The Ready Response Network allows the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) to consult small business owners and managers via regular online questionnaires, on topical issues of importance.

While this is not a formal survey process, the results from these polls act as an effective litmus test of the sentiment of the small business sector and enables the SBDC to "keep a finger on the pulse" regarding current and emerging issues.

1. Extended Retail Trading Hours
2. Business Expectations Opinion Poll 2012
3. Dealing with Major Unexpected Events
4. Small Business Expectations 2011
5. Dispute Resolution – December 2010
6. Social Media for Business
7. Federal Government's Paid Parental Leave Scheme
8. Increasing Operating Expenses
9. Small Business Issues and Concerns
10. Small Business Expectations for 2010
11. How to join the Ready Response Network and participate in our polls

Extended Retail Trading Hours

During March 2012, the SBDC's Ready Response Network obtained small business opinions about the Government's plan to extend retail trading hours to allow Sunday trading in the Perth metropolitan area.

A total of 108 people responded to the survey, with 31 indicating they operate a retail shop in the Perth metropolitan area.

Of these 31 respondents operating a retail shop in the Perth metropolitan area, 23% believe that the introduction of Sunday trading will positively impact their business, 43% believe that it will negatively impact their business and 23% indicated that it will have no impact on their business.

The respondents that indicated that their business would be positively impacted by Sunday trading were asked to identify the aspects of their business that will be better off under the extended trading regime.  The three main reasons (with multiple options allowed) were:

• Increased customer base (83%);
• Increased profitability (67%); and
• Improved work/life balance (50%).

For those respondents that indicated that their business would be negatively impacted by Sunday trading, the three main reasons (with multiple options allowed) that their business will be worse off under the extended trading regime were:

• Decreased profitability (92%);
• Decreased customer base (75%); and
• Decreased ability to compete (58%).

In order to adjust to the extended trading hours, respondents indicated that they would work longer hours or, equally, choose to simply not open on Sundays (33%). 

Additionally, respondents would also reduce staff numbers and rotate staff shifts in order to adjust to the proposed regime.

In relation to those businesses that indicated that they are currently located in a Special Trading Precinct, 50% claimed extended Sunday trading across the Perth metropolitan area would negatively impact their business, with 25% of respondents stating that it would be beneficial to their business or have no impact at all respectively.

Finally, all 108 respondents were asked for their general comments on how the plans to introduce Sunday trading for all retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area would impact on their business.  Responses ranged from being supportive of the proposal to being strongly against it.  A selection of respondent comments is outlined in the box below.

"I believe that Sunday Trading will activate otherwise quiet trading precincts."

"Not much impact on my business, but will be more convenient for personal or family, as we have been working from Monday to Friday, and had rarely got time to shop. Sunday trading will be very welcoming."

"I think it's fantastic as it will bring Perth in line with the rest of the world. I operate in consulting, particularly export and clients and tourists visiting our wonderful city need to see us open not closed."

"It would make life easier for me. I run a wedding decor business and often need to hire or return things on a Sunday. But currently have to wait until Monday."

"We have three stores where two of them can already open on a Sunday but we already choose not to open. We tried for a long time Sunday Trading and it was not worth our while. We will not be opening on Sundays in any of our stores regardless of the new proposed trading hours."

"On the whole I think Perth is its own market. We live more of a recreational lifestyle, not a Melbourne retail lifestyle. With all shops open I think it is going to be too hard for shops to pay more rent without an increase in sales. Shops are going to be ghostlike, virtually empty on Sundays and diluted during the week.
If people want to shop it is not hard to find a special trading precinct. I think it is going to be hard for small business and good for the large stores."

"We will not participate as staffing costs would not make it worthwhile."

"We have already had two months experience of it. Absolute disaster for us. Taking way down. Wageline staffing costs unfeasible. Already forced to change trading to close on Sundays."

"I own a small IGA supermarket next to Joondalup lakeside mall which already trades Sunday. I believe my business will drop by about 20% due to a Coles supermarket nearby which currently does not open on Sundays. The effect of this will force me to reduce my staff numbers and this drop in business will impact on all my suppliers, many of these suppliers operate their own business also and won't benefit from Sunday trading as they generally are not supported by Coles and Woolworths. These small suppliers also cover other services for me e.g. cleaning, security. So I believe that Sunday trading will have a negative impact to all local small business who supply retailers stock or services. I believe job losses will be more that those created by new Sunday trading business."

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To find out more about the Network

If you would like to know more about the Ready Response Network, please contact:

Policy, Planning and Stakeholder Relations
Small Business Development Corporation
Email readyresponse@smallbusiness.wa.gov.au
Telephone 131 BIZ (131 249)

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