‘A lot of volatility’: Shops in NQ adapt fast

Senators Pauline Hanson and Matt Canavan, Darwin-based Federal MP Luke Gosling and national security expert Raelene Lockhorst discussed defence spending, energy transition and how investing in fundamental areas like health and housing is essential to the future growth of the regions. Ms Lockhorst drew a round of applause from the sold-out crowd when calling for more funding for the Mt Isa to Townsville rail line which would boost the local economies in regional towns like Charters Towers. Business owners in Charters Towers are pivoting to

stay on top of a slowing economy, with some finding surprising success after taking a gamble on drink bars, 24/7 butcher shops and more. Cunninghams News owner Narelle Jones has owned her shop on Gill St for 27 years, and said 2026 had been the quietest year she had seen. “Transportation costs have been quite difficult because with the price of fuel everything goes up,” she said. “The economy isn’t very good at the moment, but we’re holding on. It feels like there is a

lot of volatility and it’s making people worry.” Birthday cards and gifts continued to make up the bulk of the newsagency’s business, with help from lotto and book sales. Across town, Charters Towers butcher shop owner Lochlan Solari said business was growing as people prioritised value for money and customer experience. “I took over BT Meats (now Lochlea Butchery) about four months ago, but for the last 14 months or so I’ve also been running Butcher2Go which is a 24/7 unstaffed shop in Townsville,” Mr

Solari said. “Our business is doing very well. “We’ve got a very good team and we’re selling a lot, people are looking at their budgets and buying whole, or going for those cheaper items like mince, sausages and silverside.” Mr Solari’s Butcher2Go store in Townsville is locked to the general public, but members can unlock the door anytime with their phones and scan the barcodes on goods to pay for them. “The mince sells out immediately,” he said. “The prime cuts like rump and eye

fillet, those are selling, just slower.” Back on Gill St, florist Lacie Clarke was working behind the counter after selling her business Charters Flowers to family friends Gayette and Jordan Burt. Ms Clarke said she personally sold her business due to burn out. But before she sold, the young business owner had installed a drinks bar in the shop which had “taken off”. “I feel like it’s a bit harder this year,” she said of the sales volume. “So that diversification with the drinks bar

has really helped.” New owner Mrs Burt said she bought the flower shop as a “full circle” moment. “My mum used to own this business and I grew up in this shop,” she said. “I also had my own business, the Blossom Shop, but I was running that pre-covid. Definitely everything has changed since then.” The new florist said things had become very “online ordering” focused, with far fewer people coming into the shop itself. “We get people from all over the world placing an

order with us to go and deliver flowers to someone in our area,” she said. “Online ordering is massive now.” On top of the new drinks bar, Mrs Burt is also looking at expanding into health-focused foods as she looked to keep up with the changing demands of the modern Australian customer. Jane Jesberg, The Rix Hotel and Beast and Barrel restaurant owner “I believe businesses in rural Queensland are facing one of their most challenging periods. There is a staffing crisis in small towns

and centres like ours. it’s a killer.” “People are certainly very price conscious now more than ever. We have resisted cutbacks and price slashing and instead concentrated on staying true to our brand.” Tony Titley, owner of W.Titley & Co apparel store “Customer expectations have increased significantly. They expect a big-city retail experience when they walk into a regional store. we’ve adapted our approach rather than cutting back. We’ve invested heavily in store fit-outs, presentation, and customer experience to ensure our stores meet modern retail

expectations. We’ve also integrated e-commerce into all of our physical stores.” Max Hunter, Charters Towers resident “I think prices have gone up way too much and the government is spending too much money” Barbara Robinson, Charters Towers resident “I am a keen gardener and I have noticed the price of plants going up. Now I really hesitate to buy these things that were a nice thing for me, something that was a luxury for me.” Bush Summit: Have Your Say is supported by S.Kidman &

Co. Originally published as Bush Summit Townsville: Shops pivot to stay afloat in Charters Towers

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