Open all hours

Like shopping strips everywhere, Remuera wants to counter big mall culture and attract more customers. Is opening on Sundays the answer? Alice Hudson investigates
Remuera wants to take on the malls. Or at least take some of their custom. So more shops in the mainly niche-market retailing area are now opening on Sundays in a drive by the area's mainstreet association to make Remuera a shopping ''destination''. It's what customers want, says association manager Robyn Simon, and those opposed to the change need to realise that. ''Seventy per cent of trading in the big malls happens on three days ? Friday, Saturday and Sunday. ''You need to be open for business at a time your customers wish to do business with you and not simply when you wish to do business with your customers,'' she says. Ms Simon says 32 of Remuera's 55 shops are, as of this month, committed to Sunday trading. Previously, only about 20 were open, with varied hours. But is it worth it? David Hughes, of the Meatkeeper butchery, thinks not. He's keeping his day off. ''We don't feel it's in our interest. I work Monday to Saturday which means we would have to hire another butcher to come in on Sunday.'' He doesn't think Sundays will take off. ''I've put the feelers out to people ? they say if they shop on a Sunday, it will be at a mall.'' His mate, Bob Lovett, at the fish shop, tried opening for a good 12 months, he says, ''He gave it a fair go,'' but there just wasn't the custom. However, Caroline Abbott of kitchen and homeware store Peppercorn is pleased with her decision to join the new initiative. Despite heavy rain on the first Sunday opening, it was worthwhile. ''My customers were pleased. I think it's something that will continue to grow. If more retailers took the plunge to open, it would help.'' She reckons there will always be resistance. ''I remember when Saturday shopping first came about, all the business people said, 'Oh no', but they're quite used to it now.'' Greta Blair, of Collezioni women's fashion store, which also now opens on Sundays, says it will take a few weeks before she can judge whether it's viable. ''We'll keep going 'til at least Christmas. But we won't be flogging a dead horse.'' Ms Simon expects more stores will begin Sunday trading as Christmas approaches. A weekly artisans' market launched in the Remuera mall carpark last Sunday will boost sales further, she says, while a wine festival this weekend is a first for the area. Russell Sinclair, of the New Zealand Retail Association, says opening on Sundays is a must for places like Remuera. Shopping has become a top entertainment and recreational activity, he says, and local strips must move with the times. ''For many malls, Sunday is now the busiest day of the week. There is an expectation now that stores will be open on weekends.'' If people find their local stores aren't open, he says, they'll go elsewhere. ''Once they've done that, it's hard to get them back, or to get business from outside the catchment area.