Page 38 - Tropic Magazine Issue 15

INDUSTRY • RETAIL

Reg from Cairns posted:
November 2 at 12:07 PM
Just an observation but my wife and myself moved to Cairns from Perth 5 years ago and love it here. I
was in Edmonton this morning in the shopping centre where Piconnes is and a few shops have gone
under recently but I got a shock when the newsagent is also closing down I see.

Royd
Landlord greed maybe?

Hazel
Royd yep...

Adam
Yeh because a landlord wants to see empty shops . Land tax, rates and insurance charges
are the biggest rent inflation factors.

Bree
It’s mainly due to greedy landlords.

Jennifer
Rents are the killer in Cairns, many small businesses can’t cope with that and online shopping.
It’s really sad that retailers can’t survive and have no choice but close their doors.

Deanne
Online shopping has a huge impact. There will be less and less in-store jobs. People really need
to consider this for the next generation of juniors and uni students looking for work. I understand
it’s convenient to buy online. If you have to buy online perhaps consider collecting in store as this
helps stores out as well.

Makala
SHOP LOCAL

Leigh
Rent is astronomical. I can understand why to some degree but it’s a killer for small businesses.
I opened a shop on Tuesday. Took me almost a year to find somewhere with sort of reasonable
rent. It will take me a while to start making money and get into the swing of things but I would
have no hope in the other six shops I looked at seriously.
All the rage
Reg
Tropic highlights Thanks Leigh, yeah it must be a roll the dice type thing. Must be scary.
a recent local
discussion firing Leigh
up social media Reg It’s very scary. I’m hopeful and I worked hard to test the business as much as I could,
within reason, before deciding to embark on this journey and used only local small
feeds. businesses to help with fitout etc. but it’s still scary.
A recent post in a
local community
group on Facebook Geoffrey
You should see Townsville - place is a For Lease ghost city in all suburbs. Rents are a big killer as
sparked heated well as electricity prices and freight costs. Plus many small business owners are nearing
debate about the retirement so just close up, with buyers a rarity with tighter credit and the above issues. Minimal
retail sector in wage growth also kills discretionary spending which feeds these businesses. It’s part of the cycle
Cairns, with many and it is a lot better here than Townsville (all they have is the new stadium that Townsvillians
blaming high rents can’t afford to go to ‘cause they have no work...)
and online shopping
for the financial
woes facing many Mary-Anne
shop owners across Stop buying online and buy local. Help save a business and a family at the same time.
the city.

38 • Tropic • Issue 15