Desley Shailer new owner of On Location Boutique in Gympie CBD

When the owner of an iconic Mary St boutique decided to sell up shop, one dedicated customer jumped at the chance to continue her legacy. Meet the new owner:

A dedicated customer has taken over an iconic boutique in Gympie’s CBD after the previous owner sold it.

Gympie woman Desley Shailer used to frequent On Location Boutique when it was run by Judy Daikin, but the reigns were passed to Mrs Shailer when the shop was sold on December 1.

Mrs Shailer said Mrs Dakin, who had owned the shop for the last 25 years, had told her about her plans to sell, and her motive behind purchasing the shop was her love for clothes and the clientele Mrs Dakin had worked hard to generate.

Desley Shailer was a dedicated customer of On Location Boutique before she bought the shop off previous owner Judy Dakin on December 1. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

“I won’t be changing what Judy has built up in style, as in the styles and labels she carries, but we’ll be sort of bringing a few additional labels in,” she said.

Prior to taking over the boutique, Mrs Shailer owned and operated clothing warehouses in north Queensland, which catered for everyone from babies to adults.

She is a fifth-generation Gympie resident, and said she grew up in the Gympie region but moved away for more than a decade before she returned.

She said her favourite thing about owning On Location so far was interacting with customers.

New On Location Boutique owner Desley Shailer said this was her favourite dress in the shop. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

“Seeing the look on their face when they’re looking for a particular outfit and they find it … I’m very much a people person,” she said.

She said her ultimate goal owning the shop was to provide Gympie with a place to find beautiful clothes.

“I hope to just carry on what Judy has set up and keep chugging along and provide a place in Gympie with variety, so they’re happy to shop in Gympie.”