LET’S TALK BUSINESS - The timeless appeal of time

Clock Shop is an Australian owned and operated small family business based in Montville. This German chalet-inspired stone and shingle building has been welcoming customers through its doors since the business was established in 1993. Today, it’s run by Holly and Dan Hoffman, and we caught up with Holly to find out more about taking on such a ‘must see’ business.

1) Where were you born and raised and what brought you to the hinterland?

I was born and raised on The Sunshine Coast Hinterland, so the area well and truly has my heart.I went to Blackall Range Independent School for my Primary years and then on to Burnside High. 

I spent most of my 20s living away and travelling overseas and then came back to settle on the Coast after having my first child and realising it was a nicer place to raise a family than London. My parents still live in my childhood home in Dulong! 

When I was younger the Coast felt so small and unexciting, but after being away for so long and seeing so much of the world, you come to appreciate how good we have it here! I love raising my children here - such a geographically beautiful area and such a balanced lifestyle. I don't think I could ever live in a city again!

2) Please tell us how you came to run The Clock Shop and some of its history?

My husband's parents began Clock Shop 32 years ago and when they were looking to retire about five years ago, Dan and I saw the opportunity to continue their legacy. Throughout my career I had been a secondary school teacher, a personal trainer and then a full-time mum when my kids were little - entrepreneurship was not in my blood! 

Being a small business owner was not on my bingo cards! But Dan had worked on and off for his parents throughout his life and he knew the business inside and out. 

Although we never aspired to own Clock Shop, it felt like the right time and the right decision for us. It really did just kind of happen and we have not looked back! 

3) What are the challenges involved in running a business like this?

The main challenge Dan and I have faced since owning Clock Shop was when the world shut down because of Covid, just three days after we took over the business! 

That was an extremely stressful time - like a lot of small businesses at the time we faced huge challenges and wondered what the heck we had gotten ourselves into - but luckily we had the foresight to pivot heavily into the online space and invest our time and energy into improving our web store and on-line presence. Ultimately I think that was what stopped us from going under during the Covid years. 

Now, the greatest challenge is helping educate people about the value of investing in quality, handmade products. We live in a throwaway society where everyone wants a bargain! 

Importing internationally from Germany always presents its challenges...  And also, being a small tourist based town, our business is very seasonal. Although we have our web-store, our store in Montville is the heart of our business and where we love to meet our valued customers.

4) What can a typical day entail for you?

I love that my role at Clock Shop is so varied and differs from day to day. I balance my work week between days on site in Montville and days working from home. 

When I am in store I am serving customers, working on clock/product displays, answering phone inquiries, supporting our wonderful staff, quality controlling our stock, stock counts, cleaning, taking footage for social media content and having business development meetings with various members of our team. 

My home days are spent doing staff rosters, responding to online inquiries, troubleshooting clock issues with our customers, hiring/managing staff, and making social media content.

5) Do you have any special or funny moments at the shop that you’d like to share?

One of the most fun things to ever happen in our store was when we were asked to have a challenge in The Amazing Race filmed in store. We had to close the shop down one afternoon while the challenge was taking place - there were so many cast and crew there! 

It was really fun to be a part of and when the episode finally came out it was fantastic to watch our little store on TV! People still come in, years later and say they loved that particular episode and seeing us on TV.

6) Do you have any advice for someone looking to buy one of your special clocks?

I absolutely love helping customers select a special clock for their home. So many people - especially those with European heritage - have special memories of being in a grandparent's house and hearing the chime or cuckoo of a clock. They come into the store and have a beautiful nostalgic moment. 

I think finding a clock that suits the aesthetic of a house design and colour scheme is one thing, but I like helping people determine the feeling they want in their home. Is it the melodic sound of a chiming wall clock, the bold strike of a Grandfather Clock, or the quirky call of the cuckoo that appeals to them? 

Do they want to invest in an heirloom that will be passed on for generations? We feel that a ticking clock is like the heart beat of a house - it is both soothing and comforting. 

7) What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time realistically I am doing kids' school runs, running our three kids around to various lessons, sporting activities and part-time jobs and on the never-ending food production cycle! When I am not being a mum, a business owner or a domestic goddess, I enjoy reading, walking, weight lifting, baking, camping, travelling, spending time with girlfriends and my aging parents.

8) What is a favourite quote or saying that inspires you?

I know it is a bit cliché, but my favourite saying of all time is BE KIND. To yourself and to others. I truly believe if we all could treat one another with the kindness, love and respect we all deserve, the world would really be a better place for us all.

Clock Shop, 94 Main Street, Montville, 4560. Phone: 5442 9409. Website:.clockshop.com.au