Bucks Drapery is 40

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 558, 18 October 1994, Page 7

Bucks Drapery is 40

Ohakune' s landmark business, Bucks Drapery in Clyde Street, marks its 40th anniversary this weekend. Norah and Edmund Buck took over the drapery business in the old shopping block opposite Jubilee Park in October 1954 and the business is still in the family. They bought the business off Clyde and Lucy Thomas who had run it through most of the wdr years. Present owners are Norah Buck and son Nigel Buck with Bill Tekaru managing it. Other staff are Angela Martin and Coral Rahi, with Shelagh Buck on hand when needed. The shop has hardly changed since the Bucks took it over. The proprietors have tried to keep the outside as original as possi-

ble — matching the style of its 1910 vintage. Inside many of the display cabinets are original and very well preserved. The shop area is similar to what it was then, although the back part of the drapery display area was not in use in 1954. Next door at that time was an oilskin rainwear factory operating under the name 'Bramac' . Many businesses have come and gone since those days in the adjacent premises. Mostly things are done the same way too, though there are modern display stands for many items to fit in with modern selling trends. "It's now a novelty for people to come into the shop and ask the person behind the counter to see the

goods," said Mr Buck. "People come in just to see what the shop looks like — it's becoming an attraction in itself." "The building is an asset to the town — it' s the last of the old time stores." He said they now have a mix of self-service and the old time counter service. "It brings people from all over New Zealand to have a look. We aim to maintain that attraction." It's old- world look has also attracted camera crews filming television advertisements, the last one being for Stubbies shorts. Fashion parades, especially for furs, were a feature of Bucks in years past. They were mostly held in the St John's church hall (now Benchmark). A long- standing tradition has been the staff, said Mr Buck. 'There has always been at least three people employed in the shop, and the large majority have stayed more than 10 years." He names John Kerr and Myra Marshall as longserving senior staff, and present manager Bill TeKaru who has been behind the Bucks counter for about 17 years. Women' s wear manager Angela Martin has also been in the store for many years. "We're a local business serving the local community, we always have been and we always will be, as long as people are prepared

to shop locally and prepared to support it," said Mr Buck. His parents, Norah and Eddie, ran the store themselves for many years and Mr Buck senior worked in the shop almost literally until he died. While the look of the shop may not have changed much, retailing certainly has. Friday night shopping came and went. Saturday shopping became legal in the 1980s and in the 1990s hours are dictated by demand. Other changes include the massive price changes, the switch from pounds, shillings and pence, and numerous new items of clothing. There were no designer jeans, sweatshirts (let alone printed sweatshirts), no pantyhose, all underwear was white and choice was limited. A pair of work j eans cost $4.99. "No guy would be seen without a suit in his wardrobe."

Bucks used to stock a range of suits — now they are available on order. The advent of tourism in the town has also had an influence on the stock the shop carries. Mr Buck said it was not a disadvantage having an oldstyle store. "People are happy to get into the mode and they fit in with it. They go away happy with their purchase, saying 'I did something different today'."