Page 15 - Port Douglas Magazine 40

At the core of With Sugar’s distinctive charm is Alison Kleyngeld, the visionary “The shop’s recent 10th anniversary celebration not
extraordinaire tasked with the demanding mission of curating the shop’s only marked a significant milestone, underscoring
delightful, eccentric, and charming gifts. Her overarching vision is to establish
a haven where patrons can effortlessly find the perfect item, catering to every the enduring success of this locally owned
age group and gender. retail gem, but it also cast a warm light on the
Originally hailing from Tasmania, Alison finds joy in selling anything tropical- heartwarming sense of community that defines our
themed - a stark contrast to her roots - infusing her personal delight into the
store’s offerings. She is naturally drawn to vibrant colours and this passion spills town.”
over into the creation of the lively, cheerful atmosphere within the store.

SWEET BEGINNINGS
Now, you might be curious about how Alison found herself in Port Douglas
and the inception of this unique shop, and indeed, it’s a tale worth telling. After marrying, the duo relocated to Launceston where they immersed
Alison’s roots trace back to Smithton, Circular Head in North West Tasmania. themselves in rejuvenating a cafe business, before transitioning to establish a
While her family business was the local newspaper and printery, Alison’s sweet little gift store, Cadootje, in inner-suburban Launceston. While different
interests swayed toward the stationery shop attached to it, where she revelled in from With Sugar, it exuded a similar vibrant and inviting vibe. Alison fondly
‘playing shops’ during its closed hours. recalls countless lovely memories from that time, considering it a profoundly
Fast forward to the realisation of her childhood dream, Alison opened her special chapter in her life.
first shop, a cafe and gift store in her hometown of Smithton, in 1999 in However, as life unfolds, there comes a time when one yearns for new horizons,
collaboration with a friend. “I made mistakes, but learned a lot from that time,” and the couple felt ready for a change, albeit a warmer one. Despite earnestly
Alison reflected. exploring locations from the south of Sydney up to Brisbane, nothing seemed
to materialise. Facing another impending winter in Tasmania, the couple
Alison’s life underwent an unexpected transformation when she met her now decided it was time for a temporary escape. They embarked on a month-long
husband, the charming New Zealander Matt, who had moved to Circular journey, initially planning to spend two weeks in Far North Queensland before
Head to manage a NZ-based corporate dairy farm at the huge Van Diemen’s heading to Brisbane to search for a potential new place to settle.
Land property “Woolnorth”.