Business
17 September, 2023
New brands at centre
DISCOUNT store Price Busters Variety is coming to Cairns for the first time along with craft retailer Kaisercraft expanding its footprint in the city.
Both businesses are planning to open at the Raintrees shopping centre next year, filling a great part of the vacancy left when Woolworths moved into a new space.
Price Busters Variety is growing and has 24 stores in northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland. The Raintrees outlet will be the most northern for the company. Price Busters Variety director Avinash Chandra said the business was “in an expansion phase and are continuously scouting for new sites that suits our business model”.
He said the 1000sqm fit-out was due to start in July next year and would take three months by a Cairns-based contractor.
“We will require various sub-contractors as a full fit-out will be required for the large site we’ll occupy,” he said.
“We will require approximately 15 staff and will commence recruitment around April 2024.”
Price Busters Variety is owned by private family-owned company Mega Variety Pty Ltd based in Brisbane.
“We’re really looking forward to opening more stores in north Queensland. We’re actively looking for other suitable sites in this part of Queensland,” Mr Chandra said.
“Price Busters Variety is the destination store throughout the year for the entire family, offering products for storage, parties, pets, luggage, entertainment, fashion accessories, craft, toys, stationery, confectionery, cards and wrap, and much more,” he said.
Price Busters Variety first opened its doors in Queensland in 2010. The 24 stores employ more than 150 Australians.
Christina Oliver of Kaisercraft in Geelong confirmed the firm intended to expand to the Raintrees shopping centre.
“We are looking at that location, however it is looking like it will be next year,” she said.
It currently has stores at Cairns DFO and Mt Sheridan Plaza. It sells a diverse range of fashion stationery, gifts, homewares, and arts and craft supplies.
Shopping centre manager Sheila Neil said it was “very exciting to welcome both Price Busters and Kaisercraft to Raintrees.”
“Along with the new and improved Woolworths, new tenants joining us in 2023 have included Café 63, Smokemart, Defy Gravity, Lookin Good Beauty Cairns, Bee’s Nail Garden, Lovena Bridal and Cairns Upholstery,” she said.
Ms Neil said part of stage two of the re-development would include new men’s, ladies, disabled and parents room facilities, a new mall and entry, as well as some additional parking upgrades. Construction is due to start soon.
“With only 770sq m left to lease in the new mall, now is the time for any interested businesses to get in touch to negotiate a lease and start fit-out planning,” she said.
Next year the centre celebrates 50 years of trade.
