Local business: farewell to Hilary's Boutique

One of Fairy Meadow’s iconic fashion businesses, Hilary’s Boutique, closed its doors in April.

We spoke to Lynne Marshall about the Fairy Meadow business, it’s history, why it was so important to the community and how it’s changed over the years...

Hilary’s Boutique has been an iconic store in Fairy Meadow. Why did you decide to buy it?

I’ve owned it for 14 years and it’s been around for 20-odd years. It was at Figtree before that and then it moved to Fairy Meadow. I bought it off Hilary DeJong 14 years ago.

Hilary wanted to retire. My husband retired and I couldn’t think of anything worse, so we bought it. I’d worked there six or seven years before I bought it.

Why was the business moved from Figtree to Fairy Meadow?

It was moved to Figtree to get out of the shopping centre rents, which were just exorbitant. Fairy Meadow was starting to become a bit of a destination. Other businesses were moving out there.

What do you remember of the early days of the business?

I put my own slant on things when I bought it. I wanted to do certain things and have different styles. Things have changed over the years as people started to travel a lot more. There was a lot more cruising and those types of holidays.

Joseph Robkoff would have been my main label. It was a Canadian label and it fitted the real woman. It was a great label, and they were wonderful to work with. They were a great company that looked after us. There were lots of other ones in between and some that we stocked before they came to Australia and were stocked in-house.

Every season is different and so you look at the fashion and look at what customers you have. I had very loyal customers who I had for many years.

I’m a hairdresser by trade and was in Sydney for many years. Then we moved down here, because my husband was in construction. I decided I wanted to do something different. So I worked in a bank and then this come up with Hilary’s and thought, that will be different - let’s try it. And I loved every minute of it.

What are some memorable moments or highlights from throughout the history of the Fairy Meadow business?

The friendships I made over the years. I enjoyed styling and dressing people for occasions. I used to say you could pay for stylists or you can come to me and I’ll do it for nothing at Hilary's Boutique.

I enjoy dressing people and I enjoy suggesting things and making sure people are stepping out of the square sometimes. I found that really rewarding.

How has the business changed over the years?

COVID was the only thing we had to shift with. Other than that, it seemed to roll along nicely. I used to thoroughly enjoy the buying and going to Sydney or to expos. It was my hobby. That’s how I looked at it - it was my baby and my identity really.

I got to put my own stamp on it and I was really proud of myself for that. If you enjoy what you’re doing, you usually succeed.

I met some very nice people. I like the one on one with people - I think that’s my forte in life is to chat with people and get to know them.

What appealed to people about Hilary's?

People were drawn to the labels but also the service. It became a personal thing. I gave everybody my all. People would always thank me for dressing me or for suggesting things they may not normally wear.

People would come from Sydney, from down the coast and from the local Fairy Meadow area. Fairy Meadow became a destination once it grew with coffee shops. So people would have a day out there.

At one stage we had about six dress shops - everyone was moving there. You could come out and enjoy a coffee or people would come into the store to chat. If they had a wedding on or an event, they’d come in.

KC’s Shoes came and then Hilary’s, so people started to think “oh, well, there must be something in the air there”. So a few more businesses came to try it. You know, it takes a few. And I think people want to get out of shopping centres.

What did you love about working within the Fairy Meadow community? Why would you recommend the area to others?

It’s a wonderful area with very friendly and helpful people. We were a community.

That showed when I left, Different businesses came through with best wishes and presents. Everybody knows everybody, so there’s definitely a strong community there. It supports everybody.

What prompted you to retire?

I survived COVID quite well. I had been trying to sell before then. I thought it was time, especially at my age. My husband wanted to do a bit more travelling and be with the grandchildren.

COVID did change my direction and my perception on life. I was doing the strategy plan for the shop and I thought “Oh, do I really need this?” I re-evaluated everything and knew I had to make a decision. I thought I’ve got to do it in between seasons. Winter is always a tough season anyway. So I made the call and that was it.

It was a very hard decision, I must say. It was very hard to hand the keys over to the agent. That was very emotional.

It’s the end of an era, really.

I rang Hilary and said “well, it’s the end of Hilary’s”. I still keep in touch with her and we do breakfasts with all the girls we used to work with. We’re all still friends..

So what am I going to do with myself? Well, play golf, I suppose (laughs).

I’m going to miss everybody. Everyone who used to pass by and call in, or they’d say hellos as they walked by. Everyone was so friendly. So now I’ll be going into town to have coffee with everyone and annoying them (laughs).