Sunday openers report brisk trade

Press, 11 December 1989, Page 7

Sunday openers report brisk trade

Christchurch shopkeepers did not exactly fling their doors open with the start of Sunday trading yesterday, but those who did open say they were well-rewarded. Many shops reported trading at least as good as their normal Saturday turnover. In the inner city it was mainly the large chain stores such as Farmers, the Warehouse, and Cargo King that took advantage of the recent change in regulations allowing Sunday trading. Some chain stores, such as Deka, opened only in the suburbs, which was where most of the shoppers were to be found yesterday. The manager of Deka in Riccarton, Mr Paul Dobbs, said his store had had an “absolutely brilliant” day’s trading. “It is five to six times better than I ever expected and as good as Saturday,” he said. “We didn’t think it would be busy. We thought we would open the door but our main objective had been to restock after a really busy day yesterday. We haven’t really had the chance to restock — we had customers waiting outside at 10 a.m.” Mr Dobbs said he had talked to as many customers as he could. The feedback was that it was about time New Zealanders were allowed to shop on a Sunday. Customers yesterday told him they found it relaxing. Mr Dobbs said staff were excited by the brisk trade. He said he had had no difficulty getting staff, with many quick to take up

By

MARITA VANDENBERG

the chance to earn double-time. He said customers were not just in the shop to browse: “They are buying everything from clothing to appliances.” Two people in the shop who were just looking, however, were the owners of nearby shops which had not opened, Mr Lyall Hobson of the New World Supermarket and Mr Graham Gyde of Amcal Chemist. Both had come to see how many people had turned out. Although the mall itself was shut yesterday, most shops in it, including theirs, will open next Sunday. Mr Hobson said his lifestyle would change if Sunday trading became a regular thing. “We are open three nights a week now. I don't think we have the population to warrant it — it will only be a pre-Christmas thing,” he said. Mr Gyde said he was also not in favour of opening on Sundays. “If the customer wants it then we will have to provide it, but I don’t think it is necessary.” In New Brighton most of the mall shops were open. Shopkeepers reported a turnover at least equal to their Saturday trade. Mr Jeff Stribbling, the owner of Brighton Bazaar, said his shop had experienced more intense trading, taking the usual Saturday turnover in the first six hours. Mr Stribbling said he had talked to many customers. The

general feeling was that they were pleased Sunday shopping had arrived.

“A lot of elderly people and families were out today. It was different from the normal Saturday crowd,” he said. Shops in New Brighton have agreed to open until March as a trial period. The owner of Pegasus Photographies, Mr Bryan George, said he had customers from as far afield as Akaroa and North Canterbury. “We were so busy we had to call in extra staff. It was far better than we expected, and people weren’t just looking, they had come to buy,” he said. The manager of Hallensteins in Brighton, Mr Gordon Chin, said opening had proved worth while. “We will definitely do more than cover the cost of wages.” He said part-timers had been bought in to work and this had proved satisfactory. While it was quiet in the inner city, shops that did open had earned their usual Saturday’s takings. Mr Glenn Rodgers, the assistant manager of Downtown Records, said the shop had done very well. “We have done better than the average Saturday, but maybe it is the novelty at this stage.” The manager of Farmers in Gloucester Street said the shop had taken in money it would not have if it had not opened. Mr Ken Melind said he was busy from when doors opened at 10 a.m.