Businesses report positive end to year
Local business groups have reported solid trade over the Christmas and new year period, with trade slightly up on last year across the district.
Warragul Business Group vice-president David Cann said while he had not yet discussed trade with all local traders, most had been satisfied with a solid trading period.
“I think overall people were satisfied,” he said.
“It was an odd trading period due to where Christmas fell this year.
“The traditional big days on the 23rd and 24th were a little lost in the rural environment, with businesses closing or not open full hours, but the Thursday and Friday were hectic and there were a lot of people around, which is good.”
Mr Cann said while average spend appeared a little down, there was space in the market for ‘bricks and mortar’ retail and this was becoming more apparent.
“There’s not as many as in the past but we’ve got a good mix of retail that suits the area well,” he said.
“We still lose out to the bigger centres, due to perception mainly and not having the bulk stores, but we’re working with what we’ve got.
“It’s not boom or bust but has been pretty solid, one that we can all be happy with.”
Drouin Business Group president and owner of Steam and Riddles café Jeff Smith said numbers had been up on last year.
“From January last year to the New Year we have watched our numbers closely, and we’ve definitely had more people coming in to sit at the restaurant,” he said.
“It’s been on par, if not a little more. I’ve had a chat to people and that’s the general feel.
“We’ve found that spending in December goes up a bit, we’re getting a lot more per person.”
Mr Smith said the Drouin Lights Up Festival had been successful in raising the profile of the town, with many people coming into his shop that had not visited before.
He said his business had benefitted from people travelling through Gippsland to destinations such as Lakes Entrance and the Ninety Mile Beach, while visitors from Beyond the Valley music festival had also been noted.
“Some choose to stay out there, but we’ve definitely had some of them in here,” he said.
“As a business group we’re starting to look at Beyond the Valley and looking at how we can capture their business.
“It’s an influx of trade for the town.”
Trade in Trafalgar was also up on previous years.
Gary Jenkins, who has owned Trafalgar True Value hardware store for the past two years, said his business experienced a 30 per cent increase in sales.
“There has been a lot more people around, especially in the past week,” he said.
A spokesperson for Trafalgar Chamber of Commerce said other businesses in the town also experienced a slight improvement on trade.
Lee Richards of the Yarragon Business Association also reported strong trade for the town, with businesses still being kept busy last week.
She said while the Association had yet to meet for the new year, Town and Country owner Jo Wolswinkel had reported a busy period with good trade.
“Beyond the Valley doesn’t really add to Yarragon, that’s more for Warragul and Drouin,” Ms Richards said.
“The twilight market was quite successful and helped kick things off for us.
“Traders who stayed open indicated that it was very worthwhile.”