Facing declining revenue from traditional newsagency sales and the impact of rising fuel prices on tourism, small businesses in rural NSW are reinventing themselves. Caitlynn King, owner of Gilgandra's local newsagency, expanded into a cafe and retail space to ensure her business's viability, mirroring a broader trend of rural retailers diversifying to navigate economic challenges and changing consumer spending habits.
Caitlynn King added a cafe and retail space to the local newsagency in Gilgandra.Regional retailers are being forced to rethink how they do business as the cost-of-living crisis tightens household spending.
From expanding product lines to launching online stores, small businesses across rural NSW are pivoting to stay viable.abc.net.au/news/small-town-retailers-reinvent-survival-fuel-crisis/106563712Caitlynn King was just 21 when she purchased the local newsagency in Gilgandra in western New South Wales. A sharp downturn in revenue due to the COVID pandemic in 2020 gave her a crash course in the challenges of running a small business in a rural town."Obviously, we had to keep the newsagency side as a service to the town, but the profit margins are incredibly low, so we had to diversify to survive," she said. "If I only kept the newsagency side, with fewer papers, magazines and lotto being sold, I don't know if I'd still be open."Supplied: Kildari CollectiveThe pivot has helped her navigate the latest crisis, with rising fuel prices seeing fewer tourists come through her door."Normally we get smashed this time of year with travellers heading back up north to chase the warmer weather and that has definitely not been as big this year." Many retailers are being forced to rethink their business models as the cost-of-living crisis reshapes spending habits."Businesses are extending their services to survive, definitely shifting sales online has been a big thing.Robbie Carroll runs a boutique in Molong in central west, NSW.For those businesses still trying to run a traditional retail model, it is becoming harder to survive.Molong business owner Robbie Carroll said."I love the excitement you get when somebody walks off with one of your products." In towns already grappling with freight costs and reduced foot traffic, innovation is becoming essential for survival. "Your gross profit margin has dropped, and freight costs have quadrupled, so you don't have that scope to make what you used to make in retail," he added.Carlie Oates runs her fashion and homewares business out of the local Jugiong pub.Carlie Oates runs a fashion and homewares shop out of a pub in Jugiong, proving even a town of just 150 people can support a creative retail venture.by telco Vodafone recently claimed "nothing's out here" in remote Australia, sparking outrage from regional and rural community members. "There's so much to offer, just because you live regionally doesn't mean you don't have style or taste or beautiful homes or enjoy good food," Ms Oates said. "I think it's a very misunderstood statement that if you live in the bush or the regions that it's a basic lifestyle.'The landscape has changed') Lucy Moss made a name for her small boutique in Coonamble when the Buy From the Bush social media campaign launched in the middle of Australia's worst drought on record. Despite surviving the drought and COVID, she has just made the tough decision to close her retail space in the wake of the current cost-of-living crisis. "It was a very difficult decision and something I didn't take lightly, but the trying economic conditions we are experiencing at the moment and with another dry spell approaching, it cemented the decision for me." From 2024 to 2025, 370,500 businesses closed nationally with retail decreasing 0.4 per cent, according to theMs Moss believed large retail giants were also contributing to the struggle faced by small, independent operators."The influx of Chinese websites, particularly price-conscious ones like Temu and Shein, has a lot to contribute towards that. "Locally, the larger department stores like Target, Kmart, Big W, their offerings have improved and are a lot more competitive in the marketplace than they ever have been."Email address
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