A Koroit community business has won a race with the clock to fit in a last-minute flurry before the latest COVID lockdown arrived.
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The Koroit Lions Club opened its op shop warehouse at Victoria Park last Saturday, with a boom morning of trade reported.
The warehouse is open to the public on the third Saturday morning of every month, from 10am to 1pm, with larger furniture items for sale that are too big for the High Street op shop.
Koroit Lions Club member and warehouse manager Bruce Brown said the timing was just right for the morning's trade to go ahead before the state government's COVID timeline of 1pm to lockdown regional Victoria.
"It was one of our busiest mornings for sure," Mr Brown said.
"News came through during the morning about the lockdown beginning at 1pm so we were able to be ready and closed the doors a bit before that.
"People were obviously aware what was coming because we were really busy early and it then it died down as the lockdown time loomed."
The Koroit Lions Club Op Shop first opened its door in 2015 and has been a highly successful fundraiser for the club, which has funneled that revenue into community projects.
The op shop warehouse was first opened for sales in July 2019.
This has provided a vehicle for the Lion club to sell bigger items, with cupboards, tables, chairs and couches popular purchases.
Mr Brown explained there was a thirst from consumers for these bigger products.
"The warehouse has really grown a big audience," Mr Brown said.
"We get people from Koroit, Warrnambool and Port Fairy, but also from places like Portland and Hamilton.
"We lost that six months through the middle of last year when we couldn't open but the interest was still there when we opened back up again.
"They are mainly older pieces but they are pretty solid and in good condition and there is a market there for them."