Gisborne business diversifies to meet demand during pandemic

DIVERSIFYING TO MEET DEMAND: Easts Outdoor Work and Leisure owner is pictured here on the job. Picture by Liam Clayton

Easts Outdoor Work and Leisure in Makaraka has adapted to the Covid-19 times by making PVC face shields.

As the country heads towards Alert Level 3 status next week, owners Dean Cook and his wife Teresa saw there was a demand for face shields so set up their Makaraka workshop to produce these.

"We've had a steady stream of orders — from Kaiaponi Farms and IMS, which is an industrial maintenance company, people doing home inspections, Walters Plumbing and Stenerson and Kain Opticians, as well as individuals wanting shields," said Mrs Cook.

"We were lucky to get a delivery of PVC yesterday from Auckland as we could show it was an essential item."

They got the idea after seeing a similar business in Nelson had started making face shields.

A family-owned business, Easts is a saddlery that also sells canvas, sheepskin and leather goods, camping equipment, workwear and giftware.