Chantelle Campbell has just been interrupted by a customer. His British accent is out of place in Tasmania’s far north. He tells her he likes the shop’s new layout, but he’s worried about the colour of the back wall.
She agrees, it’s already on her never-ending to-do list. Twelve months ago, Campbell, who is married with two boys, took a massive risk – and it paid off.
She went from working three jobs to taking over a clothing store in Exeter, a town of about 600 people.
For the customers – some of whom drive for hours to shop there – the store isn’t just about T-shirts and pullovers, it’s about community. They have a stake in it.
The store sits in the electorate of Bass, where in 2022 the moderate Liberal Bridget Archer overcame the one-term curse to hold the seat with a 1% margin over Labor.
Campbell says she isn’t overly political – she thinks they’re all a bit useless, and she hasn’t made up her mind who she will vote for. But that doesn’t mean she’s not passionate. She is concerned about the rise in struggling households, worried about her boys’ future, and frustrated beyond belief about the price of groceries.
Tell us about an average week for you
First up is getting the boys to school. I take Hamish, 13, to Carrick, he catches the bus at eight. Then I drive Hugo, 10, to Hagley, that’s 40 minutes.
I open the shop by nine, if I am on time. It’s about an hour-and-a-half of driving. Then I shut up at five. Andrew, my husband, is really good. He will be home with the kids.
On the weekend the boys play sport, soccer and football. Sometimes we go fishing. Then there’s training three nights a week.
We live in Bishopsbourne, it’s rural. So we are driving, driving all the time. That’s what you get for living out there. But I love it, I love driving home to nothing. Andrew didn’t want to go out there, but I think he likes it now.
Are you working as much as you want?
Before I had the shop, I was doing three jobs. It was hard. I was making jewellery, working in a butcher shop, and doing laser cutting. Andrew had a good job, working full-time, but things were tight.
I did those manual jobs because I didn’t have a qualification. I didn’t think I could do anything else. But you pick up skills here and there.
We had a caravan just sitting there. So when the shop came up for sale, we took the risk, sold it and got a loan to help us buy the shop.
But if the community didn’t embrace me, it would have all been over.
It’s different in the country. Everyone knows everyone, everyone is up for a chat. It’s really friendly, it’s more personable. You become friends with everyone. That’s what makes it work.
What are the major stressors for you right now?
With the shop, trying to predict what to buy for six months down the track, what people might like. And trying not to overspend on things that people might not like. Worrying about if I’ll be able to pay that $10,000 bill in eight months’ time.
Basically from the start, I’ve come in very naive. We put heaps into it, every cent. That wouldn’t be something that I would normally do, but we were like, let’s give it a crack.
We take it day by day. It could all go to shit. Who knows what’s going to happen?
Do you think you are better or worse off than three years ago?
Absolutely better. Life-changing.
Do you think life was better for your parents?
I wouldn’t say so. Mum and Dad both worked their butts off. Houses were cheaper back then. Food is more expensive now. But wages were lower [then]. I am not sure, I just think they worked their arses off to get what they’ve got.
Do you think it will be better for your children?
Better, I hope. I don’t want them to be slackers, I want them to see: this is what you can get when you get stuck in. And if you want to maintain your lifestyle when you’re an adult, you better get a good job. I just want them to be happy, and have a stable place to live. Just get by all right.
What could the federal government do to make your life easier?
Bring the cost of food down. Don’t let the supermarkets get away with what they’re getting way with. A box of tacos are on special this week for $9 when the standard price always used to be $5.
Bring the cost of power bills down. How are people keeping their lights on? We’re all right but you hear stories. The companies do whatever they want and the government lets them do it.
Where do you get your news and information from?
I talk to my husband. I watch the ABC news, I feel it out. But I don’t feel confident when I vote that it’s going to change anything.
Who will you vote for and why?
I do care, but I actually really don’t know. I’m not dead set on either one of the parties. I think they’re all a bit out for themselves. What’s changed? Nothing has got better.
The cost to live now, it’s just horrendous. They’ve got a food bank down the road here, people put stuff in it and the next day it will be empty. There are lots of people struggling. I know it’s hard. The government should have never let it get to this.
And who is reaping the rewards? The supermarkets and the banks.
