https://wynnumcentral.com.au/have-you-seen-the-stickers-on-empty-shop-windows/
40 thoughts on “Have you seen the stickers on empty shop windows?”
- Kenn Davis November 8, 2013 at 6:29 pm
My fantasy shop is a Brodies food franchise up on Bay Tce, good food but hard to travel to Forestlake. Waiting for my Lotto win.
- Ambitious Wynnum Leader Wanted November 8, 2013 at 10:01 pm
1 cinema, 15 decent fashion shops, a baskin Robbins, 10 decent cafes, 10 decent restaurants, 3 decent pubs playing live music at the weekends, 6 head offices of growing companies to make the above sustainable.
Looking forward to seeing stickers outside the following shops: adult shop (no place for smut in Wynnum); all the charity shops on Bay Terrace (the industry of sustaining poverty is not welcome in Wynnum), Centrelink (spectacularly incompetent at getting people jobs and consequently has only sustained welfare/poverty).
Get rid of the current Wynnum council and Govt leaders: they have been useless puppets for far too long.
We need game-changing, sustainable investment and the strong leadership to make that happen.
- phil saunders November 9, 2013 at 10:43 am
What drivel.
Get rid of the Charity shops, really?!? I am so sick of hearing this line. What would it achieve!?!
How does another half a dozen empty shops make the place look better or improve commerce in the district.
Businesses can only exist if they have enough customers so as to operate at a profit, what Wynnum needs is more people shopping here, then, if that is what the market dictates the mix would change, maybe, the charity shops would go, maybe not.
WHAT WE NEED AN ANSWER ON IS, HOW TO ENCOURAGE BIG MONEY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CBD!!!
Remember we only have a 180 degree catchment to draw from because of the bay, most areas have double that, our greatest asset is also one of our greatest problems, it reduces potential customers by half.
Development of the CBD is the key, massive revitalization, high rise devlopments, we need a much higher critical mass if we are ever going to go ahead,. Once we have enough potential customers the businesses will come,BUT, they will not invest until they can see a return.
Head Offices for large business is a get idea, but, the challenge is getting them here. Once again suitable building need to be in place to encourage these businesses to move here.
And what’s this Wynnum Council you whine about, Wynnum has not had it’s own Council for decades we come under the Brisbane City Council.
And by the way, if you have something to say have the guts to put your name to it.
- Tanya Bastin November 10, 2013 at 11:07 am
Hi Phil
I agree with everything you said with exception of high rise, anything over 5/6 stories would kill the feel of Wynnum, I grew up in Maroochydore in the 70s and 80s and know what was lost with the bigger is better mentality, there is still a charm and warmth to Wynnum that I would hate to see forgotten on the road to progress, and I am for progress, it is the only way to stop the decay, I just think we need to play to our strengths and the thought of a mini city horrifies me. Tanya Bastin.
- Gecko November 10, 2013 at 12:24 pm
Ambitious Wynnum Leader Wanted – you are clearly more interested in bashing Peter Cummings than really thinking about what you are saying. Both vacant and occupied shops have nothing to do with any political party let alone the council. The current shops exist because they are the only ones making money. Others have come and go but the charity shops remain for a very obvious reason. They are the ones making money. Removing them would achieve absolutely nothing except add to the number of vacant shops. If any new business wanted to open up there is more than enough vacancies for them to do so. Your idea of getting rid of the few remaining businesses is ludicrous to say the least. Actually you seem to blame government for everything. Centrelink is not responsible for getting people jobs. They are there to assist them. It is up to the individual to get a job. People like you need to stop blaming governments and everyone but themselves. Take responsibility for your own destiny.
- Derek Miles November 12, 2013 at 9:15 pm
To the author of this post. Ambitious Wynnum Leader. There are a few things you don’t understand about leadership. Firstly, Politicians and I include the local Councillor have different areas of responsibility. None of them are voted in to be the supreme leader who leads the horses to water. You need to go to China to see this happen. Secondly, leadership is about community responsibility. That is, put your hand up and be counted. Volunteer your time with Wynnum & Districts Chamber of Commerce and the many programmes they are running to try and invigorate the business district. They are crying out for people to show community spirit and volunteer. Thirdly, leadership is not about one person to do all the work. It is about a lot of people getting together for a common cause. One so called leader is not going to cut it unless there is a substantial team there. Fourthly, a leader is one who inspires. One who has vision. Would you like to be that person Mr Nameless poster?
