Covid blues: Lauren Dick of Maekah Store calls for better support to small business

Launching her first boutique earlier this year was a dream come true for one retail worker, now she’s at her “worst mentally” as repeated lockdowns keep customers away. READ HER STORY >>>

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A dream come true for the owner of an upmarket Burleigh boutique has for now become a nightmare, left at her “worst mentally” as the state continues to be plagued by lockdowns.

Founder of Maekah Store Lauren Dick told the Bulletin a lack of government aid had at times left her uncertain of how the store would cope if local and interstate shutdowns persisted.

“I have never experienced the store trade “normally” because never, since we’ve been open, has every state had access to visiting Queensland,” Ms Dick explained.

“What I’m trying to do in here is quite different to other boutiques on the coast and in terms of trade, every single school holidays, long weekend or event that we’ve been opened for, someone has been lockdown or prevented from travelling here.

“The store is still so new that I still have fuel in my tank, but I can’t help but think of all the businesses that had to go through all of this last year and to now do it again.”

Lauren Dick at her new Burleigh Heads boutique 'Maekah'. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

While the long-time retail worker concedes it was an “interesting time” to open the store, the lack of financial relief packages throughout the pandemic proved her biggest hurdle.

“The thing that really propelled me forward (to open), a couple of the emerging brands that we stock, they were coming to market with their first collection,” Ms Dick said.

“It felt like the right time to be one of the legacy stores that stocked those brands. Timing wise in terms of emerging labels it felt right but for bricks and mortar it was a really interesting time to open a business.

“I’ve dreamt of (owning a boutique) for a very long time, I didn’t think I would ever actually do it. It almost felt like a dream and never a goal.”

Lauren Dick at her Burleigh Heads boutique. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Last week’s snap lockdown was one of those times Ms Dick questioned whether she had the right decision to open: “It felt like the final straw for me to have a bit of a mini breakdown,” she said, revealing that her second business – a retail recruitment and HR consultancy which largely operates out of Sydney – is also suffering.

“Both of them are affected now for the first time ever, they’re both going down at once,” she said, though added her relief at lockdown ending on Sunday.

“I wasn’t expecting the lockdown to come to an end but I do feel the voices of small business were particularly loud this time around and the government have made the right decision.

“I am still erring on the side of caution and have kept our trading hours at a reduced volume.”

Part time staff members will return to regular hours but there will be reduced casual shifts available.

“We will continue to feel the burden of reduced tourism from Sydney and Melbourne but I am grateful to be trading with open doors again,” Ms Dick said.

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Originally published as Covid blues: Lauren Dick of Maekah Store calls for better support to small business