Making the big move was no easy task

Hastings Mitre 10 Mega is making a mega move. Tens of thousands of items are being transferred from St Aubyn St to the even bigger store at The Park Megacentre in Karamu Rd.

Managing Director Graeme Ricketts said a lot of planning went into the operation.

"First we set up our Napier store to the latest Mitre 10 set out," he said.

"We photographed every bay in the Napier store and then we brought one of everything over in a box.

"So for every bay there was a photograph of how it should be set out and one of everything that needed to go in the bay. It took up the first four weeks of the programme and since then we've brought in more stock to fill up the shelves. For the last two weeks we've been filtering stock out of the old store."

Staff started stocking the new store four weeks ago with new lines from suppliers.

The St Aubyn store closes tomorrow night to allow the 100 staff to make the move in time for the new store's opening on Thursday, complete with opening specials.

"We've got Levi the big guy coming into town for four days in November," Mr Ricketts said.

"On the first two days he'll do community things like visiting schools and rest homes and then he will be in store."

The business has been going for 51 years, started in Taradale by Mr Ricketts' parents Derek and Audrey. The family now owns Mitre 10 Mega stores in Hastings, Napier and Paraparaumu.

Mitre 10 Mega Opens Thursday

12 new jobs

14 display bathrooms

7 display kitchens

180m long

2.2ha site

270 car parks

50 per cent bigger

60 security cameras