Sunday, September 2, 2012
Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
NEW Norfolk's most recently opened antiques shop has closed after only a couple of months in business. A poster in the shop window expresses the owners' regrets about a lack of support but it is the final paragraph that has people talking - despite appearing to have been written in German.
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They couldn't make their business pay - but it's the customer's fault. Classic shoot the messenger.
ReplyDeletewell seriously how many antique shops do we need?
ReplyDeleteOk, a rough translation of something that doesn't completely make sense anyway ...
ReplyDelete"You stupid porridge eaters make me sick. The uncultured fools in this crazy town make me want to make a new batch of soap. You made me angry. I wouldn't open a shop in this town if you asked. I need this place like a leper needs a three-sided mirror." {sorry, the soap part really doesn't make sense}
Needless to say, I didn't find the store very inviting, especially with the nature of some of the pictures they had up on the walls. But talk about sour grapes!
Its a shame they had to close, however they opened in the winter time, I would have thought they would have known business would more than likely have been slow over the colder months. If they had waited till spring or summer it might have proved to be more profitable.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like we didn't have enough culture for them. Maybe it's a bit heretical, but why should we be cultured just so too many antique shops can sell stuff to us? I came here to get away from big-city nonsense, I am happy without my culture :-)
ReplyDeleteI quite like porridge - especially on cold winter mornings... :-) I do feel sorry for the boys - they opened at the worst possible time of year - but blaming the town is a bit silly.
ReplyDeleteOh no Anonymous September 3, 2012 3:24 PM - please don't tar all of us antique shops with the same brush - LOL! Not all of us think like that - I quite cheerfully accept that if people don't buy from me it's because I don't have the right stock - nothing to do with culture or lack thereof!
ReplyDeleteAnd I LOVE porridge! LOL!
Especially with regard to the slang associated with the name of the shop + the "quality" stock on offer - wasn't the whole thing supposed to be a joke right from the beginning?!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a dry run for a sitcom?
FG.
xxx
What shop? And isn't it mostly tourists that browse antique shops!
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely disgusted at their 'soap' comment..I'm sure its a revolting reference to Nazi Germany. I for one am glad I didn't bother making an effort to welcome them to town. Good riddance I say.
ReplyDeleteI agree that an antique shop (or whatever Aunt Irma's was supposed to be) needs to be able to rely on a much broader customer base than just the locals. And I imagine it is hard to establish a new business when there are such great antique shops already well established in the area.
ReplyDeleteIf someone is planning to open a new business which is to rely predominantly on local customers, then it seems logical to do a bit of research first and work out what sort of store would do well and fill a gap in the market for locals; something that the locals might actually frequent often and therefore carry throughout the year.
Well said. Research is everything.
DeleteJust out of interest what would the locals like to see in the town.
ReplyDeleteI for one would love to see a good quality Indian restaurant and a tourism shop based in NN for the peak periods.
Love the idea of an Indian restaurant!
ReplyDeleteA noodle bar/sushi bar.
An Aldi and an Ikea (then people might come here and spend money elsewhere. If not we will all have screw together furniture).
The Esplanade have a complete make-over, with boardwalks, lovely cafes/restaurant.
A decent gym with indoor swimming pool.
A cinema again would be nice!
I forgot to say, a big indoor play centre for kids under 12, infact it could be a part of the decent gym with indoor pool
ReplyDeleteI completely agree Devils Advocate! Well not really into Indian, but sick and tired of travelling miles for my sushi fix! So much could be made of this town, it's such a shame. Sadly turning into a ghost town. House prices plumeting,shops closing. Something needs to be done and very soon.
ReplyDeleteSorry 'Devils Advocate' we don't need an Aldi or Ikea. But a good Indian rrestaurant would be nice. The things that bring people to New Norfolk to spend money are things which are unique to this town and valley - the beautiful river, historic buildings (we're one of the oldest towns in Australia) and the antique shops, many of which were established here because of the history associated with New Norfolk. And of course when people come up regularly from Hobart to visit the antique shops - and hopefully Willow Court in the future when it is restored - they bring custom to the local eating places and other businesses.
