01/10/2026
💭 Something we’ve both been thinking about a lot lately…
Since we spoke up about merchant fees, the response from our customers has been incredibly kind and supportive. ❤️
And we want to make something really clear — we haven’t personally experienced customers being abusive, aggressive or unkind to us over this. We are incredibly fortunate to have some truly beautiful customers, and we’ve been treated with nothing but respect.
But we’re seeing and hearing what’s happening elsewhere.
You can feel the tension in the community right now.
People are stressed. Businesses are stressed. Families are stressed. Everyone is feeling the squeeze — and unfortunately, some of that frustration is being taken out on each other.
And honestly, it has to stop. It’s unfair.
Customers vs business owners.
Cash vs card.
Surcharges vs no surcharges.
People attacking small businesses for decisions they’re making simply to keep their businesses viable.
Behind every little café, restaurant, shop or family business are actual human beings trying to pay wages, pay bills, support their families and somehow make the numbers work.
And on the other side of that counter are customers trying to do exactly the same thing.
Neither one is the enemy.
If you’re angry about the cost of living, banking fees, merchant fees or the pressure being placed on Australian households and small businesses, then perhaps that anger needs to be directed where it can actually make a difference.
📣 Speak to your elected representatives. Write to them. Ask questions. Make noise. Get seen. Get heard.
You absolutely don’t have to agree with every decision a business makes.
But abusing, belittling or attacking another person over it while directing none of that energy toward the people with the power to change the system just feels terribly misplaced.
We’re Justine and Elliot. We’re a husband and wife, a family, employers and small business owners doing our best to navigate something that feels harder every year.
And we know there are thousands of other small businesses doing exactly the same thing.
So please — disagree, question things and speak up.
But stop turning on each other.
We are not each other’s enemy.
And right now, we reckon remembering that matters more than ever. ❤️🇦🇺
Chose love always — Justine & Elliot
