Picture: SANDRA MORELLO
A MOUNT Gambier business leader has called on regional consumers to shop locally amid news another major store will close in the city.
The long established Radio Rentals store will shut within two months as the company foreshadows exiting its retail and online sales operations in South Australia.
The news is another major blow for Mount Gambier’s retail landscape given the closure of the Target store next month.
Radio Rentals has flagged it will clear all retail stock in the lead up to the store closures in mid-June.
Mount Gambier chamber of Commerce president Biddie Shearing said her thoughts went out to the employees displaced by the closure.
“It is sad to see another business in Mount Gambier close,” said Ms Shearing, who added the closure would also affect many customers.
With the city already reeling from the looming Target closure, she said the Radio Rentals decision would be another blow to the city’s retail sector.
“We really need to fight harder to keep businesses trading locally,” the business leader said.
Ms Shearing called on people to spread their spending dollars across the city and not just online.
“I urge people to spend money where they live to help local businesses stay in business,” she said.
Chamber board member Craig Bruins echoed a similar sentiment yesterday.
Standing outside the Radio Rentals store yesterday, he said it was a challenging retail climate in Mount Gambier.
“It is definitely a tough time for Mount Gambier retail as we are directly affected by the national retail trends,” Mr Bruins said.
“Our first thoughts are for those staff and their families that are hardest hit at this time.”
Mr Bruins said hopes were high for future retail players coming to the Blue Lake city.
“But it is clear that we need to push on by doing all we can to make Mount Gambier a vibrant central shopping hub for the region and strengthening brand Mount Gambier,” he said.
Radio Rentals managing director Nick Palmer said the decision was undertaken after careful consideration.
He said the company would support and counsel impacted employees and help them to find new jobs.
An external employment agency is being engaged to help employees.
“Our success, as a South Australian family owned business was built around generations of wonderful employees, valued customers and business partners and a mission to make electrical and home appliances affordable and accessible to more and more homes and families,” Mr Palmer said.
“We take this moment to thank everyone. We look back with pride on our contribution… the jobs we created, the economic growth that we drove and the choice and services we provided to generations of South Australians.”
Radio Rentals started in Rundle Street, Adelaide, in 1958.
Details of closures and sales over the next two months will be announced.
All gift cards will be honoured or refunded.
There will be no impact on existing inRent rental contracts.
Rental customers will be contacted by inRent directly with payment options for customers who currently pay their rental in the Mount Gambier store.
