Lyn and John Cooper are closing up shop for the last time.
Photo by
Georgia Tacey
Lyn and John Cooper are hanging up the boots and shutting up shop.
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The couple have run Footy Korner in Shepparton for the past 30 years, but are now ready to start the next chapter in their lives.
“We’re both 77, and I think we’re the oldest retailers in Shepparton,” John said.
“We want to enjoy what life we have left,” Lyn said.
“We’re very sad; it’s emotional, but we just can’t keep going.”
Lyn and John have been operating Footy Korner and Games World since 1995, with the shop moving around in Shepparton before finding its final home in the middle of the Maude St Mall.
While Footy Korner is closing, John and Lyn want to ensure their customers that they’re not leaving a gap in the market.
“When I explain (to customers) the products are going to two other shops, they’re happy,” John said.
All their games, puzzles and jigsaws, including the exclusive brand Wasgij, will now be sold at Focus Gifts and Cards in the Shepparton Mall, and all their AFL merch, including jumpers, shirts, socks and gifts, will now be sold at Intersport in Shepparton.
Lyn and John Cooper say they’ll miss their loyal customers.
Photo by
Georgia Tacey
Now with retirement on their doorstep, John said it would be difficult to fully take off the sales hat, but they were both looking forward to spending their time travelling and being with their grandkids.
“I’ll probably slow down,” John said.
“I’ve been a salesman all my life, since I was 14, and I just really love it.
“We’ve got a lot of grandkids playing senior footy, and we want to support them.”
“The grandchildren are going to see a lot more of us, and that’s actually what it’s about,” Lyn said.
“We’ll be off for some trips, over to Tasmania, not to overseas, we’ve done all that.”
Around 20 years ago, Lyn and John decided to take an extended break from the shop for their own trip of a lifetime.
“We put somebody in for seven years as a manager, and we travelled every year for seven years,” Lyn said.
“We put a nice guy in, and he managed the store while we travelled.”
“We went around the world ... but you’ve got to do it when you get the chance. We couldn’t do it now,” John said.
“We run (the store) ourselves seven days, and it ties you down a bit, but if you’re in business, well, you got to work on your business.”
Footy Korner’s last day will be on Saturday, January 11, with all the stock on sale until the store closes.
Both Lyn and John said they were grateful to their loyal customers, who they would continue to miss.
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