SMALL BUSINESSES NEED US NOW
For decades, small businesses have been the heartbeat of regional towns like Childers, Gin Gin, Woodgate and Bundaberg. They are the family-run bakeries opening before sunrise, the local repair shops staying back after hours, the bookstores, salons and cafés built through years of sacrifice and determination.
But across the region, more businesses are quietly reaching breaking point.
Social media has become filled with heartbreaking posts from owners announcing closures, scaled-back hours or desperate pleas for community support as rising costs continue to squeeze already thin margins. Rent, insurance, electricity, wages and supplier costs continue climbing, while many families are forced to tighten spending amid ongoing financial pressure.
With so many uncertainties following the recent budget announced by the Labor Government, many business owners are questioning what the future holds for small operators. Even successful entrepreneur and Boost Juice founder Janine Allis recently shared concerns on social media about what the current climate could mean for small businesses trying to survive.
Despite grants and funding programs existing, many local operators believe the same businesses, organisations and charities repeatedly receive support, while smaller independent traders are left struggling to compete. Some argue that rather than strengthening communities, it inflates prices and widens the gap between large organisations and the small local operators trying to survive day-to-day.
A local business owner from Gin Gin Uniforms shared the hard truth: behind closed doors she’s paying suppliers, rent and wages before paying herself, carrying constant stress, and dealing with customer complaints while trying to keep the lights on and the doors open.
And for some, financial pressures are only part of the battle.
Lukey PC Repairs recently suffered a break-in, leaving smashed glass throughout the shop. Rum City Exhaust has also dealt with stolen goods, while The Burrum Hair Lounge and neighbouring business A Taste of Burrum were both targeted by thieves.
It is easy to see why so many businesses fail within their first two years. Traditionally those early years bring little to no profit, but now operators are also navigating online competition, rising costs, staffing shortages and the rapid emergence of AI-driven services changing entire industries.
Recent closures across the region are becoming impossible to ignore. Bargara Shoes has closed its doors, while Dimmeys, once able to sustain stores in both Bundaberg and Childers is now winding down operations.
Chitchat spoke with Childers manager Alice about the uncertainty surrounding the Dimmeys closure, with plans currently underway to sell remaining stock before the building is leased out. The store is currently holding a 30 per cent off sale, though no final closing date has been confirmed.
The closure will leave not only another empty shopfront in Childers’ main street, but uncertainty for staff facing the loss of employment.
“How many empty buildings are already sitting in the main street of Childers?” is the question many locals are beginning to ask.
One local business currently fighting to stay open is The Book Boutique.
Two years ago, owner Danielle Marks remortgaged her home to buy the business she had long dreamed of owning. While the idea of running a bookstore and café had always appealed to her, what she discovered was something much deeper — a space built on creativity and community.
“The Book Boutique is so much more than a second-hand bookstore,” Danielle recently wrote. “It’s a safe place, a comforting big hug, for everyone who walks through the door. It’s a community, and a much needed one.”
Originally beginning in Bargara before later moving to Bundaberg, the boutique has evolved far beyond shelves of second-hand books and vinyl records. Inside, visitors will find local artwork, handmade earrings, clothing, paintings and gift cards, all created by talented local artists given the chance to showcase and sell their work. Comfortable lounges invite guests to stay awhile, while a children’s nook encourages young readers to discover the joy of books.
Danielle also makes a conscious effort to support other local businesses in everything she does, including sourcing locally supplied snacks and coffee for the café side of the store.
Over time, the shop has transformed into a thriving community hub. Board Game Fridays bring people together over coffee and conversation, while tea parties, poetry nights, mothers’ groups, birthdays and book clubs regularly fill the space with laughter and connection. Popular “Chapters and Canapés” evenings pair book readings with locally sourced food, and the venue has even hosted Year 12 formals and community events.
But despite the strong support surrounding the business, keeping the doors open has become increasingly difficult.
In an emotional social media post shared more than 80 times, Danielle revealed she had launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover mounting bills and immediate financial pressures facing the business.
“It has taken me months to build up the courage to do it,” she said. “I struggle every day to be a business person rather than a friend. I am soft, but that is who I am.”
Danielle explained she had hoped to run a raffle to raise funds, but regulations surrounding fundraising and “red tape” prevented it from moving forward because the business was not classified as a charity.
With books simply not selling in the numbers needed, she felt she had little choice but to ask the community directly for support.
Like many independent businesses, The Book Boutique faces the ongoing challenge of balancing rising operating costs while still keeping books and events affordable for local families. Most books are priced at $9 or less, with regular promotions such as “Fill a Bag Thursdays” helping make reading accessible for customers already struggling with the rising cost of living.
To help keep the doors open, Danielle launched a fundraising goal of $15,000 by the end of June — a figure she says would help keep the dream alive. To put the challenge into perspective, the business would need to sell approximately 416 books or 750 coffees every week just to reach that target.
While some online suggestions included drastically reducing book prices or moving sales entirely online, Danielle explained those options are not financially sustainable given shipping and operating costs.
The community response has shown just how valued the bookstore has become. Donations quickly climbed toward the $5,000 mark, alongside dozens of supportive comments from locals recognising the importance of preserving spaces that bring people together.
“The Book Boutique isn’t just a book shop, it’s a hub that brings people together,” one supporter wrote online.
Another added: “Books are badly needed in this digital nightmare. Holding a good book in your hands is one of life’s pleasures.”
For those wanting to support Danielle and The Book Boutique, there are many ways to help:
• Buy a book, coffee, gift card or locally made product
• Follow and share the business on social media
• Hire the venue for events or workshops
• Attend community events hosted in the space
• Donate to the GoFundMe campaign
• Simply stop in for a coffee and conversation
The struggles facing independently run businesses are nothing new. Reports suggest around 27,000 businesses across Australia have become insolvent since Labor came to government. But this story is not about politics, nor is it about the criminals targeting hardworking local traders.
This is about community.
Because regional towns have always been strongest when people support one another. Without relying on a third party to take from one group and redistribute to another, communities have the power to directly lift each other up simply by choosing local where they can.
Sharing a business post online. Recommending a local tradesperson. Buying the locally grown tomato instead of the supermarket alternative. Choosing the handmade leather belt crafted by someone in the community rather than a mass-produced import.
These choices may seem small, but together they can make all the difference — helping a small business keep its lights on and determining whether a main street thrives or gains yet another empty shopfront.
When small businesses survive, communities survive with them.
Chitchat Newspaper. June 2026.