A franchisee’s lobby group is trying to have a special retail category added to retail trading laws to allow them to open on Sundays.
A franchisee’s lobby group is trying to have a special retail category added to retail trading laws to allow them to open on Sundays.
Called Franchisees Against Inequitable Retailing, the group is spearheaded by Osborne Park Harvey Norman furniture franchisee Rob Evans who has sent a submission requesting a special homewares sub category to the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection John Kobelke.
FAIR wants a sub category that would allow retailers similar rights to those afforded to the hardware industry. Hardware stores are allowed to open on Sundays.
However, Mr Kobelke has said he would stop the move.
In a statement he said he would not allow a specialised group of homewares retailers to trade on Sundays.
FAIR will continue to fight its case, which will be bolstered by Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey who is in Perth next week to support a group of his franchisees facing court in relation to a retail trading hours breach last year.
FAIR spokesman Paul Plowman, who is a director of Atticus Communications, said homewares retailers should open on Sundays because of the time consumers invested in purchases.
He said unlike the grocery sector there was no duopoly.
“There are 500 retailers and it’s a sector dominated by small business,” Mr Plowman said.
He said the 12 largest furniture retailers accounted for just 22 per cent of the market.
Mr Evans said it was ridiculous that Impressions Furniture Gallery, which is located beneath the Osborne Park Harvey Normans store, could trade on Sundays yet he was forced to close.
And, unlike the grocery-dominated trading hour’s debate last year, his opposition agrees.
Impressions Furniture Gallery managing director Ian Leslie said all retailers should open on a Sunday.
“I feel very strongly about that. I think Harvey Norman has been hard done by,” he said.
“We do advertise that we are open on Sunday, and a lot of people do know we are open, but there is a perception that it’s not a trading day so many people don’t come in.
“You just have to look at the traffic flow on Scarborough Beach road on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday it’s deserted.”
Forty Winks Joondalup franchisee Hans Sundquist, who also opens on Sundays, agrees.
“If everyone else opened it would be good for business,” he said.
However, Retravision, which accounts for 35 per cent of the electrical goods market, is opposed to Sunday trading.
SUNDAY TRADE
OPEN: Osborne Park
Impressions Furniture Gallery; Condor; Anthony Murray’s; Merry’s Leatherworld; Gasgoine; The Outdoor Furniture Specialists; Monro; Tony Sadler; Choice Beds and Furniture.
CLOSED: Osborne Park
Harvey Norman; IKEA; Freedom; Guests; The Furniture Spot; General Store; Casa Italy; Dankz; Furniture Bazaar.
