44 | REGIONAL Mitre 10 MEGA Pukekohe New World Ōpōtiki I AM ENGINEERING Aaron Magee Certified Welder Specialising in Stainless Steel, Aluminium & Mild Steel 022 6506 451 iamengineering.2022@gmail.com LTD Choice and connection the key in Pukekohe T T Kelly Deeks Values and service T T Sue Russell Mitre 10 MEGA Pukekohe has built its business around a simple proposition: give local customers plenty of choice, back it with knowledgeable service, and put the support of the wider community at the heart of the store. The business became a Mitre 10 MEGA 15 years ago, expanding from its previous Mitre 10 format into a substantially larger operation with more floor space, a bigger garden centre, larger timber yards, and a wider product range. Account Manager Mike Williams says building activity in Pukekohe has remained steady, with the store continuing to grow year on year despite the changes in the market since Covid. He says as customers are looking for a wide variety of products and exceptional customer service, the store is continually looking at new products and innovations that can add value for customers, including services that extend beyond the traditional hardware offering. One recent initiative is the introduction of polystyrene recycling bins, alongside the light bulb and battery recycling services already available at the store. The recycling service is free to the public, with collected polystyrene returned to supplier Expol to be processed into new products, including flooring and insulation. For Mike, those practical services reflect the store’s wider role in Pukekohe, where local connections are an important part of its identity. “We are locally owned and operated, the owners are born and bred in this area, and a lot of our staff are born and bred in this community as well,” he says. That local connection also shows in the store’s approach to its people. A significant number of staff have been with the business for more than 10 years, something Mike says the team takes pride in. Buying a new business in the middle of a pandemic might not appeal to everyone. For experienced supermarket owner-operators Dan and Annie Rolls, however, the opportunity to take on New World Ōpōtiki was too good to ignore. The hardworking and enterprising couple took ownership of the town’s major supermarket in October 2020, bringing with them more than two decades of industry experience. Their supermarket journey began in Whanganui in 1999, and later took them to New World Ohakune, where they owned the store and raised their four children. “We have been a part of the Foodstuffs owner-operator network since 2004,” says Annie. “Moving from Ohakune to a larger town and a significantly bigger supermarket marked a major step up in scale. It was a challenge Dan and Annie welcomed, particularly because it offered them the opportunity to experience the fabric of a new community and environment. “When we took over, it was an incredibly challenging time. Covid-19 had changed the way people lived and worked, and some of the flow-on effects are still visible, even today. People were nervous and anxious during this time, so it was a steep learning curve, but lucky for us we inherited a very resilient community,” says Annie. Knowing that strong relationships are built on trust and rapport, one of their first priorities, was to help local people understand who the new owners were and what they stood for. “It is about demonstrating our values and bringing these to life every day in the way we operate the business and engage with our community. For Dan and Annie, building a positive legacy is an important part of the Foodstuffs owner-operator journey, and aligns closely with the responsibility they feel as operators of a major local business within the community. “Dan and I see ourselves as the kaitiaki of the store. Owners will come and go, but the store will always remain part of the community. Our responsibility is to care for it, strengthen it and ensure we leave it in the best possible position for the next owner to continue that work,” Annie says. Their ambitions for the store and the district are significant, but Dan and Annie are energised by the challenge. Since taking ownership, they have invested heavily in the business. Annie says their early priorities were to improve efficiency, strengthen the customer experience and create benefits that could be passed on at the checkout. “We feel a real obligation to help grow our people and to support the district’s own aspirations, particularly by creating local employment opportunities and backing local businesses. “We also felt it was important to change the conversation around what it means to live in Ōpōtiki and not simply by what you read in the newspapers or see on television.” Community is another focus, supported through sponsorships and investment in local initiatives. The store focuses on creating a friendly, welcoming workplace, while encouraging staff development and promoting from within. Internal staff are given the opportunity to apply for positions before roles are advertised externally, helping employees build skills and establish a career pathway within the business. Mike is a strong example of that approach. He joined the business as a 14-year-old replenishing shelves and is now approaching 18 years with the company, having worked his way through trade management and into his current role as key account manager. As summer approaches, the store is preparing for strong demand across both its trade and retail sides, with decking and landscaping products prominent in the trade range and barbecues and outdoor furniture becoming major retail categories. While online shopping continues to reshape retail, Mike says physical stores still offer something the internet cannot. “Being able to see the product in front of you and touch it makes a big difference to the shopping experience,” he says. “Decks and barbecues are not cheap items, so you want to have confidence in what you are purchasing.” That combination of choice, reliable advice, and local connection remains central to the store’s role, with community support running both ways through sponsorship of sports clubs, local organisations, and charities. “The locals support us, and we give that back as much as we can into the local community,” Mike says. “We are locally owned and operated, the owners are born and bred in this area, and a lot of our staff are born and bred in this community as well.” Dan and Annien Rolls - building a positive legacy in Ōpōtiki. Please contact our specialists on 0800 800 349 or visit the website unitedsteel.co.nz Delivering products you can trust. 0800 224 759 | sales@bbi.net.nz | www.bbi.net.nz Proudly supporting Mitre 10 Mega - Pukekohe Plywood Timber
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