Checking the retail pulse at The Bay

Harvey Norman Batemans Bay manager Jason Cooper said sales were up this year.

“It was record trade for us,” Mr Cooper said.

“Last year I had a secondary store in the mall, this year I didn’t, but still had better figures.”

Mr Cooper is optimistic about the future of retail in the area.

“We are about to have Boating Fishing Camping and Supercheap Auto open up,” Mr Cooper said.

“It gives you confidence – those big franchises know what they are doing.”

Mr Cooper did see scope for improvement.

“In our area, retail and tourism need to work hand in hand; the two groups need to communicate better,” Mr Cooper said.

“I think that is a role for the business chamber.”

Naive Funky Costume Jewelry owner Naomi Woods said that although it had been a bit quiet her figures were still up from last year.

Ms Woods said that her continuing growth was less about external matters and more about how she does business.

“I don’t charge recommended retail rates. I sacrifice stock - my item margins are smaller but there is better turnover,” Ms Woods said.

Ms Wood said retail success was about building customer trust and having people value the store.

“I know people respect the way I have slowly built up the business”, Ms Woods said.

“I am still growing. I think it will be another two years before I get to where I am going.

“But my figures are okay.”

For Julie McIntosh, Christmas trading was a bit of a baptism by fire.

“We only took over the  Against The Grain cafe three weeks before Christmas,” Ms McIntosh said.

“I didn’t know what to expect, although everybody kept telling me it would be very busy.”

“We opened on Boxing Day but only had family work then,” Ms McIntosh said.

“When you are starting off you need to be open as much as possible.”

Ms McIntosh said the business had done okay and that they had positive feedback on their food and service but that she had expected more trade.

She thinks tourists might be changing the time they holiday in the region.

“People say ‘it is too busy at Christmas now and why don’t we holiday at a different time of year?’,” Ms McIntosh said.