Russell Bell PHOTO/FILE
LOYAL readers will have noted that there has been a bit of a hiatus for this column over the school holidays. As is the case, when you take time out, there is an accumulation of work waiting when you get back - the world moves on.
And the world moving on is where I start this week.
There has been a fair bit of airplay in recent weeks on the state of Wanganui's "main street" retail, specifically Victoria Avenue. The environment for retail worldwide (to quote an old song) " ... ain't what she used to be".
The advent of major retail chains and, more recently, internet-based commerce is having a permanent impact on the industry and those in local retail operations.
Quite apart from showing us that he had mastered the skill of counting, Duncan Garner's missive on the state of Wanganui because of the "35 empty shops" was what we have come to expect from our friends in the national media - five minutes on the ground, skim the surface research and sweeping generalisations in 45 seconds of video. The fact that you have to sit through Kieran Read selling plumbing products before seeing Garner's video says it all really - the challenges of the regions are a great generator of revenue for "big media", never mind investing time and cost into research to determine a modicum of truth.
Yes, there are empty shops but they are everywhere - even in our larger neighbour Palmerston North. I was encouraged to see council and Mainstreet Wanganui setting up a working group and identifying "low hanging fruit" to start a regeneration of Victoria Avenue. Although this is a good start, there is a role for Wanganui consumers and the retailers themselves.
In rugby you will hear referees shouting "use it or lose it" when a maul has run its course - if the team in possession dilly-dallies, the ball is handed to the opposition. The same is true in this instance - we need to support our local retailers. Another example is the airport and the recently upgraded flights - bigger planes, more comfort - but if we follow the advertising on our local radio stations (curious decision by them) and travel to Palmerston North, you can read the tea leaves and determine that the service may not last long-term.
And retailers need to play their part by creating service levels which set Wanganui apart from other experiences.
There are a number already doing this. Last week I decided to buy an acoustic guitar from local specialist The Gatshack. There is the blueprint for success against internet sales and big box retail - SERVICE.
I could have purchased a guitar from TradeMe, but there is risk it will not match the photos and I would not have seen a demonstration of the quality of the guitar (and a nice rendition of Tequila Sunrise by The Eagles).
The guys at The Gatshack now have a relationship with a satisfied and loyal customer and, at the same time, my money is helping a local guy run a business successfully.
If we support local businesses, we can invite Duncan Garner back in a couple of years so that he can again demonstrate his awesome mastery of counting - a smaller number of empty shops will make it easy for him.
-Russell Bell's Zenith Strategic Solutions is a specialist Wanganui business advice and consultancy practice - 021 2442421.