Community rallies behind Bulimba gift shop to not sell up over personal crisis

The owner of a popular shop on a ritzy Brisbane street has been urged by locals not to close her doors amid personal tragedy.

Indigo Gift shop inside

Placing a business on the market is a big step for anyone. However, doing it so close to Christmas has proven to be an ordeal for one Bulimba boutique owner who has just lost her mum.

An advertisement in Indigo shop front window in Oxford Street Bulimba read: “Dear customers, it’s with great sadness that I have decided to put my business and my apartment on the market. It’s time to move back near my family. I have truly enjoyed my time here, with such amazing people and this great community. You will be truly missed. Inquiries within if you have a serious interest.”

The community response to her advertisement pulled at her heartstrings coercing owner Karen Ann to stay put and put a pause on decision making until the New Year.

Indigo gift shop owner Karen Ann.

“I just had a group of local ladies come in and ask me to postpone my sale,” she said.

“They said I should wait a year before making any big decisions.

“The community has all rallied behind me and it is so hard to leave such a caring place behind.

“I am going to think about it more before selling up.”

Despite the Oxford Street Bulimba store enjoying low overheads, good rental yields, a prime position and a loyal clientele, Karen said there were a number of contributing factors planted behind her decision to sell.

Personal events like losing her mother, another grandchild due in coming months and the dread of facing a sizeable mortgage for a three-bedroom apartment all factored in toward her retirement plan to relocate to the Gold Coast.

“Having a seventh grandchild and three adult children on the Gold Coast was the main drawcard to me relocating there,” she said.

“I’ve been working six or seven days lately and the business doesn’t allow me the time I need to spend to see my family.

“But so many people wrote kind messages and came in with words of condolence and support.

“This move is all about family and this extra support plus hiring an employee may change my mind.”

Karen blamed the government for reducing peoples’ spending capacity thanks to increasing the cost of living.

“It is impacting on small business and shop owners like me,” she said.

“You only need to look at how many businesses who have had to close the doors.”

Indigo sells home goods ranging from $20 to $350 and sells gift items designed to cater for everyone including artwork.

Karen said boutiques were once the lifeblood of the trendy stretch in Bulimba, but now locals may be forced to shop in centres like Carindale thanks to a rise in inflation.

“There are only six boutiques in the area now replaced by food outlets,” she said.

“If the boutiques sell up people will then be forced away from the street to buy in big shopping centres.

“I will need to put my goods online or change my business model to survive into the future but I don’t have the manpower to

currently do that.

“Rent is not too bad for me because I have a sublease but I don’t know how others are surviving.”