ISA Bubs Baby Shop is set to shut its doors for trading next week, meaning no existing baby shop for Mount Isa.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting Mount Isa as having the highest birth rate in Queensland per capita, parents-to-be will be forced to turn to online shopping for essential equipment.
Isa Bubs Baby Shop owners Sandy Wilkinson and Courtenay Wilkins are a mother and daughter team who have run the successful business for more than seven years.
When Mrs Wilkins' husband (former Buff Club manager Justin Wilkins) required the family to relocate to Townsville for his work, Mrs Wilkins and Mrs Wilkinson made the tough decision to shut the doors.
The building, which houses the baby store, comprises a two-bedroom residence and granny flat and has been owned by Mr and Mrs Wilkinson since 1986.
It started out as a convenience store and later became a fish and chip shop, before becoming a baby store in 2006.
Mrs Wilkinson's eldest daughter and her husband own the Bubs Bay Shop franchise so it made sense for the family to branch out in Mount Isa.
At the time, the city's only baby shop was closing down when they decided to open the store.
``I'm very sad, there is nothing else (baby store) here, it is a big shame for the town, a lot of businesses have closed recently,'' Mrs Wilkinson said.
``Ideally we would love someone to come and buy the building and continue on as a baby shop.''
Mrs Wilkinson said the partnership between her and her daughter had worked extremely well and Mrs Wilkins' three children had been brought up on the premises.
``It has been perfect and perfect if you want to stay home with your baby,'' she said.
``It is a shame, I don't want to (close the store) but I haven't got the will to do it on my own, not without Courtenay, it has been lovely working with her, it has been perfect.''
Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce manager Joyce McCulloch said online shopping for baby goods would become the only alternative if no one continued the business.
``It is a good opportunity for someone else to expand on their business,'' Mrs McCulloch said.
``There is an opportunity there for it, it has been a thriving little shop.
``If no one takes the opportunity and consumers haven't got anywhere to try the products and check out the products then people are going to shop online,'' she said.
