WEEKEND shoppers are rejoicing as a selection of Swan Hill stores prepare to open their doors on this Sunday.
Twenty-one stores will be open for business from 10am to 2pm for this weekend’s Super Sunday shopping spree, which aims to bring joy back to shopping.
The community-led initiative will give customers the chance to share in a $2000 prize pool.
Organiser and Home.Life Children’s Boutique owner Nadene Simpson said local firms wanted to bring browsers back to their stores.
“We’ve been through some tough times lately,” she said.
“In the retail business, we are seeing that things have been a fair bit slower again this year.
“Coming out of the COVID pandemic, a lot of people are still finding it difficult to get back to browsing again, and to even feel comfortable walking into a store.
“I’ve noticed in my store that customers are still saying things like ‘I’ve never been in here before’ or ‘I didn’t know that you sold things like this here’.
“Everyone was saying the same thing, they just weren’t seeing people coming in to have a look anymore.”
A $1000 grand prize is on offer for a lucky customer who spends at least $50 at one of the participating stores, with $50 vouchers from each store also up for grabs.
To enter the competition, shoppers will pick up a “shopping passport” from the business they venture to first and collect a stamp from each of the following stores they visit.
They will leave their completed passport at the last store they visit, entering them in the draw for $1000.
Ms Simpson said the event was a way to remind customers about local businesses.
“For me, this isn’t all about me and my business; it’s about the whole town,” she said.
“I feel that from the other business owners as well, they’re doing this to provide something to the entire community.
“It’s another way for the local businesses to be able to band together and support one another, as well as making shopping a bit more positive again.”
Ms Simpson said each of the 21 stores would be running their own promotions and there would be “more on offer than your usual shopping day”.
“We’ve been so lucky; we’ve had 21 stores get involved in the idea and they’ve all just been amazing,” she said.
“These are local businesses who are working Monday to Friday, so for them to give up their time to open up on a Sunday is much appreciated.
“Each store will also have a jar on their counter, for anyone wanting to donate any money they can to local charity, A Good Kitchen.”
Local shopper Hollie Bath told The Guardian that she would get involved in Sunday shopping, and understood the difficulty faced by small businesses.
“It was a bit of a culture shock after I moved from Adelaide and saw that no shops would open on a Sunday,” she said.
“I feel like if more places were open here on Sundays, there would just be a bit more for people to do.
“Obviously having to pay Sunday rates (to staff) can be a bit difficult, and if you can’t get people to work on a Sunday, then it just won’t work.”
