Staff get to shop for a good cause
A Taranaki employer surprised staff on their first day back in the office by giving them a cash bonus and sending them out shopping.
All 11 employees at McCallum and Dallas chartered accountants in Ha¯ wera arrived at work last Monday to discover their boss had given everyone money with instructions to go and spend it in the local community.
Director Meredith Pick said she did not want to divulge how much she gave her staff, but it was to thank them for their efforts during the lockdown and show support for the Ha¯wera business community.
‘‘It was quite liberating to be able to spend money when they hadn’t known about it, and say just go buy something you like,’’ she said.
‘‘I don’t know what everyone spent it on — clothes for themselves, gifts for family, something for the house — it was an impromptu thing on our first day back in the office.’’
Businesses in the Ha¯ wera CBD were upbeat about the first week getting back into the swing of things after lockdown.
Bakery owners Scott Ross and Thea Haunton of the Lunch Shack said they were used to having people queue outside the door at busy times, but the lines were longer now with social distancing.
‘‘Local support has been brilliant, everyone is glad we’re back, which is good,’’ Ross said.
Maple and Wild gift shop owner Amy Byers said she had been busier than usual as customers came in to buy gifts for people who missed their birthday celebrations during the lockdown.
‘‘People are excited to be out and about, and they want to support local businesses.’’
However, she was cautious about what the next few months would bring.
‘‘Winter is normally a slow time and I think the excitement will have worn off by then.’’
At Arabica Cafe, which is usually flat out over lunch, owner Nadine Vandenberg said the number of customers had fluctuated since they reopened.
She expected demand to grow as people got back to work and became more comfortable going out after lockdown.
‘‘We are doing winter hours until things pick up, and closing at 3pm,’’ she said.
Warren and Shirley Smith of Olive’s Lunch Box were philosophical about waiting for trade to build up again.
‘‘Everyone has been saving their money during lockdown, not going out and buying morning tea, lunch and coffees,’’ Shirley Smith said.
Takings were down by about 30 to 40 per cent on normal and they had also lost the catering work that made up 30 per cent of their business.
The couple had to relocate their business suddenly in 2015 when the lease on their Fat Cow Cafe was not renewed, so they have rebuilt after a setback before.
The wage subsidy this time had removed the stress from being closed, Warren Smith said.
‘‘You just have to watch your pennies.
‘‘I won’t say I’m happy about not making a lot of money, but I am happy to be getting by,’’ he said.