RETAILERS are preparing for a hectic Easter long weekend, with extra staff rostered and additional stock ordered ahead.
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Assistant manager Debbie Clutterbuck at the Richies SUPA IGA Stawell said although its her first Stawell Gift, she is expecting it to be extremely busy.
"You get that influx of people and all you can do is be prepared and make sure you've got plenty, because apparently they come from all over the place to come to Stawell," she said.
"Preparation is key for everybody involved.
"You've got to accommodate by putting on more staff so it flows nicely and you have people coming through with no hold-ups.
"We have eight registers and from today onwards it will be pump pump pump, and you've got to get in extra deliveries or bigger loads so again, you need to be prepared for all of that."
Mrs Clutterbuck said that the supermarket will close at 8pm on Easter Sunday and Monday rather than its usual 10pm for a well earned break.
"The Easter bunny has been and people are home enjoying time with their family," she said.
"By what everybody keeps telling me, it's exciting times. It's going to be a very busy place."
Take-away meal options will be popular with locals too.
Poseidon Fish and Chips owner Bill Kloufetos said if last year was any indication they would be very busy.
"We have three extra staff," he said.
"We get a few tourists but 90 per cent of them are locals."
Over in Ararat, Fred & Bet's manager Hannah Cunningham said the cafe is hoping to benefit from the influx of tourists.
"We're hoping it's going to be busy but you don't ever really know," she said.
"We're prepared for it if it is. Hopefully we get lots of tourists."
The Ararat Hotel manager Steve Burke said they are opening the kitchen for additional hours to cater to the crowds.
"We're opening our kitchen for lunch on Friday from 12pm to 3pm," he said.
"We've got two extra staff on for Friday through Monday.
"I reckon we'll get a mixture of tourists and locals."
However, Ararat restaurant Sicilians, a popular place with the locals, will be closed over the Easter period, reopening on the Tuesday.
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