Raetihi farm merchandise store sold

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 566, 13 December 1994, Page 3

Raetihi farm merchandise store sold

Raetihi 's Elders Pastoral merchandise store has been sold to Ruapehu Farm Supplies (1989) Ltd of Taihape, following the sale of the rest of the company's nation- wide merchandise di vision to Farmlands. "We are very happy to be able to s'ell this business to a local firm and we look forward to working

with Ruapehu Farm Supplies to provide a full service to our local clients," said Elders managing director Eric Spencer. Ruapehu Farm Supplies took over the business yesterday, Monday, 1 2 December and have retained the Elders staff of Dan Mills and Lesley Brown to continue to service the Waimarino, said Mr Spencer.

He said Ruapehu Farm Supplies was the leading merchandise outlet in the central North Island with a reputation for excellence in regard to service and advice. "We see this as an exciting opportunity to expand our services and assure all Elders Pastoral clients that we will provide quality advice and merchandise at

competitive rates." Elders Pastoral, who own the buildings in Seddon Street, Raetihi, will lease the premises to Ruapehu Farm Supplies but will retain office space for their livestock agents who will continue to provide a full livestock trading business throughout the area. Mr Spencer said he saw the association as positive

for Elders customers and farming in general. "Retail business is a specialist area and rural retail is in particular. Elders Pastoral will focus its attention on the wool, livestock, finance, insurance and real estate business where we are perceived as market leaders. It is in these fields that growth is accelerating and to which we feel we are best to allocate our resources." Elders Pastoral released a credit card a year ago which can be used at a large

number of retailers throughout the country. The card will be welcomed at Ruapehu Farm Suppliers where Elders clients will be able to charge product back to their Elders account. In recent months Elders Pastoral has made a number of changes which include

purchasing the New Zealand franchise of Century 21 Real Estate, the newlyreleased Stock Cover insurance to protect farmers against meatworks defaulting on payment for purchases of livestock, and the release of the Elders credit card.