Stafford business The Creative Collective Brisbane for sale

A popular creative retail space in Brisbane’s north could soon change hands or be transformed completely after five years of operation.

The Creative Collective owner Cathy Wilkinson has revealed she is selling her Stafford business. Picture: Facebook / The Creative Collective Brisbane

The creative retail space where countless southeast Queensland artists have met and sold their goods over the past five years could undergo some major changes in the near future.

Cathy Wilkinson, the owner of The Creative Collective Brisbane, has revealed she is selling the business she loves so much to focus on study and other goals.

She is hoping to be paid $27,000 for her Stafford shop, as well as trading names, social media accounts, mailing lists, stock, displays, and a two-year lease with “cheap rent” at a 200sq m warehouse.

A long-time fan and attendee of her local markets, Ms Wilkinson opened The Creative Collective in early 2018.

“It was a way to support local makers and artists,” she said.

“I would go to markets a lot and realised there weren’t really any spaces back then, permanent spaces, where they could have their goods. I appreciate the effort that goes into locally handmade products.”

The Creative Collective. Picture: Facebook / The Creative Collective Brisbane

Her store stocks giftwares, homewares, and art created by makers from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast.

It also features an entire section dedicated to preloved clothing, as Ms Wilkinson is a huge proponent of sustainability and repurposing.

The shop stocks items made by makers based between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. Picture: Facebook / The Creative Collective Brisbane

The business owner said she had learned a lot since launching The Creative Collective. She was thrilled to find there was demand for sustainably and locally made products and shocked to learn “just how hard it is for local makers” to earn a living.

“We’ve got a really good following of customers coming in, looking at different things that they know are handmade,” she said.

“I would really like to get another creative person to come in and put their own spin on it.”

When she does sell The Creative Collective, Ms Wilkinson plans to take some time off so she can focus on her mum duties and continue studying a diploma of business to one day offer training and support to other businesspeople and business-hopefuls.

For more information about the shop and its upcoming preloved fashion market, click here.