In Mayor Steve Krieg's Talking Lismore podcast he spoke about Lismore's vision. "We actually, as a community, have to embrace people that want to have a go and support them in their journey to succeed," the mayor said.

Enter Luke and Jessica Palmer, two young people who have set up a new business in Woodlark Street, in the CBD, to have a go at establishing themselves in the business community.

Luke and Jessica opened Lismore Second Hand Furniture at 123 Woodlark Street, next to the Converge store and the tyre company.

As well as secondhand furniture, they also sell collectables, mid-century antiques, bric-a-brac and records.

Luke isn't new to the furniture game; he told the Lismore App he has been involved in it for all of his life.

"My grandfather owns Summerland Antiques in Ballina. So I've just grown up around the whole industry. I don't go for antiques as much, but we do a wide range of everything, really, and we particularly like the retro stuff."

Luke has run his own business for about ten years, but mostly online sales. "It's smaller collectibles and that kind of stuff," he said.

Why the change from online to a bricks-and-mortar business?

"We have a passion for it, I guess. And I think there's a demand for it, for good quality second-hand furniture. We want to support Lismore too."

The items that are on sale in store come from people who have made contact with Luke and Jessica, people wanting to downsize, or we items they pick up from auctions.

"We go from up to the Sunshine Coast, down to the Bathurst sort of area, so we travel a bit. But yeah, we're definitely getting a lot of people locally just ringing us who want to downsize. So, we try to help them out as much as we can."

As all locals know, that end of Woodlark Street can flood easily, not just from a minor flood but from stormwater. Being local, Luke and Jessica know what they are getting into.

"Look, we have a plan. We've got a company that will help us with trucks if we have to. We've got the mezzanine, which most floods won't get up there. Only one flood has got up there, the '22 flood.

"People are saying, what if it floods? But it may not flood for a good five years or so, and there's more. Autobahn had a 10-year lease here before we were in here, so they must have been fairly confident."

With the help of family and friends, Luke and Jessica could move out and up in five or six hours.

"Look, some things will get left behind because there's just nothing you can do about it. But the majority we'll get out, especially the special pieces. They will be the first to go."

Pop in and check out what Luke and Jessica have for sale at Lismore Second Hand Furniture. You will find them at 123 Woodlark Street, Lismore CBD.

They are open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday's 10am to 2pm.

Their website will be active very soon, but in the meantime, have a look at their Facebook page.