AtD wrote:
If you're in the shops in Adelaide on Thursday, Saturday or today, and the thought runs though your head "wow it's busy" then you should be able to see the argument for trading hour reform.
I did venture into the city today (Tuesday) for some shoppping and it was bedlam.
It's good to see the CBD so busy but the combination of shops not being open for a number of days over the extended Easter/Anzac Day holiday period (pentup demand), our beautiful weather and the crazy idea to not allow the majority of shops to open before 11am (squeezed demand, shopping and traffic into a shorter time period) made for a really hectic experience. There was no possibility for the earlybird shoppers to give way to the second phase and congestion was at a maximum.
I brought a friend who has limited mobility so we used the carpark off Gawler Place/North Terrace and arrived about 10.45am. The Mall was bustling, there was a broad demographic and shops and cafes were packed within the hour. On leaving a couple of hours later, the traffic gridlock was unbelievable.
Yes, AtD, the city really was busy and I believe trading hour reform should be on the agenda.
There are many casuals/part timers and students who are willing to work extra hours in retail and hospitality during holiday periods. More relaxed shopping hours should complement the city's tourist/visitor attractions (which are open) and add to the buzz in the city as well as capturing more of the tourist dollars. The city centre needs to be alive.
I hope that the influence of the SDA, in particular, on restricting shopping hours and strangling progress can be drastically reduced in the near future.