Nelson: Our city, our people
Consider spending your money locally. Photo: Bare Kiwi/Nelsontasman.nz
As the winter blues strike, there is one sector being particularly hard hit with many business owners in our city centre saying trading is among the worst it’s ever been.
With a rise in mortgage rates, rise in petrol prices, a rise in food prices and energy costs, it isn’t a surprise that many are being careful with what they spend.
But a softening market has hit our city retailers very hard.
Independent local businesses that trade in our CBD help make our city a better place.
With them there is more to do, more to see, more of a buzz.
On top of that, they employ local people, which is essential for helping our local economy tick.
Nelson Weekly spoke with more than 40 retailers over the past week, many who say trading is currently among the worst it has ever been.
Uniquely Nelson manager Simon Duffy backs that up.
“We’re going through some difficult times, we’re at the bottom of the bell curve.”
Some described the challenges facing them - the cost of wages rising rapidly, and people unashamedly using their stores to try on items that they planned to purchase online for a few dollars less. They ask you to consider what you would do with the $2-10 saving you make by purchasing online.
Will you skip a coffee, or leave an item on the supermarket shelf this week?
For a Nelson retailer, that money could be the difference between whether they can take a wage at all this week, whether they can pay the power bill, or whether they can keep the doors of their store open.
“Or sometimes it’s not even a saving they are making, it’s just the convenience of purchasing it when they want to,” says Mariposa owner, Tracey Brignole.
“We also try to remind people that when they purchase in-store, if anything happens to the item, we sort it out for them. You don’t get that when you buy online.”
Some say in the next 12 months they will have to make difficult decisions when their leases begin to expire about whether it is feasible to keep their doors open.
From the door of Bridge St’s Kebab Kitchen it is clear to see many have already had to make that tough decision.
Yusuf Corten walks out onto the street and counts six empty stores and another business for sale.
He suggest the city needs beautifying, and that the landlords should all come together to try and work out how to help the problem.
He suggests Nelson City Council should seriously consider replacing the deciduous trees in favour of an evergreen variety that stay green all year round.
“The streets are messy, there are leaves everywhere, the ground has bricks that get dug up every few months... why can’t they make it look nice?
He cites Richmond’s Queen St following its reconstruction that was completed in 2018.
“It is beautiful, the street looks so nice, why can’t we have that?”
Nelson City employs some 20-25,000 people.
In 2022, retail employment was the fifth largest employment sector behind manufacturing, agriculture, health care and construction.
So, what can we do to help?
Simple – when you need to spend money, ask yourself if there is a local option. If there is, give them a chance. Go and shop locally wherever you can, you’ll get a great product and you’ll be helping to ensure our fantastic city centre continues to thrive.
If everyone reading this article prioritised spending locally over online or with a big box retailer just once over the next month it would make a huge difference to local retailers.
Episode 12 - The threat of urban sprawl and bringing vibrancy back to the city. — The Nelson Pod
Nelson Regional Development Agency chief executive, Fiona Wilson, backed up that sentiment.
“The best way locals can support our CBD businesses is to shop local and encourage their friends, family, and visitors to do the same. Nelson Tasman is filled with many amazing local businesses.”
Simon says if there was ever a time for the people of Nelson to support their city, it is now.