An internet search reveals many chain-owned stores close at 6pm or earlier.
Those closing at 6pm include R.M. Williams and Glassons on the Beach St-Rees St corner, Rees St’s Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, Beach St’s Superdry and Helly Hansen, The Mall’s Moochi Royal and Country Road and Shotover St’s AS Colour.
And four close-by stores in The Mall close as early as 5pm — Decjuba, Dotti, Jay Jays and Smiggle.
By contrast, Rugby Planet opens until 10pm in summer and 9pm in winter, and BONZ opens until 10pm all year round.
Rugby Planet owner Miles Wilson said in summer he does about 40% of each day’s trade between 5pm-10pm — "and sometimes we have trouble closing at 10pm".
"The research Destination Queenstown and other people do shows retail or shopping is one of the most popular activities for visitors to Queenstown.
"Now, during the day they’re all out doing their activities, but in the evening, if you think about it, shopping is one of the few activities you can do.
"We get people coming in during their meals saying, ‘look, I’ve only got a few minutes’.
"The other thing is it just adds vibrancy to the downtown — with these nice streetscapes now, it’s just a lovely place to be."
With so much money tied up in fixed costs like rent and other overheads, Mr Wilson asks why you would not want to trade.
‘I think the story here is local operators understand the Queenstown CBD visitor market.
"And a lot of these other stores, their head office will be in Auckland or Sydney or maybe London, and they haven’t got a clue.
"And they don’t care because [their] local managers are quite happy to close the doors at 6pm and go home."
Frances Piacun, who manages BONZ, which sells exclusive clothing, homeware and artworks, says on nice summer days, in particular, visitors are more prone to shop in the evening.
"Some days that are very quiet, suddenly you get the onslaught in the evening."
