Buy
Local Economy Turned Upward in February 2019 There are several ways you can take the economic pulse of a town. One we spoke about recently is the multitude of new businesses springing up in Tully, as well as others expanding. There are also businesses that currently rent their premises looking to buy a business property. These actions suggest business owners are feeling enough good financial vibrations to put their own money on the line and commit to the area long-term. As Craig Teitzel – owner of Teitzel’s SUPA IGA along with Ellen-May Teitzel – said last week, “Real estate is confidence.” Another barometer is to look for how working-class consumers are spending, and one of the biggest areas of spending is on basic consumer items like groceries. In this area, the trend has been upwards according to Teitzel. Craig Teitzel, is a Tully native who went to Townsville to play football for the Cowboys, then to England where he played for Warrington, back to Tully where he managed the IGA store, then to Cardwell where he ran a smaller IGA shop, before returning home a few years ago when he and Ellen-May took ownership of Teitzel’s SUPA IGA. It was a commitment to his home town. Tully was still recovering from Yasi at the time. “Then Panama hit the town hard for 18 months or so. There was also a change in the type of migrant workers. Backpackers are better for the community because they tend to spend more locally. That affected lots of businesses.”
“People have to eat, but they can choose what they eat,” Ellen-May said, “They can choose an 80-cent packet of noodles instead of a rump steak. As a grocer, you notice the difference when times are a bit tougher. People buy different things.” They saw their role as one of helping families get through those hard times to the other side. The turnaround, according to Craig, started a few months back, in February. “This year has been better than our last two. We’re now back to what we were doing in 2016/2017,” he said.
and the buying of stock, figuring out how much to buy, and who is a reliable partner to work with. He sees it as a challenge. “Some things work, some don’t.” He adjusts. Ellen-May focuses of the lines they’ll stock. For instance, she took a gamble on stocking more fresh produce and organic food. “I felt people wanted to eat healthier. Craig said to me, what if it doesn’t sell? I said, let’s try and see.” It did sell and has had a spin-off effect. “People come in from out of town because their amazed at some of the things we sell.” That of course, leads to those visitors buying other items and becoming regular visitors to Tully. They see their store as a hub of the community in many different ways. One way that they don’t talk about publicly is the support they offer to organisations such as schools and sporting clubs in the region. A lot of it flies under the radar, but locals know what’s going on and appreciate it. Another way is that they offer a lot of kids their first job – they currently employ about 140 staff. The young people may not stay with SUPA IGA – two of the town’s butchers, for example, left IGA to set up their own butcher business – but they learn valuable lessons before they leave. They’re also committed to supporting local farms. “We buy as much local as we can,” he said. “Even small farms. If someone’s got five cartons of chokos (sp), yeah I’ll take them.” They also have a huge generator on the premises. If the town ever does
“People come in from out of town because their amazed at some of the things we sell.” He added that people seem excited now. “Things like the grandstand being built have helped lift people’s enthusiasm. We’ve wanted that for the past 20 years. And probably what happens at Mission Beach and Dunk Island will also have a spin-off.” A big part of SUPA IGA’s success is that the Teitzels know what they’re doing. They work as a team, each recognising the other’s strengths. Craig seems to excel in managing
Buy Christmthis as and
Save!
Tis the season to party Look smokin hot for your Christmas party with our November party specials. Call the girls now on 4068 2788 @ Julie’s Beauty spot
59 Butler Street, Tully, QLD 4854 Ph: 07 40684900 Fax: 07 40682351
ANIMAL CAGE WITH ROOF 2.4 X 2.4 X 1.8M
ONLY
$299
Craig and Ellen-May Teitzel, owners of SUPA IGA in Tully
have another disaster, there will be one place people can turn to that will always be open. They also listen to their customers who ask for special items they don’t currently stock. “Those people, they come to the store for those items they can’t get elsewhere, but they buy everything else they need as well.” Craig hopes that people in the community take their example and look at the long term instead of just sourcing from outside the community because they can pay a bit less. “They have to understand that small businesses in the town support the schools, the sporting clubs, hospitals. The more support the local businesses get, the more support we can give back.” SUPA IGA did face a challenge at
one point when people started having their groceries trucked in from as far away as Cairns. Ellen-May didn’t flinch. “I said, we’re inside our own house, don’t worry about the neighbours. I said, how can we make our service better? Speak with your customer, engage with them, make sure everything’s clean and that we get what they want.” And it worked. SUPA IGA also has extended opening hours to cater for the entire community. For example, many of the backpackers in Tully take advantage of their 5:00am openings to buy their lunch in the mornings. It’s also one of the few establishments anywhere on the Cassowary Coast to open all day Sunday.
