The only way is up for View Street boutique baroness

A VIEW Street shop owner whose size-inclusive boutique sits directly across the road from the on-pause Bendigo Art Gallery has issued a defiantly positive message about surviving business, surviving change, surviving closures and surviving life.

Pink Honey’s Georgie Pell, who relocated her small business from Kangaroo Flat to the arts precinct about three years ago, posted her affirmation-filled clip to Facebook on 1 February – set to the tune of Elton John’s I’m Still Standing – and since then the plaudits have rolled in.

Ms Pell said she was aware of the impending gallery redevelopment and subsequent two-year closure when she signed the lease for 97 View Street.

“We already knew what we were in for, but we thought it is such an amazing street – it’s beautiful, it’s buzzing, and we’ve got a great group of fellow shop owners,” she said.

“View Street has a lot of female shop owners, they’re all lovely, empowering, and want the best for everyone in our community.”

She said the entire strip knows it’s going to be tough in the interim, but everyone has pivoted because they knew they needed to.

“Some of us, including myself, have gone back to teaching, others have taken second jobs, that’s just the way it is,” she said.

“It’s a great challenge for all of us to get ahead and not just wait around for customers.”

Ms Pell also made the point that her Facebook post, while being prompted by the challenging situation she finds her shop in, is “actually more than that”.

“It’s much more than about banding together,” she said.

“It’s also about celebrating females, showing that we can do anything, having fun, doing life positively, because there’s so much more out there.

“We’re all about raising awareness of women and celebrating success, ensuring that women feel safe, and when they come to View Street they feel empowered, important and seen.”

As a single mother with a neurodivergent child, working part-time as a teacher and uncounted hours as a retail renegade, the question has to be asked: how does she manage everything?

“I’ve got no choice,” she said.

“I’ve got a mortgage, I’ve got bills like anyone else, and I want my dream to succeed.

“If we can keep going over the two years, once the gallery is up and running again, the street is going to be booming and it’ll be so awesome for Bendigo.”

Ms Pell’s clip can be viewed on Facebook.