New businesses attracted to Rotorua city centre

While store vacancies remain high in the central business district, new businesses continue to come into Rotorua. Business editor Julie Taylor catches up with some of the new arrivals.
Hinemoa St contained the most retail vacancies in a recent Daily Post survey, but a number of new businesses have arrived in the street.
On Wednesday, Mad Travel New Zealand opened in the shop that used to be Air New Zealand Holidays.
Director Justine Brown said this was part of the group's overall expansion, with 13 branches in New Zealand and Australia and plans to open more stand-alone stores in New Zealand.
"This is a very exciting time for us and we look forward to building a great working relationship with Rotorua's community."
Store manager Sarah Christie said a number of locations were considered before leasing the site on the corner of Hinemoa and Fenton streets.
"We felt this was the perfect choice for our target market and having the Travelex sharing our premises was a strategic move."
Good access, window space and visibility to traffic made it easy for people to find.
Ta Moko artist Hohua Mohi returned to Rotorua after living in Australia. Three weeks ago he opened Moko 101 in Hinemoa St, just opposite The Daily Post.
Mohi still has a lot of contacts here, but the central location, just off City Focus, means he is seeing roughly 50 per cent walk-ins.
Setting half the premises up as a gallery exhibiting work by Maori artists adds another aspect to the business.
He sees it as an opportunity to showcase other artists' talents and get more Maori arts into New Zealand homes.
"We want to focus on quality, but still keep artworks affordable so they are accessible."
Affordability is also key for Sophia Giftware manager Chris Eden. Her Hinemoa St shop, and Sophia Manufacturing Jewellers directly opposite, have been open for about six weeks and she said the giftware had proved popular with consumers.
Eden said it was important to get a feel for what people were interested in before charging in and ordering a lot of stock straight off.
"You also need to keep prices reasonable. Most people don't have a lot to spend at the moment."
New businesses are also opening up in other parts of the central city.
Taupo's Sharon Bowater added a new Rotorua store to her Taupo business two months ago.
Sweet As, in Eruera St, sells old fashioned Kiwi lollies and imported sweets.
"We are also looking at moving into the corporate sector with gift boxes and we are talking to hotels about supplying sweets in team colours to put in visitors rooms during the Rugby World Cup."
Sweet As now employs three full-time Rotorua staff and Bowater said the goal was to build it up into a destination shop for both locals and visitors.
The addition of a Rotorua store came about after she saw a vacancy advertised at a good price.
"I saw it and thought 'we should do this'."
Designer Leanne Mulcahy also saw an opportunity in Rotorua.
She opened The Design House, stocking only New Zealand design labels, at the lake end of Fenton St last month and, while she said it took a while to find the right space, she is pleased with the location.
"I identified things that would be important to my perspective clients and, with the stunning lake in sight and great coffee within walking distance, I quickly secured this lease.
"Why Rotorua? Well, why not? The potential here is endless and the city and the women are craving something more."