- Rosslyn November 13, 2013 at 8:30 am
Lots of good ideas here. Essential is getting a government that is working for the people not being parasites against them. PARKING AND PUBLIC FACILITIES are the necessary. Too many shop owners/workers parking in spaces that are in place for our customers. If people cannot park conveniently they will not shop in Wynnum.
- Ambitious Wynnum Leader Wanted November 9, 2013 at 1:33 pm
Look, Wynnum can’t compete with Carindale, so to be a destination for well-heeled shoppers it needs something else. I don’t believe that Cumming’s vision for “the Wynnum experience” – which you can see for yourself is 10 charity shops; a crazy clarks two dollar store; ‘the hippy shop’; an adult shop selling smut; no decent restaurants; no decent cafes; a centerlink obsessed with keeping locals dependent on welfare; no offices providing sustainable growth; lots of boarded up windows – is what we need.
Get rid of Cumming to see changes happen.
- Derek Miles November 12, 2013 at 9:25 pm
Ambitious Wynnum Leader – you are missing the point totally. You harp on about Mr Cumming (and little do you know about how much he puts into the community in a personal sense – otherwise you would not be so scathing of him). Mr Cumming is not there to drive the business community of Wynnum. He is there to represent the rate payers of his ward on the council in the areas that the Council handle – such as roads, rubbish collection, community programmes, libraries, parks, to name a few. What is needed is more business owners support of programmes that are currently running. We need business owners to get out of their state of depression and spend a bit of money on marketing programmes to drive customers to their doors. People are not just going to rock up to the shops just because they are lovely people running a shop in Wynnum. It takes money and drive but the business owners. That is the way forward. Look at the street banner programme – there have been so many negative comments about these – it’s like residents don’t want anything to happen in Wynnum. Business owners need to get involved financially with Wynnum Central – this very programme that we are all posting on. We don’t need a supreme leader – we need action by the business owners.
- caroline November 10, 2013 at 11:06 am
Talk to the ‘greedy’ owners. Clearly they are setting the rent high enough to discourage tenants. We all know there are a few who would rather see there investment sitting empty, than charge a rate which attracts new tenancies. What is THAT all about? Pressure needs to be put on these money-bagging landlords – to lower rent or sell and get the hell out of the way of Wynnum’s progress as a ‘destination’. Bulimba hasn’t got HALF of the attractions Wynnum has and yet, it is a thriving cafe society with a great atmosphere and that’s despite the fact that it is really really hard to get a park even on a quiet day. Wynnum has a foreshore; a view to die for; great breezes on some days and several good food outlets and cafes. What it doesn’t have is enough entertainment – if you don’t want to eat; shop or drink, there is no reason to come to Wynnum. Bulimba has a glut of places to eat and drink and hardly any shops and yet, it is a thriving, happening place no matter what day. What it has that Wynnum doesnt is a movie theatre, that’s all. No view; no breeze; no water, no foreshore nearby but it kicks on year after year. Wynnum needs ENTERTAINMENT – give us MUSIC! Give us a MINI-THEATRE! Set up a regular OUTDOOR THEATRE on the FORESHORE on the WEEKENDS and EVERY NIGHT during summer. I haven’t seen one of the council driven movie nights which aren’t packed. Wynnum lacks vibrancy and that’s pretty much all it lacks. Regulate the rents, just for a little while – maybe two years and just see what happens. Hand the development over to the artists and let their right-brained thinking go wild – they will have some FANTASTIC ideas, just you wait and see. Invite several musical theatre groups to come up with a development plan; invite some chorus choirs to make peforming in Wynnum a regular thing – if a group of singing; acting; performing and singing groups dedicated their time even on a MONTHLY basis in rotation, we would have an atmosphere that is happy; trendy; alive and a pleasure to be around. It’s not just about what kind of ‘shops’ it is also about the TOWN’S ATMOSPHERE. I want to get off the train and walk up one of the main streets and hear funky music and get the general impression of MARKET DAY – EVERY DAY. There is no reason why Wynnum’s h street cant be a market ALL THE TIME. The shop owners would be happy about that, more customers from the flow-on effect. Let easy-listening or folk bands practice in the spaces of empty shops (with volume control of course). Some people need to LET GO OF CONTROL and let a few ideas just take shape – if they work GREAT, if they don’t SO WHAT – gotta be better than this ghost town of empty shops – shops which are empty because of a handful of stubborn, greedy, power-hungry autocrats with NO IMAGINATION.
