Friday, 29 March 2024
65 Macleod Street, Bairnsdale, VIC 3875 - P: (03) 5150 2300

Local News

Making adjustments

Making adjustments

Bairnsdale businesses are doing their best to keep trading with the current coronavirus crisis, adjusting to what is quite simply a new world, not only in business.

In some instances, trading figures for some shops had increased remarkably compared to last year, while others have faced significant challenges.

Steve Butler, who owns Aussie Disposals, was all smiles when the Advertiser dropped by earlier this week.

“We still have people coming in supporting us but following the rules (implemented by the Federal Government) around social distancing,” Mr Butler said.

“Most people know what they want. They come in and buy the product and go.

“We had a pretty good week last week with revenue up substantially on the previous year.

“This week we’ve had people coming through who need gas and so on.

“We’re taking precautions, making sure they’re well back from the counter and wiping down our Efptos machine.

“I’ve had one employee who decided he didn’t want to come in and I respect that.”

Mr Butler has been in retail for 35 years and says he’s seen the ups and downs.

“If we can get through the next three months we’ll be okay,” he said.

At BCF (Boating, Camping, Fishing), Matt Louden has only been in the job as manager of the Bairnsdale store for three weeks after relocating from Box Hill.

“I’d always wanted to live in the country,” he said.

Mr Louden said compared to last year sales are down somewhat.

“With Easter approaching we’d normally be pumping but with people advised to stay at home we’re expecting it to be quieter.”

Mr Louden said BCF’s marketing team was poised to launch a campaign aimed at convincing people to camp in their backyard.

“Kids can camp in the backyard with their tents. It gets them out of the house and gives them something to do,” he said.

Mr Louden says if people don’t wish to come into the store they can shop online with click and collect.

“They can pull up at the back or front of the store and we can just drop what they need in the boot and there’s no contact at all.”

Mr Louden is spending Easter camped in the Swan Reach Caravan Park as he awaits settlement on a recently purchased property.

Toyworld also reported a spike in customers as parents shop with their kids for something to keep them entertained over the holidays.

“We’re a little stressed but we’ve been busy,” owner Les Barnett said.

“We’ve had lots of puzzles, games and Lego selling.

“Our sales are better than last year. That’s been the case for two months. I think people have been preparing for this.”

Toyworld has been delivering to those who don’t wish to come into the store since last Saturday.

“I think people are getting prepared to bunker down,” Mr Barnett said.

“We want to keep our doors open so we’ll do what we can.”

Schmidt’s Mower and Chainsaw Service is keeping busy with plenty of small engine repairs.

“We’ve still got people coming in, our workshop is very busy with repairs to rideons, chainsaws and generators,” Lena Schmidt said.

“We haven’t noticed any affect at all at this point in time.”

Mrs Schmidt said they had no intention of reducing staff.

“We’re doing fine, we’re pretty good,” she said.

Megals is also keeping its doors open with calls for tradespeople still flowing in.

“We’re an essential service so we’ll be open right through this,” Rod Bridgborn said.

“It’s business as usual. People still have needs, although the shop front has died off a little bit.”

Bairnsdale Tyre Service said it was too early to tell if business will be affected by the coronavirus restrictions.

“There’s a lack of turnover and the phone has stopped ringing,” Ross Davidson said.

At Riviera Cycles, Russell Brownlie has gone from parttime employment to fulltime after his boss decided to spread staff out so if anyone fell sick the store could still operate.

Mr Brownlie said trade had been steady with many people coming in to buy tubes to get their bikes back on the road.

“We’re still doing repairs and we’ve had a few customers purchasing bikes,” he said.

Riviera Cycles has introduced strict social distancing where customers are required to wait behind a barrier before being fully allowed into the store.

Mark Riches, from Pacific Furniture and Bedding, said “we’re doing alright”.

Mr Riches admitted trade was patchy but said people were obeying government directives to stay at home.

“We’re trying to do a bit more social media work by putting things up on Facebook, having people comment and ask for more information,” he said.

Mr Riches said the store was still delivering furniture to people’s homes.

“We need to keep trading,” he said.

Mr D Café reported quiet foot traffic but said takeaways and deliveries were keeping the business running.

“We’re doing takeaway breakfast, lunch and dinner,” David Schmidt said.

Mr Schmidt said business had “been booming” with deliveries as far away as Lindenow, Paynesville and Metung.

“We’re still open seven days a week and have retained all staff,” he said.

Paper Chase said they weren’t as busy but will remain open.

At the Wooden Squirrel, owner Jason Kaczkowski, was more forlorn.

“We’re doing shockingly,” he said candidly.

“Business is down 90 per cent.

“We’ve worked almost seven years to build up a business and to watch it change overnight is disheartening,” Mr Kaczkowski said.

On Tuesday afternoon the streets of Bairnsdale were relatively quiet.

Wendy Evans was out with her son, Beau, trying to spend his birthday money.

Beau had just turned 10 and had received gifts of cash, but was finding it hard to make a purchase with restrictions around cash sales for hygiene reasons.

“It’s annoying. Some businesses are only accepting cards,” Mrs Evans, from Johnsonville, said.

Beau also had to cancel plans for a birthday party with mates.

“We’ve set up things on iPad so he can chat with friends,” Mrs Evans said.

“Last night (Monday) there was a bit of laughter as he chatted with his friends (remotely) so that was good.”

IMAGE: Jason Kaczkowski, from the Wooden Squirrel, says it’s “disheartening to watch our business change overnight”. K272-5694


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Bairnsdale Advertiser

65 Macleod Street
PO Box 465
Bairnsdale, VIC 3875

P: (03) 5150 2300
F: (03) 5152 6257

Publication Day: Wednesday
Circulation: 6,450

Yeates Media

Cnr Macleod & Bailey Streets
PO Box 465
Bairnsdale, VIC 3875

P: (03) 5150 2300
F: (03) 5152 6257