New store offers one stop shopping

Farmers opens its new Hastings store tomorrow, bringing shopping under one roof for the New Zealand-owned chain.

The first Farmers store opened in Hastings 39 years ago and the company has traded from two sites for the past 11 years, after the purchase of Deka.

Set over two levels with 6000sq m of floor area, the new store on the corner of Heretaunga and King Sts has more space than the existing two stores put together and features Hastings' first escalator.

"Everything is brand new with a modern fit out and new fixtures and fittings wrapped up in the very latest in department store design," Farmers operations manager Jason Greene said.

"We can honestly say that our Hastings customers will encounter a whole new world-class department store shopping experience."

Among the new products in the store are prestige cosmetics and fragrances. Six international cosmetics houses feature alongside a fine fragrance counter with customers now able to take advantage of expert service and beauty advice from trained consultants.

Store manager Tammy Kupa said regular customer demand for fine fragrance and cosmetics had signalled the need for dedicated cosmetics and fragrance counters.

"We are delighted to have the space to meet that demand and that Farmers Hastings now has a full and complete department store," she said. "We have everything the Hastings shopper could possibly need, all under one roof." The store's fashion apparel and home offerings have also been expanded. With the addition of larger dedicated service areas, including an increase in the number [and size] of fitting rooms, the entire in-store customer experience will be significantly improved, Mr Greene said.

With the existing store leases coming to a close, Mr Greene said the time was right to move to one location.

Staff from the two current stores, along with 16 new team members, will move to the new building.