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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Umina store celebrates 30 years

 

Jodi of Umina will hold its 30th birthday celebrations from September 23 to 28.

The store will hold a "30 years of fashion" parade with nine models at 2pm on Wednesday, September 25.

Guests will be asked to make a gold coin donation for "Give me five for kids".

Discounts and gift vouchers will be given throughout the week.

Owner Mrs Olga Arkell has run the shop since she purchased the business in 1972.

This makes her business the longest established business in one location in Umina.

Two other businesses have traded longer in Umina but changed location during the period.

Mrs Arkell said she purchased the business purely by chance.

"I came to Woy Woy to buy a place to live and ended up buying a business in the area," she said.

In 1976, she expanded into the shop next door and with the help of her five children and former husband, Warren, Olga has kept the shop operating for 30 years.

The business has hosted fashion parades, supported local charities and employed members of the local community.

Olga has served many customers and made many lasting friendships during her years at the shop.

She now sees customers who are the children and grand children of customers she served many years ago as well as many of her original customers.

Working with Olga now is one daughter, Jill, and two long serving assistants.

Dorothy McIntyre has been with her for 10 years and Jan Bailey, who works there one day a week, has been an employee of the business for over 20 years.

"It's much more difficult to make an income from selling clothes now," Mrs Arkell said.

"When I first started, the only place that you could buy clothing was from clothing retailers.

"There were no factory outlets, shopping complexes, markets or recycled clothing stores and Sunday trading was illegal," she said.

Cec Bucello, September 20