When Veronica Goodlet stopped working for Services NSW recently, her husband suggested it would be a good opportunity to become a woman of leisure and not have to work.
“I said if I get the job at Dimmeys as manager, I’m taking it,” she said.
“It is actually the only job I applied for as it was the only one I wanted. It was always a dream to run the place.”
And run it she is.
“I always thought that Dimmeys needed a new facelift and someone new with new fresh eyes to bring it back from where it used to be, because Dimmeys used to be one of the best places you could go for a bargain and it still is.
“I just want to revamp that.”
Mrs Goodlet has been working hard with colleagues to give the iconic Broken Hill store the spruce-up it needed and she says it has taken four people over 500 hours to get it to where it is at the moment.
“And we are still not finished yet as there is still plenty more to do,” she says.
“We are way over stocked and what we have on the floor is just a drop in the ocean of what stock is actually to come out yet.
“I can’t wait to have the massive big sale on Saturday and move some of the stock on the floor and revitalise with new stock,” Mrs Goodlet said, talking about the upcoming 50% off sale.
First opening its doors in 1853, Dimmeys has 17 stores across Australia with a large range of quality products at discount prices.
In 1904 the store was taken over by John Jeffrey and became renowned for its big sales.
It was a time of economic depression and Mr Jeffrey saw a gap in the market for quality products at discount prices.
He coined the philosophy ‘Always a Bargain’ which is the cornerstone of the modern Dimmeys too.
They are able to keep prices low as their business model is one of buying products from businesses that are liquidating or local factories that have excess stock.
This gives the business the quirky reputation for never quite knowing what you might find on the shelves.
Some of the brands on display at the store in Broken Hill include Bonds and Fruit of the Loom but apparel is only one of the many product lines the store carries.
Mrs Goodlet says there is no doubt about the quality.
“We have suits here that are worth over $600 selling for $99, these are quality Italian suits.
“Dimmeys buys quality so that it can sell it at a cheaper price.
“A lot of the clothing we sell is Australian-made and if it’s not the clothing it’s the products.
“I reckon if you can sell Australian-made you’re already doing the country a favour.
“We are a friendly mob, and if you’re after a bargain head on down to Dimmeys.”
