'Wonderful' surprise as Berrima's Mrs Oldbucks Pantry wins at Illawarra Business Awards

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It's the first time in the awards' 25-year history that a Southern Highlands business has been announced as the winner of this category.

Business owner and brand custodian Carol Brown said she was thrilled with her win.

"It's wonderful," she said.

"It was very unexpected. I just decided to apply for the Illawarra Business Awards, so I was very surprised after that I ended up as a finalist."

A return to the old days of retail and the corner store is why Mrs Oldbuck's pantry stands out from the rest.

"I think it offers the customer something very different and unique," Carol said.

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"I've been in retail for 40 years and I think learning from everybody I've worked with over that time and taking good things and bad making sure you don't do the bad, helps the business.

"But I think it's knowing your customer well and understanding the customers that make you stand out."

While Carol has been in the retail business for more than 40 years, she purchased Mrs Oldbucks Pantry five years ago.

"This business has been going 44 years, so it had good bones when I bought it," she said.

"In five years I've completely changed the demographic of the customer. We are now pretty evenly split over all age groups. We've changed by expanding the ranges and we have an online presence.

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"During COVID-19 we were able to swing the business around to cater to our customers in lots of different ways.

"I think if you're in retail these days and you're not both online and bricks and mortar, I think it's it's very difficult to run this type of business."

Carol also prides her business on its price point.

"You can end up with a souvenir from Berrima for $8.70," she said,

"It's a price point that also caters to everybody. It was my belief from the beginning of just because you're a tourist destination, you don't have to be expensive.

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"I want the customer to have a lovely time when they're in the shop.

"When they go home, they see the product they bought, remember the good time and become an online customer.

"But I still believe that if you find your niche and you find what the customer is after, you will succeed.

"There aren't a lot of shops that have 190 different varieties of tea and 20 different jams and chutneys and pickles and that is well stocked"

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The Excellence in Micro Business Award recognises a business (with less than 5 employees) that has effectively driven growth and can demonstrate the specific strategies implemented to achieve business success and/or resilience.

Carol and her team at Mrs Oldbucks Pantry are grateful to all of her loyal and dedicated customers, followers and local Berrima community for their unwavering support during the highs and the challenges that have presented themselves.

Carol was crowned the 2021 Southern Highlands local business award business person of the year.

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