Don Farmer
Masterton is soon to have the largest Paper Plus store in the country when the business now situated at the old Post Office corner moves further south.
The store, incorporating Kiwi Bank, NZ Post Shop and the post office private boxes, will relocate to a building now housing the Outlet
Shop running through to also occupy a building once used by The Warehouse, on Queen Street.
Paper Plus franchise owner Russell Carthew confirmed the shift would mean the shop would have 1000sqm of floor space, double what it now has on the corner of Lincoln Road and Queen Street.
The move is set down to take effect from November 18 and will be marked with a launch celebration.
Apart from giving the retail businesses located under its roof far more space, the move will also mean private mail boxes will increase in number by 300 and in size to accommodate A4 parcels.
At its existing location all 950 private mail boxes are taken up and there is no room to expand.
Mr Carthew and his staff have been working out of the old Post Office building since 1999 and the shift of venue corresponds with the completion of the lease requirements.
At the new premises the post shop will have its own separate retail space, as opposed to the multi-tasking counters now.
Kiwi Bank is continuing to grow in Wairarapa and its services are being sought more and more by businesses.
Mr Carthew said another major advance in relocating is to secure far more parking space than the business now enjoys.
Parking at the southern end of Queen Street is augmented by business car parks whereas the present site is basically land-locked.
To coincide with the move Mr Carthew is planning a massive sale at the old shop. "There will be some fantastic bargains to be had."
He said the decision to up stakes and move had not been taken lightly.
"I've been looking at doing it for the last three years."
Mr Carthew said from the Paper Plus perspective the new location would mean many more books and a lot more stationery items could be stocked.
"We are also talking with another business over putting a coffee bar out front, the gift and cards area will be expanded and we will even have an on-line kiosk so customers can check what books are in stock."