- Tanya Bastin November 10, 2013 at 11:11 am
YES!!!!!
- Tanya Bastin November 10, 2013 at 11:11 am
Caroline you should be in charge !
- Derek Miles November 12, 2013 at 9:34 pm
A few things I can say here. The rents in Bulimba are 3 times the rent of most of Wynnum. Surprised? I have first hand experience of this. And the reason they pay these rents is that people flock to the area. Don’t look at the cost base. Look at the revenue base. More sales. More customers. And better pricing. This is what will grow your business. Get smarter at marketing. How many businesses in the Wynnum district use social media? It’s so easy to learn how. Spend a bit of time and money to market your business. People don’t just walk in. They need to be encouraged in to buy. How many of these business owners network? Safe to say about 1%? They are stuck in their shops in the back room doing goodness knows what and they wonder why customers don’t come in. These days shop owners need to get out of their shops and network, market, go to functions, walk the streets and hand out brochures. That is what will drive business to your door. Don’t just rely on the local area. Go to other areas to market your business. Again, use social media. Run functions. Have open days. The list goes on.
- Jacqueline Avery November 10, 2013 at 11:12 am
Love the following sticker. ” I wish this was a TARDIS.” Me too.
- Trevor Platt November 10, 2013 at 11:28 am
Over the last eleven years that I have had my shop , I have seen it decline slowly , with shops opening then closing a few months later . Wynnum is a fantastic place to live and work , but Wynnum is not a gold mine if you want to open a business , more a silver mine as you need to understand the people that shop in the area , older “yes” , lower income “yes” , nice people “yes” . Wynnum will always be here , as the Hippy shop , Crazy Clarks , and charity shops , also DBS Mensware who sell high quality clothing which have been in Wynnum for years . My gallery is open 7 days a week and my art is not cheap , but I’m still here in beautiful Wynnum and I do sell my works local , so there is hope for new shops that want to open , all you need to do is stay and tuff it out .
- Michelle November 10, 2013 at 12:14 pm
I like Caroline’s ideas. Ive been a business owner in Wynnum for only 5 years and I also agree with Caroline’s comments about greedy landlords. For example, there is a shop on h Street that has stood empty since we looked at leases nearly 6 years ago and when we looked at it, it had been empty for a long time prior. Instead of reducing the lease, they would rather have it empty.
Another gripe I had was being approached by someone a few years ago because they wanted to get the support of the local businesses together to get Wynnum up and alive and restarted….I was keen until I realised that you had to pay ongoing money to be a part of this. (Costs were going to cover website design and management etc.) Total ripoff as I have 2 websites of my own and the costs of running these per year was equivalent to 3 monthly payments of ONE contributor. I have yet to see one iota of difference that this organisation has made to further anything that makes a difference to Wynnum. Pack of greedy money hungry “business people”. What we really need is a town meeting to get everyones ideas, so that we can move forward….trouble is I don’t even know who is in charge? And how on earth do we get things done in this town….it seems there are awesome ideas but still we get nowhere. One suggestion I have is to Market these stores that are for lease….get the businesses here and then the town might come alive. Put a huge push on all the empty shops. Perhaps there is a local real estate agent who is passionate about Wynnum enough to get this ball rolling?
- Ruchel November 10, 2013 at 12:46 pm
This sounds the most productive so far. I recently met with friends and where did we go – Bulimba, the choice of dining and having a Coffee Club there made it an easy choice, maybe a Coffee Club in the mix would be great for Wynnum and YES we have soooo much more than Bulimba.
