Albury-Wodonga stores: Oscar Wylee, Skin Wodonga set up post COVID

Business is starting to boom in Albury-Wodonga with a new string of stores proving you don’t need to travel to Melbourne or Sydney to find what you want.

Oscar Wylee opened its new Albury store in February.

Consumer and business confidence is up experts say, with at least 10 new businesses opening up shop in Albury-Wodonga in the past six months.

Erin Aylmore opened Skin Wodonga in November 2020, and said she had received nothing but support.

“It’s exceeded my expectations tenfold,” Ms Aylmore said.

“It was a pretty big risk, but I do feel like on the border we do support our own.

“Our little city here is booming, people are planning on moving here, not just buying investment properties.”

With people moving into the region from Melbourne and Sydney during the pandemic, Ms Aylmore said she wanted to open a clinic with a “city vibe”.

“We wanted to build a more medical-grade clinic here that people are used to seeing in the city,” she said.

“The other clinics here are amazing, but we’ve tried to make ourselves quite unique on that city vibe.”

Ms Aylmore said she had noticed a lot of new businesses opening despite the uncertainty of COVID.

“When that five-day lockdown was announced and it was so drastic, I was sh — ing myself.

“And with Dan Andrews being Dan Andrews, I thought ‘who knows how long that’s going to go on for’.

“But they have a vaccine now and rolling it out, so I’m trying to keep really positive.”

Popular eyewear chain Oscar Wylee opened its first regional store in Albury this month, and shop manager Ali Iqbal said it was set to make waves.
Mr Iqbal, who has worked in optometry for 16 years, said he had been pushing Oscar Wylee to open a shop in Albury since 2019.

He said he finally received a phone call from the company in December 2020 saying the store would open in February.

“I said Albury needed something different and that Oscar Wylee would made waves here,” Mr Iqbal said.

“The feedback I get from people is that they’re excited because they don’t have to go to Melbourne or Sydney to get their glasses.

“I think it will help promote regional towns and show that they know what they’re doing and are just as impactful as any other city.”

Amanda Kotzur opened Style Supply Co in November, 2020.

Albury Northside Chamber of Commerce general manager Carrick Gill-Valance said there were some positives for businesses opening during the pandemic.

“There’s more opportunity than we’d otherwise have because discretionary spending and consumer confidence seem to be up,” Mr Gill-Valance said.

“(It’s) because people are saving money on things like international travel and travelling to work …

He said according to recent surveys from Business NSW, business and consumer confidence was quite positive.

“It’s obvious, with how the greater economy is performing, that we are pulling ourselves out of this and stimulating the economy again,” Mr Gill-Valance said.

“Tourism is still feeling the pinch but generally speaking we’re starting to fire on all cylinders again.”

Despite the positives, Mr Gill Valance said those thinking of opening a new business needed to do their research.

“I’d urge them to do their research instead of being motivated by the hype,” he said.

“I’d be recommending they speak to business groups to get advice, like your local chamber of commerce.

“Be as informed as possible.”

Style Supply Co owner Amanda Kotzur said her brick-and-mortar store took a year of planning before it opened in November.

The former real estate agent said planning was the key to opening a new business.

“It was a vision of mine that took 12 months to plan,” Ms Kotzur said.

“Be very careful where you position yourself, as a real estate agent I’m focused on location, location, location.

“Find a gap in the market and try and find something there is a demand for.”

Ms Kotzur renovated a former butcher shop on High St where she now sells women’s wear, baby and children’s wear, accessories, and gifts.

“We’re really happy with the trade we’re doing and we’ve received some very positive feedback,” she said.

“A lot of our customers are new to the area, a lot of families are making the tree change and we’re noticing it in our shop.”

NEW BUSINESSES

Style Supply Co, Wodonga

Running Fit, Wodonga

Koe Tea, Albury

Oscar Wylee, Albury

Skin Wodonga, Wodonga

Our Annalise, Albury

Gum Tree Pies, Wodonga

Harris Farm Markets, Albury

Fresh Eats Cafe, Albury

Miss Amelie Gourmet, Albury

Originally published as Albury-Wodonga stores: Oscar Wylee, Skin Wodonga set up post COVID