Happier Times As Custom Returns

Newcastle Herald

Monday June 2, 2008

By MARTIN DINNEEN

NEW Lambton business owner Dave Goodwin has a positive feeling and an expanding business one year after the storm that nearly ruined his fledgling venture.

Mr Goodwin's sports store, The Penalty Spot, was flooded with over a metre of water on the night of the Pasha Bulker storm spoiling thousands of dollars worth of stock.

"Everything is back on its feet now and we've grown again since then," he said.

Mr Goodwin said the positive feeling had taken a while to come with worries over insurance, loss of business and delayed repairs persisting for six months after the storm.

"Like everyone else it was a struggle to get tradesmen to do the work," he said.

"It took till after Christmas to get everything back to normal."

While his business did slow for a number of weeks, Mr Goodwin said he was able to resume trading four days after the storm, albeit with drastically reduced stock levels, so he did not have to lay off staff.

Mr Goodwin said the most stressful part of the ordeal was dealing with insurers and the worry over what would be covered under his insurance policy.

"You get a cheque for the stock lost but that doesn't account for the mark-up had you sold the stock," he said.

Mr Goodwin said some suppliers were very understanding during the period after the storm, still supplying stock but not requiring payment until he was back on his feet.

"Some suppliers were very good about it."

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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