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Welcome to October! Will be glad to get the election out of the way so we can focus on building up for Christmas trade. Anecdotally retail and hospo is stable but possibly a bit flat - but this week (school holidays) trade seems to have picked up a fair bit. Right now it is hard to see a pattern. We get great days, we get quiet days - this does however seem to be city-wide. Elections always cause a dip in confidence, and the economy slows down a little.
You may want to grab a coffee, or something a little stronger, this month's Update is lengthy and jam-packed with information...
SEPTEMBER AGM & BOARD MEETING
An overview from the 2020 AGM (via Zoom):
- The new board for 2020-2021 is: Mark Hill-Rennie (ANZ); Carl Sowter (Marley Loft); Kalpana Reddy (Chow:Hill); Christina Yu (Chinese Herald) and Rachel Dovey (Bayleys); and two new members - Matt Harray (Smith & Caugheys) and Chris Dodd (Masfen Group)
- Security was discussed at length and the EOI (Expressions of Interest) we are running with a group of providers, including the incumbent, City Guard. The current contract for street patrols and camera monitoring is up for renewal in November. We are also conducting a feasibility study to consider bringing the security function “in-house” as an alternative solution.
We have also had our first board meeting with the new board, this was to elect officers and sub-committees. Normally we don’t have a board meeting in the same month as the AGM, but we need to accelerate some of the security decisions that need to be made in the near future. Officers and sub-committees are follows:
- Chair – Mark Hill-Rennie
- Deputy Chair – Rachel Dovey
- Treasurer – Carl Sowter
- Finance sub-committee: Mark Knoff-Thomas, Carl Sowter and Kalpana Reddy
- HR sub-committee: Mark Knoff-Thomas, Mark Hill-Rennie & Rachel Dovey
- Security sub-committee: Mark Knoff-Thomas, Christina Yu, Matta Harry, Chris Dodd & Graeme Gunthorp
Robbie Bryant from SBM Legal has resigned from the board as is relocating to the South Island. In a short time Robbie has made a significant contribution to the NBA - we are ever grateful to all our volunteer board members. We have the option of co-opting on a specialist to replace Robbie, and William Fussey, also from SBM Legal, has agreed to fulfil that role for us when we need his expertise.
SECURITY UPDATE
Security has been a huge focus over the past few months. We have multiple concerns which have been compounded by COVID-19. David Seymour’s office set up a meeting for us with MSD, City Mission and Lifewise at the NBA this week, along with my counterpart from Parnell. We raised our alarm at the recent spike in rough sleepers and anti-social behaviour we have been experiencing. These agencies are all doing their very best, and to be frank have an enormous challenge to contend with. I was dismayed to learn that there is not one entity that has a macro view of the situation - there have been anywhere between 140-220 people placed into emergency/ temporary housing or shelters on Great South Road since COVID kicked in. These arrangements change constantly, but will likely be ongoing until at least the end of March 2021. We have formulated a plan to work closely together, share intel and help identify any particularly problematic personalities. If you are having any issues, please get in touch with me directly.
On top of this we have a small group of teenage delinquents who have been causing a bit of havoc. These are high school aged students. A few of whom are in the throes of being expelled and under the guidance of Oranga Tamariki. We have experienced – drug use, drug dealing, theft, attempted arson, violence, and threatening behaviour. We are working with schools, police, security and other agencies on this. But it has been very challenging. The schools have all been advised of our Newmarket Charter (2 year Newmarket-wide trespass notice). We will have more media around the Charter shortly, and our other security initiatives.
Don't get involved - call the Police 111 every time to report crime.
If you have shop lifters’ images from your own CCTV, here is a link to what you can and can’t do with those images. Click here
NOTES ON CIVIL WORKS/ ROADS & CROSSINGS
We have some projects on the go at the moment, and up-coming, that will put extra pressure on traffic:
- Davis Cres: Watercare - storm water upgrades (lane closure)
- Khyber Pass: Vector - some maintenance and upgrades (lane closure – traffic management in place)
- Morrow/ Broadway: AT - traffic light installation is set to start this month. (temporary lane closures - traffic management in place).
- The barns dance crossing at Khyber Pass/ Broadway has had the pedestrian crossing phase extended slightly, to allow a few more seconds to make it across the road
- Teed St/ Broadway crossing – I attended a co-design workshop with AT earlier this week to come up with some design solutions to make the crossing here safer. You may recall we were opposed to AT’s plan to add another set of traffic lights, as we have visions of a mega-crossing zone. We will likely see some short-term interventions to make it safer for pedestrians, and longer term, when Broadway is upgraded, further safety measures will be incorporated into the design. The NBA office sits above the intersection and we witness some very dangerous situations and, sadly, even accidents from time to time between cars and pedestrians. AT have also installed a CCTV camera directly above, and from watching some of the footage, it really is horrifying.
LOCAL OFFERS & EXCLUSIVE B2B GIVEAWAYS
We are in the process of developing a platform for our members to be able to share local offers and promotions exclusively with fellow Newmarket Businesses, encompassing B2B and employee deals, called ‘Local Offers’. This will be promoted through The Update via a ‘Local Offers’ tile that clicks through to members' offers. This will also be accessed through the member portal tile on www.newmarket.co.nz and our member Facebook page. To be included please email Kelly for more information.
