Shopkeepers lament empty tills

By Keith Perry

Angry retailers say takings have plummeted during the first few days of Apec, after Aucklanders were warned to stay away from the city.

Some businesses say trade, normally brisk for this time of year, has sunk to almost half as city-centre shops lie empty.

A few tourist shops have reported increased custom from Apec delegates buying souvenirs, but many restaurants, cafes and chain stores are struggling. They fear business will be further hit this weekend as road closures take effect.

Peter Amoore, manager of Tisdalls sports shop in Queen St, said: "Trade is definitely down. It's terrible. I have a shop full of skiing equipment, the North Island skifields are covered in snow, but there are no customers. I don't know where they've all gone.

"The authorities have completely overreacted to Apec by telling people to stay away because of traffic congestion. Even my regular coffee shop on High St had stacks of unsold cakes and muffins. It's a repeat of the electricity debacle."

Andrew Caughey, managing director of upmarket retailers Smith and Caughey, said: "We are certainly down on what we would normally be. But you have to look past the difficulties of a few days and consider the good that Apec does with the exposure the city is getting."

Staff at Marbecks record store in Queen St said business was slack, and the picture was similarly gloomy in the Downtown area.

Staff at BB's Coffee and Bake said trade was down by 50 per cent. "We've seen some passing business from Apec people, but apart from that it's dead," said Brent McHardy.

The manager of Downtown Pharmacy, Louis Mihaljevich, said: "Yesterday was terrible. People are just staying away from the city. I think many were wrongly told there would be no hotel rooms left in Auckland, which clearly wasn't the case.

"My city centre gym was empty."

But the manager of the Loaded Hog pub, Sara Tucker, was upbeat, saying the lure of the America's Cup and the launch of the Team New Zealand yacht had pulled in customers.

"We've had a lot of extra business from Apec people coming in for drinks and meals. The evening trade has been particularly good."

Likewise, the manager of Downtown's All at Sea nautical gift shop, Vic Wieland, said he had doubled his normal turnover. While Aucklanders were absent, foreign delegates had been snapping up souvenirs, particularly with the City of Sails logo.

Megan Wilson, manager of the High St souvenir shop Pauanesia and spokeswoman for the High St Business Association, said she had deliberately geared up for Apec.

"It's a golden opportunity for business. We had to work hard to get the momentum going. Businesses that sit back and wait for the America's Cup are going to miss out.

"There have been plenty of Apec people through. We've been working closely with the Apec Taskforce. There's information about us in 6000 Apec satchels."

Many of the High St businesses are staying open until midnight today and tomorrow. Some have dressed their windows in Apec colours to boost trade.