They say size doesn't matter, but with the exodus of major retail outlets from Tamworth and the surge of small, independently owned businesses, there is both hope and fear about what this new trend means for the city.
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With the closure of Katies and Noni B of Mosaic Brands, and the launch of small businesses on Peel Street like the Handmade Collective and Ella Fashion, just to name a few, the landscape of retail is shifting.
Mayor Col Murray said it's fantastic there is confidence out there within the community to start up new enterprises in town, with some different dynamics seen in the heart of the CBD.
"It's great that we are seeing small businesses pop up ... it's a great development for our local economy," Cr Murray said.
"But I think there needs to be a balance in there somewhere, some of the offerings of chain stores are unlikely to be delivered from small local businesses. It's about trying to arrive at that balance."
Economists reason that $1 spent in a local store goes around the community three to five times before it is exhausted, so when large retailers leave town, this creates opportunities for several retailers to create a collective store, sharing the overheads.
There is an initial negative effect when a large retailer leaves a community - loss of products, jobs and revenue. However, there is always a silver lining and these departures allow local entrepreneurs to fill the gap.
- Joe Townsend
Meg Attwell, stylist for The Other Shop, said the rise of the independent stores in Peel Street was a good thing, and reflected on the community's increasingly mindful intent to shop local.
"I think it's good we have more small businesses, because it adds variety to what we can get in town," Ms Attwell said.
"Most of the time shopping at a small business, you know that what you're buying is ethically produced. But in so many areas, especially fashion, so many large retailers and chain stores unfortunately have stock that is not ethically produced in the slightest."
But the broader impact of losing a chain store goes further, according to Business NSW regional manager Joe Townsend.
"Our regional communities can be fragile ecosystems, and I think we don't always consider how we are all interconnected," he said.
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"There is an initial negative effect when a large retailer leaves a community - loss of products, jobs and revenue. However, there is always a silver lining and these departures allow local entrepreneurs to fill the gap."
He said it may come as a surprise, but Tamworth's retail draws customers from the greater New England North West region, especially with the drought easing and agriculture beginning to recover.
"[W]e've seen an increase in consumers from Moree and Narrabri," he explained.
Towns like Bowral, historically have capitalised on their boutique shopping experience as a unique tourism attraction, flowing on to create "complementary businesses".
"Retail is being disrupted, and we need to take more control of our own situations. While traditional store formats may be in decline, ones that offer great shopping experiences will see growth."
