Small businesses battling shopping giants

Posted on 2010-07-15

 

SMALL businesses are calling for a regime, similar to victim impact statements, to be introduced before mega-shopping centres are built.

The Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia said small players, through no fault of their own, were often forced to the wall when big shopping centres were approved in their neighborhood.

COSBOA executive director Peter Strong said the shopping monoliths undermined the smaller shops in shopping strips.

He said a business impact statement would force developers to address a terms of reference to ensure they would not destroy the fabric of the local community.

"When these big shopping developments are built they steal customers from small retailers," he said.

"It is nothing to do with shoppers being dissatisfied with the businesses, it is just easier to park in a shopping centre carpark than trying to get a park in a shopping strip," he said.

Mr Strong said issues such as changed parking conditions and clearways in inner Melbourne all affected local shops.

He suggested once a business impact statement was assessed, small businesses needed to be paid compensation by developers.

"This isn't just about small business owners. It is about making sure that people have a genuine choice in products and shopping experiences at a small shopping strip or big shopping centre," he said.

Mr Strong's bookshop, Smith's Alternative Bookshop, is on a shopping strip."If you want to come to my bookshop you have to park a long way away and pass three bookshops," he said.


Source: The Daily Telegraph

 

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