In good company: Hope & Me

Midway along one of Launceston’s most charming streetscapes, a homey haven stocks a delightful range of products to brighten your abode. The expansive windows of Hope & Me beckon, showcasing a thoughtful assortment of home and lifestyle wares by top brands from around Australia and New Zealand. It’s hard to resist a look inside.

This Quadrant Mall mainstay has been lovingly owned and run by Lindi McMahon and daughter Chelsea since 2010. Before Hope & Me came to be, Lindi worked in dynamic retail roles that kindled a lifelong passion for the trade.

“After I had children, I worked in a clothing store called Griffin for a little while,” she recalls. “Then I went into travel, and then I managed the new Polly shoe store in Launceston. The owner of Polly Shoes started designing and importing handbags, so I started helping with that part of the business as well. We used to go to trade fairs and sell to other businesses.

“Then I helped them open eight stores across Australia.”

Setting up shop during the global financial crisis was a bold leap, but one that paid off in spades. Lindi credits the successful launch of Hope & Me to the skills she developed working in retail, as well as her reputation in the community.

“I got lots of support, which was lovely,” she says. “And here we are 15 years later.”

Chelsea has been an integral part of the business since she was 13, joining buying trips and trade fairs from a young age. Every product in Hope & Me is handpicked by the mother-daughter duo, resulting in a collection that reflects their personal styles and flair for design.

The store’s name itself is a testament to their bond.

“When I was deciding to open a store, my daughter said to me, ‘You need to have my name in it somewhere, just in case I want to take it over one day,’” Lindi says. “So her middle name is the ‘Hope’ and I’m the ‘Me’.”

Lindi loves working with her daughter, whose social media and merchandising expertise create a captivating customer experience online and in-store. Joining Lindi and Chelsea on the tight-knit team are Claire and Chaning, who help to uphold the shop’s impeccable presentation and friendly service.

“I love my girls,” Lindi says with pride. “They’re like family. I can walk out and know that [the shop] has been left in great hands.”

Hope & Me underwent a major renovation nine years ago when it moved into its current premises, just across from its original location. While the transition was stressful, Linda was “super happy” with the result. The soothing ambiance and quiet luxury of Hope & Me makes for a peaceful retreat from the outside world. In here, everything has its place – until that place becomes your living room!

Merchandising is a meticulous art at Hope & Me.

“We are suckers for great packaging,” Lindi says. “We love colour, and we are very specific about the brands that we stock. They have to be of good quality.

“Another thing we try to work really hard on is to always seek out products that a fresh and new to Launceston. I believe it’s better to be offering something different.”

Lindi and Chelsea’s penchant for quality design makes the space a sensory wonderland. Vibrant homewares such as lamps, side tables, glassware and prints please the eye, while neat rows of candles, perfumes and skincare offer instant olfactory delight, and butter-soft cotton robes by Homme will make your skin sing. The best-sellers? Sage + Clare bed linens, cosmetic bags and resin pieces are immensely popular, as are the gorgeous Tassie-designed vases, candles and bowls by Noss & Co.

“All the things we love are here, so that we can share the love of those products with everyone else,” Lindi says.

Hope & Me consciously caters to a broad customer base, ensuring there’s something to suit every budget.

“Because [the shop] looks so lovely, sometimes people assume that potentially it’s too expensive for them. But when they come in, they realise there is something for everybody.

“You can still buy beautiful things and they don’t have to be expensive.”

Hope & Me has become a destination shop – a place where customers know they will find the perfect gift for someone special. More than that, it’s a space where warmth and familiarity are guaranteed. Lindi and Chelsea have built lasting relationships with patrons, many of whom have become friends.

Amid the difficulties of small business ownership, watching customers and staff grow and celebrate life milestones has been hugely rewarding for Lindi.

“I feel so privileged that I’ve got to see people grow and buy their first house or have their first child,” she says. “Now those kids are 15 or so and having their leavers dinners. So that’s really special.

“It’s just a really nice place to come and work. After 15 years, I still love it.”

Working in the Quadrant Mall is a dream come true for Lindi. It’s her favourite slice of the city and suits Hope & Me well.

“I love being able to look out and see the trees, especially in springtime when they blossom,” she says. “It’s just so beautiful. The [business owners] have changed quite a bit over the years, but we’ve got Gourlay’s and Jim Hughes & Sons Jewellers, and the optometrist.”

A committed advocate for locally owned businesses, Lindi is always thinking of ways to support fellow shop owners in Launceston’s CBD. She has hosted numerous events to draw foot traffic to the Quadrant and always recommends other stores when shoppers can’t find what they need at Hope & Me – an approach that ensures people have a positive experience in the city.

“Helping each other out is just a great way to keep building on the amazing shopping experiences that Launceston offers,” Lindi says.

Beyond the Quadrant, Sweetbrew, Et La Mer, and the new Chez Carrie Crêperie are just a few of Lindi’s go-tos. For a coffee and a bite, the Hope & Me team favours Albertos on George Street.

“There are so many great businesses and great people who work within those businesses as well,” Lindi says. “I could go on forever.”

As for what she loves most about Launceston?

“Everything is so close,” she says. “I can escape to the beach, which takes me 40 minutes. I also love the Gorge – that’s my backyard and has been for a very long time. I love seeing people enjoy it as well. Tourists say, ‘Wow, you're so lucky to have that so close to your town, like within walking distance’. It’s so accessible.”

More than anything, Lindi cherishes Launceston’s strong sense of community.

“I love how the community rallies,” she says, recalling the Get Vocal Buy Local campaign that encouraged small, impactful choices – like buying a takeaway meal once a week – to support local businesses during COVID.

“It was incredible,” she reflects. “So many people jumped on board with that.

“Carols by Candlelight was another classic example – trying to get that up and running and just so many people wanting to help. Literally hundreds of people sent messages saying, ‘What can I do?’ I love that about Launceston.”

For Lindi, the success of a city starts with individuals choosing to invest in their community.

“We all play a part in that by the choices we make,” she says. “I think we’re very lucky that we have so many people who are so invested in this city.”

📍 Find Hope & Me 18 Quadrant Mall, Launceston