Ken and Ann Laves have operated their family business, House2Home in Kiama for 25 years. 

They are key members of the community, both born at the hospital and raised in Jamberoo and Kiama respectively. It’s the only store in Kiama where you can stock up on kitchenware, home decor, party and art supplies – all in the same place.  

End of August, they announced they would be closing their doors to the community, but sticking around until after Christmas to supply the town with their last-minute needs.

“We offer so much you can’t get in town, it’s where we’re needed,” said Ann. 

However, with the rising cost of wages, stock and bills to be paid and not getting enough customers to keep the business flowing, they’ve made the decision to pack up the shop in the new year. 

Ken has felt the strain of the community not visiting local businesses, “it’s tough for businesses in town, everything’s going up. It’s just about people coming through the door.”

Ann’s late father, Bill Swan, was a well-known businessman in Kiama, who built the row of shops that known today as Rosebank Place and operated the much-loved Swan’s Butchery and the Kiama Abattoir for many years.

They hope their daughter, Cara, will carry on some of the services operated at House2Home, such as the balloon and party services.

“We do, however hope to continue on in town in some way, shape or form, and hope to continue with balloons somehow,” Cara said. 

The family announced the shop’s closure in August, with a range of factors contributing to their decision. Cost of business has been a turning point for them, with increasing costs across all fronts combined with less sales and fewer people spending their coin locally. 

Cara describes the covid-19 pandemic as an okay period for the business, as people were spending more time in the town and shopping locally, followed by a worldwide helium shortage, ongoing construction and cost of business rising meant “surviving was exhausting,” she says. 

House2Home will continue to operate until the new year, they will be providing Kiama with Christmas essentials and thank all of the locals, who have supported them over the last two decades.

“We couldn’t have lasted this long without each and every single one of them. Whether you bought a $1 card here and there, or whether you came in and spent hundreds in one transaction, every sale has kept us going,” Cara said. 

Local businesses are most at risk when costs increase. As people prioritise their spending, it’s the businesses that keep Kiama running that feel it the most. 

“Try the local business before going to the shopping centres out of our town. Try them before the big guys like Kmart. Try them before going online and purchasing from the likes of Temu and Amazon. Do a couple of laps of the street or walk a little bit further to get to them if you can’t find parking. Don’t assume that they’re too expensive, because they may not be. Support local business wherever and whenever you can,” Cara said.