A Wanganui shop has closed after more than half a century in business
The Post Office Book Shop shut its doors for the final time yesterday.
The Ridgeway St store has been owned and operated by Sheena Wager for the past five years but has been a Wanganui institution for more than half a century. Soon after taking over in 2010, Miss Wager shifted three shops down the street and stopped stocking books to focus on cards and magazines. Her partner Robert Allen said: "We've been very fortunate to have a loyal customer base, both commercial and retail. As time's gone on the retail industry has changed considerably."
The removal of the post boxes across the road had affected the business, he added. "That has lost a considerable amount of foot traffic."
Direct marketing to customers by the distributors had also affected trade. "The impact on sales has just been too great to continue trading," Mr Allen said. "With a business like this you just can't move with the times. We're not the first and we won't be the last.