HEARD IT ON THE GRAPEVINE OR FROM THE HORSES MOUTH?

On this occasion we would be grateful if the local grapevine was correct about our business being sold. Many customers have come in to congratulate us and ask us about our next steps. The truth is we have not had any offers to purchase the Pemberton General Store despite our best efforts to reach as many people as possible in the past 18 months.

At this point, we want to set the record straight and to encourage any locals who have perhaps been thinking of taking up this opportunity to come and have a chat with us.

Whoever purchases the shop is walking into a well set up and thriving business, which just had its most profitable financial year! There is still plenty of opportunities for someone to make their own mark on the business. We understand that the hours may put some off, but whilst the opening hours are long, your day is never as long or as hard as you may think. Depending on what involvement you are looking for you can be all in, or you could, manage it with minimal onsite presence.

Whilst it may seem daunting to step into Lionel's shoes, the business is at a point where anybody can step in and run it just as successfully. Despite what many think, Lionel does not run the business alone. It has very much become a success due to teamwork involving myself, Verity and Angus and the staff who have worked for us now and in the past. Lionel and I are also very open to providing as much support as is needed in the first 12 months. We are also willing to provide holiday relief during that period. Vendor Finance is also an option.

Another reason for setting the record straight is to let the community know that whilst it is our aim to sell the business, we are not willing to wait for a sale. Given it has taken us longer than we anticipated to build the business and relocate to its current purpose built building we are now ready to move on to new adventures.

With that in mind, should an offer not be received by early 2026, we will be working towards closing the business. If this is the plan that eventuates, we will have our last trading day on 30th June 2026.

As we have said this is not our preferred option, but life is short and we are not getting any younger so are not willing to continue to for an indefinite period of time.

In all seriousness if there is somebody out there who is keen but perhaps not sure of taking on such a venture, please come and have a chat with us.

noagentbusiness.com.au - property ID 37114

Lionel Lee and Sheree Starling-Lee