Nambour’s quirky character & community spirit attracts retail interest

Debra Lawson has opened a mixed retail business Gatherer in Howard Street. “Nambour is quirky and full of community spirit. We love products with a story and working with brands that are advocating for change in the world of manufacturing.” 

After moving to the Sunshine Coast four years ago Debra Lawson fell in love with Nambour’s countless cafes and quirky businesses.

The former music TV presenter from Melbourne was inspired by her old city’s mixed variety businesses to open a similar shop in her new town. 

Gatherer, at 1 Howard Street, stocks an eclectic range of cruelty free plant-based groceries including meal kits and treats, fair trade fashion and footwear made from sustainable materials, accessories, beauty products and jewellery.

“Gatherer is all about fair trade,” said Debra. “Fashion is one industry notorious for unfair conditions and low pay for workers, so for us from the start, we have made the choice to only work with designers and companies who practise fair trade processes.

“From fashion, to footwear, bags, accessories and beauty - we have looked high and low for products we can feel confident are fair trade. Our motto is  ‘Living Kindly’ and this applies to people and animals alike. 

“We love products with a story and working with brands that are advocating for change in the world of manufacturing.” 

Debra said she’d always hoped to own her own store and create a label. 

“I’d worked in fashion amongst other things in Melbourne and loved it!  Being creative is where I prefer to be and working within the cruelty free space. 

“After my move to Nambour and the Sunny Coast that dream started to come to the forefront again, considering this beautiful lifestyle we enjoy here - it just felt more like this was the place to do it. 

“After leaving a corporate role last year and finding myself unsure about where to go from here, I came upon the perfect location and just went for it.  Ensuring that the brands we support are Fair-Trade has definitely taken a little more time than first thought, but we know it’s worth the wait.”

Debra said she was excited by Nambour’s colourful streets and it’s developing personality. 

“I saw an article about Nambour and they were saying all these cool funky people were coming here and opening shops and it was very music, arts, culture oriented and that certainly appealed to us.”

She could see similarities between Melbourne’s flourishing suburbs and Nambour’s potential with its cafes, pubs and breweries, restaurants, clothing stores, op shops, vintage stores, books and record stores and street art.

“The reason my husband and I wanted to live in Nambour was that it reminded us of the character-filled Melbourne suburbs like Brunswick and Collingwood,” said Debra. 

“We could see what Nambour could become.  Nambour is quirky and full of community spirit, just like me, so it’s the perfect fit! It’s full of great people running their dream businesses and Gatherer will have a home here, right in the heart of town.” 

“I feel Nambour, with its easy-to-get-to location by train or road — is the perfect shopping town and I hope more retailers look at a move to Nambour,” she said.

• Gatherer is at 1 Howard Street Nambour, on Facebook and at www.gathereraustralia.com.au.