The Salt Shop: An initiative with a big pinch of difference

When Tracy Lech started an innovative sports coaching program 10 years ago to support disadvantaged children, she knew that although her project was helping, more needed to be done. Fast forward a decade later and Tracy’s vision to create opportunities for disadvantaged Redcliffe Peninsula community members is now a reality – better known to locals as The Salt Shop.

As you walk into The Salt Shop at 118 Sutton Street, you would not know that the store served a bigger purpose than providing great coffee and food, beautiful handmade furniture, and hand-crafted soaps and scrubs. Look a little closer and you will see the friendly, well-positioned outlet is an innovative social enterprise equipping those who have been unemployed with skills and training to help them re-enter the workforce.

Sitting down over a cup of tea with Tracy at a magnificent hand-restored table, Peninsula Life discovered the vision and drive behind the initiative.

“The Salt Shop was really born from the work of Salt No Limits Inc.”

Tracy explains that for years they have been running sports programs for disadvantaged children and families, casually employing children who have come through the program as mentors and coaches.

It was rewarding for community members to have these roles however I just felt that the opportunity to move people into the workforce and further reward them for their progress was missing. Opening The Salt Shop was a way to create opportunities in our community for employment, training and experience and close this gap.

The store sells products made from restored furniture, with a workshop at the back of the shopfront being a hive of activity with tables, chairs, signs, shelves and custom-made pieces for weddings and parties being crafted onsite.

Within the store, there is not only the cafe arm which teaches community members food service and barista skills, but also a retail arm.

“Everything you see in our store has been crafted by a member of our community and someone has learnt a skill or bettered their employment outlook because of it. Our furniture, soaps, scrubs and bath bombs are all made here onsite and we often hold classes for disadvantaged or disabled community members to provide them with an opportunity to develop these skills as well.”

The Salt Shop also holds soap making workshops, high teas, birthday celebrations and other social events in the shop for the community which are always a great day for attendees.

As the store is the arm of a not for profit, Tracy outlines that the profits from the store go to either providing full time jobs to community members or go straight back into the community sports programs run by Salt No Limits Inc.

When asked about the impact the program has made, Tracy estimates the social enterprise has assisted around 120 people by directly providing them with roles in the organisation and the opportunity to learn new skills and gain experience in the workforce.

“It is an amazing feeling, knowing our initiative has been able to help so many community members, however, it wouldn’t be possible without the support of our customers.”

“We are so grateful for the community support and hope we can continue to positively impact the lives of people throughout the Redcliffe Peninsula. We rely on the support of the community to keep the enterprise going and are thankful for each person who supports our vision and mission.”

Tracy urges the community to get behind The Salt Shop in whatever way they can, from purchasing their morning coffee from the Sutton Street location, ordering their next furniture purchase from the store or making donations if possible.

If you would like to contact Tracy or Salt No Limits Inc., please call 0422 358 050 or drop into The Salt Shop at 118 Sutton Street, Redcliffe.