New Group Fights for Small Retailers

New Group Fights for Small Retailers

The Association of Community Retailers is a group established to keep small, independent family-run retail outlets informed on government proposals that affect their businesses.

The ACR (www.acr.org.nz ) grew out of the former Stay Displays Coalition, which was an ad hoc group established in 2007 to highlight retailers’ concerns over the then Government proposals to ban tobacco products nationwide. Stay Displays successfully fought those proposals, but unfortunately now, the Maori Party is attempting to revisit a complete Retail Display Ban.

ACR Founding Member and one of the Spokespeople, Mr Murray Gibson, a tobacconist from Timaru, said that since 2007, however, it has become apparent that retailers faced a range of issues and yet there was no effective organisation to represent their views.

“The ACR is a grass roots organisation, much like its predecessor, Stay Displays. It is funded from membership subscriptions and, through its part-time coordinators in Wellington, our members will be kept informed on a range of issues that affect how retailers do business,” Mr Gibson said.

The ACR has a website where retailers can put in submissions to the Ministry of Health on the latest proposals to ban tobacco displays, read about other issues the association is looking at, and read the press statements made.

“There are numerous groups out there that want to ban this and ban that. If these groups get their way, we will see the end of the small retailers around the country. Many communities will lose their dairies and convenience stores.

“We are urging as many small community retailers to join our association. By working together, and speaking with a united voice, family-run community retail outlets in New Zealand have the power to significantly improve their business environment,” Mr Gibson said.

ENDS

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