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AGI "Here for the soldiers"

When Army Garrison InJtitute manager Linc Quinlan arrived in W aiouru le compared it to Club Med. Six months later he still likes ;he place, but is baffled as ;o why people travel to the 'big smoke' to do their shop)ing. "I realise families go iway to get out of Waiouru ind go shopping where there ire lots of shops, but I still hink if people take notes md come back to us they will be surprised at the savngs they can make". "We have the ability to ;upply almost any thing that myone wants within 24 lours, 48 at the most. Tell is the make, model and jrice and in 99 percent of he cases we can match or jven better it" Mr Quinlan said. The variety store in Waiouru offers no deposit ind 12 months interest free ;erms with no hidden costs )n most items regularly . No nsurance payments are rejuired and if you require a onger hire purchase the inerest rate is considered sompetitive at 9.9%. There s also a scheme called the 'six pay plan' which is inerest free and proving

popular, Mr Quinlan said. New stocks include single and double breasted suits that retail for about $100 less than in most big cities and a sporting equipment range is being looked at. "We'd welcome, we really would welcome ideas from people saying 'why don't you stock this.'..?' If people would like us to carry a bigger range of coffees for instance. Delicatessen items seem popular, but they' ve got a short shelf life and there' s got to be a call for it" Mr Quinlan said. "Maybe we should put in a suggestion box to give us the opportunity to say out of 25 suggestions there' s a common factor." After 20 years in the hotel industry Mr Quinlan has found the move to 'Army' a relatively easy one. "I find the army extremely helpful. The whole infrastructure just swings in when we need something. It's great," he said. "A lot of people don't know that the AGI is part of Defence, therefore any moneys made come back to the forces. So it' s well worth the people of Waiouru giving us a try because they're

going to get the benefit of it back. Some have the perception that it's run by ourselves, and, to me it seems they think we are out to exploit them in some way" Mr Quinlan said. "We're not a division of Noel Leemings or Bond & Bond, we' re trying to do the best we can for the soldiers and their families. I suppose we're like the old village trader, most of my staff know people in camp by sight." "We' re dealing with people and trying to provide a service and create an environment where people feel comfortable. I don' t see any difference between that and running a major hotel." Mr Quinlan said. The three divisions of the AGI (Price Cutter, the dry canteen and the variety store) are run by a staff of around 27. "I'm only as good as my staff, and my staff are really good. I'd like to thank the people who have supported us for the six months and I appreciate the staff in these three units who have enabled me to slip into the job and see how it really works." Mr Quinlan said.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/RUBUL19951107.2.19.1

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 611, 7 November 1995, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
567

AGI "Here for the soldiers" Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 611, 7 November 1995, Page 5

AGI "Here for the soldiers" Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 611, 7 November 1995, Page 5

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