Torquay’s‘hardwar’

By Cherie Donnellan
MITRE 10 Torquay owner Evan Crick has vowed to continue trading despite the opening of a Bunnings store at the entry to the town.
Mr Crick said the arrival of competition had failed to scare him into selling or closing his long-standing business in Baines Cres.
“We’ve been here a lot longer than Bunnings have and we intend to stay,” Mr Crick told the Independent.
Bunnings opened in an industrial estate on Surf Coast Hwy last month, giving Torquay a second outlet for hardware and timber supplies.
The opening provided Mitre 10’s first competition in Torquay since a smaller-scale hardware closed in Bell St several years ago. The next closest hardware is another Bunnings store in Waurn Ponds.
Mr Crick said winter retailing was typically quiet on the coast this year but Mitre 10’s operations were “moving ahead very strongly”.
“It’s business as usual for Mitre 10. I think we’ve felt a bigger effect from the cold, wet weather than the Bunnings opening.”
Mr Crick said serving and supporting the community would remain the store’s priority.
“We’ve been here for 28 years and nothing will change that.
“We know our prices are competitive and we shop prices to make it cheaper.”
“We’ve got some great promotions and things coming up”.
The Crick family have owned and operated the Mitre 10 store since 1984.
Torquay Bunnings store manager Mick Gann said the store had received “tremendous” support since opening.
Mr Gann said the store employed more than 100 Surf Coast residents including qualified tradesman.
“We’re also committed to helping the wider Torquay local community and will provide ongoing assistance for local community groups.”
Mr Gann said the Torquay store would continue the Bunnings tradition of the company’s “famous” sausage sizzles on weekends and public holidays. Bunnings allows community groups to operate the sizzles as fundraisers.
Bunnings was also offering residents “leading Australian brands and products…at the lowest prices”, Mr Gann said.