SA businesses hoping to boost trade as borders to open

After the toughest 18 months, South Australian businesses are readying for the long-awaited opening up of borders tomorrow.

Since the state government released its road map to reopening SA’s borders to Covid, managers at Grundy’s Shoes have felt like they are “building the plane while it’s in the air”.

“The state government road map has lacked some direction and placed a lot of extra pressure and, at times, cost on small businesses,” says Tom Whittenbury, from Grundy’s, a family-owned business with stores in Glenelg, Victor Harbor and the city.

“As a business, we sometimes feel we are building the plane while it’s in the air.”

But, as D-Day looms on Tuesday, Mr Whittenbury says the business now feels ready to welcome interstate visitors with open arms.

Grundy’s Shoes is working through how it will manage potential outbreaks.

“Our amazing staff have done a superb job to remain optimistic throughout (in) the face of adversity and we are positive as we head towards Christmas that the streets will begin to fill up again,” Mr Whittenbury says.

Tom Whittenbury of Grundy's’s shoes in Rundle Street. Picture: Dean Martin

“Naturally there is anxiety among the staff and our customers and we … will do everything we can to put people at ease and ensure their safety and wellbeing.”

Grundy’s is not mandating full vaccination of staff and customers.

But it is looking at how to roster its vaccinated and unvaccinated staff “to ensure the safety of other staff and our loyal customers”.

“Once we know who has and hasn’t been vaccinated, we will have contingency plans put in place should someone contract the virus,” Mr Whittenbury says.

West Beach Mini Golf general manager Ben Coure says he has chosen not to mandate staff vaccination because he believes in “freedom of medical choice”

He says he has staff on standby to cover shifts if an employee contracts Covid-19.

West Beach Mini Golf attracts hundreds of visitors to its 18-hole course over the festive season and school summer holidays.

Mr Coure says he is “very excited” about SA’s borders reopening to fully vaccinated residents from Victoria and almost all of NSW from tomorrow.

West Beach Mini golf manager Ben Coure, left, with team member James Harvey. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“We look forward to welcoming our interstate customers once again,” he says.

In the Adelaide Hills, winemaker Simon Tolley is keen to welcome people to his cellar door, vineyard and accommodation at Woodside.

Mr Tolley lost 30 per cent of his vines and had extensive property damage in the December 2019 Cudlee Creek blaze.

He reopened the cellar-door in January and says he is “fortunate” all his staff are vaccinated.

“Staff have embraced the new rules and are understanding of the fact that change is inevitable in this current climate,” says Mr Tolley.

He hopes to see more people visit his business as the festive season approaches.

“Being that this is the first year that our cellar door has been open, and we’ve already faced and overcome a variety of challenges, we are very much looking forward to the Christmas period,” he says.

Originally published as SA businesses hoping to boost trade as borders to open