Retailer rejects Farmers' excuse

The closure of Farmers has been anything but bad for businesses say some in Rotorua's central city.

Brumby's Bakery owner Gerrard Kennedy is astounded some of his fellow shop owners are blaming the retail giant's shift out of the central city for a downturn in their profits.

Mr Kennedy says things have never been better for his Tutanekai St business.

His view is the opposite of his immediate neighbours Aileen and David Watson of The Cat's Whiskers Fudge Company, who reckon a loss of foot traffic following the closure of Farmers in February contributed to a major drop in business.

The couple are now relocating to Wellington, where they hope prospects of success will be much improved for them.

However Mr Kennedy says if the closure of Farmers has had any effect, then it is a positive one for Tutanekai St.

He was stunned to hear of the Watsons' bad experience.

"Business is always good in this part of town and since Farmers has been gone, it's been absolutely great.

"We were all waiting to see if [the closure of] Farmers was going to hurt us and it just hasn't. I get pretty annoyed when people get all down in the mouth about how things are, because it is simply not the case."

Mr Kennedy said he was not trying to beat up prospects or publicity for his own business, as he and his wife Tina had sold the Rotorua franchise and would be leaving the city in July.

"There is no way Rotorua's CBD is going to die. In fact, I think it will only get stronger and stronger."

Capers Epicurean Restaurant owner Greg Brown said that since the end of January, things had been getting better and better, following Farmers' relocation to the Rotorua Central shopping mall.

"Apart from two quiet weeks in early February, we have been between 16 per cent and 18 per cent up on this time last year, so rather than hurting us I think the reverse is true.

"People definitely seem to be able to find their way here very easily these days."

Two Buck shop manager Karenne Geater said she suspected The Cat's Whiskers may have been "too upmarket" for Rotorua shoppers.

"We ourselves are doing pretty good. It normally quietens down around this time of year, but at the moment things are still going really well for us."