Traders support Sunday trading tinkering

by Larissa Chatwin

April 29, 2008

PERTH City Council allowed the CBD to open from 11am-5pm for the first time on April 27, with many workers and traders supporting the concept.

City information guide Ray Clark, a council employee who staffs the city’s information kiosk in Forrest Place, said 11am-5pm was the “perfect opening time” for businesses.

Sunday trading hours were formerly noon-6pm. Mr Clark said shoppers generally had not liked to stay in Perth until late, partly because bus services were infrequent at that time on Sunday. City visitors had often sought his help on Sunday morning, not realising the shops did not open until noon.

“Tourists want to get out and do things in the morning – they get to the city and the city is dead,” Mr Clark said.

Floor manager at JB Hi-Fi in Hay St, Deepa Smith, said the new trading hours were a plus for her business. She said she had often seen people queuing outside the sjop on Sunday morning, waiting for it to open.

Owner and manager of Ye Olde Lolly Shoppe in Murray St, Angie Owen, said her shoppe had always opened at 11am on Sunday.  She said this opening time had worked well for her, with customers often coming in to browse, since there was not much to do in the city before noon.

In a press release, Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said the previous Sunday trading hours had been frustrating for shoppers, with the last hour of trade unprofitable for businesses. Ms Scaffidi said the council was trying to ensure the expectations of tourists, visitors and residents were met.

Three years ago, WA voted against deregulating retail trading hours. However, Sunday trade has long been permitted in the tourism areas of Perth and Fremantle.