- Michelle November 10, 2013 at 12:34 pm
The op shops are awesome- I find so many treasures there and don’t understand the notion that it attracts the ‘wrong’ type of people to our CBD. I know of groups of well-heeled ‘ladies who lunch’ who regularly descend on the area to go on all-day op shop exp ions.
As for Centrelink, it’s not just about collecting your dole money nowadays- they also look after the Medicare and child care side of things and are an essential service. Heck, even Clarendon St in South Melbourne has a Centrelink and it’s millionaire/celeb central. I’m just disappointed that their new premises under-utilised a site that had such great potential for a mixed-use development.
More quality dining would be lovely to get the place jumping after-hours, and more shops that aren’t chemists or hairdressers. The Collective Store and Got A Go are two examples of local retailers offering luxury goods who do pretty well for themselves, and it is because they think outside the box, are well-presented and have lovely staff to boot.
- Heather O’Brien November 10, 2013 at 1:05 pm
When I started my business in Wynnum over 23yrs ago there was every kind of shop imaginable, however; I soon realised that all I seemed to hear from people was that they were off to Carindale or Capalaba to shop. Sorry folks, local stores cannot sit and wait for that one time you don’t feel like driving to a major centre. I did all my shopping locally but it was not long before the shops began to disappear. This is a two way street, the shops come and go because we don’t make a real effort to support them as they grow. We all have to decide if we want to always be dependant on Westfield and the like, or if we will help our own suburbs recover and thrive; it really is our choice; will we commit?
Heather O’Brien
- Michelle November 10, 2013 at 1:06 pm
The stickers are a good start for getting ideas and suggestions but my guess is that nothing will be done after this point. I would also like to see what some of the ideas actually say. I have been in Wynnum every week and I personally haven’t seen a single sticker. Please make me eat my words
- Linda November 10, 2013 at 1:12 pm
Love it! Anything that gets people talking about filling up these empty shops.
- Rachel November 10, 2013 at 1:31 pm
I understand the idea of putting up the stickers, but please can you explain what happens once they are filled in.
- Athanasia November 10, 2013 at 6:41 pm
Rachel the point of the stickers as I understand it from Candy’s TED video is to help to get community involved in driving vibrancy and redevelopment. To get people talking (which it has done), and hey, maybe, if there are enough stickers and enough good suggestions, serve as inspiration to new business owners.
I’m so pleased to see someone took the initiative to order them and put them up.
- Sahrah November 10, 2013 at 1:38 pm
I agreed that a big push for tenanting shops that aren’t leased – some of these have been the case for years. I have heard that the unleased shops benefit owners who are negative gearing but I am also sus about any other activities behind long-term empty stores. I think it would be great to investigate this further, speak with Council, see if owners can be contacted, ATO copied in? (cheeky). Having said that, I think we do need further entertainment opportunities in the area, as well as good quality restaurants, some that are higher end cafes, maybe a wine bar of something that keeps people staying local of an evening. I think stores like The Collective and TLC Books (Manly) are beautifully presented, high quality stores that do not out-price customer’s wallets. The charity shops too, have their place. There are gems to be found and if people are wanting to pick up a quick outfit for an event without much outlay, I would trek out to Wynnum knowing that I could cover a lot of ground with all of the shops here.
- Ambitious Wynnum Leader Wanted November 10, 2013 at 3:22 pm
Great to see the ideas flowing. These are all just ideas…. unless something is done about them. On this, the most productive comment so far is Michelle’s suggestion of a town hall meeting [for the business owners and landlords of Wynnum]. It would make sense to have one once a month until Wynnum CBD is on the right track.
I totally agree that Wynnum is at heart a far, far better destination than Bulimba. I disagree that Wynnum lacks vibrancy: just look at these posts to see the calibre of the people of Wynnum. The difference between Bulimba and Wynnum has been the quality of their leaders. Bulimba has Rudd, Wynnum has Symes. Wynnum has Cumming, Bulimba has… don’t know his/her name but they’re doing a great job.