ReplyDeleteMark
Mark, (Anonymous September 8, 2012 1:11 PM), The question that Anonymous September 7, 2012 9:05 asked was "Just out of interest what would the locals like to see in the town." So I took the question as what would be good for the locals to have access to, not just for tourists. New Norfolk might be one of the oldest towns in Australia, but 8 Antique shops doesn't make my food shop any cheaper, or if I want to go out for an evening meal I have the choice of 3 Standard fair hotels or Chinese! If I want to lets the kids play I have to hope the weather is nice or head towards Hobart to the play centre's. The River is nice, it just needs developing to make it more beautiful with some amenities etc etc etc!!!
ReplyDeleteId love to see a decent clothes shop for a start, something where you can buy clothing for the whole family in all sizes not just skinny mini sizes. Good quality clothes,affordable, everyday trackies, jumpers, underwear etc etc. Best and Less would make a killing here.
ReplyDeleteSomething like eastlands or northgate would be perfect!
Better shops would be great but I wouldn't want to see a Best & Less! I'd hate to see NN become the discount store capital of Tasmania; it has so much more to offer. The town is already labelled as boganville as it is.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'd love to see something like The Sorell Providore, perhaps another giftshop (with slightly more 'cosmopolitan' items), stores of the same ilk as Jacksons Closet. A decent green grocer would be fabulous. Surely there's enough local produce to stock a nice fresh produce store.
There are certainly a few shops I'd like to see gone or totally revamped/tarted up too ... but I won't name names.
You are getting a Providore in Willow Court soon. Boganville can be change just like Cygnet has done with a little help from the locals, those who have got off their bottoms and actually done something instead of complaining about the town. so come on locals one and all lets make the esplanade better, improve the quality of the shops, not become the discount city of Tassy.
ReplyDeleteWillow court is definitely having a good old go. the change will start there and spread, no doubt in mind.
ReplyDeleteWillow Court (as owned by Hadyn) is certainly setting the pace, which is excellent and exciting! Very pleased ot hear about the providore! I agree - would hate to see NN as the discount trashy store capital. I see great things which could be done ... which reminds me to see what's happening next with the Spatial Plan Implementation Plan, now that it's been approved by Council.
ReplyDeleteWas also pleased to see Council employees and an Aurora car over at DVC owned section of Willow Court the other week - hopefully that means they are starting to look at the practicalities of getting power back to the site. THEN things can really start to happen.
Who's opening the providore? Does anyone know?
ReplyDeleteJust thought I'd let everyone know that the soap comment does not refer to the nazis - it refers to the home-made soaps they had in the shop made by "Aunt Irma"... The boys made some stupid mistakes to be sure, but I don't like to see them getting pilloried for something they didn't do...
ReplyDeleteWell this reference to Nazi Germany beacause of the comment in german by Aunt Irma was not refering to anything about soaps made out of people..like Roz said there were hand made soaps in the shop. As fpr the other comments they were written by her in dispair of how the shop was treated by some residents and lack of support and she wrote the comments in german out of anger and saddeness.......
ReplyDeleteIrma, and the boys are totally disgusted that we are being seen as Nazi simperthizers and Regret the actions of nasty people with such hurtful comments...Sorry if anything was taken out of context and hurt any ones feelings but...We invested over $50,000 AUD into the venture and cost alot of money....As for other hurtful rumours , abusive comments by some of the public and racist and bigotry have hurt our feelings and are still by this article still going.
If anyone doesnt have anything nice to say and don't have the facts then please keep your kind words to yourself.
New Norfolk has alot to offer not just Tasmania and Australia but the world...but sadly some dont want change...and we tried to bring a little light to this beautiful place....The convict history,The hospital, the amazing autum leaves festival, this is the gate way to the SW and West coast and has so much history..it sadly isnt really documented or cared for.
What was written down on that letter had some trueth and some confronting issues for the town.
We have had business before and they grew into great shops so that this one didn't work...well it was given a chance!
Deeply sadened Irma and the boys.
Please..pot calling the kettle black there...you upset a lot of people with your little letters in the window, whether or not you intended the remark to relate to Nazis I'm sure that is what you thought (or even hoped) may happen. As an owner of a now closed down antique shop I can assure you that running such a business is not as easy as you perceived it to be. After nearly 6 years in business I have had no choice but to shut my doors because of decreased spending IN GENERAL. I do not blame the townspeople or the council or anyone else (well maybe the fatcat bankers in the U.S.)...I am responsible for my own business success or failure. I'm saddened that you have become so bitter over what is clearly your own failings in business & not a result of anyone elses doing.
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