One good thing is the Wanaka Business Chamber’s annual excellence awards party at Rippon Hall on Saturday. This year, the chamber received record entries - 67.
"It’s great to see so many businesses stepping forward to showcase their achievements and resilience in what’s been a challenging year.
"This year has been particularly difficult for local businesses, especially in retail, hospitality and tourism.
"We’ve faced a decrease in visitor numbers and spending, rising operational costs, and the effects of post-Covid economic adjustments.
"The quieter ski season didn’t help, and businesses are feeling these pressures day-to-day," Mr Peat told the Wanaka Sun.
Not everyone enters the awards — successful businesses Wanaka Paper Plus and Lavender Farm are among those that have not done so this year.
Paper Plus Wanaka general manager Chris Lumsden said "retailers are hurting, there is no doubt about that".
However, a good Christmas and summer holiday would be the tonic.
"I am looking optimistically forward to the summer," he said.
The biggest difference to foot traffic in the town centre had been "the big car park up the road", he said, referring to Three Parks retail park.
Parking was a big issue for retailers and town leaders needed to make careful decisions, he said.
When he has shopped for himself, he had found some retailers "deathly quiet".
Mr Lumsden said the global financial crisis had not been the end of the world, though many felt it was at the time, so it would be business as usual.
"Stock is arriving and we are not looking in the rear-view mirror," he said.
Last Friday, The Lavender Farm on Morris Rd celebrated 10 years in business with at least 250 guests.
Brothers Stef and Tim Zeestraten, and Tim’s wife Jess, are co-owners.
Other integral Lavender Farm team members are the brother’s parents Jan (dad) and Corry (mum) Zeestraten.
Jess said in the early days, the family thought they would have a three-prong business as a wedding venue, farm shop and a nursery.
They refined their vision as they realised what was working well and what visitors were appreciating.
They now employ 15 people in the kitchen, shop and product manufacturing workshop and three staff outside.
"We noticed people were enjoying the space, so we sat back and asked, what are we trying to achieve?
"Our goal is to offer a special experience here on the farm, not only to guests, but to our staff and ourselves.
"We thought we would just be a summer business, but then realised people were coming in the winter. We wondered what could we offer them? So we offered cups of tea and feeding animals.
"Then we decided to plant tulips because lavender was a short season," she said.
In 2020, a Country Calendar episode featured the farm, which Jess said made the farm a destination for Kiwis holidaying at home.
"We were also outside, so people could enjoy our experience in a challenging time. And we were able to keep our staff."
Now the Lavender Farm was getting repeat local customers as well as overseas visitors again, she said.
Sidekick Soda is another business fizzing with optimism despite challenges.
The Wanaka company launched its low-sugar, natural ingredient soft drinks about 16 months ago.
Last week, co-founders Fiona Thomlinson and her son Rogan Thomlinson-Gillies were in the United States, touting their wares in a sugar-saturated market.
They told the Wanaka Sun by email they were in a upbeat mood, having just received a positive write-up in Forbes by Andrew Watman.
Forbes reported soda demand was shifting to a new generation of health-conscious consumers, who preferred honey as a sweetener over sugar or artificial alternatives — and Sidekick Soda was all over the honey.
Their US sales were going better than in New Zealand, though freight costs were challenging.
Ms Thomlinson was not able to supply more comments before deadline.
The growth
Business growth data, Wānaka and surrounds
2023: Total business units: 3426
2023: Business growth 5.1% from 2022 (total business growth in New Zealand 1.7%)
2004: Business growth 20.9%
2010: Business growth 0.1%.
Source: infometrics.co.nz/wanaka-surrounds/business/growth
Celebration time
WHAT: 2024 Wānaka Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner and After Party
WHERE: Rippon Vineyard, Wanaka
WHEN: November 9, from 5pm
ABOUT: Wānaka’s annual black tie business event offers ticket holders a three-course menu, entertainment and the thrill of awards announcements. Tickets on the Wānaka Business Chamber website.
— The Wanaka Sun will bring you the results of the business awards next week. ED
