for the first time. It fascinated me that this instrument from the virtual realm had real-world counterparts. We were on a mission again, testing every lyre harp we could find, and eventually handpicked the best ones under $500 for our shop.

Then we discovered the rhythmic world of tongue drums and handpans. After months of exploration and testing, we expanded our product line further. Each new find not only enriched our collection but also reinforced our mission - to share the healing power of music. It was like composing a symphony, with each new instrument adding its unique notes to the melody we were creating together.

Shortly after our expansions, we reached another exciting milestone. We finally moved the business from our one-bedroom apartment to our very first warehouse in Macquarie Park 2113 NSW. It was an emotional moment that represented how far we had come and reaffirmed our belief in the mission of Little Kalimba Shop.

Our second warehouse

Our Growth & Our Gratitude

Thanks to your support and encouragement, we've grown tremendously over the past three years. Today, our product range has expanded to over 200, and we've fulfilled over 12,000 orders. This journey, filled with music, healing, and love, has transformed Little Kalimba Shop into much more than just a store.

Our journey would not have been the same without your unwavering support. Your kindness, enthusiasm, and belief in our mission have truly shaped Little Kalimba Shop into what it is today. From those of you who've been with us since the humble beginning with just five products to those who've recently discovered our shop, every single one of you has made an impact. Your encouragement, stories of healing through music, and shared passion for these unique instruments inspire us daily.

You've not just been customers - you've been our community, our supporters, and our inspiration. For all this and more, we are deeply thankful. We've come this far because of you, and we're excited about the journey ahead, knowing we're on this path together.

Mapping Our Melody

Reflecting on 2023

In 2023, Little Kalimba Shop thrived as a heartfelt dream turned reality, becoming a sanctuary where music heals. Regardless of your musical background, you were welcomed to explore our unique instruments and experience the healing power of music.

Behind the scenes, we tested new instruments like handpans and ancient flutes, and we committed to creating e-books, songbooks, and free learning materials to enhance your musical journey. Although our initial showroom faced challenges, our dedication to finding the perfect location remained unwavering.

We cherished hearing your stories and valued your feedback, striving to enrich our product line with unique, handmade instruments from around the globe.

Thank you for being part of our journey in 2023. We look forward to continuing to be a part of yours.

Growing Together, Sharing the Joy of Music

Our Vision for 2024

We're excited to share that 2024 has been a remarkable year for Little Kalimba Shop. We've introduced esteemed brands like Hugh Tracey kalimbas from South Africa and expanded our collection to include cajons, djembes, handpans, and a variety of singing bowls. More thrilling additions like lyre harps, Native American flutes, ocarinas, and premium tongue drums handmade in Portland are on their way.

Our showroom is now open for visits by appointment, allowing you to experience our instruments firsthand. We’ve optimised our logistics to reduce shipping costs and have significantly lowered prices on our top-selling products.

Celebrating our fourth year, we’re proud to have served nearly 20,000 Australian music lovers, achieving a stellar 4.9-star rating. We’re deeply grateful for your support and excited to continue providing the best products and services, along with free learning materials and tips on our website.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Your passion for music inspires us every day, and we can't wait to share more beautiful instruments with you.

A New Chapter

From Kalimbas to a Forest of Sound

This year has been the most challenging, emotional, and transformative chapter in our journey so far. In 2025, we moved into our fourth warehouse, now complete with a bigger, more beautiful showroom. Our product range has more than doubled, and our small-but-mighty team has grown to six wonderful people — hard to believe it all started in a little living room with five kalimbas and a dream.

And just when we thought things couldn’t get more intense… we had a baby.

Raising a tiny human while expanding the business nearly broke us (and our sleep schedules). My husband and I have been doing it all on our own — no grandparents, no nannies, just coffee and sheer determination. Playing music for my baby quickly became the highlight of my day… and, let’s be honest, the only thing keeping me from completely losing it. Singing lullabies while covered in spit-up? Pure magic.

This year, I also fell head over heels for the handpan. I played it daily during pregnancy until my belly got too big to reach the notes. After three years of testing instruments from around the world, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our very own brand of handpans, arriving July–August 2025. These range from beginner-friendly to premium double-sided models — all carefully tuned, beautifully crafted, and made for our Aussie community.

We’re also adding more sound healing and custom-made instruments, thanks to makers who’ve reached out to share their amazing creations. Every piece is still personally tested before we offer it — to ensure quality, character, and the kind of sound that makes your soul go “ahhh.”

And here’s the biggest shift: we’re entering a rebranding phase. While Little Kalimba Shop will always be our origin story, it no longer captures the full picture. What started as a side project has grown into something so much more. That's why we’re transitioning to our company name, Melodic Forest Pty Ltd — a name that reflects what we’ve become: a magical forest of sound, full of beauty, healing, and wonder, waiting to be explored.

Thank you for growing with us 💛

Your support, kindness, and love for music have carried us through every high and low. We’re so grateful to have you walking this journey with us — and we can’t wait to see where the music leads next.