Hayden Burbidge’s message is clear.
Support the businesses who support you.
The owner of SportsPower Mandurah and Falcon said at the end of the day, local business were the ones called upon first to support the community, not large corporate bodies.
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“We receive multiple requests weekly for support, be it from schools, sporting clubs or individuals and just as all local businesses we want to support our local area, but we also need the support of our local area too,” he said.
“A small business owner in this town just sees a gap in their community which they want to fill.
“The reason that they want to do it isn't because they're rich and they want to make more money.
“And you can also see that by the amount of give back these small businesses give.
“Go down to football's under 12s and look at the back of the jumpers.
“It's not going to be the big players in town. You'll see your Battery World or your Imagepro or the local IGA.
“These are the people who actually have a vested interest in their community.”
Mr Burbridge said locally owned and operated business tend to know their area better, and therefore can give clients a better experience.
“We also are more inclined to employ people locally and spend with other smaller local businesses as a rule,” he said.
“Most locally owned businesses are just regular mums and dads that want to make their community better through business and are willing to put everything they have on the line to do so.
“Without local small businesses supporting clubs, schools and events, there would be more financial pressures placed on families and some activities would cease to exist.”
However Mr Burbridge said business of late had been a “little sluglish” and believed he was not alone.
He said that the 2017/18 financial year was the worst on record.
"If business owners were going to be honest with you, they'll say their down 20-40 per cent depending on who they are. I've heard of people down 70 per cent,” he said.
"We're pretty much in the middle of what is called an economic winter so it's going to take a bit of time for that to let up.
“And there has been increased competition. We've gone from four shopping centres in the region to eight and with that have come more retailers.
“I'm not saying competition is a bad thing – it can be a good thing; it keeps us on our toes. But at the same time it needs to be sustainable growth.”