Ohakune car people join forces

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 282, 11 April 1989, Page 3

Ohakune car people join forces

Three business people who have made a strong commitment to Ohakune are the new owners of the Ohakune Tyres and Energy Centre.

Christine Reynolds, Bruce McDonald and Warren Swain recently bought Ohakune's Mobil service station and garage and have now taken over the running of the business. Warren and Bruce are the proprietors of Cedar Tyres and Services, the Mobil station's opposition, but they say there will still be competition between the two. The two stations will still have to work to provide good service to their customers, says Warren. The extra commitment as far as Warren and Bruce are concemed says Warren, is with the investment in the Clyde Street property.

Warren said they lease the Cedar property at present and don't have the option of buying it and they couldn't develop the property. He said they were cramped for workshop space at Cedar. Across the road they have 4-5 times the workshop space and now have a separate tyres and services bay with its own hoist, and room for three cars in the mechanical repairs side. They plan to install wheel alignment equipment soon and Warren says they would like to employ another workshop person, either another mechanic or tyre fitter and repair man. Warren said they

have no plans for the workshop they've vacated at Cedar, and that they're open to suggestions. Cedar is now a straight service station

and shop, with just the workshop removed. The three partners will be working mostly at Ohakune Tyres and Energy Centre with a

manager to be employed to run Cedar. He said Cedar would probably run shorter hours outside the ski season in future.

As at Cedar their aim is to build a 12 month business, with the ski season as a bonus. Their new property has a large showroom

which they have plans for, say the trio. They plan to carry a better range of parts and accessories than they were able to before.