Dunedin's retailers need to find their own voice to draw shoppers from across Otago, councillors were told yesterday.
Speaking during day two of the Dunedin City Council's annual plan hearings, Dunedin businesswoman Ingrid Memelink - formerly of Auckland - urged councillors to help establish and fund a new retailers association.
The association would be given the task of promoting Dunedin as a shopping destination across Otago, in an effort to lure big-spending consumers in Central Otago away from shopping trips to Auckland or Christchurch, she said.
Mrs Memelink told councillors retailers had a "different mindset" to other groups represented by the Chamber, and needed their own voice and strategy.
The "uniqueness of George St" also needed to be promoted.
The concept won over some councillors. John Bezett, a George St retailer, urged her to "go for it", while warning the number of chain stores made forming an effective Dunedin-based association difficult.
