There is no recession in Kingsland

As businesses continue to feel the heat of the recession, life in Kingsland couldn’t be sweeter.

Local business owners are smiling as their shops and restaurants continue to thrive, in spite of the hard economic times.

Restaurant owner Rebecca Jones says Kingsland is “doing pretty well”.

She says atmosphere, company and great food are three “pull-factors” enticing people to Kingsland.

“The streets are always busy and people are specifically coming here to eat and to shop,” she says.

With a friend, Roxanne Hill took over a retail store in Kingsland six months ago.

Now called Dressing Dolls, it underwent major restructuring and is now more successful, says Miss Hill.

“The new ownership and revamping have done wonders for both the business and Kingsland as a community,” she says.

Although things are looking bright, businesses still need to be careful, she says.

To overcome financial pressure, Miss Hill initiated a marketing scheme where Dressing Dolls and two other Kingsland businesses began working together to save money.

Phoenix Cosmetics, Mancini Hair and Beauty, and Dressing Dolls advertise together and have special discounts for clients who shop at either two or all three shops.

“Dressing Dolls is a new business so our clientele is quite small,” says Miss Hill.

“But Phoenix and Mancini have large client databases, so by working together we’re getting more clients,” she says.

Dressing Dolls sells ball gowns and evening-wear and Miss Hill says with ball-season coming up, it is important to generate business.

“By promoting the three businesses, we’re helping each other and making things easier for everyone,” she says.

Mrs Jones, who owns Tabou restaurant, says the business has been feeling a slight pinch but on a weekly basis, more than 300 people come through the doors.

“Since the recession hit in May last year, lunch and dinner services have died down but now we’re pretty busy,” she says.

To help attract customers Tabou introduced a pre-fixed menu, which is slightly cheaper but Mrs Jones says cheap meals need to be avoided.

“You have to be careful when promoting specials, because it gives the impression that the business is in trouble,” she says.

Dressing Dolls has down-priced some of its items to help sales.

“This isn’t ideal but the garments need to be sold,” says Miss Hill.

Mrs Jones says an important part of being a successful business is creating a relationship with the customers.

“Clients need to be happy and 80 per cent of our customers are repeat offenders,” she says.

In hard times, maintaining the image of the restaurant, as well as ensuring customer satisfaction, is also important.

“We want to maintain consistency because people come here because of who we are and what we offer,” she says.

Last month the restaurant was named in Metro’s top 50 restaurants for 2009, for the third consecutive year.

“This is the most prestigious award in Auckland and we’re all really happy,” she Mrs Jones.