Kids born in the last twenty years probably aren’t too familiar with the idea of popping into the local corner store down the street. The shopfronts that were once the staple of every neighbourhood seem to be disappearing everywhere.

Today, most local corner stores have shut up shop due to the soaring costs of running a small business. Everywhere business owners turn, prices are rising at unprecedented rates, and many just can’t keep up.

But after more than three decades in business, Wiskar’s Deli tells a different story and is still standing strong, a testament to the unrivalled support of the local Port Pirie community.

Graeme Wiskar, owner of this South Australian gem, understands the highs and lows of running a family business in today’s economy, having experienced one too many headaches from bill shock over the years.

Keeping the good ol’ days alive

Graeme opened Wiskar’s Deli 33 years ago alongside his wife Rae-Lesley. Born and bred in Port Pirie, 220km from Adelaide, the Wiskars and their beloved business are pretty much baked into the town’s history.

“We’ve seen a lot over the last 33 years,” Graeme says. “People coming and going, kids being born, and now they’re coming in the shop.”

Stocked to the brim with groceries, the deli is actually now classed as a convenience store, bringing in all kinds of locals in search of South Australia’s finest produce, along with some sentimental items that Graeme takes pride in offering.

“Kids thrive on their selection of Allen’s loose lollies, where they can come and get a bag for $1 like the good old days that I grew up in,” says Graeme.

But it’s not just the locals who regularly visit Wiskar’s Deli. In fact, the iconic Bushel Tea mural (pictured above) has become somewhat of a tourist attraction for visitors from all over, even featuring in wedding photos.

“We have people coming from all over the place taking pictures of it and putting their cars in front of it and making it a bit of a backdrop,” Graeme shares. “The Port Pirie Council recognised that and they actually helped me with the restoration of it.”

Graeme and Rae-Lesley Wiskar behind the counter. Image: supplied

When enough was enough

Like the famous mural, Graeme’s business has endured a lot of change over the years, managing to stay afloat during some pretty trying times.

Like many business owners grappling with rising costs, Graeme was taken aback earlier this year when his energy bill went up 150 per cent in the space of just one month. Knowing he wasn’t the only small business owner feeling the strain, Graeme played the exorbitant bill off as a one-time thing.

“I persevered through January and February, but in March I thought, this doesn’t seem right,” recalls the deli owner. “People were telling me their bills only went up 20 or 30 per cent.”

Determined to get to the bottom of his rising rates, Graeme contacted the South Australian Ombudsman, who recommended he get in contact with Zembl, the experts in business energy.

Recounting that first phone call, Graeme is still taken aback by the simple yet exceptional customer service he received. Asked only to read out his most recent bill, his potential savings were immediately calculated over the phone by his agent, Dominic.

“He made it so simple, and he said, I could have saved you $700 on that straight away,” says Graeme. “I nearly fell out of the chair and I said, ‘Well, I think we better keep talking’.”

Graeme took advantage of Zembl’s free online energy review and was able to sort his bills with ease over the phone. Slashing your business energy costs has never been easier.

All up, after switching his energy supplier with the help of Zembl, Graeme has managed to save up to $9000 a year on his energy bills. The best part? Dominic took care of the entire transaction over the phone, including the pesky task of cancelling Graeme’s previous energy supplier.

Though Graeme needs little convincing, he can be sure that he made the right decision in switching up his energy supplier by simply comparing the two customer experiences.

“I rang the company that was supplying me and asked them to justify why they put my bill up 150 per cent from one month to the next,” Graeme says. “And I haven’t heard back yet.”

South Australia’s gem is staying put

Wiskar’s Deli is more than just Graeme and Rae-Lesley’s pride and joy. It’s become a staple of the entire community, always there for anyone needing anything from milk and bread to a friendly chat. The couple’s home is even attached to the shop, making it even easier for the pair to connect with the locals.

“Not having to go to work and go home makes it easy owning the place with no rent or no lease,” says Graeme.

Though the couple’s three daughters are primed to take over the family business one day, Graeme isn’t quite ready to hang up his boots just yet, having the perfect set up that allows the couple to work in comfort.

“We have a two-way mirror from the kitchen into the shop, so if someone comes in, we get up and we go and serve them,” Graeme says. “It’s not a bad little retired life, having a business that’s attached to your residence.”

If you’ve also experienced bill shock from your energy supplier, it’s time to take action. Find out if you’re getting the best deal with Zembl today.

This article is brought to you by Kochie’s Business Builders in partnership with Zembl.