It hasn't been an easy ride during the COVID-19 pandemic for Ararat North's Store owner Cindy Berandi.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"We've had a decrease in trade but nowhere near as much as it could have been," she said.
"I put my mortgage on hold. If I wasn't able to do that I would be in a different position now.
"Pausing the mortgage has made a big difference in my day to day viability ... I'm still robbing Peter to pay Paul at the moment with bills."
Ms Berandi said the unknown of the situation could become stressful at times.
"At one stage we were like everyone else wondering if we were open or closed or open," she said.
"We are pretty lucky that most customers jumped on board and accepted the new restrictions in place."
Ms Berandi said despite sanitising surfaces and cleaning being a part of the business' practices, changes have been put in place.
"We've been making a point of making customers feeling at ease and making sure we are open with our cleaning and sanitising practices."