A family that's built up its hardware business at Dubbo for more than four decades is about to farewell the retail industry but the operation will carry on.
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Brennan's Mitre 10 managing director Michael Brennan has announced the sale of the business to the Petrie family, owners of Mitre 10 at Mudgee and several other locations across NSW.
The new arrangement at Dubbo will take effect from March 30.
The retailer, who as a youngster started working in the family business opened by his father Frank in 1976, said he was happy to pass on the baton to the Petries.
His family had known the new owners for 30 years and considered them friends, he said.
"They're very family-orientated and it will be exciting [seeing them] continue this business on," Mr Brennan said.
He has revealed his plans to focus on farming in the future.
While Brennan's Mitre 10 opened more than 40 years ago, its heritage can be traced back 86 years.
Mr Brennan said his grandfather was a builder and set up a hardware store at Cobar.
Father Frank first pursued his aspiration to be a farmer before opening Brennan's Mitre 10, originally at a Talbragar Street premises, before moving to Macquarie Street in 1983.
Mr Brennan said his father was "big on customer service" and on Saturday mornings it was common to see him at the front of the store greeting people.
"Trying to maintain those ideals we've had over those 86 years," Mr Brennan said.
Mr Brennan recalled helping in the store from the age of 10, "typical of a family business".
He said being part of the Dubbo community for so long and a changing industry was fulfilling.
"The customers, regularly customers talk about back in Talbragar Street, 'I remember you when you were knee-high, working in the store' or 'I know your father'," he said.
The retail operator also gave credit to his "great team".
The average length of time for a full-time staff member in the business was 10.2 years, and some employees had clocked up 25 years, he said.
"There's not too many businesses that can claim that, so I've been lucky with the team that's here," he said.
The call of the land has proved strong for Mr Brennan.
"It comes with a lot of trepidation and concern and the worry that you don't have the regular income of a retail store behind you but... [it's] something I love, farming," he said.
Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
