Baby Second Heaven

GEORGE and Sue Banjac tried their hands at a multiplicity of businesses-injection moulding, running a TAB, and three video shops.

But none have been as successful as Baby Second Heaven, located in Walker Street, Dandenong.

Mr Banjac said upon receiving the nomination last December that he had worked with his wife Sue on the business for 10 years, and could not imagine doing anything else.

“I get holidays fir maybe 2 days of the year, because i love the job as much now as I did 10 years ago when I started,” he said.

The business stocks a selection of pre-loved and new baby goods, and Mr Banjac said repairing baby items such as prams made up more than 70 per cent of business. Among the business’ biggest clients are major airlines, which often damage prams in transit.

“Do airlines sometimes damage prams?” asked master of ceremonies Jamie Sturgess.
“Not sometimes-all the time!” Mr Banjac replied with a laugh.

But it has been hard work for the Banjacs, who tried to venture into other locations and expand the Baby Second Heaven brand.

They opened shops in Frankston, Wantirna and Boronia, but have since sold off those stores to concentrate on Dandenong. It was a good decision, Mr Banjac said, because The Drum Theatre had helped increase people traffic in that part of Walker Street.

Baby Second Heaven was nominated in the categories of Retail, Small Business, and Service Excellence.