Another new store has opened in the CBD, proof that the centre of Lismore is continuing to grow.

Rainbow Earthlings officially opened on Saturday morning at 10am, the same day as the Lismore Lantern Parade, in fact at the same location as the Lantern Parade departed for their CBD walk, Magellan Street.

Jess and Brad Ambridge have been running an online shop from home for the last three years. With the garage and spare bedrooms full, they felt it was time to get a physical shopfront in order to expand their business.

"Coming into Lismore, we had to consider the risk of the flood but we also wanted to support other local mum-maker businesses who potentially work on the side but don't have enough product to be in a shop. Everyone is from the Lismore Shire, we want this to be a collaborative space.

"We ran out of space a long time ago. The garage is completely taken over, and so are the other two spare bedrooms and the dining area. It was either we opened a shop or just carried on trudging along, kind of not being able to progress. So, we bit the bullet."

Jess said it was terrifying opening her first physical retail space. She wanted to get it right, so had been sleeping there for the last two weeks.

"I haven't been home. Brad's been bringing me stuff and I've been going home for a shower, and then coming back down, that's been it."

During the set-up period, Jess ended up in emergency with sepsis and Brad had COVID so it's been a crazy time for the Ambridge family.

Jess explained what Rainbow Earthlings provides to the Lismore community.

"I would say we are a mixed local Lismore craft and gift shop. Everything's handmade, obviously, the prints get painted and then they get reprinted but other than that everything else is handmade by local Lismore artists."

The artists that supply products to Jess include:

• Rainbow Earthlings (Jess and Brad wood laser products)
• Man Cave Creative 
• Maddie and Me
• Shantele Ianna Art
• Billie Jade Designs
• Art With Nunj
• Val Smith Art
• Crafted Terrazzo
• Lines by Vic 
• Sweet Spot Cakes
• Heritage Blankets
• Little Bear Growls

"Most people have started when they have had kids and they've done it on maternity leave with some not needing to go back to work. They've continued creating their work while being at home with the kids."

"We've got more items coming into the shop in the next few weeks, there have been some time constraints," Jess explained, "We're 90% there."

There is a kid's space at the back of the shop for parents to take their children to relax.

"I wanted an open space that was a bit easier to navigate with the kid's space down the back. There is nothing for the kids locally so we are going to have a comfy sofa for the mums and dads in the future. It hasn't arrived yet but should soon. Even if people don't want to buy, they can bring their kids to have a play for half an hour."

You will find Rainbow Earthlings at 119 Magellan Street, Lismore CBD in the old Affordable Wholefoods shop opposite the Lismore Library.

Jess will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (closed Wednesdays) 10am to 4pm and Saturday's 10am to 1pm.