VE SA 0.99 $2
While stocks last. Offer valid from Nov 7-13. PP44905001
Banyan Plaza, Morris St, Tully. Ph. 40683925
Christmas time is coming Have you booked your Christmas Party yet, why not come and join us at the Tigers Leagues Club and let us help organise your party
Menus available to suit all budgets. Just ask our friendly staff how we can help.
Last Sunday President of the Tigers Leagues Club, John Clifford, presided over the annual general meeting at the Tigers Leagues Club. After the pleasantries of thanking the board, members, staff and their landlords (the RSL Board), he handed out the club’s financials, and got down to the business of the club’s 2020 plans. “Our future goals and plans with the help of the RSL sub-branch is to hopefully expand the business with some valuable car parking.” He characterised the chances of this happening as hopeful and positive. Recently, the Cassowary Coast Regional
TULLY JEWELLERS
Ph: 4068 2535
R D A C T F GI
Save!
Page 10 Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, November 7, 2019
6 Richardson St, Tully - Ph: 4068 1126
RAYMOND
and
Week 1 - 2 Winners of $50 Vouchers from 5 businesses ($250 each winner - total $500) Week 2 - 2 Winners of $50 Vouchers from 5 businesses ($250 each winner - total of $500) Week 3 - 4 Winners of $50 Vouchers from 6 businesses ($300 each winner - total of $1200) Week 4 - 4 Winners of $50 Vouchers from 6 businesses ($300 each winner - total of $1200) Week 5 - 4 Winners of $50 Vouchers from 6 businesses ($300 each winner - total of $1200) Week 6 - 4 Winners of $50 Vouchers from 12 businesses ($600 each winner - total of $2400) Continue Promoting Local Business
Store wide discounts save up to $2000 on your next purchase for Christmas and also 1% finance available on all 2019 models and earlier.
65 Bryant St, Tully. Ph: 4068 1180 - www.tigersleaguesclub.com.au
Buy Christmthis as
Council held an auction for the property adjacent to the club and there were no other bidders for the property apart from the Tigers Leagues Club. The building on the property has been condemned and the club would like to tear it down and use the premises as a car park. While it will increase business, the club has more community-minded reasons for wanting a nearby parking lot, according to Manager of Tigers Leagues Club, Jo Solien. “Yes, there’s parking not too far away, but a lot of our older customers need closer parking especially with the rainy season coming.” At times, you can see employees at the club escorting customers from their cars with umbrellas when
Authorised Dealer for
Dates are booking up quickly so book now to avoid disappointment
To be a part of this great Tully tradition all you have to do is keep your dollar local! Simply shop at any of the participating stores and fill out an entry ticket and place it in one of our Buy Local boxes and you could win - it’s that easy!!!
Tigers Leagues Club AGM
Steve Hunt’s Motorcycles
G i vea way
REEDS BETTA HOME LIVING
81 Butler Street, Tully the rain is hard. The Tigers Leagues Club is recognised by people around Tully as a hub of the community – not just in that it is a place were people congregate, but it actively gives back to the community and supports local businesses. Every year, including ones where it doesn’t turn a profit like in 2019, the club donates thousands of dollars to local sporting clubs. “We’re a non-profit. We don’t keep any money. It all goes back to the community,” said Solien. According to club Treasurer, Anthony Emmi, they also insist on buying local. “Even if it costs more, we buy local.” The effects of this are multiple. Apart from the obvious one of a dollar going to a local supplier, each extra
Image Tigers Leagues Club Bistro on Melbourne Cup Day 2019 dollar a business gets gives the local market more confidence, which tends to lead to more local investment. Circulating dollars locally also induces more spending in the community, which also drives up confidence among businesses, leading to more investment. Every dollar spent generates twice as much income for the local economy. Solien said the club could turn better profits if it sourced from outside suppliers, but the club is first and foremost a community asset. It isn’t designed to make a profit and that will never be its primary focus.
IGGULDENS
GIFT CARD
1
ON SELECTED PRODUCTS
UP T
300
$
O
Terms and conditions apply. See 3 Butler Street, Tully | Ph: 4068 1104 instore for details. Email: reeds@my.betta.com.au | www.betta.com.au
Clothing, Footwear & Travel Goods
Lay- By now for Christmas $10 - $20 GIFT IDEAS GALORE FOR SECRET SANTA Extended shop hours in December Don’t forget to enter out Lucky Shoppers “IN HOUSE” draw & other shopper gifts.
at Igguldens & IGGsToo TULLY, 17 Butler St; IGGsToo, Banyan Plaza; CARDWELL 83 Victoria Street. PH: 4068 1295
IGA HAMS $7.95 Teitzels IGA Ph: 4068 3977 CLOSED XMAS DAY ONLY
Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, November 7, 2019 Page 11