Perry's Footwear has been a stalwart shop on Barkly Street for over seven years, however in 2021 the ownership of the much loved store has changed hands.
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Perry's Footwear has been operating in Main Street Stawell since 1970. Seven years ago, owner Janita Perry decided to expand the business and open a store in Ararat.
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According to Mrs Perry "everything has it's time" and she didn't need to be running two stores anymore.
"My circumstances changed, I didn't need to be driving to Ararat everyday," Mrs Perry said.
"I still own a store in Stawell, I was never going to run two shops forever."
The shop has been bought by Cheryl Shinners who owns CAS Couture, the shop next door.
According to Ms Shinners she decided to buy Perry's Footwear because the two stores "complement each other".
"It was a shame to see it close, after seven years I definitely feel they (CAS Couture and Perry's Footwear) work well together and complement each other so well," Ms Shinners said.
"It was just meant to be I think, we kept all of the staff on which is a win-win for everyone."
Ms Shinnners is looking to keep things the same for the time being and will look to try to revamp the newly named CAS Footwear in the near future.
"We have been able to offer the customers the same labels and everything they have always known," she said.
"Later on down the track we will try a few new labels, colours and trends but most of the things our customers are used to will carry on."
Mrs Perry is thankful that her former business is now in the hands of someone she knows and trusts.
"We were very very blessed that Cheryl purchased it, she will do a great job, we can still work together if she ever needs anything," she said
"Cheryl is a local in Ararat, it's going to be easier for her being there than it was for me."
Mrs Perry is grateful her old staff will be able to keep their jobs, despite the handover of ownership.
"I couldn't have done it all without the fantastic staff I had down there. They have all been wonderful, she is keeping all the staff we had which sits really well with me, I am really pleased about that," she said.
OTHER NEWS:
Mrs Perry is looking forward to spending some much deserved time with her family now that she only needs to manage one Perry's Footwear store.
"My life will already be easier, not running up and down the highway between Stawell and Ararat," she said.
"I am very much looking forward to being able to spend more time with the family and not having to travel all the time for work and enjoy the hard work we have put in."
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