Thursday 20 May 2021
Australia's largest retail body, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), today announced its support for the Friday in the City campaign - a joint initiative between the Property Council of Australia and Brisbane City Council to get people back and shopping in the Brisbane CBD.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said with international tourists and students missing and office populations still low, governments and businesses need to get creative in order to revitalise our city centres.
"There's no doubt Brisbane is continuing to feel a hangover from the Covid lockdowns and restrictions that people have experienced over the past year or so," Mr Zahra said.
"More people are working flexibly and are choosing to stay at home rather than go into the office, and that's having a devastating impact on CBD retailers, in particular small businesses, who are just not getting the same numbers of customers through their doors as they were pre-Covid.
"There are less people grabbing a coffee from their favourite café, shopping on their lunch break or getting a bite to eat and having a drink in the city after work. This is compounded by the lack of international tourists and students, so businesses in the CBD need all the help they can get at the moment.
"That's why we're delighted to be supporting the Friday in the City campaign, with a number of retailers joining in with vouchers and discounts to entice people back into the Brisbane CBD.
"More people back in the city means more money through the tills of local businesses who've been to hell and back through Covid lockdowns and restrictions. It's time for them to thrive once again. Every dollar spent in retail is giving someone a job.
"We urge people to work from their city offices on a Friday and take advantage of some of the great offers that are available, or make the CBD the focus of your Friday night plans by coming in to enjoy the social and cultural attractions that make the CBD so special."
