'Late night' shopping is back

'Late-night' shopping is on its way back to Rotorua.
From November 4, after-5pm shopping will be trialled for the summer months, with a view to continuing after that.
Rotorua District Council economic development manager Grant Kilby said the Bownus Night trial would run with the Rotorua Night Market on Thursdays.
Shops taking part in the promotion will have a large green bow outside their premises.
Mr Kilby said the initiative stemmed from a survey in 2009 which studies the habits of shoppers in Queenstown and Tauranga.
"We found that 11 per cent of Rotorua's total retail spend was made in Tauranga ... since then we have had a number of new boutique-style shops emerge in the city and we hope to attract those people back to Rotorua."
Mr Kilby said studies undertaken in Queenstown revealed that 21 per cent of the town's retail spend was made after 6pm.
"Retailers are calling it their eighth day of trade.
"We are a similar tourist town to Queenstown ... tourists generally like to do attractions and events during the day and their shopping in the evening."
He said the concept would be trialled until the end of February and a decision would then be made about whether to continue.
One keen shopper, Owhata's Carol Mansel, said she would be making use of the extra hours available in the lead-up to Christmas.
"It's a great idea, I haven't been to the night market, but I've heard it's very good and I've always wanted to go.
"If other shops are open then it would give me more of a reason to head into town."
Mrs Mansel said retailers had had a tough time recently and late night shopping would be a positive move for businesses and would see people spending their money locally instead of heading out of Rotorua to shop.
Serious Fun in Tutanekai St has already been staying open late on Thursdays to support the Night Market.
Manager Tamzin Hall said they would be part of the late night shopping initiative.
Usually the store closed between 5.30pm and 6pm but they would stay open until 9pm for Bownus Night.
"We've seen a massive increase, it helps our staff with hours as well," Ms Hall said.
She encouraged all stores to support the concept, saying it allowed locals to shop later in the evenings and would be good for tourists.
The promotion is being run by the council in conjunction with Shop Rotorua.
Shop Rotorua promotions co-ordinator Cath Weston said it was all about getting people into the city to shop during the best months of the year.
She said shops would be open until at least 8pm.
"Any business in the central business district can join up ... our businesses will create an experience in their own premises and not only that we have some great prizes for shoppers."
Mrs Weston said Rotorua's Air New Zealand Holidays Store was giving away a mystery trip to Australia's east coast at the end of the four-month promotion and weekly $500 shopping giveways would also be on offer.
An advertising campaign will be run on Television One.
To be a part of Bownus Night, or for more information, contact Cath Weston on 027 4578 777 or email cathweston@slingshot.co.nz.