A return to retail

Local Berwick business owners Mario Fallace, Tammy Lobato, Robert Costabile, Debbie Brettoner, Lynette Costabile, Barry Erlenwein, Linda Campbell, Rob Salha, Kay Drysdale, Paul Whitehead at the launch of the Berwick Chamber of Commerce, prior to Covid-19. Picture: ROB CAREW 203627_01

By Mitchell Clarke

Struggling local retailers have been handed some much needed reprieve with the announcement they can finally reopen, but a local business group warns some may never return.

From Wednesday 28 October, all retail can reopen to in-store shopping, meaning click and collect orders could become a thing of the past.

But as crowds plan to flock back to shopping at the ever-popular megastores like Kmart and Bunnings, locals are being urged to stick close to home and support those who have been doing it particularly tough throughout the pandemic.

Local Berwick business owners Mario Fallace, Tammy Lobato, Robert Costabile, Debbie Brettoner, Lynette Costabile, Barry Erlenwein, Linda Campbell, Rob Salha, Kay Drysdale and Paul Whitehead at the launch of the Berwick Chamber of Commerce, prior to Covid-19. Picture: ROB CAREW 203627_01

David Farrelly, who created Cardinia CAN – a free group for businesses to connect with customers through social media, said it was more important than ever to shop locally.

“It’s an important time to remind people that things have changed, so we want to encourage people to make that small change or continue to make a small change,” he said.

“When you’re doing the weekly grocery shop, see if there’s a product or two that you can instead purchase at a local small business.

“Coles isn’t going to suffer, but these small businesses can gain massively by turning a profit and employing people.”

Owner of Little Black Bag in Berwick, Lina Parisi, is hoping her local community will take small measures to continue to support her.

Employees at Little Black Bag in Berwick are thrilled to get back into the swing of things. Picture: SUPPLIED

“People here are so loyal and they have really supported us online through the last few months,” she said.

“I think people need to keep it local, otherwise people will lose their jobs and businesses will close.

“We need our community to get their coffee here, they need to eat at local restaurants and make a pact to start doing their Christmas shopping here.”

The news that Ms Parisi could finally reopen her doors to customers in-store came as a “massive shock”.

“We couldn’t believe it, we weren’t expecting it. Every time we waited for a press conference, we almost expected to be let down again,” she said.

“We had sort of lost a bit of hope, so this was almost like an unreal feeling.”

Berwick and Beaconsfield Chamber of Commerce president Tammy Lobato said many small businesses like Ms Parisi’s would be feeling very relieved.

She said the Chamber welcomed the Premier’s announcement to enable businesses to reopen again.

“While we are excited to be able to again do what we love – providing service to our customers – we acknowledge that for many, more hard work and challenges lay ahead just to stay afloat and for others it means literally not being able to reopen due to the hardship experienced during the last six months,” Ms Lobato said.

“The Chamber, along with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce continues to provide support, information and advocacy to our businesses at this very difficult time in business recovery.”