By Abbey Cannan
Noosaville entrepreneur and mum Sally Rankin went from working as a chef on private super yachts to selling coastal style homewares and antiques for locals and tourists across the globe.
After 10 years of sailing, she came back to her hometown to raise a family and opened an online store, which now operates as Coastal Vintage, over five years later, with part-time mums.
With a passion for home décor, Sally spends her days juggling her kids, family and the business.
“After a decade of working on boats I wanted to do something that reflected my old life, and with a love for coastal and nautical style home wares and antiques, I decided to combine both,” Sally said.
“When I moved back to Australia, I started a business selling fair trade wares. I sold it four years later when my first born was six months old. 18-months later when my second born was six months old I started this business.”
Lifestyle and being close to the sea is what brought Sally back to Noosa.
“We have been living here for six years in the Noosa Hinterland. Our girls go to Eumundi school and we love the community and friends that we have made here.”
Sally’s husband also has his own business, so together they share the juggle of raising kids.
“It’s not easy but we support each other and love having a family,” Sally said.
“I’m first up in the morning and work an hour or so before everyone else wakes and I can organise my day. I also have a very supporting mum and in-laws that visit often and look after our girls while my husband and I go away on buying trips.
“Also, as we operate the business out of a warehouse, we open between school hours and on Saturday mornings. All the crew that work at Coastal Vintage are also mums. This allows us to be able to do the school run and attend to after school activities.”
Sally said her favourite thing about being a mum was the overwhelming love and the time they spend together.
If any mums out there are thinking about starting their own business, Sally said to just do something you love so that it doesn’t become a chore.
“Take your time, do your homework, be prepared for long hours working around the kids, and that you tap into your business seven days a week,” she said.
Sally said they are currently offering Jolie Home paint workshops and also painting their own Coastal Vintage range of oars and paddles for customers.
“As we source wares from Indonesia twice a year, we support the Bali Street Mums project and import their dolls to sell. This empowers impoverished mothers with training and creating incomes.”
