Business Bulletin: New, moving, closing business

SPIKE ART: Steve Pike has just opened a gallery on Vine St, Whangarei. PHOTO/ JOHN STONE

This week, the Business Advocate kicks off a new column Business Bulletin which reports on movement in the Northland business community, from opening stores and new franchisees, to businesses that are moving or closing down

WE'RE OPEN
He's well known for his murals in town - Claphams Clocks and Arthur's Emporium for example - but now Steve Pike is creating art on canvas and has opened a gallery which features his own work, including photography.
Opened just eight weeks ago, Loft 91 on 29 Vine St in Whangarei will be known as Spike Art and will carry the range of large format works.
Steve has worked on mural art for over 24 years and moved back to Whangarei after the Christchurch earthquakes.

A new fitness centre has opened on 263 Port Rd, Whangarei, offering personal training, group fitness, boxing and circuit training. Port Fitness is owned and managed by Tauraroa Area School sporting champion Zia Pitkethley.

It's Valley's Little Treasures by name and those little treasures - babies and toddlers - are the focus of the Tikipunga early childcare centre.
The centre opened on Monday, July 20, and is owned by Amy Griffiths and her partner Brendon White and is being managed by Amy.

Also over in Tikipunga, Mike and Jane Brown at Network Video have taken over the franchise for post and courier services for NZ Post. While they took over the service from Unichem Buchanan's Pharmacy in March, Jane says many locals are still not aware of the change or that the service is available seven days-a-week.

A new mobile business called NorthPest Limited opened in April and provides residential, commercial and industrial pest control across Northland. The business is being run by Whangarei couple Brandon and Cheryl Smith.

The Waipu Clansman Motel is under new management. Maria Clark, who used to run the Lotto Shop in Waipu, and would also be known in Whangarei as the retail team leader at Unichem Pharmacy in Kamo, has been appointed the new manager. The motel has also started doing take-out lunches from The Pipers restaurant.

Kerikeri based Aerial Vision is a business started by Glenn and Deb McLelland. The duo run a photography and video company, with Glenn building drones for the aerial footage. Aerial Vision follows Civil Aviation Authority and is fully insured against liability. Their service covers all of Northland.

Due to demand from customers, Whangarei's Bindon's Auto Electrical is expanding with a new store in the Waipapa Business Park on August 3. The store has been based in Whangarei since 1932, it will now be opened at 3 Klinac Lane and managed by Bindons' own Michael George with a staff of three and hopefully more. A welcome change for Michael who has been commuting from Kerikeri to Whangarei for a couple of years.

WE'RE CLOSING
The Noel Leeming store on Cameron St in Whangarei is to close later in the year as Warehouse Group amalgamates it with the existing Okara Shopping Centre.
The move is due to take place later this year with all jobs remaining and all existing stock being transferred to the Okara location.

ON THE MOVE
Dress for Success Northland, which promotes economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools, has moved.
It is now on Level 1, 12 Kaka St (opposite Mitre 10) in Morningside and is being managed by Rosemari Daly.

* If you know of any new, moving or closing business, those for sale or with a new franchisee, let us know by emailing biz@northernadvocate.co.nz or calling Christine Allen on 09-4702838.