New shop combines talents

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 530, 5 April 1994, Page 2

New shop combines talents

By

Michele

Monaghan

People in Waiouru looking for a gift for someone now have a wider choice with the opening of the new shop 'Collective Thinking'. The shop offers a wide range of gifts and is the brain child of Marie Richards-Hodge an4 Sue Foster. Sue may be known to some Waiouru people as the maker of High Country gift baskets and Marie is the regional co-ordinator for the Wanganui Polytechnic. Collective Thinking is now the home for both of these services, says Marie.

Marie had been thinking that there was a lot of talent in Waiouru not being marketed. "Everyone I met was producing something," says Marie. Marie approached Sue with the idea of starting a gift/craft shop and now, only three weeks later, the idea is reality. The two business partners didn' t know each other very well, but they have found out they really complement each other. The last three weeks have been really busy for the two

ladies and their families, with the painting and decorating of their new place of work. Their building previously housed Westpac

briefly and before that the Bank of New Zealand. Sue and Marie each have two children. It was important for them to be able to

take their children to work. They have set up a special area for their children to play without getting in the way of customers.