Plan needed to boost retail

Shop Te Puke marketing manager Rebecca Larsen.

A new main street marketing manager has been appointed to put Te Puke back on the shopping map following the opening of the Tauranga Eastern Link.

Shop Te Puke chairwoman Lynette Lochhead said a number of shops in the town had closed since the TEL, which allows motorists to bypass Te Puke, opened on August 3.

"We lost a lot of shops with the opening of the new road. A lot have closed," the experienced retailer said.

Business owners gather at Molly O'Connors to meet Shop Te Puke marketing manager Rebecca Larsen.

The appointment of Rebecca Larsen as Shop Te Puke marketing manager would help bring retailers together and make the town an exciting and relaxing place to shop, she said.

"We have a huge area of free parking and a good variety of destination stores, including beautiful gift stores and there are a huge selection of cafes and a good variety of ethnic food available."

Business owners gathered last week to meet with Mrs Larsen, who is on a six-month pilot contract and is funded by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council for 10 hours a week. Mrs Larsen said Te Puke was an ideal retail destination with shops all the way through town.

Credit Union Central manager Chris Legg and KFC store manager Shindy Singh.

"I'll be working with the different retail and service providers to create a plan to attract people to Te Puke to shop.

KFC store manager Shindy Singh said the meeting was an opportunity to get acquainted with neighbours and find out more about the community and discuss ideas.

"It's great to have a leader, but she needs good support and I think she will do well.

"A lot of the town has been affected by the bypass."

Te Puke Credit Union manager Chris Legg agreed the bypass had affected the number of people coming through.

"Shops need the through traffic in town, and marketing the town will give people a reason to come through and not go down the bypass."