Cheapskates owners declare its time to roll on
After 21 years in the streetwear trade, Nelson’s most well-known Cheapskate is investing in some lost time.
Nelson retailer Chris Kirby and his wife Joey Weiss-Kirby are stepping aside from their Cheapskates franchise, finishing their official association with the shop at the end of June.
The new owners are Cam Barry, a former Nelson College old boy, and Lizzie Walters who have bought out the Kirby’s shares in Cheapskates Holdings company.
Chris and Joey will continue to work with the new owners until mid-July to ensure a smooth transition.
One thing that will be different is Cheapskates’ location, with a confirmed move into the Dick Smith building on Hardy St.
‘‘It’s a big change, but it means things can be displayed better and it’s a lighter shop.’’
Beginning alongside the Natural High outdoors shop he ran with his brother, Nick on Rutherford Street, Kirby expanded his Cheapskates ownership to stores in Richmond and Blenheim.
The Blenheim store closed in 2011, followed by the Richmond store in 2014 as Kirby moved to concentrate on his Nelson operation.
At the time, he said Nelson speciality stores could be retained but there was not a necessity for them to be on Trafalgar St.
Three years on, maintained his stance.
‘‘We’ve seen a drastic drop in foot traffic here – Post office went, Noel Leeming went, Powerstore went, Bond and Bond went.’’
Kirby believed the shift to Kirby Hardy St was a wise one, given a recent influx of retail and restaurant businesses as well as the proposed Church St revamp.
‘‘It’s got a good buzz to it – who’s to say that’s not the new main street?’’ he said.
In recent times, Kirby had seen minimal effects from online competitors, particularly the practice of ‘‘showrooming’’ – or customers visiting shops to examine a product before buying it online at a lower price.
‘‘It still happens, but what we’re finding and reading now is that a lot of youth especially are too impatient for online now – it’s taking too long, they would rather come and buy it,’’ he said.
Weiss-Kirby said while she was looking forward to the extra free time, the new phase of life had some downsides.
‘‘There is that sadness – we’re onto third generations with some of our customers – it’s a long time to build relationships.’’
‘‘We always had an agreement that if one of us was over it, we’d get out,’’ she said.
‘‘But that’s not the case – we both just came to a point where we just decided we just want time.’’