In a "defining moment" Dubbo's Vanessa Drady decided to follow her heart and launch a boutique, its name a tribute to her beloved granddaughter and her much-missed mother.
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The realisation of her dream is Harriet + Kay Luxury Gifts and Clothing, which reopened its doors to customers on Monday.
The boutique is located in the same Wingewarra Street heritage building as The Auctioneer Cafe and Bar, which Mrs Drady and her husband bought in February.
Harriet + Kay is so much more than a business to its founder.
"I lost my mum on September 11, 2018, and it was a very sudden death and it had a very big impact on me because I'd only lost my father two years before," she said.
"I had an opportunity to purchase an existing business that didn't go through, it was about 10 o'clock at night the same day as I found out the other purchase wasn't going to go through, and I thought of Mum, and it just came to me... 'I'm going to start my own, and I'm going to name it after Mum and my granddaughter'."
Mrs Drady, who originally came from a remote cattle station in central Australia before moving to the region in 2007, said she had always had a love of quality and Australian-made, and unique items and had looked to bring together her favourite collections.
The location of the store is one of its pluses in the mind of its owner.
"Harriet + Kay is a lovely complement to The Auctioneer because people can walk in the front door, they can get their coffee, and then meander through to Harriet + Kay, so they can go that way, or they can sit in the courtyard and then they can come into Harriet + Kay as well," Mrs Drady said.
Dubbo's COVID lockdown hit just one week after Harriet + Kay opened the doors in August, but Mrs Drady said she was a positive person and adjusted, knowing the store was set up beautifully for when it could reopen.
She feels "blessed" to have recruited store manager Danielle Soole and marketing manager Emma Thomas.
"[Emma] has had an integral role in bringing the business about and has been a great support for me, especially in the curation of the products," Mrs Drady said.
"Now with Dan and her experience and coming from Sydney and being in the stylist world and she's actually got the degree in design to back up what she's doing.
"I walked into the store on Monday and I was overcome with emotion at how beautifully she'd put everything together."
Ms Soole's graduate collection was chosen to go to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in 2018 and since then she has worked in both fashion and costume, and welcomed the chance to return home for the role.
Ms Soole said she was excited when she learned of Mrs Drady's plans "because it is such a beautiful family and she is very family-orientated".
"From what I saw with The Auctioneer before, they're really hard-working and have a vision and a very high standard," she said.
"I knew that from the success they're having in The Auctioneer, to complement that and have the store as well, and the beautiful creation of brands that she's selected to be in there...
"Coming from Sydney and having my career there, I was really excited to get back into still a creative environment, but very much family-orientated because I grew up here, and all my family is here so it was a lifestyle that I really wanted to come back and be able to help her grow the business."
The store, which is opening seven days a week, will release appointments for styling sessions from Monday and plans for events are in progress.
It is set to do two collaborations in the next eight weeks that will be shared with hairdressers, beauticians, photographers, Mrs Drady 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.
