Paul's business began by accident...

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 48, 18 June 1974, Page 1

Paul's business began by accident...

A young Taupo man has turned a hobby into a profit- ' able business. Paul Stewart, 21, manufactures jewellery from greenstone in a one- man workshop. Paul and his family have been cutting gem-stones for some 12 years — but he began in the greenstone business by accident. He had left university and was filling in a year working at a mill, among other things, when he broke his leg in a motor cycle mishap. The opportunity to carry on his hobby to bigger things came up through a friendly wholesaler. "I just took it up," said Paul. With his leg in plaster, Paul began producing small items which had market potential — and his work developed from there. Today, Paul produces items ranging from ornate Y pendants to tiny ear studs. He took the plunge into manufacturing jewellery full-time last August. The only thing now preventing him expanding, says Paul, is the availability of greenstone. "That is all I have," he says pointing to a small pile of rock on his bench. "There. is plenty of it, but getting hold of the stuff is the hard part." "No one is willing to sell it." rt All his jade comes from the West Coast and the companies involved mine the precious rock and ' produce their own jewellery from this. Which makes things rather hard for the 'little man', says Paul. But ,the stone Paul does get, he uses to the best of its advantage. He has built up a market throughout New Zealand, which has an "insatiable appetite" for greenstone products. f He retails through jewellers, souvenir and gift shops. The customers may be overseas tourists or simply locals with a love of jade. And, says Paul, they all want greenstone, no matter what shape it has been ground into. Paul is naturally happy

with this state of affairs. But he does feel sorry that the trend is moving away from the hand-made jewellery into the cast system in which thousands of pieces are turned out to the same design. Casting large amounts of jewellery may be of benefit in that it keeps costs reasonable, but it is a pity the individualism must go, he said. Individualism is high on

Paul's list of priorities. Each piece of greenstone is designed, cut and polished on a "one man, one job" basis. Whether his work stays on a cottage industry level is dependent entirely on the availability of stone. But until Paul Stewart hits the big time, he has no qualms about carrying on solo. "I am quite happy," he said.