After a tough two years for businesses in the central business district, traders are looking to the traditional busy Christmas period to boost their recovery.
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Data shows that shoppers are still spending in Warrnambool and those numbers continue to grow, but just how much is going to the CBD is hard to measure.
A number of businesses have reported retail spending is looking healthy in the CBD while others are still struggling to overcome the slump.
The latest Spendmapp data shows the total spend in Warrnambool was up by an average of six per cent each month since September 2016. The data, which was supplied by the city council, shows Warrnambool residents spent eight per cent more between October 2017 and September 2018 compared with the same period last year. Spending by visitors also jumped $13.5 million over the same period.
The council’s economic development manager Shaun Miller said the Footy Fever clinic held on the Civic Green in September led to a direct increase in spending of $26,557 compared with last year. Mr Miller said the data presented an encouraging trend, that money was being spent in Warrnambool. “It’s great to see that spending continues to grow,” he said.
Gateway Plaza centre manager Melanie Wright said that after a slow lead-up to Christmas in November, it had started to get busy, especially since Santa arrived. She said the centre had noticed a jump in trade during the Liebig Street upgrade with customers saying they were avoiding the roadworks and parking.
Nanna’s Drawers owner Maureen Brunt said she had recently expanded her shop into the neighbouring store after two-and-a-half years in business. “It’s been brilliant,” she said. “This Christmas is bigger, but we’re bigger.”
She said she increased her staff and had been able to stock more expensive items and while her business had been affected by the streetworks as well as the change of bus route from Koroit Street to Lava Street, she never let it worry her. She said her business had grown as customers had got to know her.
“We’re good for a laugh in here,” she said. She said the popularity of the fidget spinners had boosted the business.
Darriwell Farm owner Lisa Pitkethly said there had definitely been an improvement in trade. “Love the street. It’s been fairly active. I think it was needed. Glad it’s done,” she said. She said the CBD needed permanent 90-minute parking to encourage people to wander, but supported paid parking in Liebig Street.
Phinc owner Tracey Togni said many CBD traders were staying open late in the lead-up to Christmas. She said people were being more positive, especially after last Friday night’s Christmas on Liebig event.
Ms Togni backed calls for free 90-minute car parking because the amount of time she’s lost customers who rush out when they remember their parking had run out, only never to return. “That happens everywhere, and that is an issue for sales,” she said. “I really hope that is something we can work on.”
Ms Togni said the store had been busy selling Christmas gifts, and trade was on par with last year. However, she said compared with last year there was a buzz in the CBD.
Daizy Boutique owner Maree Wills said trade had improved since her recent move to a bigger store with more stock. She said that move showed she had faith in the CBD. “I took the risk,” she said.
She said so many customers had commented on how good the street looked and how safe it was to walk along the new footpaths: “We’ve just got to get some free car parking in the car parks,” she said.
Provincial manager Jenny Smith and staff member Carol McCosh praised the new-look street: They said they were lucky not to be hit too hard during the street upgrade and Christmas sales were fantastic. “Well worth the wait. It’s just something that had to be done and it’s just fantastic.”
Bojangles owner Simon Mugavin said it had been a tough two years. “The top end affected the bottom end and the bottom end affects the top end,” he said. “Once the whole thing was opened it was like a tap had been turned on.”
After 40 years in business, Mr Mugavin said he had to refocus the whole business and work harder: “We’ve got an awful lot of ground to make up,” he said. “Since the street has reopened, each week has been a definite improvement on last year.”
Mr Mugavin said there was a general consensus the street was a nice place to linger: “After being here for so many years it’s nice to be proud of the street rather than just go ‘it’s crumbling away’,” he said.
“It had to be done. We all knew there was going to be pain, a lot of pain. It was just a matter of all getting through it together. We all need that strong customer flow to keep the region alive and healthy. That’s what we’ve got available to us now, something that the whole town can be proud of and show off. It’s a nice place to be.”
Brightbird Espresso owner Mark Brightwell has put his Liebig Street business on the market. not because things are tough but because it was time for a change. While ads for the business showed sales were affected during the CBD renewal, turnover this year had risen by $168,000 on the previous year. “You have to be positive otherwise it doesn’t help,” he said.
George Taylors Stores owner Jacqui Malseed said that while the streetworks looked nice, putting in new hi-tech parking meters at the same time had thrown people. She said sales were still down on two Christmases ago, but were up on last year when they were feeling the full effects of the streetworks. She said people found the parking meters complicated, older people were struggling to read them and they were also too far apart.
“They’re only every half a block it seems. People get there and realise they need to know their rego and have to walk back,” Mrs Malseed said. She said farmers were also still struggling, and that had a flow-on effect to their business.
“People are forgetting the farmers. It’s what the Western District live off, dairy farmers. They’ve been heavily affected and people have forgotten about those fires,” she said. “The farmers are our lifeblood, they are for a lot of shops.”
Hoppy's Cafe owner Kay A'Vard, who is extending opening hours to include dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings, said the northern end of Liebig Street had plenty to offer.
“Finally the empty shops are starting to fill up. Financially we are still dealing with last year's reconstruction. If in business and you want to stay there you just have to utilise every little morsel of brain that you can,” she said. She said she felt the council's focus was often on the other end of Liebig Street and was disappointed it didn’t have a feature art piece or sculpture similar to the seal. "We would pump millions into the economy too," she said.