Vadoulis Garden Centre owner says red tape and bureaucracy killing off family business

The closure of a cherished garden centre highlights the grim future faced by family-owned small businesses, with one saying it’s impossible to keep up.

Gawler’s unofficial mayor and owner of a beloved small business set to close its doors has revealed the realities of owning a small business in 2024 – and what it killing them off.

Milton Vadoulis, owner of the 64-year-old Vadoulis Garden Centre in Gawler, said “red tape” behind the scenes of business management was becoming impossible to keep up with.

“It’s very difficult to run a business currently … all businesses like myself, small businesses, not garden centres, we’re always saying ‘the red tape is killing us’,” Mr Vadoulis said.

Milton Vadoulis made the announcement on Thursday the Vadoulis Garden Centre was set to close it’s doors.

“Everyone says, ‘yeah, yeah, yeah’ but then they keep putting more and more on us, it’s just the reality.

“It’s just too hard, I think that we will be lucky to have a small business around in five years, because they’re just putting too much compliance and red tape in front of us all the time.”

Mr Vadoulis didn’t dispute that rules relating to health and safety were important, but said the vast difference between large businesses and small ones made it hard to cope.

“If you’re a big multinational, you’ve got a department that can handle that, but you know, a small-business person is sitting around a kitchen table trying to sort all these papers,” he said.

Mr Vadoulis said many of his business friends were experiencing the same pains he were, with some already closing and others considering the “emotional” choice.

“I think in the next year, maybe even 18 months there is going to be a lot go through (closure), and there is many reasons for that, but the main one – it’s just too hard,” Mr Vadoulis said.

“And it’s a shame, we’ve seen Enzo’s go through it and many other established businesses. I mean we have been here 64 years, we’re in the third generation.”

Choosing to close doesn’t just affect the owners or staff who lose their jobs but the loyal customers too.

“I’ve had customers coming in (since the announcement) and hugging me and crying every couple of minutes, saying ‘where am I going to go now?’” he said.

“When I closed up last night, I walked through and shed a tear because it’s what you’ve worked your whole life for – and it’s disappearing before your eyes.

“Unfortunately, I doubt very much that another garden centre would take over from us in Gawler, who knows, but in my experience it won’t happen.”

Vadoulis Garden Centre’s closure comes after dozens of businesses across SA announced their closures this year so far – many beloved hospo hotspots.

Originally published as Vadoulis Garden Centre owner says red tape and bureaucracy killing off family business