Trading Downturn Slams Thames Businesses

Business trading in Thames has suffered on the back of the spate of recent storms with some reporting a 50 percent drop in sales.

During today’s Thames Business Association forum aimed at finding ways to reboot the economy – which attracted 80 people, business owners reported a trading downturn of between 30 and 50 percent.

At the same time accommodation providers were experiencing increased booking cancellations because of the “uncertainty factor”.

Association chairman, Geoff Graham, opened the meeting detailing the trading impacts. He also acknowledged the immense pressure facing the Thames Coromandel District Council in responding to mounting damage to infrastructure across the district.

The reality of the damaged infrastructure and related consequences on business was laid bare by Mayor Len Salt and Council staff. Destination Hauraki Coromandel advised the meeting that visitor spend was also down by 30 percent.

In terms of infrastructure remediation, the meeting heard that cost was well beyond the funding capacity of Council’s rate payer base which equalled a huge reliance on central government funding.

Meeting moderator, Councillor Peter Revell, compiled a schedule of 24 submissions/ideas sought from the audience, and enabled the audience to vote on what concepts were a priority in order to improve the business operating environment.

Geoff said that several initiatives received great support and should provide council and the business association with impetus for change for the betterment of local business. He said these would be considered before being made public.

Mercury Bay Business Association is holding its reboot meeting on Wednesday evening from 5.30pm at the Mercury Bay Bowling Club. All business owners, operators and managers are invited to attend.