A Beautiful Life with Uncle George
Uncle George is the most colourful shop on the planet and it has new owners bringing a new splash of energy and vibrancy. Carlie Wacker chats with the inspiring couple that have welcomed Uncle George into their beautiful family empire.
Tiffany and Brandon Gombert are united by their love of beautiful things and memorable experiences. They emigrated from Johannesburg, South Africa in 2015 with plans to build a portfolio of businesses that bring joy, colour and exceptional customer service to the lives of Australians.
With Brandon’s experience in corporate leadership roles and Tiffany’s love of exceptional customer service, it was obvious they would succeed in a customer focused industry such as retail.
“We pride ourselves on absolutely exceptional service, always striving to go above and beyond to make sure our customers feel as special as they are,” Tiffany shares. “I have always believed in not only satisfying our customers but also in making them feel truly happy by the time they leave one of our stores. It should be a memorable experience for both our customers and our staff.”
Those memorable shopping experiences began with the purchase of their first boutique under their company, Bunny & Bear Brands, in 2017. Noosa Juniors on Hastings Street was a well established children’s boutique when the Gombert’s took over and they have continued to grow the much-loved local kids clothing hub ever since, even adding their gorgeous in-house brand, Laguna Bay Original Clothing.
“The kids’ fashion and swimwear industry is constantly changing,” says Tiffany. “You need to stay on top of trends and introducing new brands and categories to replace those that are becoming less popular. There is definitely a niche market for high-end kids’ fashion and in the last few years Noosa Juniors has moved towards specialising in popular labels and continually sourcing new ones.”
Tiffany and the team have cemented Noosa Juniors as the place to go for the best curation of premium, top quality kids’ swimwear and fashion brands not just on Hastings Street, but on the Sunshine Coast with brands including Camilla, Seafolly, Scotch & Soda and Funky Trunks.
Their fresh, fun and oh-so-fashionable store makes me want to be a kid again!
“Our plan was always to grow our company, Bunny & Bear Brands, to multiple stores around Queensland, and possibly the rest of Australia, and for our kids clothing label to be stocked in many locations around Australia and eventually abroad,” Tiffany adds.
The next business expansion opportunity presented itself earlier this year when Uncle George hit the market.
“We have always admired the Uncle George stores in Noosa and Maroochydore and since we were practically neighbours on Hastings Street, we developed good relations with both the owners and all the awesome staff,” says Tiffany.
“When Michelle and Bruce put the business up for sale, we knew we’d be over the moon to have it under our umbrella, even if it meant putting a hold on the other plans. So, we just did it!”
Tiffany and Brandon purchased Uncle George before Easter in April 2023 and couldn’t be prouder.
Uncle George has always been the go-to boutique for a kaleidoscope of colourful homewares and fashion and it’s awesome to hear that the most colourful shop on the planet will stay bright and has found a new family that will love and adore it as much as we do.
“We believe if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Brandon said. “Michelle and Bruce did a wonderful job of creating a lifestyle brand and we intend to continue to play in that niche and not disappoint the legions of loyal fans – and hopefully win more fans over as well.”
Tiffany loves that Uncle George is known for quirkiness and vivid colour.
“Uncle George is sometimes a little bit naughty – but in a nice way,” she says. “It offers a unique design sense and brilliant mix of dazzling products – always a delight for the senses.”
The customer experience continues to grow with familiar faces behind the counter and some fresh new people to help colour your life happy.
For those that want the same Uncle George experience in a more laid-back environment check out the warehouse outlet at 37 Gateway Drive in Noosaville (just down from Bunnings).
“It’s an opportunity to shop Uncle George in a more relaxed environment where customers can browse through lookbooks and catalogues for that perfect piece of furniture or work of art for their home or business,” says Tiffany.
Colour your life happy and pop in and say hello to Uncle George’s new family.
