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Businesses in Southbank

Businesses in Southbank
Sean Car

Bigger, Brighter, Better for City Residential

After five successful years in business, local real estate agent City Residential has moved to larger and very prominent premises in Lorimer St, Docklands.

Directors Glenn Donnelly and Richard Mindraoui, who have 40 years of real estate experience between them, say the move to the former prestige car showroom at 50 Lorimer St is already paying off.

“It’s amazing how many people have dropped in to congratulate us on the move,” Mr Donnelly said.

“Being next to Lorimer St and the freeway, it’s just amazing how many people pass by and notice us every day.”

“In the six weeks that we have been here we have experienced enormous growth.”

“New and existing customers have dropped in and said that the place looks fantastic and how good it is that we are here.”

Glenn Donnelly and Richard Mindraoui started their business a little upstream at Flinders Wharf but say they had outgrown their previous office.

“We’ve got nine staff now and the new office is so much bigger, with plenty of room to grow too,” Mr Donnelly said.

“I’ve always felt that the new premises would be ideal for our business.  So when it became available, we snapped it up.”

“We are truly now positioned at the gateway to Docklands, Southbank and the city which is great as we pride ourselves on being the inner city apartment specialists.”

Mr Donnelly said City Residential prided itself in looking after vendors and landlords better than any other local agency.

City Residential, 50 Lorimer St, Docklands. Call 8614 8999 or go to

www.cityresidential.com.au

Southbank's fashion for passion

It’s no secret that adult stores sell sex toys, movies, gadgets and gear.

So what makes Sexy Secrets stand out from the rest?

“Unlike other adult stores, people feel comfortable walking in here because we aren’t tacky,” says Sexy Secrets store manager Karyn.

“We are up-market and cater for couples and anyone looking for a gift that’s unusual,” she said. “We are a boutique-style store with a range of good quality products, priced from $2 to $300, and catering for all spectrums of the market.”

“And we don’t sell just pornographic material. For example, we help men and women who have medical problems.”

“Combined, we have more than 60 years of experience in general retail,” she said. Karyn points out the wide range of party novelty items … and we are not talking just Groucho Marx glasses.

“Our novelties are popular for birthday parties, hens’ nights, bucks’ parties, kris kringle, Christmas in July, and so on,” she says. “We have lots of unique gift ideas and have a store gift card pack age for customers wanting to provide a gift out of the norm.”

I uncomfortably confess there is something tantalisingly “interesting” about the long wig with coloured streaks, on Amber the mannequin. “Our wigs and lingerie are very popular for couples,” Karyn said.

“We sell a very good range of fantasy lingerie and accessories – not regularly sold at stores like David Jones and Myer – in varying sizes and styles.

“Also, costumes. They range in price from $15 to $120, so they are nowhere near as expensive as most people think.”

Yes, you guessed it. The nurse’s costume is the most sought after, which Karyn says will set you back $79.95. Convenient location is also in Sexy Secrets’ favour, being on Clarendon St just near City Rd and the West Gate Freeway overpass.

“We are the only adult store servicing Southbank, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne Middle Park and Albert Park,” Karyn says. “Unlike Melbourne’s CBD, Sexy Secrets has lots of nearby free parking close to the store.”

Sexy Secrets is starting an online store in July. The website prices will be the same as in the store. Sexy Secrets has Eftpos and accepts credit cards, including Amex, and layby.  There is also a loyalty program with members’ discounts.

Blokes, there’s even a molding kit to “clone your own” … now that should keep you amused for hours.

Sexy Secrets, 185 Clarendon St,

South Melbourne, call 9696 7399

Worry not, help is at hand

In the pressure cooker that is modern life, it is comforting to know that help is within easy reach.

“Stress is increasing because people are being forced to work more,” said Maria Mercuri, director and principal psychologist at New View Psychology, in South Melbourne.

“People spend most of their lives at work, it’s that ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ mentality,” she said.

“You wake up and first thing in the morning you are dealing with a stressful situation.”

“Among other things, we help look at people’s workplace issues, such as career adjustment. Parenting, finances, home, family, relationships – everything is a source of stress these days.”

“We are not biologically designed for this,” Ms Mercuri said.

Ms Mercuri said stress manifested itself in the home environment.

“We are seeing greater child stress, which was previously unheard of,” she said.

“Children are learning this stressed behaviour from their parents.”

“The study scheduling for a child is ridiculous. They should just be playing in the back yard.”

Ms Mercuri said New View Psychology’s 21 clinics across Melbourne were seeing three main problems: depression, anxiety and relationship issues.

“The breakdown of the family and sharing of child custody are a main source of psychological illness,” she said.

“We are seeing a lot of drug addictions – even prescription medication such as codeine.”

“These days you are not talking about a drunk in the street, but high achievers. Also, mothers who have addictions.”

New View Psychology has 40 clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, clinical hypnotherapists and child psychologists.

Ms Mercuri said each psychologist had a minimum of six years training and was registered with National Psychologist Registration Board.

“Medicare rebates are available for people if their GP determines that they qualify,” she said.

Ms Mercuri agreed that psychology was a nurturing, listening, caring and empathetic profession.

“We are seeing an increase in males coming to see us – up by 50 per cent,” she said.

“The female-to-male ratio used to be 20/10, but now I’d put it at 60/40,” she said.

“There is a greater awareness of mental health, thanks to organisations such as Beyond Blue.”

Ms Mercuri also agreed that good physical health was important to mental health.

New View Psychology is at 87 Gladstone St, South Melbourne, with car parking in the building and on the street. It is within easy walking distance of the numbers 96 and 109 trams. Call 9351 0722 or visit  www.newviewpsychology.com.au

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