National chain Stevens Homewares is moving to Hastings but the move will not hurt locally owned stores, says one Heretaunga Street retailer.
Hastings City Marketing has been actively marketing the city to entice new retailers to the region since 2007 and Stevens will be the 31st new retailer since the retail
strategy was implemented, including other national chains such as Pumpkin Patch and Pascoes.
Hastings City Marketing president Sandra Hazlehurst said Hastings was now recognised by retailers as a city with potential for new opportunities.
Stevens will open within the Farmers For Home store in Heretaunga Street early next month. It will take the number of kitchenware stores on the street up to seven.
The changes were unlikely to hold back stores that had been in Hastings for decades, Graham Fear, owner of homeware store Fear's Ltd, said.
Many locals preferred to buy from locally owned businesses and his 55-year-old business had experience that could not be developed quickly.
"We have a well-established clientele who are extremely loyal. If we haven't got something, we will get it in and they will just wait until it arrives," he said.
The store prided itself on keeping costs low and not overcharging for products and people came from as far away as Dannevirke and Gisborne to go to it.
Hastings City Marketing said local operators were also increasing their investment in Hastings.
Zest has doubled the size of its Heretaunga Street store and Envy Shoes moved to Hastings from Napier.
"We are very proud of Hastings' strong independent retailers, many of whom have been trading in Hastings for years," Ms Hazlehurst said. "These retailers add a real vibrancy and make Hastings unique from any other New Zealand city."
Hastings City Marketing expects more stores to open and said locals would see changes to the central business district as the Farmers stores combined and plans for Nelson Park progressed.