AMERICAN EXPRESS #ShopSmall
American Express is bringing Shop Small to New Zealand. Shop Small was created by American Express in 2010, off the back of the Global Financial Crisis to celebrate the valuable contributions small businesses make to their communities and the economy and to encourage shoppers to support them. It is now celebrated in many countries around the world.
On 1 October, Shop Small will launch for the first time in New Zealand and run until the end of the year. Click here to learn about the campaign and possible ways to get involved to support local small businesses.
BUY NOW PAY LATER
Newmarket-based Humm (Flexigroup) recently launched a new product for retailers doing Buy Now Pay Later. Click here to read more.
BLACK FRIDAY/ CYBER MONDAY – TIPS FROM VEND
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are growing in NZ each year. This year many businesses might see this as an opportunity to make some extra noise. Vend have put together some tips to get your business ready. Click here.
NEWMARKET PROMO VIDEO
You may have seen this short clip to help promote Newmarket. This has been a follow up to the domestic marketing campaign we ran earlier this year. This video has been pushed out and geo-targeted to consumers around the country. Click here to watch, and please share the link far and wide across your own platforms.
FACEBOOK GROUP
Please join our Member’s only Facebook Group. (www.facebook.com/groups/NBAmembers). We often share urgent updates on this page for your information.
UPDATE YOUR BUSINESS LISTING ON OUR WEBSITE
If you’d like to update your listing on our website, please click here
FESTIVAL ITALIANO - SUNDAY 8TH NOVEMBER
- Planning is full steam ahead for Festival Italiano to be held on Sunday 8th November, the largest Italian Festival in New Zealand. Your business can be part of the action by holding an event or activation with an Italian theme anytime from the 1st November to the day of the festival. Please contact Kelly@newmarket.co.nz for more information.
MEMBER EVENTS
- How to Engage with the Chinese Consumer - Chinese NZ Herald. 10am Thursday 15th October Christina Yu will cover off key areas that will include: Insight - A peek at the Chinese Kiwi White Paper by Chinese Herald; Engagement - An overview of local Chinese digital landscape, and a case study of how we best engage with the audience; Targeting - WeChat sponsored ads, an effective tool to precisely reach out to Chinese Kiwis with their preferred app. Please RSVP to faith@newmarket.co.nz
- The Hub in August was postponed due to COVID-19 and a new date will be confirmed shortly. This will include a general update on what is happening in Newmarket followed by a movie. As soon as the date is confirmed, an invite will be sent via email.
- Past (viewable online):
- Social Media and Reputational Management - One Plus One Communications. Courtney Johnson discusses the dos and don’ts of social media for business; how to tell your story; engaging with customers online; and reputational risks on social media and how to manage them. Click here to view.
- Chinese Social Media - MKTG Partner. James Shi covers Chinese New Zealanders’ insights for retail and hospitality; Chinese social media marketing myths; Chinese social media marketing methodology for retail and hospitality and case studies. Click here to view.
- Cameron Bagrie – Bagrie Economics. Cameron provided another update for us last week on the economic outlook. He shared some very good insights and it’s well worth a watch. Click here to view.
- Angela Pile – Retain Consulting. Angela’s webinar is for any consumer facing business. Key areas covered include: creating exceptionally satisfied and extremely loyal customers; how to build a business strategy to differentiate yourself and stand out; create an over-the-top “yes” obsession with customer service. Click here to view
'THE DEAL' - CONSUMER EDM FOR YOUR SALES AND SPECIALS
Our eDM ‘The Deal’ helps raise awareness of Newmarket’s various sales and promotions. Having your sales, specials and promotions included will be a free service provided to members while the database is built up (you will of course have to let us know, provide imagery and copy, for what your deal is). The deadline for each monthly eDM is the last Friday of the month prior, to be distributed on the first Tuesday of each month. To be included in the October eDM, please email Kelly .
HAND SANITISER STATIONS
For a map of all the hand sanitiser station locations, please click here.
RECOMMENDED CHRISTMAS TRADING HOURS
As in previous years we encourage retailers to align their Christmas trading hours wherever possible, especially from mid-December up until Christmas Eve. With that in mind, the hours below are being adopted by Westfield this year:
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Date
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Hours to trade
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Friday 27th November (Black Friday)
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9am - Midnight
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Saturday 28th November – Wednesday 16th December
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Normal trading hours
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Thursday 17th – Monday 21st December
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9am – 10pm every day
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Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd December
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9am - Midnight
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Thursday 24th December
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9am – 7pm
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Friday 25th December (Christmas Day)
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Closed
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Saturday 26th December (Boxing Day)
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8am – 8pm
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Sunday 27th December
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10am – 7pm
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Monday 28th December
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9am – 7pm
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Tuesday 29th December – Thursday 31st December
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9am – 7pm
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Friday 1st January (New Year’s Day)
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10am – 6pm
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Saturday 2nd January
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9am – 7pm
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Sunday 3rd January
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10am – 7pm
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Monday 4th January
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9am – 7pm
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Stay safe everyone!
Mark Knoff-Thomas
CEO
Newmarket Business Association
