Local shop helps people to feel good in every shape and size
Sportscraft Port Douglas wins award
Helping men and women feel fabulous in their garments, that is what Anna Winter and her team at Sportscraft Port Douglas love doing most.
The team of five women, all local to the area, all have a passion for fashion and will do their best to create an inviting and welcoming atmosphere for anyone walking into the shop.
For Ms Winter, manager of the Port Douglas shop, this passion stems from a life changing experience.
“I used to dress myself in size 24 and at my smallest, for the grand finale, I was a size 8, so I have a firm understanding of lots of different sizes.
“I’m really conscientious and I take great pride in helping women and men feel their best in any shape.
“Every person, no matter what size, deserves to feel good in the clothes they wear and feel comfortable and stylish. We have an extended size range with Sportscraft that goes into the bigger sizes as well as down to a size 6.
“The best part of the job is welcoming someone in the store and helping them find garments that fit them perfectly and they walk out of here feeling fabulous, no matter what shape they are.”
Award winning shop
Ms Winter and her team recently became runner up in the top “free stand stores” in the country in Australia.
“Sportscraft is owned and operated by a company called APG,” Ms Winter explained. “They also own the clothing brands JAG and Saba, so we became the runner up across all APG stores in Australia.”
A few weeks ago Ms Winter travelled down to Brisbane to receive the award. “I was so excited to hear we had won the award. Many people from Queensland who attended that day were excited to learn a Queensland shop was runner up.
“Us being a tourist town, people knew how quiet it had been up here during Covid. So for us to recover, have the trade improved and to employ five local people to the area is a really positive story.”
Community shop
When Sportscraft just opened its doors in Port Douglas it was greatly welcomed by the community. But only a few weeks later, like many other shops, it had to close due to Covid.
Sportscraft decided to stick it out and stay in the community. Now the normality has returned, the shop has found its groove again.
Ms Winter said that the shop wants to be involved in the local community with events like Carnivale and other future community events.
“We cover a great area with people coming down to Port Douglas from The Tablelands, Cooktown and Mareeba to go shopping.
“We’re in a really great location in Macrossan Street and we have well trained staff, women with lots of local knowledge who can also advise people about the best places to eat in town. We have a little community within the store.
“Because we are a free standing store, people get that extra bit of service and more time to try things on. People can make an appointment with us to come and be styled for work outfits or special events.
“When you have a good culture, get involved in the community and have lots of local knowledge and experience it creates an overall good atmosphere and that’s really important to us, to have an inviting and welcoming store.”