Bunnings brings 50 new jobs as Hastings enjoys retail revamp

WELCOME: Glenda Kirkpatrick of Havelock North talks to Tammy Wells, who fronts the Briscoes TV advertisements, at Briscoes new Hastings store yesterday. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND.

Shoppers have three new large-format stores in Hastings in time for Christmas shopping, with Bunnings Warehouse, Briscoes Homeware and Rebel Sports opening the doors to new Hastings stores.

Hastings City Business Association General Manager Susan McDade said Hastings was on a roll, with a fourth large-format retailer, Smiths City, opening a branch in February.

Bunnings' new store is on the corner of St Aubyn St and Market St North and dramatically bigger than its King St North store which remains open.

While it has no customers until next week it is the busiest in Hastings, with staff swarming to stock shelves.

Bunnings Hastings Central manager Shane Van de Ven said the new store provided 50 new jobs and gave shoppers "the widest range of home improvement and outdoor living products and the best service", with tradespeople assisting shoppers.

"We have a qualified painter/decorator and locksmith in the new Bunnings Hastings Central team who will be on hand to provide local residents with expert advice for their DIY projects," he said.

More than $4 million was invested in the 3900sq m branch of the Australia-owned home-improvement chain which has parking for more than 100 cars.

The carpark currently features shipping containers, used to help stock the new store featuring an indoor timber-trade area, building materials and landscape-supplies yard and outdoor nursery.

The grand opening is on Friday, December 9 from 4pm to 8pm with family activities including a bouncy castle, face painting, fairy floss, popcorn and games.

More family entertainment was planned from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, December 10; Sunday, December 11; Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18.

Thanks to a construction boom Bunnings' New Zealand operation has more than doubled annual net profit to $27.2 million to June 30 with more than $1 billion in revenue.

Briscoes and Rebel Sports, which have moved their Hastings branched from the eastern fringe of the CBD to The Park Mega Centre, where the former tenants of Bunnings' new store, The Warehouse and The Clearance Shed, have also moved.

Ms McDade said Hastings was at capacity for large-format retailers but said "rumours abound" for who would move into the former homes of Briscoes and Rebel Sports.

Both retailers are owned by Briscoe Group, which reported a lift of profit by a third in the half year ended July 31 with $268.36m in sales for the six months.

At their grand opening yesterday was Tammy Wells, who has fronted Briscoes' advertising for almost 30 years.

With a queue of shoppers waiting to have their photo taken with her, she told Hawke's Bay Today she had previously visited the region to support Briscoes and when supporting the Gisborne store flew into Hawke's Bay "because I don't like small aeroplanes".