Why some little corner stores thrive in an online world

We asked two experts what it takes for little family-run convenience stores to survive in a cutthroat world of mega chains and online shopping.

The Gap Friendly grocer owners K.C. Rizk and Jason Samra. Their business is thriving despite competition from a nearby 7-11 and a Coles and Aldi. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

Online shopping, extended trading hours and supermarkets – despite all the odds, our family-run corner stores are showing good service will always be in demand.

There are at least 13 traditional convenience stores still battling it out across the westside against the likes of 7-11, Foodworks, Coles, Aldi and Woolies.

And some of them, such as The Gap Friendly Grocer, aren’t just surviving – they’re thriving.

“We’re going to knock the building down and build four shops upstairs and our shop at the bottom,’’ co-owner K.C. Rizk said.

“It was actually closed when we bought it seven years ago. Since then business has just grown.’’

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Mr Rizk grew up in his parent’s shop at Coopers Plains and his business partner is his cousin, Jason Samra, who joined The Gap store straight after leaving school.

But their success comes after news a raft of westside businesses, including the Pig N Whistle, are in trouble or will close.

University of Queensland entrepreneurship expert Sarel Gronum said while size counted in retail, as it did in most business models, there would always be room for little convenience stores.

He said it would never be a growth sector and the low profits meant it was a lifestyle choice and difficult to pass on a business to the next generation, but people who had the skills could make a living.

“Those that have a good story to tell, innovate and who don’t try to compete on price not only can survive, they actually flourish,’’ Dr Gronum said.

“You have to be seen to be wholesome and artisanal, homemade, you have to support the local football team, the owner has to be there and the customers know their name, and you have to keep innovating.

“It’s very important to experiment, fail often and fail fast. Do small tests and see what works in your niche.

“All the successful small businesses are great at doing this. Social media is also very important to creating communities.’’

SOME FAMILY-RUN WESTSIDE CONVENIENCE STORES

Thuy Nguyen’s Convenience Store, Ashgrove

Maria’s Convenience Store, Rosalie

EasyShop Convenience Store, Milton

Bardon Friendly Grocer

Toowong Convenience Store

St Lucia Supermarket

The Gap Friendly Grocer

Happy Shop Indonesian Groceries

Don’s Foodstore, Bardon

Ashgrove West Convenience Store

Graceville Convenience Store

Michael Smith, chairman of the 7-11 convenience store chain. Retail experts say family-run stores cannot compete with big franchises like 7-11 on price. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

A great example of social media and internet mastery is Happy Shop Indonesian Groceries in Indooroopilly.

Named after Dewi Wijaya’s husband Roy, known widely as “Happy Chap’’ because of his upbeat personality, it combines traditional Australian groceries, bags of lollies for children from three nearby state schools and in-store and online Indonesian groceries.

The couple migrated to Australia separately in the 1990s and realised there was a market to be served, with so many Indonesian students at the nearby University of Queensland.

“We rent, but I want to own the shop and expand, 70 or even 80 sqm’’ Ms Wijaya said. “About 70 per cent of our sales are online Indonesian groceries, but we have Australian groceries too and the children come in after school in big groups, we sell a lot of lollies to them.

“My parents owned a furniture shop back home so I’ve got the skills and my husband has skills in IT.’’

UQ consumer shopping behaviour expert Peter Popkowski said convenience, particularly good parking, were crucial.

Prof Popkowski also said many convenience stores relied on a continual influx of migrants who brought skills from their home country, were prepared to work hard and were motivated to set up their own businesses.

Some such shops, such as Thuy Nguyen’s Convenience Store in Ashgrove, have been around for years, but new waves of owners kept coming through as previous generations of store owners retired or sold up.