Murray Crane: Crane Brothers founder on the store extending their High Street lease

As more stores across Auckland's CBD close their doors for good, Crane Brothers has reaffirmed their commitment to the area.

After extending their High Street lease for another 25 years, founder Murray Crane recently revealed the store would expand into the space vacated by Ruby.

Crane says Covid and the subsequent economic downturn have been tough on Auckland, but it's important to control the narrative.

"We had a fairly challenging time, as any business in the central city did, and the recovery has probably been a little bit slower than a lot of people would have liked, for a variety of different reasons."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
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Speaker 2 (00:17):
While other retail stores are turning their backs on Aukan CBD,
Crane Brothers is doubling down on its commitment to the
city's high street. So last year Crane Brothers announced they
would extend their High Street least for another twenty five years.
Now they've committed to expanding the store because Ruby, the
store that was beside them, has gone, so they thought, right, oh,
we can double the size of the store. So Murray

(00:38):
Crane is joining me now and good morning to you.

Speaker 3 (00:40):
Murray morning Andrew.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
How are you very good? Loving the way you're calling
for positivity for our CBD. Why are you doing that.

Speaker 1 (00:49):
Well?

Speaker 3 (00:50):
Because we have too, would be the basic reason. I
think after a fairly torrid time with well COVID hate
to mention that word, but that's where things really started
to probably go off track a little bit, where you
had fairly challenging time, as any business in the central

(01:13):
city did. And then the recovery has probably been a
little bit slower than a lot of people would have
liked for a variety of different reasons and I think
we need to control the narrative because there's no point
of being negative about it, or else we're never going
to really get anywhere.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
I think the concept that people haven't realized is that
Ucland has changed and that the retail areas have moved
and they've moved down closer to the water, and they've
left Midtown and places like High Street where you've been
in and until, of course development happens Midtown and High
Street with the owners actually fixing up the buildings and
making the spaces better and the CRL turning up, then

(01:52):
your area will be not as booming as it used
to be.

Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, I think the High Street's a little bit of
an anomaly. It does still have a vibrant sea and
there's still a lot of new businesses opening in that area.
I think the very nature of that kind of precinct
within the city is that it always has quite a
high turnover of businesses. Due to the way the rentals

(02:17):
are structured, it's obviously cheaper than for a lot of
businesses to enter than going on too Queen Street of
going into Britain Marte or Commercial Base. So there's always
kind of an entrepreneurial spirit there of people that are
prepared to try something new. The dynamic has definitely moved
more towards, of course food and entertainment precinct. But we're
seeing that kind of all over the world anyway.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
So what's happening in Orkands happens, as you quite rightly say,
all over the world. Is it a cesspit of crime
and homelessness and danger or was that overhyped?

Speaker 3 (02:52):
I think it has been over hyped by the media
a lot. I think there's been a very negative kind
of dialogue around that. I mean, obviously it has been
an issue as it is in any major city, and
we have seen a lot of progress in that area,
especially over the last year, with more focus back on

(03:13):
the kind of CBD safety. I would say, but look,
I'm there every day, six days a week, and it's
very rarely that we'll see any element that is more
dangerous and more threatening than you would see in any
big kind of CBD anywhere in the world, including other

(03:35):
cities in New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (03:37):
So well, this is right. This is not an Awkard problem,
even though it's been made out to be an Awkand problem.
We've got the same problem in Wellington with the Golden
mile which has had diminishing returns because of course we
now have shopping malls in the suburbs, so why come
into town. We're seeing the same thing in christ Church
where the town moved to Rickitton for a bit and
now they're trying to get people to move back in.
What is the secret to getting people back into a CBD.

Speaker 3 (04:01):
Well, I think it starts with, you know, hopefully the
things that we do, small, small things that we do
well every day. Just make making sure that your business
is as well presented, well maintained, that you've got an
interesting message, a good product, and just a positive attitude.
I think that goes a long way. I think people

(04:24):
respond to that and more and more now that we're
seeing we've seen such a kind of migration to online shopping.
I think we're starting to see a new generation of
shoppers now that don't really want that experience. They want
a more unique, hands on experience, not a homogenized kind
of retail experience, which which mauls and online kind of offer.

(04:46):
They they've kind of merged into one in a way.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
Well, you see, Murray, I love your store. I love
your store because you do high end close you're in
the legal district as well. There's the lawyers there who
are having to get their suits and their proper shirts,
and it's looking good. I love how tidy your shop is.
I love the modernist furniture that you have in it,
I love the clothes. You're in the right position and
you've got the right attitude and I only wish you

(05:09):
the best of black.

Speaker 3 (05:11):
Thanks Andre, all the best.

Speaker 1 (05:13):
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