Vol. No. Vol. 2718No. 3827
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Wednesday, January 2016 Wednesday, April13, 2, 2025 REFRESHED: Rupanyup’s silo art has been renewed by street artist Smug, after fading and rusting affected the original work. Julia Volchkova’s 2017 painting depicted sporting identities Ebony Baker and Jordon Weidemann. Smug, who also painted silos at Wirrabara, Nullawil, Arkona, Horsham, Murtoa and Lameroo, portrays a farming landscape in his latest work. He is pictured with supporters Regina Johnstone and Kelly Oxbrow of Rupanyup and Minyip Community Bank, Rupanyup Progress Association’s Carmel Healy and Yarriambiack councillor Corrine Heintze. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Changes for plaza H
BY LAUREN HENRY
orsham Plaza will undergo significant change with the closure of four clothing stores this year.
MPPEERR BBUUM 48-page guide to the region’s football and netball seasons
LIFT-OUT INSIDE TODAY
The liquidation of the Mosaic brand in January resulted in the closure of three women’s clothing stores – Katies, Millers and Autograph. Last week, Jeanswest announced it would close 90 stores across Australia after the brand was placed into administration, meaning another loss to women’s clothing stores in Horsham. Tough trading conditions, fuelled by the cost-of-living crisis and a fall in consumer spending, have been blamed for the Jeanswest collapse. Horsham Plaza centre manager Allison Roberts said there had not been many changes to stores at the plaza
since COVID, but the closure of four clothing stores would open up opportunities for new shops to open in the plaza. “ I hope there’s some good things to come out of it, and new stores for the town as well, so that it’s good for everybody – and there’s more reasons for people to come into Horsham to shop,” she said. Mrs Roberts said she was working with the plaza’s leasing manager to attract new stores. “In the shorter term, I hope existing businesses, not only in Horsham Plaza but in Horsham, expand their range and sizes, and also their pricing opportunities that will reach out to a broader range of people as well,” she said. “ I think that’s what they’ll need to do to remain relevant to customers’ needs.”
New figures show residents in regional and rural areas have led the charge of Australians spending a record $69-billion on online goods in the past year – fashion and apparel, $9.6-billion, was one of the top three categories. Mrs Roberts said stickers handed out to shoppers during COVID that encouraged people to shop locally to support the businesses that employed their family and friends, and supported their community, were still relevant. “It’s so important that people do buy locally – not just in Horsham Plaza, but in the town,” she said. “We want them to buy locally because these are the businesses that are employing you, your neighbour or your friends.” About 300 people are employed across the plaza’s 25 businesses, including
long-term anchor store KMart, which has been at the plaza since it was built in 1987. New to the plaza this year is The Lolly Shop, originated from the Halls Gap Lolly Shop, which was forced to close in summer as fire threatened the Grampians National Park. “They were really well-received when they came here, and offered a point of difference. They enjoy being part of the plaza family as well,” Mrs Roberts said. “They’ve obviously gone back to Halls Gap now that the town’s opened, but they said ‘we’d like to stay here and have a second site’. Another business to move to the plaza late last year was Exquisit, after its Firebrace Street clothing store was damaged by fire. Exquisit moved into the former Katies store last week.
IN THIS ISSUE • Lister House Clinic sold • New council chief • Natimuk Show • Athletes bound for nationals Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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School Holiday FUN $4 craft - Monday to Friday, April 7 to 11 Monday—Wood Butterflies
Thursday— Mannequins
Tuesday—Laser Cut Animals
Friday—Scrapbooks
Wednesday—Whiteboards
ALSO craft week two holidays
11am to 3pm daily
KMART SPOTLIGHT REJECT SHOP BEST & LESS WIDE RANGE OF SPECIALTY STORES WWW.HORSHAMPLAZA.COM.AU