Red Rat has hit Hastings streets with a team of sales people knocking on doors and directly offering accounts for the Heretaunga St clothing retailer.
Red Rat director Richard Wright said the sales crew travelled the country, teaming up with local store staff to sign up the target market of 18to 35 year olds to store credit facilities of $100 to $600.
The clothing chain had hit on a winning formula because they were doing things differently, he said.
"With our credit accounts, very wide product range and competitive price policy we are succeeding as a retailer."
Hastings store staff told Hawke's Bay Today they enjoyed a "definite increase" in trade when the sales crew visited every few months.
Red Rat, in its ninth year of operation and with 10 stores in the North Island, financed the credit operation itself.
Its website was also a significant sales outlet and was the only online stockist of Nike clothing in New Zealand, Mr Wright said.
