WITH more than 1200 sales clocked up by lunchtime, owners of the Summer Centre’s Supa IGA Ian and Rochelle Ashcroft estimate at least 2400 people walked through the store’s doors in the first half of its opening day.
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Mrs Ashcroft said the day started slow, with the cool weather keeping some customers away, but by lunchtime they were out and about.
“I’m surprised by the amount of big shops,” she said.
“There’s trolley loads, I thought it would just be baskets.”
Summer Centre Bakery owner Yvonne Nguyen said her first day of trade was not as busy as she would have liked.
“It’s not really good but it’s okay,” she said.
“With a brand new shop it’s always like that. Not many people knew we had opened.”
Ms Nguyen also owns Vivien’s Hot Bread at the north Orange shopping centre and Paris Hot Bread in Summer Street.
While several customers at IGA and the bakery were asking about when the rest of the centre would be filled with shops, Mrs Ashcroft was confident the two stores would be enough to keep customers coming back to the centre.
IGA’s fresh market section, gourmet foods and specialist cheese section were hits with customers, but many were just there to stock up on the basics.
Mrs Ashcroft was thrilled to see loyal customers from the Peisley Street store, but said she had also seen a lot of new faces.
The four self-serve checkouts proved a popular option for customers and many took the opportunity to sign up for the store’s bonus club card to earn a $25 gift voucher when they earn enough points.
“It’s all been overwhelmingly positive feedback,” Mrs Ashcroft said.
clare.colley@fairfaxmedia.com.au
