Losing your job: the best thing that ever happened

There is life after redundancy and for some, a chance to fulfil their lifelong dreams. Gloria D’Anna, owner of lifestyle concept store, Coco & Chloe is proof that sometimes losing your job can be the best thing that ever happened to you.

After just over 11 years at ANZ, the last few as a Senior Analyst in Controls Remediation, Ms D’Anna was disheartened at the direction the company was taking, “my heart just wasn’t in it anymore; the company had changed too much”.

“When I was told I was being made redundant, it came as a bit of a shock initially, especially as I had been at ANZ so long, but I had to look at it as a chance to find my passion and do something I truly enjoyed”.

Thinking outside the square, Ms D’Anna chose to go in a completely different direction from her IT background, instead opening her lifestyle concept store, located in the beautiful surrounds of Maling Road, Canterbury.

“Retail is in my blood, my father owned a supermarket and liquor business for over 45 years, my childhood was spent longing for the day I would be tall enough to be promoted from wrapping pumpkins to being able to operate the cash register”.

“It was a risk, for sure. But I knew that if I didn’t take the opportunity to turn a potential negative into a positive I would always regret it” she said. “Every day I get to come to my store and be my own boss.”

Since opening in late 2011, Coco & Chloe have developed a strong following, with customers driving from all over Melbourne to return to the store, with its eclectic collection of Australian made jewellery, clothing and accessories, sitting alongside a carefully selected range of home wares and books.

“I love all the wonderful feedback I am getting from my customers and I know I made the right decision to follow my dream,” concluded Ms D’Anna.

Coco & Chloe is a lifestyle concept store located in Maling Road, Canterbury Victoria and also online at www.cocoandchloe.com.au. Owner, Gloria D’Anna, focuses on high quality and locally made products, with a beautiful range of home wares, jewellery and clothing, making for a truly wonderful shopping experience.