Let's reveal our best kept secret

One of the things that has really surprised me about getting people into shops is the length of time it takes to actually get to that stage. And no, this isn't a complaint, merely an observation.
It's the same with our projects at Mainstreet. We're working towards lighting one of CBD's iconic features, and have been working on it for what seems like years. In fact, it may be years. But we are getting there, step by step.
Rome wasn't built in a day. And we won't turn this beautiful city of ours round in a day either. But isn't it great that so many people are working to make sure it does turn round?
Adrian Dixon and his team at Whanganui and Partners, (who funded the Collective Whanganui project for which we owe him and the Whanganui District Council massive thanks), Amanda Gibbons, our Town Centre Manager, and myself recently had a long conversation about attracting more shops to Whanganui, with particular emphasis on the chain stores. I'm thinking KKs (fashion for the larger lady - no I'm not selfish at all!) and what about Cotton On, and then there's KMart (Yes, I've heard all the rumours too!).
So why aren't they coming? As I understand it is they have criteria to meet before they will even consider us. So a lot of them will only go into a mall. And then they need a certain number of visitors to the mall every day. And the population of the city is important, and and .....
But I think they're missing the bigger picture, and Amanda and I (and Adrian and everybody else I guess) are working on ways to get that message across.
Our CBD is more than just a town centre with shops. We have the best collection of boutique shopping I've seen together in one place in my recent travels. And as you will know if you were at the recent meeting about our heritage at the Davis Theatre, we have 11 per cent of the whole of New Zealand's heritage buildings. We have the river - let's not forget that. And haven't we just been voted into the top 10 tourist destinations for travellers to this part of the world? We have art to die for. We're family friendly. According to Visit Whanganui Kowhai Park is the most unique children's park in New Zealand and is located on the banks of the Whanganui River.
So what we need to do is to throw away that good old Kiwi reserve and start blowing our own trumpet from the hill tops. On my first ever trip on the Waimarie 15 or so years ago, I was told Whanganui is one of New Zealand's best kept secrets. I would venture to say it still is. So let's try to change that.