Australians are constantly being told to get ready for a "new normal" as restrictions ease, and Sara Winston-Smith is already there.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The owner of The Magic Pudding has just finished her first full week at the shop following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
Those hours were 9-5 during the week plus a half-day on Saturday, but instead of spending the whole time at the shop, she now has to put aside time daily to fulfil online orders.
"When everyone shut down, we started free delivery around Tamworth and I also have an online store where I have to pack and deliver orders," Ms Winston-Smith said.
"That [online] trade has actually increased so I need 9-10am to pack orders, then I need 4-5pm to get to the post office or deliver around town.
"We have to service all our customers. There are people that still do not want to come out and are still ordering online. I get that and I respect that."
READ ALSO:
The Peel Street store was closed for most of April when Ms Winston-Smith took her son Hugo, 4, out of day care.
Around looking after her son, Ms Winston-Smith went about improving her online store and delivering orders around town.
Ms Winston-Smith said sales were mixed over the four weeks the store was closed.
She said a lot of people "started creating in the kitchen" which drove sales of herbs, spices and condiments.
And Easter was "a great time" for the business but on the whole sales were down.
"I had two weeks, that I can tell you for a fact, I was 89 per cent down," she said.
It took Ms Winston-Smith a further three weeks to get back to full-time hours.
She started opening Wednesday to Saturday after she was "convinced there was no community transfer" of COVID-19.
"The initial hours were so people that wanted to come in, could come in, have a look and actually touch and feel all of these things," Ms Winston-Smith said.
"But we did strict quarantine. Everyone had to hand-sanitise before they touched anything.
"A lot of people were grateful we were open."
A lot of people were grateful we were open.
- The Magic Pudding owner Sara Winston-Smith
Ms Winston-Smith wouldn't be surprised if things change again at the store.
Factors like schools reopening fully and regional travel being allowed will play a part in the store's opening hours. The business owner also said she wouldn't hesitate to close again.
"As soon as there's community transfer or any mention of that in Tamworth, I'll be pulling Hugo from day car again and we will shut down immediately," she said.
"My decisions are purely based on my kids."