![Merimbula Chamber of Commerce's retail collective produces its first fully fledged new business Merimbula Chamber of Commerce's retail collective produces its first fully fledged new business](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/HJKdXpzXdCqQNEEJgi9knT/30d2aa21-0804-4790-a1c0-c62796b6bc2f.jpg/r0_378_4032_2646_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Just 15 months after joining Merimbula's retail collective The Essence, Jo Rangoot is branching out on her own to expand her clothing and beauty products business 'As You Are Lifestyle'.
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The Essence opened in December 2020 with the goal to help micro businesses and start ups get their products into a retail shop front, without the high cost and risk of investing in their own store.
And despite a turbulent year of trade, with COVID lockdowns, the store and the vendors all survived and with two vendors taking on extra space when it became available.
For Jo the timing of The Essence's opening turned out well, despite being rather tight. Jo had moved to Merimbula just two weeks before, from Canberra.
"I was assessing what to do; I had a strong background in retail and beauty products and had a stall and was going to markets but thought this was perfect," Jo said.
It was all a "bit of a whirlwind", she admits but the store opened with Jo as one of six vendors.
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She focused on her handmade kimonos, as well as some other clothing lines and beauty products.
"The kimonos were really the focus but on the way I discovered some beautiful brands and learnt more about what the market wanted,' she said.
It prompted her to do a personal styling course and in the meantime Jo had taken on more space in The Essence.
"The brand built up and I came to a point where I couldn't grow any more in the space I had but I still wanted to grow the business."
Jo said being part of The Essence was an amazing experience for anyone wanting to start their own business.
In developing her own buisness she wants to focus on brands with a low impact and sustainability and offer personal styling sessions, including colour choices and how to mix new items with existing pieces.
She thinks there's an age gap with some women's clothing.
"It's about how to wear fun things but not look like you're trying to be 20. It's going to be a very personal service, tailoring to each person," Jo said.
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Merimbula Chamber of Commerce president Nigel Ayling said it was great to see the first vendor leave the store and go out on their own.
"This is what the store is all about, giving micro businesses a leg up and helping reduce the risk of going out on their own," he said.
With Jo leaving that creates an opportunity for another vendor to come in and give their products a try so the chamber is now calling for expressions of interest from other businesses.
"This is a perfect opportunity for a cottage business, artist, maker or market stall holder to take their business to the next level, to have a presence in a main street shop, and to gather the skills and information they need to see if their products can make it in a retail environment," Nigel said.
"The chamber took out a 12 month lease on the shop, fitted it out and provided all of the services, and vendors pay their share of the total cost, a small commission on sales and helped staff the shop," he added.
For more information and to submit an expression of interest, please visit https://www.ourmerimbula.com.au/the-essence/
The store is located in the Merimbula CBD and currently features six vendors including:
- Kicky Swim - Childrens Clothing and Swimwear
- Beastly Indulgence - Dog Accessories
- Eden Ecos - Eco products
- As you are Lifestyle - Womens Clothing
- Blue Willow Vintage - Upcycled furniture, vintage homewares, furniture paint and accessories
- Kookaburra Art - Resin art by Chris Beresford