The key to the success of the stores, says Ian New, is the variety and quality of the product range, combined with great staff providing attentive customer service.
The key to the success of the stores, says Ian New, is the variety and quality of the product range, combined with great staff providing attentive customer service.
Mount Maunganui is simply 'paradise' for Ian New, his wife Lisa and their children, who feel privileged to live and work in such an iconic spot of New Zealand.
"Why would you not love it? The Mount is such a special place – not only is there Mauao withits historical and cultural significance, but also the stunning beach, weather, and fabulous shops – it is such a great place to live and, of course, a desirable destination for visitors", says Ian.
The drawcard of the Mount, as a tourist hotspot, made it the perfect location for the couple to open a souvenir shop, which combined their passion for all things New Zealand made with offering great products and customer service to locals and visitors alike.
Their first gift shop in Mount Maunganui, 'Kiwiana Gifts & Souvenirs', which opened its doors at 134 Maunganui Road ten years ago fast became a 'must visit' in the Downtown the Mount.
Part of the local shopping landscape, the store was so busy that, as the Mount has grown in popularity among New Zealanders and international holiday makers alike, the couple saw demand for a second store just down the road. In 2015 they opened 'Paradise @ the Mount', also on Maunganui Road.
The key to the success of the stores, said Ian, is the variety and quality of the product range, combined with great staff providing attentive customer service to help people choose that perfect gift.
"We stock such a range of products that we have people coming back time and time again. Even for those hard-to-buy-for men," laughs Ian.
The staff delight in helping international visitors navigate their way through Kiwi terms and icons and are happy to explain the cultural significance of specific products.
"If you don't know your Buzzy Bee from your Tiki, your gumboot from your jandal, hokey pokey from your marmite Kiwiana will put you right", says Ian.
The Paradise store has a range of homeware such as photo frames, wall hangings, and the popular 'Happy Hens', as well as a wide range of local and New Zealand souvenirs. Among their specialty items for the winter months are McDonald Possum & Merino products and bed socks.
Their original Kiwiana store has a range of New Zealand made sheepskins, possum and merino products, wooden gifts including boxes, chopping board, trinkets and a great selection of carvings. There are also paua gifts and jewellery made out of paua, bone, and hand-picked New Zealand greenstone from Hokitika.
For beauty lovers there is a variety of New Zealand made skincare from Manuka honey products to Rotorua's healing and relaxing mud products. For the fashionista there are t shirts and for the little ones there is the Kiwi favourite toy, the iconic Buzzy Bee.
With such a large range of products on offer, responding to the demand from his repeat visitors, Ian has put the range online - www.kiwiana.nz.
"It is a natural progression to respond to the way people like to shop –and we found that people who were taking our products back to their homes overseas, their friends wanted to buy something similar, so now they can."
