‘Chosen convenience’: Sydney store owner’s wild rant after business fails

An Aussie business owner has hit out at customers who choose “convenience and instant gratification”, blaming “society” after her shop’s collapse.

A Sydney store owner has lashed out at “society” in a brutal note after the “heartbreaking” collapse of her small business.

Last week, a letter was taped to the front door of The Source Bulk Foods in leafy Crows Nest in the city’s north, informing customers that it had closed down.

The Source Bulk Foods is a popular chain owned by individual franchisees which sells health foods in bulk with a focus on zero waste, and the owner of the Crows Nest outlet, identified only as Nikki, had run her store for six years before it entered liquidation.

In the letter, she explained the business had been impacted by the rising cost of living which meant it was stuck “between such a rock and hard place”.

But she also hit out at customers’ preference for convenience and “instant gratification” as another factor in the business failure.

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The Source Bulk Foods Crows Nest has gone into liquidation. Picture: Facebook

“You have by now wondered why our doors are shut … It was with the heaviest of hearts that I’ve had to put the business into liquidation,” the business owner wrote.

“It has been a very difficult time made even harder because of our connection to you, our loyal customers, friends even, who have darkened our doorway and lightened our smiles for six years, some of you since our Willoughby store days.

“Small local businesses like ours, where regulars can come in for chat and a smile, receive a hug when feeling down, share laughs and life, exchanging news, opinions, recipes and gifts even, where someone knows your name … form an invaluable network in our local communities.

“These kinds of establishments become a part of people’s lives and provide them with a sense of belonging within the community.

“They teach our children basic commerce and basic manners … They are just there and that’s a comfort, especially in these times of much loneliness, depression and anxiety in our society.”

But the owner claimed modern society was changed for the worst, with modern customers turning their backs on old-fashioned “authenticity”.

The Source Bulk Foods Crows Nest struggled with the rising cost of living. Picture: Google

“What I see, heartbreakingly, is that our society has unwittingly, bit by tiny bit, chosen convenience and instant gratification over the effort it takes to interact with the authenticity of real people, their community of neighbours, their touchstone,” the note continued, before thanking loyal customers who were the “last of a dying breed”.

Owner Nikki and employees Esther, Kira and Chelsea wrote they had appreciated “the friendly smiles and banter that is shared with customers”.

“You have been our community. Our purpose. Our validation. You have been the very best thing about running a small business,” the note stated.

“Thanks for supporting us, for caring for us, for loving us.”

The owner urged customers to reach out and mentioned the importance of supporting small, local businesses.

The Source Bulk Foods is a popular chain owned by individual franchisees. Picture: Google

Sadly, the collapse of The Source Bulk Foods Crows Nest store is just the tip of the iceberg, with Australia recording a staggering 3917 liquidations or administration appointments across all industries during the 2021-22 financial year.

There were 1536 collapses in NSW, with Victoria recording 1022, Queensland 665, Western Australia 350, South Australia 196, ACT 91, Tasmania 29 and the Northern Territory 28.

Speaking to news.com.au about the alarming trend earlier this year, retail analyst Geoff Dart, of DGC Advisory, said that as the Australian economy was hit by plunging consumer sentiment, soaring interest rates and cost of living pressures, more retailers would fall.

“I think fringe players and transient brands that don’t have that established name … could be in trouble,” Mr Dart said.

“In hard times, people tend to go for security and established brands, and also retailers with a good omnichannel set-up that can also deliver online.

“If you look at household income, expenses are still far ahead of income, and interest rate hikes will only make things worse along with wage compression – we’re seeing no real wage increase, and people tend to keep their savings for a rainy day. In my view, people are reluctant to spend in tough times.”