Natassa and Maria say the key to Psonia’s success is the atmosphere. “It’s a very relaxed day spa feel. It’s shopping therapy – a woman’s paradise. But then, so many men come in, too; they have regular business meetings in the café.” Psonia, which means shopping in Greek, has a welcoming feel which may owe something to the fact that it’s a family affair. Natassa and Maria are sisters-in-law, and their seven children work in the shop. “They have all done professional barista courses. The shop comes before anything else, even the kids are the same. If one of us has a cold, they just step in.”

Psonia offers a catering service for the local area and does a roaring trade in gift hampers. The pair works hard at keeping the stock constantly interesting. “Everything we sell is unusual, you can’t just go anywhere and buy it, and every two weeks we turn over everything,” Maria says. And you won’t find them trying to flog you something they themselves don’t like. “Our big motto, for Natassa and myself, is to be honest. It’s probably a big disadvantage, too, but I don’t think so, not down the track.” They won’t sell anything “we wouldn’t eat ourselves or we wouldn’t have in our home.”

Maria’s parents were in the café business. “I grew up in café’s all around Sydney. The café business was a passion for me and giftware was a huge love.” Her parents have since retired but her mother, Matina, still makes almond shortbread which the women sell at Psonia. Initially, Maria trained as a beauty therapist. Psonia began when she started stocking a few extra bits and pieces in her home studio. She was also serving tea and coffee to clients. The sidelines grew into the garage and a party plan business and then, last winter, into the shop. “I think we were mad! But we were surprised at how quickly it took off. We thought it was going to be slow for a year or so but no.”

In the future, Maria’s and Natassa’s children are keen to build on the unusual concept and open an outlet of their own.”