If I win Lotto and profit is not necessary I will set up a book/music/curio shop in this tradition. A hub for people of like mind to gather.

It's about people and connections in the end ... Or it should be ...

I dunno, maybe I'm a dreamer, maybe I'm not the only one ...

I wonder how many women realize that many "high end" fashion magazines are already doing EXACTLY this...

Pages and pages and pages of what are essentially adverts for the must have signs of affluence and paying for the privilege of being sold these items....

Exactly. And when asked for advice she could say "I'm terribly sorry but I only work here" and then hand them the leaflet they need - either at a cost and with same money off coupon or as a freebie. Or even the cost could be paid for by a tiny rise in prices.

But maybe we are reading it wrong and Aussies will be happy enough to pay $5? They do seem willing to cough up for everything else

The aussie description is apparently "face like a smashed crab"

Well, actually I'd have launched an online proposition; information + competitive prices. After all, the market for gluten free has to be pretty constrained, with only a certain number of people locally (many of which she will have pissed off). Trawl the australia-wide marketplace off the back of the publicity instead. Hell, you could probably make a brand off the back of being a sour-faced cow if you were careful about it (and the customers didn't have to deal with her in person).

I'm with you and not withstanding what I said: with the safety net of a lotto win I would have no qualms in setting up an antiquarian bookshop and running it in a very idle fashion....

Exactly. Also, since she seems ticked off that she spends hours giving free advice, maybe she should advertise evening or weekend GF living seminars. She could hold them in the store, charge $5, and serve refreshments. One of the health food/organic food shops I used to shop at back in Canada did this all the time with great success. Then again, they seemed friendlier and genuinely big on customer service.

I wouldn't shop anywhere that charged me an entry fee just to walk in the door. Part of going to a specialty store is to see if they carry the brands you expect. I buy GF quite often and can tell you that not all companies are the same and quality varies widely. I wouldn't want to have to hand over my browsing fee to find out my Leda GF rum balls aren't routinely in stock.

All you have to do is charge for coffee and home made cakes

The books bring you in

Wouldn't even consider entering her shop. How the hell can you have confidence in a "speciality" shop when the owner can't even spell what they are supposed to be specialising in? Only asking


Loz x

That did cross my mind when I read the original article!!!

How long have you lived in Queensland? Should the question of literacy every cross your mind?

I did spend a very long time with a highly intelligent college graduate colleague the other day, explaining why you look silly if you write a large notice above a desk saying "The top draw is only for pens and pencils"
I don't think she had even heard the word Drawer before, let alone known how to spell it!

It is spelt correctly, for American English at least. Makes no difference either way really.

This isn't America though

Tell that to the Labor Party, or to Colorbond.