Work clothes shop celebrates birthday

STAFF behind a Ballarat business providing clothing and gear for workers across various industries will soon acknowledge a quarter of a century in operation.

Hip Pocket Workwear and Safety Ballarat is turning 25 this year, and both the Howitt Street and Delacombe Town Centre (DTC) branches are in party mode this month.

Special offers and discounts on select products are running until early March, while everyone is invited to join in the business’s birthday celebration on Thursday 27 February,

The main event will be held at the Howitt Street store in Wendouree from 11am to 3pm, and will feature an outdoor breakfast with a sausage sizzle, a coffee van, and a live broadcast from Power FM, as well as giveaways.

Hip Pocket Workwear and Safety Ballarat director John Gleeson said 25 years in operation is an incredible achievement.

“It’s delightful to be able to take a step back and appreciate how far we have come in the last 25 years,” he said.

“We are very proud of what we have achieved, but also extremely grateful for the strong relationships we have built over that time with our clients, suppliers and the Ballarat community.”

Established in 2000 by Peter and Cathy Keller at 914 Howitt Street, the local branch grew from the original Hip Pocket store, which opened in Bendigo in 1993.

Since then, the franchise now has 55 stores across the country.

Taking over the Ballarat business in 2008 with his partner Sylvia, Mr Gleeson relocated the business to its current space at 1265 Howitt Street in 2013 and established a DTC satellite store in 2021.

He said the business has remained proudly local since day one.

“The Hip Pocket catchcry is ‘we’re from around here’ and we pride ourselves on being 100 per cent Australian owned and operated, providing the highest level of customer service and product knowledge, and most of all in delivering a reliable and efficient client service,” Mr Gleeson said.

“Underlying all of this is our strong commitment to supporting our local community.”