Teariffic owner Chris Senerpida had just quit his job to serve bubble tea and desserts full-time when the snap lockdown hit. Photo / Andrew Warner
Teariffic owner Chris Senerpida had just quit his job to serve bubble tea and desserts full-time when the snap lockdown hit. Photo / Andrew Warner
Small businesses that watched their incomes drop to nothing overnight due to a snap lockdown are eager to reopen at alert level 3.
Among them is a business owner who quit his job to work on the business full-time weeks before the lockdown began and a cafe whose clients willneed to walk the 2km to its door "but [it will be] totally worth it".
Less than a month before lockdown hit, Tearrific owner Chris Senerpida quit his job at the Ministry of Social Development to work full-time at his bubble tea and dessert shop.
"It really worried me a lot. Just when I'd given up a stable income to give Tearrific all my time, lockdown happened."
Tearrific started in 2019 as a night market stall and they were soon able to buy a food truck. By July, Senerpida opened a stall at Markets Twelve 21 and had hired three part-time employees.
"We do qualify for the wage subsidy and the resurgence package. We're really grateful for that."
Teariffic owner Chris Senerpida had just quit his job to serve bubble tea and desserts full-time when the snap lockdown hit. Photo / Supplied
Senerpida said the uncertainty facing small businesses right now was difficult.
Senerpida said financial support was not the only way to help local businesses.
"People can help us by simply telling friends about us, supporting us on social media or leaving a good review. It's completely free and it helps a lot more than you think."
Tearrific will be reopening for contactless delivery from Saturday.
Meanwhile, Senerpida said he was using the time he had to develop desserts.
Natasha Hall, general manager of Plenty Group which operates Terrace Kitchen and Eastwood Cafe, said the latest lockdown had brought a new wave of challenges both financially and emotionally.
"Like other hospitality businesses we've had no revenue, so it's not ideal. However, in some ways, everyone seems to have adapted a lot quicker."
The staff at Eastwood Cafe on Longmile Rd before lockdown. Photo / Supplied
Hall said Eastwood Cafe staff were looking forward to opening for click and collect services from Thursday.
"I think one of the biggest positives to come out of the lockdowns is the community spirit it has enforced, rallying together and really supporting local businesses once they can re-open in some capacity."
But we are really grateful to our customers who have continued to support us over this time by placing orders that we can fulfil once we move to level 3," Morrison said.
"Three of our staff will be working behind the scenes in the shop to fulfil all orders, and we will be delivering to the Rotorua urban area free of charge. We are also offering free freight nationwide on orders over $100."
Morrison said while McLeod's would not be offering a click and collect service, staff would either make deliveries themselves or send orders by courier.
"We had amazing support last year after lockdown with people really getting behind local businesses, and we hope that this will continue."
Rotorua MP and National Party spokesman for small businesses Todd McClay made a renewed call to shop local and support small businesses.
He said the lockdown had been a very difficult time, especially for small businesses.
Rotorua MP and National Party spokesperson for small businesses Todd McClay. Photo / File
"Many of them have had no income at all and yet their bills are still there and mounting up."
McClay said people need to remember supporting local businesses meant supporting Rotorua's own.
"Every time you shop with a local small business you're saving a job. Even $10 on click and collect fish and chips means a huge amount to that small business that still needs to pay their rents and their rates and all their costs."
