THIS weekend marks the 10th anniversary of one of Bendigo's cutest and kookiest shop.
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Bob Boutique is tucked between the Shamrock Hotel and the Gold Dust Lounge and is the home to a unique range of badges, jewellery, books, tea sets, artwork and cute and cuddly toys.
Each thing is wonderfully kooky and made with love.
Bob Boutique owner Sonia Britt can't believe it has been 10 years.
"It's so exciting. I can’t believe it's been that long," she said.
"It seems to have flown by but when I look at what we’ve done, it’s pretty exciting too. It’s a long time."
After starting her design and craft business on her kitchen table, Sonia came across the vacant space in Williamson Street.
"I was sending my stuff to other shops and didn't think I wanted my own shop. I'd never thought about it," she said.
"Mum mentioned this space was for rent and it had been empty for so long.
I walked past and asked the Shamrock to have a look and signed the lease that day.
"I just fell in love with it. I didn’t think about risks, I just thought 'I love it, I’ve got to have it'. I should have done research but I didn’t."
The shop space has history too with it beginning as a Cobb & Co ticket office before spending time as a showroom for London stores and the first Myer shop before the Pall Mall department store was developed.
It seems to have flown by but when I look at what we’ve done, it’s pretty exciting too.
- Sonia Brit
It is now home to Bob Boutique, arguably the most individual and unique store in Bendigo.
Sonia started with six design labels showing products in her shop.
Ten years later there are more than 50.
"When I started there wasn’t much like it anywhere. It was a good place to showcase my own stuff I was doing," Sonia said.
"I only had six labels at the start, I have 50 now. If I look back at photos, which is something I’ve been doing, I think it’s so bare.
"We sort of had just one shelf with three things on it but from start people kept coming on and offering what they were doing.
"Some of bigger labels we stock started with us when they were working from kitchen tables.
"It's been amazing to see that happen (and develop) I'm very proud."
Sonia said she didn’t think about the years adding up.
"I just kept going. I can’t believe we've been here this long," she said.
"Retail is a hard thing to do and there were plenty of times I thought maybe it wasn’t a good idea.
"There was ebbs and flows, so I'm glad I stuck it out with the bad times and the good times."
One of the worse times came two years ago when Sonia was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
But fighting through that has made her re-embrace the fun the shop is renowned for.
"I was a total workaholic and can now see fun side of it again," she said.
"It's given me a whole new lease of life on the shop.
"It's been fun all along but because when I was sick, the pressure felt like it was on for a while. I learnt it is supposed to be fun, not just the pressure to make everything fun."
During her illness, Sonia's mother, Gail Tavener, looked after the store.
"Mum looked after shop non-stop. It's only been in last two months I have able to be back doing things.
Support for Sonia flowed during those two years through loyal customers sending their well-wishes.
"It was really overwhelming the amount of cards and pressies and the amount of people asking how I was," Sonia said.
"I had more than 300 little notes people wrote for me. It makes me emotional thinking about it.
"It really helped when I was sick to have mum bring a bundle of stuff home each week. People were still loving the shop so I was really grateful."
This Saturday, Sonia will step back behind the shops counter to serve for the first time in two years.
It adds to the anniversary celebrations, which are sure to be in the shop's usual kooky style.
"There will be balloons, of course," Sonia said.
"We will have a lot of Bendigo made food and our famous hot chocolate that features on Bob Days (members' days).
"The new catalogue is coming out, which is a really exciting and there will be some funky music and a nice party vibe in store.
"It will be some '70s funk as opposed to the usual Frenchy-chic style we have."
After 10 years in store, Sonia's artistic design has stayed close to her original style.
"I've always had my own style," she said.
"We are still selling things that we started selling 10 years ago.
"The classic range includes the Owl and the Pussycat, Alice (in Wonderland) and the bunny, and Red Riding Hood."
"Sonia said she had always drawn since she was a child.
"I was always given a piece of paper and pencil and I went on to designing toys and bags and things.
"When I got into (the store) I decided to start printing things."
Sonia said she was hoping for more of the same when it come to the future.
"I think we're so different to anything else, you can’t really compare it," she said.
"Not just the stock in here but our rapport with our customers and us finding things people haven’t seen before.
She also wants to meet people who are experiencing the store for the first time.
"Some people say don’t go in because the don’t have little kids. We’re cute but we're a cute shop for adults," she said.
"When we opened we were always cute and kooky, I think that's still true today."
Bob Boutique's 10th anniversary celebrations run from 11am to 3pm on Saturday. Bob Boutique is located in Williamson Street next to the Shamrock Hotel.
For more pictures and a video log on to www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au