An exciting new store has opened in Gerringong, which is the long held dream of business partners, long term surf shop enthusiast Mick Morgan and artist and designer Grant Findlay.

Both were co-owners of On Print Gerringong, the T-shirt printing business next to Gerringong Petroleum in Fern Street which has now closed. They have transferred to the more ambitious Core Store a few steps up in the main shopping block of Gerringong at Shop 1/131 Fern Street opposite Old School Park. The Core Store launched on Friday 1 September from 4pm to 7pm. The store will officially open from 9am Saturday 2 September.

Mick has operated a number of surf shops over the years including The Core in Nowra about 25 years ago which was unfortunately lost to fire. Mick was in the shop at the time and lost his entire collection of surfboards in the blaze, so it is a dream come true to rebirth the old store name in a new site in Gerringong on a grand and ambitious scale.

The Core Store is designed to cater to the young and active who want that comfortable loose clothing feel, which celebrates their relaxed outdoor lifestyle. Core is very unusual as it is selling its own brands, all designed by Grant, in the store, which are also printed on site (Tom is their apprentice who does most of the T-shirt print out the back). The Core team are Tom, Peta (who helps manage the store), Grant and Mick, who are all from Shoalhaven Heads and embedded in local surf culture. 

The business On Print T-Shirt company is still on site and part of The Core Store, so you can still order and print T-shirts of your choice and design on site.

Grant is a well-known local artist and sculptor who has the Unreal Rocks Statue Gallery in Shoalhaven Heads with easily his most prominently visible work the 'White Dragon' (head along Seven Mile Beach by Gerroa Road, and then turn right towards Berry on Coolangatta Road, and it is on your left near Meadow Ridge Wines) near Seven Mile Beach. The Dragon, described as of ‘natural’ colour is four-and-a-half metres tall and weighs six tonnes. Grant also made the Green Frog Statue in the Shoalhaven Heads Botanical Gardens and the three soldiers in the Mateships statue in Shoalhaven Heads Memorial Park. 

The Brands are ‘Hidden Fury’ for ladies and men, ‘Generation Earth’ for ladies and men, ‘Gener8’ which is activewear, and a fun label for active kids and teens called ‘Gerri Groms’. Accessories are 20 percent of the store, such as local Gerringong-made jewellery by LB Art and Design, and well-known lines like Kavala swimwear, Winki Suits swimwear, LiiVe sunnies and Olvaki shoes.