Clr Cumming, prove me wrong and get this place pumping again: chair a monthly town hall meeting for business and landlords until we’re back on track. Or quit and let someone with more integrity take the helm.
- Ricflair November 10, 2013 at 7:44 pm
People won’t shop in Wynnum because of the amount of dead beats that patronise the suburb at the moment. Compare it to Bullimba, there is no housing commission or centrelink with low life’s spitting, swearing and smoking on the foot paths around the suburb.
Let BMD build there big offices, more jobs more patronage for cafés etc.
- Norm Bahr November 10, 2013 at 9:16 pm
I agree with the majority of comments that have been shown. Remember Wynnum in the ‘old’ days when we had two cinemas and the main street was alive with good shops. When the cinemas went, the decline started. I have advocated for years for a cinema in Wynnum and h or Florence Street to be closed to vehicles and turned into a mall with many cafes and restaurants and plants and seats down the center. h Street is better for this because it is already positioned for the change. The old state school grounds could be turned into off street parking and a small park and leisure area. I agree that we need to get someone with a vision that is a little outside the circle to put our suburb back on the map. I agree the Bulimba is a fine example of how we need to get the vibe back into the area. People want to go to an area that provides entertainment, meals and shopping so I hope that there is someone who can start the process before we see a lot more vacancies in the shopping area.
- phil saunders November 12, 2013 at 1:44 pm
The old if Wynnum just had a Cinema the people would come is so far off the mark it’s laughable.
For Wynnum to have a Cinema or indeed any sort of business it needs first and foremost the critical mass to make it commercially viable.
No one who does any sort of feasibility study or proper cost analysis will set up here at present, we simply don’t have enough people.
All those things people want here didn’t leave for no reason they left because they could not make enough money.
It’s horse and cart stuff, no point having a cart if you don’t have a horse. In the case of Wynnum the horse is customer traffic, something that has been steadily dropping here for probably 40 years.
- Deirdre thomson November 12, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Great to see so much interest in Wynnum CBD. Having been a business owner for 16 years I have heard pretty much all these comments before.
Parking – totally agree with Phil, just need a little consideration from staff / owners of shops to not take up retail spots outside their shops.
Charity Shops – actually attract visitors to the area (retro is in)
Volunteer with the Chamber of Commerce or Taskforce and help get things done, don’t need to start all over again when the vehicle is already here, you just need to jump in and be part of it.
I would like to see the owners of empty shops put the rent they are wanting on the window next to the ‘wish list’. I wonder how many are really serious about leasing out their shops.
Great little article in courier mail Sunday about retailers in Woody Point experiencing an upturn with the increase in units in the area and……..I would also like to see a Tardis.
- Ambitious Wynnum Leader Wanted November 13, 2013 at 8:50 pm
Phil, you are a fool. Wynnum is plenty big enough to support a cinema.
Deidre, if you like charity shops then I hear there is great demand for them across the African continent, parts of India, Asia and South America and in the war torn parts of the middle east. You could relocate there. In fact, you could pitch together with all of the Wynnum charity shops, take a 3rd world country each and all relocate together in a ‘divide and conquer’ wave. Don’t worry about Wynnum: we’d be just fine without you.
Still, I have to say I’m impressed that you old farts know how to access the Internet.
- phil saunders November 16, 2013 at 10:41 am
And so the name calling begins, as it always does when someone has views they are unable to back up with facts.
I would suggest that if you can’t have a mature discussion without having to resort to name calling and the bully tactics of a child that you butt out, still waiting for you to have the guts to put your name to a comment.
One of the major Cinema chains did feasibility study on a Cinema a couple of years ago and found that it would not be able to make a return on what would be a very sizable investment.
Everyone forgets that we only have a 180 degree catchment to draw from most areas have 360 degrees twice as much.
- Ambitious Wynnum Leader Wanted November 13, 2013 at 9:00 pm
Deidre, what do you think of the dirty adult shop on Tingal Rd?
a) “can’t get enough of it”;
b) “get rid of it ASAP – I don’t want my grandkids walking past that filth – and while you’re at it get rid of Peter Cumming who put it there and has systematically destroyed Wynnum over the past 20yrs”?
