A passion to make people happy with beautiful things
Gill Gannon’s passion is to make people happy with beautiful things.
Step inside her lifestyle store Wilde Interiors and Flowers and on every shelf, every table, you can see her passion displayed. The rooms abound with gorgeous homewares, accessories and nursery items, all sourced by Gill herself.
Gill had been working in the corporate sector for twenty-five years but when one of her children became ill, she took leave to look after him. At the end of that time, she felt that she no longer felt passion for what she had been doing.
“After a year out of the workforce I knew that I wanted work that would allow me to better balance my family life and that tapped into my creative side - I have an eye for styling and colours,” smiles Gill.
Serendipitously through a local Facebook Group she came across Wilde Interiors and fell in love with the business.
“A few months after opening Wilde Interiors the original owner decided that she needed to sell up due to a change in her family circumstances.
“I honestly thought that the universe sent me a sign! Hand-delivered me something that I wouldn’t have been able to put together myself. The owner had a few other offers but she felt I was the best fit to fulfil the dream that she’d started,” beams Gill.
“We are so invested in our businesses and the success of our businesses, and we put our heart and soul into everything we do and every connection is genuine. It’s not just about a transaction.”
GILL GANNON
So in 2017 Gill took over Wilde Interiors, adding fresh flowers to her offering in 2021 after a co-tenant, a florist, decided to close her business.
Now Gill is able to follow her passion, and together with her current co-tenant Virginia Rabottini of The Teeny Rabbit, they serve, support and connect the local community.
“Part of the reason that the original owner thought I was the right person to take on the business was because of my connection to the community. I live in Williamstown North and my kids all went to school in Newport.
“Virginia and I work every day in my own businesses. We are here from opening to closing every single day. Our families work with us. We are so invested in our businesses and the success of our businesses, and we put our heart and soul into everything we do and every connection is genuine. It’s not just about a transaction.
“Just today someone came in and said ‘I haven’t spent money in here for a while, so I thought I’d drop in because I know the last couple of weeks have been hard on you.’
“The reason my business is successful now is because of my warm relationship with my customers. I look out for them and they look out for me. Whenever someone says that they’ve just moved into the area, my first question is ‘What do you need to know? How can I tell you about where to go and what to do?’”
So while I have an online store and I shop products all over the country, the core of my business is here in the heart of Newport. I really align with this community and I feel that this is where I belong.”
Gill is also the current president of the Newport Traders Association and she believes that what makes the Newport’s traders unique is the strength of their united vision.
“We are all on the same page, we have the same goals, we face the same challenges,” Gill tears up. “These last two years have been so hard for local businesses - but what it has done is rally the troops. The community has offered so much empathy and kindness. Every supportive phone call, text and social media message makes it worth continuing.
“Newport is a beautiful place with a down-to-earth community that really embraces its local traders. I feel so rewarded to be part of it all.”
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