New businesses booming in Wanganui

FRIENDSHIP, family and excellent customer service rate high in the success of Wanganui's new businesses.
New business, large and small, is doing well in Wanganui.
Lesley Stead from Paige's Book Gallery said her family-owned specialty book store was doing "fabulously well".
"We try to provide an interesting environment with excellent service and stock that people enjoy."
Around the corner in Victoria Ave, the Rassell's Style Guru posh little op shop has gone well from day one.
Vince and Keita Rassell's decision to open the second-hand clothing store next to their Virtue Bead store has paid dividends for the couple.
They have seen a good increase in quality from Wanganui people who wanted to on-sell their clothing.
Christmas sales were up 10 percent at the start of Christmas and he expected them to remain buoyant.
And the general mood was; "A good season with lots of happy people."
Mr Rassell, who is also chairman of Mainstreet Wanganui, said that from a retailer point of view there has not been too much emphasis placed on Christmas buying.
In previous years retailers had gone to a lot of effort with their Christmas promotions, but customers had commented there was not too much emphasis this year.
Mainstreet had put effort into Christmas promotions with its Santa cave in the former Deka store and in conjunction with Hospice Wanganui had held the Christmas tree competition.
Mainstreet Wanganui marketing manager Louise Martin said businesses were invited to put a tree in their window to reflect Hospice Wanganui.
The most creative tree was won by Whanganui MP Chester Borrows office with his driftwood tree decked with pumice, paua and starfish.
The Bike Shed won the best business with its tree made from tyre rims and decorated with bike products.
The best Hospice theme in blue with white doves went to Maxilab, and Country Lane Originals was voted the people's choice.
She said most businesses had reported very busy times; it appeared shoppers weren't deterred by the weather. Retailers would continue trading over the weekend and on Boxing Day.
On the megastore front, Pak 'N Save's Gareth Jones said 2006 had been a very good year, thanks to good growth.
Mr Jones put this down to the store's commitment in response to customer's needs and providing Wanganui's lowest overall grocery prices.
Pete's Post has been inundated with local Christmas cards postage this year.
The company started in November 2000 with a Christmas special of 30 cents.
But this year more cards were posted due to any size of Christmas card being accepted for the one cost of 40 cents, co-owner Peter Wallis said.
Bronwyn Paul, chair of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce, has been in the job for two months.
Ms Paul said Wanganui city had development on its mind and the Chamber was there to help new business growth and mentoring.
Meanwhile, in the accommodation sector, despite New Zealand Tourism advice not to expect an influx of international tourist numbers, Kingsgate Hotel The Avenue owner Dot McKinnon said bed numbers were up.
Mrs McKinnon said German tour groups and what is known in the industry as free-independents ? people walking in off the street, had increased this year.
"We have a relationship with Singaporean-based Millennium and being part of the chain we have been able to hook into their marketing which has worked well for us."