Locals key to shop survival

Long-serving Kununurra retailers at the town’s main shopping mall have risen above COVID-19 restrictions, but are looking to the community to keep them afloat and locals in jobs during a non-existent tourist season.

The Kununurra Shopping Centre, home of Coles and boutique businesses, has remained open during the pandemic, with its two corridors closed off from the main entrance.

Premier Mark McGowan said the State border and the Kimberley border were not expected to be opened anytime soon, closing off the region’s economy which is reliant on tourism from May-October.

While no businesses have been forced to close to adhere to Government mandates, Nina’s Jewellery and Thomas and Co hair salon voluntarily shut their doors to keep their employees and customers safe.

iTalk Travel Kununurra moved from its prime spot by the main entrance to a home-based office in early April, with manager Jodie Morey announcing the business would continue to serve customers behind closed doors until “confidence in travel” returned.

The Urban Rampage clothing store has taken its place, moving from the left corridor of the centre, which has been closed off.

The right corridor has also been partially closed, with Nina’s and Walkabout Souvenirs still accessible from the exterior of the building.

Nina’s reopened its doors with reduced this month, with store manager Eloise Baker saying support from local customers would get Kununurra businesses through the next year.

“Business is significantly lower than it usually is for this time of year; we would be expecting the tourism season to be beginning, and we’re expecting it as a whole won’t take off at all this year,” she said.

“We were never technically told we couldn’t open but as a business that’s been here for over 50 years, we thought it was imperative for the community and our staff’s safety to make a decision early on while we were still learning how the situation was going to pan out.

“It has been incredibly challenging, but everyone was very supportive and we’re now back to having the entire team in the showroom.

“We’ve always had an incredibly supportive local client base, and we’re very grateful for that.”

Thomas and Co, also in the right-hand wing, reopened on April 29 and resumed serving customers by appointment only three days after Mr McGowan announced there were no active COVID-19 cases in the Kimberley.

Red Sun Clothing, on the left-hand side of the supermarket, has reduced its opening hours, with customers able to request service at Red Sun Sports across the carpark if it is closed.

Red Sun owner-operator Mick Bowles said the loss of sales to tourists amid the crisis hadn’t affected the store “a great deal”, with the main shop seeing an increase in demand from residents for fitness and sporting equipment.

“Our doors are still open, which is fantastic, and we have been able to hold on to all our staff which is very important,” he said.

“Local people support our business really well and have over the past 30 years...we’ve been lucky in a lot of senses.

“Obviously people want things to do...the next few months are usually our best months during the tourist season so we need that to get through to this time next year when people are able to visit again.”

The centre’s landlord has allowed businesses some rent relief while social distancing guidelines, border closures and job losses have reduced customer traffic and demand.