- Derek Miles November 13, 2013 at 9:25 pm
Ambitious Wynnum Leader – if you want to insult people, have the guts to disclose your name. Remember, that posting on a public site is subject to the laws of defamation.
- Ambitious Wynnum Leader Wanted November 14, 2013 at 4:25 pm
Ok. Now please can we get back to the debate: what are the causes of Wynnum CBD’s run down condition and what can be done to get the place back on track?
- Ambitious Wynnum Leader Wanted November 16, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Please provide a reference to that cinema study you talk about. Or are you unable to back that statement up?
I speak on behalf of all of my neighbors – dozens of Wynnum residents. And I can tell you that the consensus in Wynnum is that we need to get rid of the individuals who represent Wynnum at council and electorate levels and replace them with more competent, ambitious people. The feeling in the community is that while we have dimwit naval gazers in charge of the destiny of Wynnum, we’re going nowhere. Whatever their political persuasion, Wynnum needs new council and electorate leaders who genuinely go in to bat for Wynnum.
- Derek Miles November 16, 2013 at 4:05 pm
This web site is designed to assist member businesses and advertise those businesses to the community of Wynnum. Participants are also interested in assisting small business in general in the Wynnum & Districts to improve their business prospects which includes driving more customer traffic to the area so that small business in the area can survive. Given that, members are also interested in genuine feed back or ideas that might assist in the development of the Wynnum business district area.
This is definitely not a political site. Politics is handled at election time. So if you have an issue about Politicians then you have that opportunity at the ballot box. This is not the appropriate place to vent your political point of view. And you the nameless person, if you have an issue about the way that Politicians are conducting themselves in the respective chambers of government then you either have the opportunity to stand yourself at the elections or make representation to the respective Political parties who put these people up as candidates at elections.
So given that you think you have the right to represent these neighbours of yours, which I highly doubt, then I suggest that it is about time that you put up or shut up.
- phil saunders November 18, 2013 at 9:54 am
If you are indeed the great guiding light for this district with the massive support of your neighbors, who you have the nerve to claim you speak for (I think not) and dozens of Wynnum residents (that’s a lot of people) I think the time has come for you to use your own name (enough of cowardice) and run for public office and show all those who you defame and slander how wrong they have been and how it should be done, because no one else is ever going to achieve what a great visionary like yourself could do so easily.
As for the report on Cinema viability, do your own research, if it was intended for public disclosure you will find it,
but you won’t bother because facts would only ruin your uninformed ranting.
- Ambitious Wynnum Leader Wanted November 22, 2013 at 11:22 am
So that means you’re unable to back the statement up. How embarrassing for you.
Please explain why you are so passionate about stopping a cinema in Wynnum. What do you have to gain from getting in the way of the major change that the people of Wynnum want?
- phil saunders November 22, 2013 at 2:47 pm
No embarrassment here.
It seems that in your view if someone is privy to “commercial in confidence” material, that is, something that is not really the business of, say, “the likes of you” it would be quite ethical to hand it around, once again you prove that you have no idea about the real world.
You have previously preached morality yet you would have others breach trusts, that would seem predictably hypercritical.
I would love to see a Cinema in Wynnum it’s just not a realistic commercial possibility, at present in my opinion and obviously in the opinion of the Cinema owners,because, if they thought they could make money they would be here.
Once again because it seems I have to keep repeating this, No type of business can survive without enough potential customers, we are surrounded by 3 Cinemas within easy reach and the other 180 degrees is the Pacific Ocean.
Yes Wynnum once had 3 Cinemas but people stayed closer to home, did not have TV’s, did not have a multitude of other entertainment at their finger tips and proudly supported their local businesses.
I have no problem with having a Cinema here, But< I fail to see why so many see one as the “Silver Bullet” of Wynnums salvation.
- Ambitious Wynnum Leader Wanted November 25, 2013 at 6:28 pm
“commercial in confidence” my arse. How could an assessment of the feasibility of a cinema be so secretive? What are you hiding?
Why don’t you close the blog down again for a few days and suppress freedom of speech while you consult your cronies?
Wynnum deserves better.
