Business adapts for Covid
Tough and “tumultuous” is how some Bay business owners are describing the past three years.
While some still are still battling the inflation bull, others have been able to adapt.
Bay of Plenty butcher Doug Jarvis said butchers across the region were “really struggling”.
“We are doing very well but it is a struggle because the prices of fuel, rent increases, and rates increases.”
Jarvis’ electricity bill at one shop had risen 100 per cent and the other by 70 per cent.
“There are all these costs . . . it is just never-ending.”
And just because his costs had gone up he could not simply put up his prices, otherwise no one will come into the shop. It is a battle doing your costs every day.”
Revenue had been “steady” but had not climbed.
His busy period was “barbecue season” over summer but even that had been quiet due to border closures.
Jarvis said the past three years had been tough and he felt for the cafes and restaurants.
“Luckily, I have a website and that got me through. I don’t think I would be here without it.”
Meanwhile, BOP Event Hire coowner James Mollison said he was in a “slightly unusual position”.
The business, which covers Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo¯ and Whakata¯ ne, provides hire equipment for exhibitions, tradeshows and corporate events.
“The exhibitions and tradeshow part of our business has really improved dramatically.”
The business had pivoted during lockdown to offer hire equipment to build Covid-19 vaccination centres.
“We were insulated to quite a
It was a challenging ride but we survived well. I am optimistic we will get back to levels we were previously. James Mollison
reasonable degree from the downturn. Although it wasn’t anything like the revenue from the bigger events it did give good ongoing business.”
Mollison said people’s appetite for socialising had returned.
“We are looking at a good recovery
in the latter part of the year.”
He described the last few years as tumultuous and concerning.
“We wrote off hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of business cancelled.”
But adapting to building vaccination centres gave them “good reprieve”.
“It was a challenging ride but we survived well,” he said.
“I am optimistic we will get back to levels we were previously.”
He knew of some casualties of Covid as some Rotorua businesses had to close.
“But the majority of businesses have managed to box on.”
Note: The 2022 Business Monitor survey was conducted by independent market research firm Kantar, from February 3 to March 7 and polled a national sample of 1006 SMES. In total, the Bay of Plenty sample comes from 51 SMES in the region.