Situated over in the cosy community area of Cooranbong sits a boutique retail space that is well worth the drive out to this sometimes-forgotten suburb of Lake Macquarie; Peggy Bee Shoppe.

Brought to you by teacher turned retail extraordinaire, Lauren, launched Peggy Bee Shoppe in June this year and has been a welcome addition to the local community.

“I just love little retail boutiques and love falling into them when you’re travelling through little towns. I love homewares and we renovated our house so I was always trying to find beautiful products. I love Australian-made products and I’d always had a dream of having my own space.

“I wanted to do something creative after having children and having not worked for so long. This space became available, and I wasn’t even thinking about doing anything at the time. I had always said that if this particular spot became available that I would love to have a shop there. It came up, and we just went for it,” Lauren shared.

Working with local builders, Skelcon Constructions, the interiors had a full refresh having knocked out what was originally two separate spaces into becoming one larger space. The finished product was a labour of love from those surrounding Lauren with her brother completing the countertop, her sister, father, mother, and mother-in-law all contributing their own products, and even her nan playing a vital role in the name of the store.

“Peggy was my grandma and she recently passed away last year. She was just a really big part of my life, and she would have just loved this shop. She loved shopping and browsing boutiques. The bee is a nod to my dad’s beekeeping and that side of things.”

As you approach this quaint little corner shop, it’s like stepping into a boutique found in the quiet corners throughout England and Europe. Finished throughout with natural textures and dried florals, the space exudes sophisticated, yet approachable and welcoming vibes.

“It’s homely and warm. I’d like to think people feel welcomed when they enter the Peggy Bee environment. I love natural products and textures and the space definitely reflects that.”

Walking around the store, you can’t help but feel like you want to take it all home with you. From gorgeous treasures for the little ones and locally made skincare products to bespoke jewellery, hand-poured candles, and everything in between.

With a focus on local and Australian-made products and brands, some of our favourites you can expect to see in-store include polymer clay earrings from Whimsy Mimsy, botanical bath products from Petit Papillon, local honey, florals by Wandering Flora and Wildly Eden, stationery & puzzles by Bespoke Letterpress, and so much more.

Lauren, alongside her incredibly talented and passionate team, are excited to invite you into their Cooranbong-based space to browse their unique and eclectic range of products.

“It’s been really good. I have never done anything like this before so there has been lots of learning on the go. But I have this amazing team of girls that help me in the store, and overall, it has been really fun, and we’ve really enjoyed it.”

Next time you’re on the lookout for a gift, looking for somewhere to browse, or intrigued to explore the suburb of Cooranbong, drop into Peggy Bee Shoppe and enjoy a little retail therapy.