Ascot kids’ boutique closes doors amid virus impact
A children’s fashion boutique that once sold party dresses for $150 and $75 baby hoodies in an upmarket Brisbane suburb has cleared its shelves and closed the doors. It sits adjacent to a famous retail strip now blighted by ‘for lease’ signs.
QLD Business
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Business. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A CHILDREN’S fashion boutique in Brisbane’s millionaire enclave of Ascot has closed its doors amid the continuing fall out from the coronavirus shutdown.
Duck Duck Goose in up-market Lancaster Rd had catered for the fashion needs of offspring of the suburb’s business and political elite since 2005 but its shelves are now clear of its designer label clothes that included $150 party dresses and $75 baby hoodies.
Duck Duck Goose is the latest boutique in Brisbane’s wealth belt to shut its doors as the impact of the coronavirus shutdown starts to bite.
According to the MustDo Brisbane website, the children‘s boutique was “where fashion savvy mums shop for original designer clothing, shoes, accessories, toys, books and more.”
But even cashed-up mums in Ascot, where the median house price in north of a million dollars, are tightening their belts.
In nearby Racecourse Rd, the retail strip remains blighted by a number of For Lease signs that predated the coronavirus shutdown.
Real estate agent Alma Clark, who owns the shopping strip, said she had already found replacement tenants for the location, which has been returned to its original two-shop configuration.
“One of the tenants is a children’s fashion shop, which will fit in well with the area,” said Ms Clark. “I was surprised by interest.”
Ms Clark said the owners of Duck Duck Goose had been long-term tenants who had decided to close after the expiry of their lease. She said the number of vacancies at nearby Racecourse Rd retail strip was largely due to parking difficulties.
Other up-market shopping precincts also are doing it tough. Thousand Island Dressing New Farm, owned by local Ellen Geraghty, has closed after 14 years in the Merthyr Village shopping centre and moved to an online model. The other independently owned Thousand Island Dressing Boutique at Paddington remains open.
Petrol, one of Brisbane’s longest established fashion boutiques also has closed its doors blaming the coronavirus pandemic and the “endless options” now available , to consumers.
Paula Acheson, who ran Petrol Boutique at Paddington, said the world of retail has changed dramatically since she first opened her shop more than 30 years ago.
Other retailers are finding the online model allows them to keep operating without the overheads of rent and related costs.
Leading Queensland furniture retailer Out on the Patio has closed its three brick-and-mortar stores and moved to a warehouse and online model.
Out on the Patio has closed its shops in Fortitude Valley, the Sunshine Coast and Aspley and is now using its existing warehouse at Seventeen Miles Rocks as a retail outlet.
QUT retail expert Dr Gary Mortimer said an increasing number of retailers would reduce the number of stores and increase their online presence in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There also will be some retailers who will move their operations entirely online,” said Dr Mortimer. “Retailers are realising they can get a significant amount of sales online and they don’t have leasing and other costs.”
If you have more information contact Glen.Norris@news.com.au