Chrissie Francis, Retail survivors (Doco/Photojournalism (2019))

This photo series of bricks and mortar businesses is part of a long-term project documenting Australian small businesses that have survived the ups and downs of the retail industry. They are the little shops that have survived over 25-30 years or more. They’re the bootmakers, bookbinders, ceramic collectors – small businesses that have found a niche in the marketplace. Many have been fortunate to own their premises enabling them to grow, thrive, evolve and continue to provide a service or product to their community. It’s kept them employed doing what they love. They have a skill set that is sometimes hard to replace. When these small stores disappear, they disappear for good along with their charm and stories. This project aims to capture and tell their stories.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.