BUSINESSES in Warwick are coming around to the idea of seven-day trading hours, despite some division on whether the increased trading days would benefit the local economy.

The Warwick Chamber of Commerce has been canvassing local business owners to find out if they would support a proposal for large retail stores to open for business on Sundays.

Despite a positive response to the survey, just 19% of the Warwick businesses that took part in the survey said they currently open on Sundays.

One Warwick business that already opens on a Sunday is the Bluebird Cafe.

Owner Jim Osborn said opening on Sundays had worked for his cafe.

"We capitalise on those people travelling through Warwick on a weekend," Jim said.

"As long as we keep consistent hours people get used to our different opening times."

Any application to allow large stores to open for the extra day each week would not require any other retailers to follow suit.

While 60% of those surveyed said Warwick residents should have the same access to shopping hours as those in Toowoomba, Dalby and other areas, only 48% believed that Sunday trade would encourage more business activity and benefit the Warwick economy.

Of those surveyed, 60% also believed that allowing large stores to open on Sundays would make Warwick a more attractive place to potential residents and businesses.

Malcolm Cole from the National Retail Association said small businesses in Warwick were missing out on potential sales as residents of outlying regions wanting to shop on a Sunday would head to Toowoomba or Dalby instead.

"Sunday trading would create work opportunities for locals," Mr Cole said.

"This kind of activity has been shown in other areas to draw tourists to the city centre - either those passing through town or people from outlying areas.

"This means that small businesses in the city centre also win, and those who are inside the shopping centre will also benefit from larger tenants sharing the costs of operating the centre."

Mr Cole added that businesses were facing increased competition from online sales and needed to find new ways to stay competitive.

A proposal was lodged for seven-day trading in Warwick three years ago but was knocked back due to insufficient support.

Under Government procedure a new proposal could not be lodged until after a period of three years.

With that time now up retailers will have a chance to lodge a new application for the extended trading hours.

President of the Warwick Chamber of Commerce Lewis von Stieglitz said based on the results of the survey, the Chamber would support a proposal for Sunday trading in Warwick.

"The proposal would mean businesses that wanted to open on a Sunday could do so and those that didn't would have no obligation to," Mr von Stieglitz said.

"Now that the three years has elapsed I would imagine another proposal will be made in the coming months while the results of the survey are still relevant."

Further discussions will take place in coming weeks, with any proposal made likely to include Stanthorpe.