1 Nov - 7 Nov
LOCALLY OWNED SINCE FOREVER
No 875
LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN
JO
BS
22 IN 4 S ID
E
Has the worm finally turned? Is it possible the end of pain for Queenstown businesses is near? Stuart Nash seems to think so, promising boom times ahead this summer. However, in a rare understanding of the small business portfolio he is Minister for, goes on to acknowledge the stresses people running small businesses in the Queenstown Lakes continue to be under. Without playing the victim card, because bottom line is, my life my choice to be in business and for everyone, the last two and a half years have been an absolute mind bender. My brain has been bent, yet now is the time when clarity of mind is mission critical. Boom time awaits according to Minister Nash. Cynicism of every word uttered from Minister Nash aside, I too get the feeling the worm has turned ever so slightly in our favour, for the first time in a long time. The last two hurdles to overcome do not seem quite as high. The freeing up of the road cone and security fence city we call home is starting to happen, and the labour market squeeze is starting to throw up options, which, although not the magic bullet, is better than no option at all.
T Galleria opens bringing a touch of luxury retail to downtown Queenstown. Australian women fashion designer Karen Gee was on hand at Friday’s opening. See story on page 4 and social photos on page 18/19 for more.
The newly elected QLDC Council “promised” us during the election campaign to be more sympathetic to community concerns and listen. Number one for many in business is the basic attempts to get our customers from A (one side of the road) to B (the side of the road where your business is). So, it is welcome news that DFS opened last week bringing an end of a 3-year construction project in the middle of town. The Bee Card being accepted on the ferry signals more integrated public transport for visitors and workers. Duke Street reopened this week to traffic, and we are told the CBD street works will be done by Christmas. What street works exactly and who’s telling us they will be “done by Christmas” I will not concern myself with right now. Because I have bigger fish to fry, employing the people to help my business “boom” and prove Minister Nash right for the first time in his life. There are all sorts of reasons why our district ended up short staffed by about 30%. Queenstown has always been a difficult place to establish yourselves as a family, therefore we rely more than most on younger more relocatable individuals. They left as quick as they came the last few years. But slowly they trickle back. By Christmas the district will only be 20% short of workers. That may not allow us to boom Stuart Nash style but might allow a welcome wee pop. I’ll take that pop thank you very much. Scott Stevens scott@qmg.co.nz
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