Stuart + Carlyon get top Consumer rating
Excellent news as advisors celebrate 5 years in business!

Parnell's Stuart + Carlyon were one of only three companies to rate well in Consumer NZ's survey of financial advisors, released last week.

Consumer NZ sent mystery shoppers to 33 financial advisers, from large institutions with in-house advisers and agents, sharebrokers and nationwide adviser chains to small standalone firms.

An expert panel assessed the quality of advice and information in the 17 plans it received. Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin said only three out of 17 advisers produced plans that the expert panel rated as "good". The others were rated as "disappointing" or were "rejected".

Of the advice received at Stuart + Carlyon, Consumer said: "The investments recommended by Deborah Carlyon of Stuart and Carlyon were good quality and the shopper was (quite rightly for them) not pushed towards a "wrap platform". Our panel thought the information on risk was excellent. It also liked the clear way costs were explained."

Susanna Stuart and Deborah Carlyon are both Certified Financial Planners (CFP CM ) and members of the Institute of Financial Advisers (IFA). This year they celebrate five years in business as Stuart + Carlyon, with $100 million in client monies under their care.

NZ Retailers Assoc. on Street Trading
Submission to Auckland City Council draft bylaw

The NZ Retailers Association has made the following submission to Auckland City Council in response to proposed changes to the Auckland City Council Street Trading Policy: the sale and display of goods and services in a public place.

Submission:
The New Zealand Retailers Association would like to see the enforced licensing of Street Traders with a licence fee that reflects their privileged position. A minimum rental fee should apply for space utilised and this should have relativity with rentals paid by bricks and mortar retailers in that location.

Where a public place is designated for street trading then both Government compliance laws and local bylaws relating to OSH , food handling, Fair Trading, Consumer law and licensing must apply. These standards need to be controlled and policed and any notice to cease trading must be immediate.

The objective must be to eliminate illegal traders and encourage responsible professional street traders. In our view the footpath is an extension of the road carriageway and should be primarily for the use of pedestrians and mobility scooters and allow ease of access to shops and vehicles parked at the kerb. (We have no objection to the controlled provision of outdoor dining facilities).

Any Mainstreet or Business Association should identify public places where clustering of street traders is possible and desirable.

We also believe that the objective should be to create a street trading environment that is complimentary to the local area or shopping environment as opposed to creating direct competition or conflict.

To achieve this we believe the council should work with Main Streets, BIDS and Business Associations who would decide the licensed traders who can operate in their designated street trading area. This would include consultation with their bricks and mortar local retailers to approve or recommend the licensed traders who can operate in the area.

In summary we would emphasise that the New Zealand Retailers Association is in favour of street trading where it is complimentary and not in conflict with the local retailers in the shopping precinct.

Done well this type of market place activity can attract people to a local shopping centre and improve business for the established local businesses and retailers.

This is providing it is a licensed and controlled activity and the total cost applied to the traders has relativity with the local store owners.

Cruise Ships in Auckland
Amsterdam in port Sunday

The Amsterdam is in port on Sunday 15th. She carries up to 1653 passengers, most of whom are over 50. Next ship due is the Sun Princess on November 23.

Parnell businesses can stay updated by downloading Parnell Inc's detailed Auckland Cruise Ship Schedule, beautifully compiled by our intern Johanna. It includes a little background info to let retailers know who they can expect to see about Parnell!

We encourage retailers to display "Welcome posters" in your shop windows. Please use the attached form to order your posters. Parnell Inc will cover colour print costs, however you may wish to have these laminated at your own expense. Please discuss with ProtoPrint. Here's the Cruise Ship Poster Order Form.