Menswear retailer David Cooper has marked 30 years as proprietor of The Coachman, proving the resilience of independent retailers in a tough trading climate.
The Victorian-based store, located in Hampton, will this week mark three decades under the ownership of Cooper.
Cooper purchased the then 16-year-old menswear store in 1982, after completing an apprenticeship in the neighbouring Hattoms store, now gone.
He said despite the changing face of Hampton and the wider Bayside area, The Coachman still attracts regular customers from over 25 years of trade.
Another highlight has been regular wins in the Bayside Business Awards, Cooper said.
"What I am most proud of is that The Coachman has evolved as Hampton itself has evolved, as our customers and their expectations have changed, and as the fashion industry has changed.
"The Coachman both does a better job of serving its customers today than it’s ever done, and it’s a better-run business than ever before, both a benefit of 30 years of hard-won experience."
Targeted at the mid-to-upper menswear market, the multi-brand retailer stocks brands such as Hugo Boss, Gant, D'Urban and Ben Sherman.
It has had several renovations under Cooper's tenure, with the latest aimed at creating an atmosphere of mateship.
“Men are not good shoppers, so you have to give them a reason to come here … which is why we’ve got a proper coffee machine and have sport playing on the flat-screen television," he said.
Cooper is optimistic about the future, despite tough broader retail conditions.
“You might think that after 30 years I’d have had enough but I haven’t … I enjoy the challenge of meeting the market, of staying ahead of fashion trends, of growing the business and making it a success. I’ll be here for many more year yet."