Relief for mall’s small businesses

By CLARISSA MOI
SMALL businesses operating in the Vision City mega mall in Port Moresby were relieved with the management’s decision of waiving rental payments for April and May.
There are 10 small to medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the mall: Bmie Ltd, City Flower Ltd (City Shop), Frangipani Hire Car, Glow Hair Boutique, Heady International Marketing Ltd, Javarna Bitz & Pieces, Malus Corporate Trading, PNG Fashion Week (Miss PNG), Ratz Shoe Shop and Unami Flowers Ltd.
City Flower Ltd managing director Peter Nani said their sales and revenue had dropped drastically during the Covid-19 state of emergency and what was generated during that period was not enough to meet rental and other costs to keep the business going and the mall management’s decision was a relief for them.
“When the Covid-19 came in, our survival as a business operating here (at Vision City) has been really affected,” he said.
“My sales dropped by 50 per cent from March.
“We’re now in May, and that has not improved. So, whatever little we get, it all goes towards rental.”
Nani, who owns and operates three shops at the mall, said paying rental was one of the costs that he had to meet from what was generated apart from paying the power bill and staff wages.
“It’s really tough, given the cash flow and economic situation.”
He added that the SOE restrictions that slowed down movement of people had also affected the business and staff wages had to be reduced.
Frangipani group of companies managing director Janet Sios, who operates a printing and laundry service at the mall, said the small businesses were hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
While acknowledging the mall management’s decision in relaxing the rental payment for its tenants, she said that what needed to be done going forward was a collective effort among all the corporate houses in helping the economy recover.
Meanwhile, Philma Kelegai, managing director for PNG Fashion Week who owns and operates the Miss PNG shop, acknowledged the mall management’s decisions to waive rental for its tenants.
Vision City general manager Anderson Ting said the SMEs would be receiving 100 per cent rental waiver, other retail businesses such as airlines, restaurants, telecommunication, fashion, sports, banking would receive a 30 per cent waiver for April and 15 per cent waiver for May while the clubs, entertainment and gaming retail business that were required by the SOE controller to remain closed would receive a 100 per cent rental waiver for both months on the condition they remained in business after the SOE.