A good Habit

Always Habit owner Vanessa Hoe relaxes with a refreshing drink at a popular Brisbane watering hole. This go-getting entrepreneur deserves a glass or two, having opened more retail outlets in 18 months than many open in a lifetime.

:Riders on the storm
Andiamo owner Ronnie Sansonetti (
:Siblings in arms
Bolis Mens founders John, Aglaia and Vicky Bolis (
:Catt's got the cream
Catt's boutique owner Marilyn Catts believes life should be full of colour. "It's amazing, you can take a larger mature lady and dress her in strong colours and bold prints and she'll look a million dollars".
"Sometimes I look at women on the street and I just wish I could get my hands on them and transform them," she says.

:North Melbourne dreaming
Melbourne boutique Meek & Folly's owner Samantha Lehmann knows a thing or two about following a dream while doing keeping her eye on the practicalities. "I always wanted to open a store of my own in North Melbourne. I used to come to the area and count the cars driving by [Queensberry Street North Melbourne] to get a feel for the passing trade."

:Kidswear galore
As readers will see from this image, Noosa Juniors owners Suzanne Bowering and Carolyn Shelley (
:Platinum class
* Former Platinum owner Lucy MacGill takes a break somewhere near the Diana von Furstenbergs to pose for the camera. "The store is designed to take women on a journey of discovery."
"It's about making women feel good about themselves." MacGill is undoubtedly feeling good about herself after being named best South Australian independent.

*Since winning the TNT Ragtrader Retailer of the Year Award for best SA independent, Lucy MacGill has sold the business.

Extra :Urban warfare
Oblivious to the unique fauna of Adelaide's Rundle Street mall, judge Amanda Young (
:Hot stuff
November 2005, Rundle Street Mall, Adelaide: A musician takes refuge from the midday sun in the shade of two naturally occurring giant Christmas baubles.