Rallying cry to support CBD as retailers face winter struggle
Christchurch leaders are urging residents to get out of their homes and support CBD retailers through the lean winter months.
With a gloomy start to winter and no imminent international events on the calendar, some central city businesses they may struggle.
It is understood some landlords have lowered retail tenants’ winter rents to help them stay afloat during the traditionally quiet June and July.
Yesterday, ChristchurchNZ launched its ‘‘Explore Christchurch’’ campaign, with the help of public agencies and businesses, encouraging people to flock to the central city.
Roadworks that would have closed the Hereford St bridge have also been postponed after businesses expressed concern they would damage trade.
Central City Business Association (CCBA) manager Paul Lonsdale said things are ‘‘certainly quiet’’ compared with summer, suggesting the city needs to ‘‘think creatively’’ about drawing people in.
‘‘People get a shock when winter hits and go underground in June and July.
‘‘Some of those with more discretionary dollars go on holiday,’’ he said.
Lonsdale said there was ‘‘a lot of concern going into winter’’, but new business openings and parking initiatives have helped and the grave worries earlier in the season have not come to fruition.
But one store owner, who did not want to be identified, said it was not just winter but roadworks and street beggars keeping customers away.
‘‘We pay rent or rates and there doesn’t seem to be much respect for that,’’ she said. ‘‘The school holidays have been OK, but some weeks it’s pretty tough.’’
The city council’s long-term plan, finalised last month, gives the CCBA $40,000 annually for two years to implement a new strategic plan, as well as $1.26m for each of the next three years to ChristchurchNZ for promotions including bidding for events.
ChristchurchNZ launched Explore Christchurch, partly to grow the city’s global profile.
But it is initially aimed at residents, hoping to inspire them to reconnect with their home city.
ChristchurchNZ chief executive Joanna Norris said: ‘‘We’ve had a lot of really great stuff come online in the central city – new shops in laneways, and more restaurants and cafes than we’ve ever had.’’
A host of new businesses have sprung up around the city centre this year, with more coming soon.
Bars and restaurants have opened along the The Terrace since March, developer Richard Peebles’ $80m Riverside Market in Cashel St is set to bring in up to 15,000 people a day when it opens late this year and The Hoyts complex on Colombo St will combine 16 dining outlets with four cinemas when it opens in the spring.
Council authorities also have high hopes for Tu¯ ranga, Christchurch’s new five-storey central library – the largest in the South Island – which is expected to open in late September or early October.
But with no All Blacks tests this year and few major drawcard events coming up, the effect on out-of-town visitor numbers has worried many retailers and hospitality operators.
Events this winter include KidsFest (on now), next month’s International Film Festival and Botanic D’Lights in August.
These will draw locals into the city but are not likely to attract out-of-town visitors.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa’s hotel sector chairman, Michael Patterson, said hotels in Christchurch were ‘‘certainly not doing as well’’ as those in Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown, ‘‘but we should be’’.
The convention centre opening in 2020 would give occupancy a major boost, but in the meantime other attractions were needed, he said, citing the surge in visitors from April’s Golden Oldies sports festival.
‘‘It showed us the positive effects that events like that have on the sector.
‘‘We really appreciate what ChristchurchNZ and the airport are doing towards encouraging visitors, but we’d certainly like more events.’’