What is in a name? Michelle Avenue changes
Here is what some of the owners, managers and staff of businesses on Michelle Avenue, had to say.
The RECORD spoke to businesses on Michelle Avenue about the approved renaming of the prominent business street in Alberton and how this will affect their business. Here is what some of the owners, managers and staff of businesses on Michelle Avenue, had to say:
JACQUES VAN DER MERWE: “Its going to cost us money, but aside from that there are better things this money could be spent on. This money could rather be going to low cost housing, education or infrastructure repairs.”
MARK KIRKLAND: “My first thought is why bother changing the name. Michelle is a neutral name with no political connections, and everybody knows where the street is. Aside from that I feel that naming such a small street after Nelson Mandela is doing his name a disservice.”
VAUGHON OWGON: “We will now have to change our signage, branding and brochures. It will take a while for Google to update this. They’ll also be a financial inconvenience. They should be the ones paying for these changes.”
HENK BOTHA: “It definitely has an impact on our business. However, it is something people are used to so we don’t think it would have an effect on our clients.”
JAKO VAN NIEKERK: “It will cost us some money to change all of our business cards and stationary.”
INA MEIRING: “I am more concerned about the time and effort it will take to change everything to be correct. There will be costs involved but that is secondary.”
COEN STRYDOM: “I’ll have to change all my branding. We are currently opening a new store that all of the advertising has been made for saying its on Michelle Avenue.”
HARRY SEEGER: “If it changes it changes. There is not much we can do but accept it.”
HELEN STRYDOM: “We are very unhappy about the changes. We now have to change all of our documents, stationery and boards to reflect the new name.”
MARTIN WHITE: “We have got to go with the law. But who is going to bear the cost of these changes? It’s a good name, but my concern are costs that are associated with this.”
MARCO RODVIGUES: “Our invoices, banners and stationery will have to change. There will be financial costs involved in this, most people know Michelle, instead of focusing on this street, there’s so many places to focus on. What’s the difference on what the street is called?”
CORNELIA HUYSAMEN: “The changes will cost us money and it will take months for people to know the new proposed name.”
JANINE RUDLING: “There are many Nelson Mandela street names already, why change this one too?”
