Warrnambool central clothes retailers find one-on-one trade successful as pandemic keeps shoppers home

With store foot traffic less than ever before, some CBD clothes stores are offering shopping by appointment.

Others say pushing through virtual barriers to build personalised relationships with online shoppers is boosting business.

Liebig Street's Style105 owner Debbie Arnott said stay-at-home directives had made fashion retailers with open stores feel they were operating in a grey area.

"It's a bit ambiguous, the government is asking people not to go out and shop so I don't feel comfortable leaving my doors open all the time, but they want businesses to stay open," Ms Arnott said.

"You feel nearly a little bit guilty for being open but as far as a business goes you need to keep a little bit coming through."

She said her solution was to open the store for appointments only.

"What I usually find is they have a more personalised service," Ms Arnott said.

"For my April, which is my biggest month of the year because of the May Races, I am still way down. But I insist on being positive."

Daizy Boutique owner Maree Wills said she had ordered winter stock but with events not going ahead she was 75 per cent down on sales.

"They are not selling because we have no football or outdoor activities to go to," she said.

"My demographic, they still want to try on the shoes and the clothing. I don't have an online store."

She said investing in an online store was costly and instead she had offered appointment-based shopping, with social media her main way to get the word out.

Style Active by Chloe owner Chloe Williams said she'd closed her Liebig Street store, but online sales had "significantly grown".

"Our online store has had more traffic. However we have made a lot of personal contact," Ms Williams said.

"We are very lucky in that activewear and leisurewear is something everyone wants at the moment."

She said she had worked hard to make sure that although people were shopping online, shoppers still felt they were "dealing with a person".

"That is my advice. I think I am working harder than I ever have," Ms Williams said.

"We have been really lucky that our customers really want to support local and we have made it easy for them to support us during this time."

Ozmosis Warrnambool store manager Robyn Campbell said the store re-opened on Friday after shutting for three weeks.

"It's a bit quieter than business as usual but Saturday was really good, we have had at least a couple of people in every 20 to 15 minutes," Ms Campbell said.

"It's good just getting into a normal routine and being back around people again within the restrictions."

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