‘Shop local’ Christmas plea
Supply chain issues and uncertainty around Covid-19 mean now may be a good time to start Christmas shopping
Christmas is coming early this year, with Taranaki retailers urging people to get their shopping done now in case of another lockdown at their busiest time.
With less than 10 weeks to go, retailers are already dealing with supply problems and fearful of further restrictions as the Delta variant of Covid 19 continues to spread beyond Taranaki’s borders, with 60 new cases across Auckland and Waikato announced yesterday.
Arun Chaudhari, of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, said small businesses were having a tough time. ‘‘Anything people can do to support local is good,’’ he said.
That call was backed by Mette Kirchheiner, owner of Home Love & Mette K in Fitzroy, who said their Christmas stock had come out of storage earlier than normal this year.
Usually they would start displaying Christmas items after Labour Weekend, but due to early online sales and the uncertainty around Covid-19 they wanted to be organised.
‘‘We’re super worried that we are going to have another lockdown, but we’d rather have it now than later.’’
A change in alert levels and potential lockdowns are not the only reasons for being organised.
This week, Kiwibank economist Mary Jo Vergara warned global supply chain issues meant people may face a more limited selection when Christmas shopping this year.
Kirchheiner said supply was a real problem.
‘‘Stock levels are so difficult, some stock is unable to come, and we’ve had to cancel orders that might be arriving too late.’’
Anna Scott, co-owner of The Collaboration, on Devon St East, is also nervous of potential lockdowns derailing Christmas shopping.
The Collaboration, which started as a pop-up concept, houses 45 small businesses in one space and Scott said she was concerned for the mental wellbeing of small business owners.
‘‘Everyone is feeling very nervous. People aren’t tending to take risks at the moment.
‘‘Christmas is our highest turnover time for all of our small businesses so for that to potentially be at risk is unnerving and scary.’’
Scott encouraged shoppers to buy in advance for the holiday season and had noticed many were already doing so.
On the other end of the retail spectrum, retail giant The Warehouse had also noticed Kiwis making a start on their Christmas shopping.
In an emailed statement, chief customer officer Jonathan Waecker said customers were buying gift wrap earlier than usual this year, while popular Christmas gifts showed a rising trend towards DIY craft kits, as well as games, puzzles, video games, tech products, outdoor play and toy brands such as Lego and Barbie.’’
On Trade Me, new toy sales are already up 40 per cent compared to last year.
Although most retailers had some form of online option available now, New Plymouth Business and Retail Association (BARA) Coordinator Michelle Brennan said it would not hurt for customers to be organised.
But if alert levels remained the way they are, Brennan still expected to see a rush closer to the big day.
‘‘It’s even more important now for the community to support these local businesses, so if they’re the sorts of shoppers that like to see and touch before they buy, and there’s still a lot of those around, well I’d recommend they start their Christmas shopping now.
‘‘This is the prime time to be getting out and doing the shopping.’’
‘‘Everyone is feeling very nervous. People aren’t tending to take risks at the moment.’’ Anna Scott co-owner of The Collaboration