The people of Orange love to shop, and are very brand conscious, so it follows that they would have a long wish list of the sort of stores they'd like to see open there.

Every time we release information on the store openings we are inundated with suggestions about the sort of stores people want to see open in Orange.

There's been plenty of people expressing their lack of enthusiasm over plans for more food outlets and lamenting the fact that Oporto, Grill'd and Nando's are not moving into Orange.

When it comes to stores there's also been a lot of people unhappy that a JBHiFi, Rebel, Converse and a new Myer aren't on the new tenants list.

However we need to be realistic.

Large department stores are fast becoming a thing of the past.

All over Australia companies are downsizing or closing their department stores in favour of smaller outlets aiming to appeal to a more targeted demographic.

Earlier this month Myer confirmed it would continue closing stores as a result of falling profits with the company attributing stagnant wage growth and high personal debt to a lack of retail spending.

Let's not forget the the retail sector, particularly in country and regional areas, has been hard-hit by the drought.

There's also no doubt that the proliferation of online shopping has also impacted retailers' bottom line.

Despite the negative comments there has been incredible enthusiasm for the opening of stores such as Bonds, Sportsgirl, Dusk, Sportscraft and Rockwear.

Many of the announcements about the various food outlets opening in the development, particularly Lone Star, have also been met with enthusiasm.

In fact the redevelopment of the once problematic Post Office Lane area has largely been viewed as long overdue.

While we may all have our favourite brands and eateries we love, Orange simply doesn't have the sort of population size that can support every one of these stores and outlets opening here.

Let's embrace what's coming, let's support them and prove that Orange is still a place where enthusiastic retailers and the hospitality industry can prosper.