Former Christchurch board sports and clothing retailer Greg Robertson would not mind being snowed under or going for a skate - literally.
But after the Christchurch earthquakes, the snowboard-mad proprietor of BWM Snow (it stands for Beats Working Mate) could see the writing on the wall for his business.
The premises is on the corner of Gasson and Carlyle Sts, not far from Moorhouse Ave.
Few people were shoppingfor snowboards, scooters, skateboards and related apparel and takings were down 60% - "we are not talking a couple of grand. It was almost a couple of hundred grand."
Everyone they knew was affected one way or another, whether it was loss of job, house, business, health or family.
"Basically, it was panic mode ... It just got progressively worse and I thought, 'How am I going to get out of this?
"' Mr Robertson said yesterday. It was relocate or go bust, and even now Mr Robertson is not certain the latter is not going to happen.
But he is feeling positive because a month ago Wanaka property developer Duffy Krook, of North Sydney, threw him a much appreciated lifeline: nine months' peppercorn rent ($1) at Mr Krook's shop development in Cliff Wilson St.
If things do not work out, Mr Robertson can walk away.
For that reason, he has hedged his bets and left his too-quiet Christchurch store in the hands of a manager.
"Slowly but surely I am feeling my way. I am not used to a resort town where they have a few months of work which will make or break them," Mr Robertson said.
His store has been open between 2pm-7pm for two weeks and his retail neighbours in Mr Krook's business park are also Christchurch refugees on similar sweet deals.
Mr Robertson looked at relocating to Queenstown but realised he would have to work seven days a week and hardly see his family, just to pay the rent.
Mr Krook's company, Varina Properties Ltd, is involved in several other Wanaka projects, including the proposed new Cinema Paradiso on Brownston St.
