Plush Borobis and Commonwealth Games merch the only money-makers in Gold Coast ghost town

BOROBI the Commonwealth Games mascot is known for his bright blue fur but has proven to be gold for the city’s economy. Games bosses have revealed the koala has been a multimillion-dollar cash cow.

BOROBI has proven a money maker for Games organisers, who have made millions selling the plush blue toys — but businesses feel far from cuddly as they stare down losses as decreased trading continues along the Coast.

The city’s biggest business group issued an SOS for people to support local businesses, saying their members had been hurt by an overeager campaign to keep people off the roads.

Queensland Government Ministers, however, are denying there is a significant problem.

Games merchandise has flown off the shelves this week, with organisers offloading 250,000 commemorative coins for between $15 and $1250 each.

BUSINESS OWNERS UNLEASH ON GAMES ORGANISERS

Benowa Artist Helen Holmes wearing a Borobi Headband at lunch in Broadbeach. The item is the hottest seller in Commonwealth Games merchandise. Picture Glenn Hampson

They’ve also sold 800,000 pins and badges, 55,000 commemorative programs, 45,000 T-shirts, 30,000 caps and 90,000 Borobi plush toys.

Borobis sell in three sizes, 90,000 of the mid-size $40 toy would reap $3.6 million in revenue, but trade for local businesses has not been so lucrative.

Borobi headbands all the rage at Commonwealth Games

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Games merchandise has been flying off the shelves.

MAYOR’S MESSAGE TO BUSINESS OWNERS

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said some traders had budgeted for staff and supplies based on a Games-time boom which was yet to eventuate.

“Our members are disappointed and it’s very apparent that Get Set for The Games worked too well,” he said.

“Our members continue to have a reduced amount of normal trade.

“We’re very keen to reinforce the fact that Gold Coast is open for business — get in your car or catch public transport.”

Games Minister Kate Jones said Games merchandise sales had been 50 per cent higher than anticipated, driven by Borobi-branded products.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall pose with the official mascot Borobi (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The Minister said she had “spent every day talking to retailers, shops and restaurants around the Gold Coast”, and they’d “universally” told her business had improved.

“Certainly this week with the athletics starting, the rugby sevens, we do expect to see larger crowds and more people out in restaurants.

‘If we do have one message, it’s come and enjoy the great food and taste of the Gold Coast,” she said.

“I was out after the swimming on Saturday night in Surfers Paradise just to see how business was going, talking to police on the ground, checking out the festival — this place is humming.

Kate Jones. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Anyone that is out at night after the events is seeing that each night after the events, more and more people are coming out to enjoy the festival, the free entertainment and spending money in the local economy.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said he didn’t believe the State Government’s transport campaign was severely impacting local businesses.

“People have just changed how they move around and it’s fairly typical of these events that they are quiet in the first few days, it’s going to be party town for the next seven days as things pick up,” he said.

He denied local businesses were hurting saying “a lot of places I’ve been having coffee and eating at have been packed”.

Photo of the owner of Zippy's Cafe John Georgiou at Southport. He is upset that trade has been non existent during the Commonwealth Games. Photo by Richard Gosling

“I was out in Broadbeach the other night and it was busy,” he said.

“We’ve got to get out there and support that business and trade.”

GOLDOC CEO Mark Peters questioned whether the disappointment from local businesses was as widespread as the media had reported.

“The question is how many people are actually saying that,” he said.

“We deal with fact and we deal with fiction, but I can tell you the international and the interstate people and the federations believe this is a place you can run major events for a long long time and that’s what this is all about.”

Mark Peters Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Hall said his group’s members, which include hundreds of businesses from Southport south past Broadbeach, had been underwhelmed by Games trading.

“It is disappointing because it was a great opportunity to showcase our region,” he said.

“The sport has been going well but the business hasn’t.

“Hopefully we can turn it around in the next few days.”