A successful online sustainable fabric store has relocated to Childers with owners Richard Down and Larraine Smith enjoying the quiet life.
The pair has owned and operated the Bamboo Fabric Store for about 12 years, originally launching the online business on the Sunshine Coast.
Now based in Childers, Richard said the business was doing well despite the challenges COVID-19 presented for the import of fabrics.
He said the company focused on bamboo fabric for its sustainable qualities.
“It’s an ecologically sound process of getting the raw materials to make fabric rather than using all cotton which takes up a lot of water and pesticides and things like that,” Richard said.
“It’s a more eco-friendly fabric than most.
“It’s very soft. It’s very absorbent.
“We sell a lot for the cloth nappy market.”
Working from home the duo cuts the sustainable fabric to order, selling mainly wholesale as well as “a fair bit of retail”.
Richard said they were attracted to the Bundaberg Region because of housing affordability and, working mostly from home, were very happy with their outlook in Childers.
“It’s a bit quieter, more room to work,” he said.
“We’ve got a bit of a view, it’s nice to work here.
“We like the fact that the town is easy to get into and we’ve got really nice people at the post office and good neighbours.”
Passionate about sustainable fabrics, Richard said while managing an online business came with its difficulties, he and Larraine had not looked back.
“It was working for ourselves rather than working for someone else … that was the main thing.”
Supplying sustainable fabric throughout Australia, Richard wrote on the Bamboo Fabric Store website “we believe sustainability is very important and so we try to live in an ethical and environmentally friendly way”.
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