Cruise ship visitors, Red Hot Chili Peppers boost city’s retail
RETAIL businesses, which endured tough times during the Covid period, feel that the arrival of tourists has helped lift trade.
Cruise ships and major events returning to Dunedin had really boosted sales, an industry body and retailers said.
‘‘We were seeing good footfalls at our store,’’ Footwear business Maher designer and owner Glen Maher said.
‘‘Our stores in locations where the cruise boats anchor by saw good business.’’
Tourist demand had risen not only in Dunedin but also in Wellington, and business had improved when compared with the pandemic period, he said.
Maher has stores in seven locations, including Dunedin.
Inflation and the looming recession would not greatly affect business, Mr Maher said.
‘‘We believe that people will continue to buy things that make their lives better. ‘‘Shoes are part of it.’’ Business South chief executive Mike Collins said, based on member feedback, it seemed many businesses had not experienced a boost in sales due to cruise ship patronage, but they had benefited from events and public holidays.
‘‘From my understanding, the retail community had strong Boxing Day sales,’’ Mr Collins said.
‘‘Events like the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the weekend certainly provided a boost in retail spend.’’
Hallenstein Brothers George St manager Keanu Howell said he could not talk about the specific details of his business.
However, there was optimism in the street and more people were coming to shop in the malls, he said.
‘‘The malls and restaurants in George St were seeing good footfalls last month,’’ he said.
While one end of George St was busy with tourists and business, a few retailers in the George St Knox block have been affected by road works.
Burger N Beast store manager Ashok Ainambakam said the roadworks in George St impacted his business.
‘‘The whole city was crowded with tourists but not too many people visited our side,’’ he said.
He also said he was offering free delivery service to retain customers as he was not seeing more walkin customers.
Because of the dust and road works, people were not coming during the day, but in the evening a few people visited the shop, he said.