Business owners are being encouraged to work with neighbours to keep small towns 'alive'.

Napier City Business general manager Pip Thompson says Napier and Hastings CBDs become ghost towns after 5pm, when stores close.

She says 'to stay alive in 2025', trading hours need to no longer be confined to 9-to-5.

But Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says a single store can't make the change alone.

"If you've got a number of stores around you that are open later, people will come because they know that they can call into that store at a time that suits them after work." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Business owners are being encouraged to work with neighbours to keep small towns 'alive'.
Napier City Business general manager Pip Thompson says Napier and Hastings CBDs become ghost towns after 5pm, when stores close.
She says 'to stay alive in 2025', trading hours need to no longer be confined to 9-to-5.
But Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says a single store can't make the change alone.
"If you've got a number of stores around you that are open later, people will come because they know that they can call into that store at a time that suits them after work."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Carolyn Young: Retail NZ Chief Executive on the calls for small towns to ditch the 9-5 retail model

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ccf81c64-afb5-4376-9a8b-b28e003f6599/transcript