YES: Christine Sharma, co-owner of New Zealand clothing label Ruby\n\nIt’s a global marketplace, so it’s paramount New Zealand businesses are supported to compete on an even playing field. With sales being made through our own online environments, we have to charge GST, so I don’t believe international companies should have the benefit of selling to local customers and not being taxed in the same way.\n\nAs we are design and brand led at Ruby, we control our own pricing, both locally and internationally, and therefore are not disadvantaged by customers coming in and trying things on, only to purchase for a different price online, unlike a lot of New Zealand stores who stock international brands. While I do think these stores should ensure their pricing is competitive, I also believe we should support them with a GST component for online purchases. I read about a business owner who had started to charge a ‘just looking’ fee. She defended the move, pointing out staff spend time talking to customers and if customers buy the products elsewhere, people have to pay for services – as her business has expenses to cover. No one covers expenses when customers don’t pay for services.\n\nWe want to have the variety of product to enjoy here in New Zealand and, with our isolated location, there is a cost for retailers to bring these products to market. I’m all for online shopping – but not at the expense of local businesses. I’ve seen some great stores here close their doors because of this exact reason. We will lose the variety if we don’t place business equality into the imported environment. Of course there will be an initial backlash from consumers – after all, who wants to pay more if you don’t have to? \n\nHowever, it’s a short-sighted mindset when you look at the bigger picture of supporting NZ businesses. The consumer has a choice – use it or lose it. The way to keep this clean and simple is to collect the GST component at the source of purchase – job done! Online shopping is our new normal, so let’s get some sensibility around it. The more money we keep in our NZ businesses, the more benefits that trickle down on so many levels and in so many communities.
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