Tills ring for some Bay of Plenty retailers, others regret opening

Some Bay retailers have reaped the benefits of being able to legally trade on Easter Sunday, while others say it wasn't worth opening their doors.

Papamoa Plaza manager David Hill said it was a "crazy" day with almost twice the normal foot traffic.

"It's been a fabulous day. We really didn't know what to expect but the car parks were full by 9.30am and they were still full when I headed home about 4pm," he said.

Hill said on a normal Sunday between 12,000 and 15,000 shoppers would visit the Plaza, that number had almost doubled to about 30,000 yesterday.

"Easter Sunday trading at the Plaza has been a rip-roaring success, including lots of people coming in their togs and towels to buy icecreams and stock up on their supplies.

"All our retailers are very pleased. Everyone is over-the-moon," he said.

Downtown Mount Maunganui shopping precinct was also busy, with some retailers reporting eager shoppers peering in windows waiting for their stores to open.

Cafes and restaurants were busy, but some Mount retailers said the tills were not ringing as often as they had expected.

Smiths Sports Shoes store assistant Danni Hanson said it had been "really busy", but that had not translated into the sales they had hoped for.

Jessica Dodds, duty manager at Evolution clothing store in Maunganui Rd, said the store had an "okay day".

"We opened at 10am, and people were peering in the window waiting for us to open, which is exactly what we wanted.

"I think for lots of people Sunday is a still very much a family day, and others may have decided to take advantage of last of the good weather and hit the beach," she said.

But with Mount Maunganui being considered a tourist town, we do need to open at Easter to fill that void or people may choose to shop elsewhere," Dodds said.

Mount Mainstreet Farmers Market manager Peter Sandison said it was a quieter day for the approximately 20 stallholders than an average Sunday.

Bayfair Shopping Centre manager Steve Ellingford said retailers were pleasantly surprised by the number of shoppers.

Bayfair management and retailers were "all very happy" with their decision to open.

For Downtown Tauranga retailers it was a different story.

Mary Borman, who owns High St Boutique in Devonport Rd, said she and some of her neighbouring retailers decided to open on Easter Sunday as a "trial run".

"It was quite steady in the morning and started to pick up a bit during the day but to be honest If I had to pay an employee to work today I would not have opened," she said.

Borman said there wasn't the number of shoppers she expected coming through the doors and some other store owners down the street chose not to open.

Hallensteins sales assistant Logan Donnelly said the town was "quite dead", and the store made only half the amount of sales it does on normal Sunday.

"Just before 12pm, it picked up a bit, but most people were just looking before they headed down to the festival. It definitely wasn't worth opening this Easter Sunday."