Founder on hand to open revamp

BIRTHPLACE: Sir Michael and Lady Christine Hill with store manager Althena Birch at the opening of the revamped Michael Hill jewellery store in Whangarei, just metres away from where the business empire started in 1979.PHOTO/JOHN STONE

It was back to the future this week for Sir Michael Hill as the businessman opened a revamped Michael Hill jewellery store in Whangarei, just metres from where his international empire started 34 years ago.

Sir Michael and wife Lady Christine, who were on hand on Thursday to reopen the store in Cameron St, said he wouldn't have missed the event, given Whangarei was where it all started for him.

The store had a steady stream of customers through the door, each receiving a gift bag for their attendance by store manager Althena Birch.

Ms Birch said the store's new look was customer focused and designed to give a more intimate, one-on-one shopping experience.

The store had moved to temporary premises in Bank St while the revamp was carried out.

She said given Whangarei's place as the birthplace of the company, a "history wall" had been incorporated showing the company - and its figurehead, Sir Michael - through the years.

Sir Michael said Whangarei was special in the history of his company, which now has 264 stores and more than 2000 employees in New Zealand, Australia, the US and Canada after he started out working in his uncle's store, Fishers the Jewellers, on the opposite side of Cameron St from where his store now is. He set up his own store in 1979 and the rest, as they say, is history.

While downtown Whangarei has several empty shops Sir Michael has confidence the city has a bright future and his investment in refurbishing the store was proof of that. "If you think Whangarei is empty you should see some of the malls in the US - they are dead," he said.

Sir Michael said one of the keys to his success was always being prepared to change to keep the store's image fresh and relevant and Whangarei was the perfect grounding for anybody starting out in business. "I think anybody in business (in Whangarei) needs to get back to the basics again. When you are going into work in the morning, stop on the other side of the street and have a look at your business, not just the inside, but the outside too," he said. "Has the garden out the front got weeds in it? Does the verandah and windows look tatty and need painting? If so it looks to customers that nobody cares, your business doesn't have that zing that will attract people."

He said one of Whangarei's advantages was that it was one of the most beautiful regions in the most beautiful country in the world and there was scope to use that aspect to make more business opportunities in the district.