New shop owner pays it forward
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Ruby Cullen models clothing from the Dubbo store. House Of Avi owner Avi Kumar is donating a portion of every sale to a Lions Club charity that supports farmers in drought. PHOTOS: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS/EMY LOU
IT’S no secret the local retail economy is collateral damage in this unprecedented drought, but that won’t stop new shop owner, Avi Kumar, from paying it forward.
Mr Kumar, the owner of women’s clothing store House of Avi on Macquarie Street, is donating a portion of every sale he makes to NSW farmers.
“What I do, is $5 from every sale that we make at House of Avi goes to a charity called Need for Feed, a Lions Club charity that helps struggling farmers; they do hay runs and feed runs and things like that,” Mr Kumar told Dubbo Photo
“I can do my bit for the people who are most affected by this drought, because if they don’t produce, I don’t eat, my children don’t eat, it comes down to grassroots.
“As a business owner, I firmly believe that I should be contributing towards the community that is actually my customer.”
Born in Meerut, India, Mr Kumar spent the last 10 years living in Broken Hill before relocating to Dubbo and opening his store in July.
Mr Kumar sells Indian-crafted woollen and silk scarves, as well as shoes, shawls, ponchos and baby wraps.
The woollen goods are made from NSW and South Australian merino wool, which is transported back to his father’s factory in India for manufacturing.
Mr Kumar said many of his customers comment on his self-instigated charity initiative and feel good about donating to a worthy cause.
On top of donating to farmers, Mr Kumar also offers chemotherapy patients, who want to cover their head due to hair loss, a 50 per cent discount on his silk scarves after witnessing a woman become distressed with her situation.
“I was really moved by a young mother who was undergoing chemo; she was walking past my shop and her headwear fell off and she had a toddler in her arms and she just burst into tears,” he recalled.
“I was with a customer, but I ran out of the shop and across the road to help her and it really left a profound effect on me.
“I thought if I can maybe bring a five-second smile to their face and help them get something to make them feel good in public, then that’s what I’ll do.”
House of Avi is located at 116-120 Macquarie Street, Dubbo.