The Gallery is just one of four well-known Wagga businesses –Alchin’s Take-Away, Riverina Camping World and Aries Sheepskin Shop – that will close their doors within the month as a result of a slump in sales.

Heavy overheads and the increased competition from online stores have left the industry hanging by a thread, but with more than 3500 people employed in Wagga’s retail sector, the city could take a massive economic hit.

“We could close any time after this Saturday,” Ms Hamilton said. “Wagga has been so quiet and there just hasn’t been enough support of small business.

Consumers have been buying online and people just don’t come into shops any more.”

What is happening at The Gallery is echoed throughout Wagga’s small business community with retailers struggling to keep up with the demands of leases, wages and freight.

“I don’t think people understand how much it costs to keep a store open,” Ms Hamilton said.

“I wanted to stay open longer but there is just no light at the end of the tunnel and I can’t see a way of remaining profitable.”

Riverina Camping World owner Debbie Read agrees, but said the problem lies with landlords and the lack of buy local campaigns.

“I think landlords and all the stakeholders in the industry need to understand that this is going to affect us all,” she said.

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