Fed-up Dubbo business owner’s message to racists

A fed-up Aussie business owner has shared a damning message to “racists” who kept asking about his citizenship and ethnicity.

A fed-up Aussie business owner has shared a damning message to “racists” in his shop window in regional Australia, which he described as a playful way of managing frequent and insensitive questions about his ethnicity.

The laminated message, which is attached to a front window of the House of Avi apparel store in Dubbo, NSW, runs through a series of questions that shop owner Avi said he is “regularly” asked regarding his citizenship status and reasons for running a business.

‘Father Muckers … My handmade products are in demand across three continents,’ the message reads. Picture: Twitter

“Questions I get asked regularly,” the impromptu FAQ begins.

“Q: Are you Australian? A: Yes.

“Q: Is House of Avi a pop up store so you can get a visa? A: Father Muckers (sic), I have a store in Australia, India & USA. My hand made products are in demand across 3 continents.

“Are there any other questions I can answer?”

The message has been widely shared online, with viewers commending Avi for his stance.

“Bloody awful that this Dubbo shop owner had to put this sign up outside his shop, but an awesome way to stick it to the ‘Father Mucking’ racists he clearly deals with too regularly,” one commentator posted to Twitter.

The message is posted in a shop window, where it has been since 2020. Picture: Facebook / House of Avi

Store owner Avi set up the shop in Dubbo in 2019 as an extension of his father’s Indian-based boutique. It produces leather and merino wool goods which combine “Indian craftsmanship” and designs inspired by the Australian outback.

Avi put up the damning message just a year later, after a series of surprising encounters with customers, he told news.com.au.

“It was just a bit of a laugh for me,” he said. “I’ve got pretty thick skin.”

The regional business owner set up the Australian branch of the business in early 2019 after a decade in public health management.

“People dream of owning their own business. Avi woke up a little late,” a biography of the store reads.

Owner Avi told news.com.au most of the insensitive questions come from out-of-towners. Picture: House of Avi

“Avi has been an Australian Public Health Management professional for more than a decade. He kept away from his family business interests in India until January 2019, when his father gently reminded him that he has responsibilities.

“Hence, Avi made the decision to take a sabbatical from his professional career and introduce the family business to the vibrant Australian fashion market space.”

Avi told news.com.au he had just one message for those who read his note in the window — that the questions often came from tourists visiting his Dubbo store, rather than from locals in the regional town.

“I find it upsetting that people assume it’s just people from Dubbo, because that’s not the case,” he said.

“I’ve had the sign up for a few years now; it gives lots of people a good laugh.”