UPDATE 3pm

Jimmy Possum founder Margot Spalding said she was overwhelmed by the well-wishes  she and husband Alan received after they announced their decision to close their iconic business on Friday.

“It’s been overwhelming today with the level of support from our staff across the country, particularly here in Bendigo, and from suppliers and members of the community,” Mrs Spalding said.

The business started in a backyard shed in Harcourt in 1995 and has grown to employ up to 90 people.

“It was a very difficult decision,” Mrs Spalding said.

“We have lived, breathed and even slept Jimmy Possum for more than two decades.”

Mrs Spalding said she met with the company’s nine apprentices and representatives from the factory to discuss their future.

She said a few were close to finishing their apprenticeships and would do so with Jimmy Possum over the coming eight weeks.

Mrs Spalding said she would attempt to find positions with local businesses for the remaining apprentices.

It had been a privilege to employ and train Jimmy Possum staff, she said, with 70 to 80 apprentices working for the business over the years.

She said they were also proud of the contribution the business had made to the wider community.

“We have contributed massively in a philanthropic way to the community of Bendigo, which has also been a great privilege for us,” Mrs Spalding said.

Facebook users reacted to the announcement with support and well-wishes.

“Remembering Alan in prayers for his rapid recovery,” Gail Fowler wrote on the Bendigo Advertiser page.

“What awesome achievements you have had.

“A standout ethical business, Bendigo can be proud of such a business.”

Mrs Spalding said they had considered selling, but because it was family-run, vertically integrated and operating nationally from Bendigo, the business was complex.

EARLIER

Jimmy Possum is taking its last furniture orders, with owners Alan and Margot Spalding deciding to close the business after 20 years of operation.

A statement from the Bendigo-based business said a number of factors had contributed to the decision to close, but the most pressing was Mr Spalding’s recent diagnosis of cancer.

“We’ve never been people to sit back and take it easy, so we’ll be looking for new opportunities to focus on – but number one in our lives at the moment is Alan’s health,” Mrs Spalding said.

Orders for furniture can be made for a further three weeks, with the stores in Bendigo, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and online to take the final customer orders on Sunday, June 5.

The retail stores will remain open throughout June to sell remaining floor stock and finalise the delivery of customer orders.

“We are very proud of our dedicated and talented people and our workplace initiatives including our remarkable health program, focus on apprenticeships, support for people with disabilities and more recently employment and training for refugees,” Mrs Spalding said.

“We know that this period will be challenging for our staff and we will meet our obligations to them and focus on supporting them to find other employment.”