ANOTHER NEW BUSINESS

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 4, 28 June 1983, Page 7

ANOTHER NEW BUSINESS

Ohakune's 'boom' has ^Baffected not only the accommodation scene in the town — as present building activity will testify — but the commercial and retailing scene as well. This .has provided residents of the Waimarino with a much greater range of services and merehandise than was available just a few short years ago. One of the most recent businesses to establish itself in Ohakune is 'Jewellery Etcetera' which now 6ccupies the Clyde Street premises between the Chuck Wagon Fast Food Service and McGlynns Fashion Boutique . . another two recently ^^stablished businesses. 'Jewellery Etcetera' is a ^^nanufacturing jewellery business which is owned and operated by Karen Napier (pictured) who has had a similar business called 'Your Jewellery' in Masterton for the last 3 years.

Karen and two of the staff from Masterton — Hayley Inder and Timothy Turner, both of whom are qualified manufacturing jewellers — will each take it in turn to staff the Ohakune shop for . two weeks at a time. Karen, who was born in Masterton and who has spent most of her life in the Wairarapa, first became interested in the subject whilst still at school — she liked art and enjoyed working with her hands so this seemed an ideal combination of visual interest and manual dexterity. Since establishing 'Your Jewellery' Karen has travelled overseas to extend her knowledge of manufacturing methods and materials. The first trip was a tour of south-east Asia — including Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong — to study local handcrafts and to buy stones for her

own business here in New Zealand. More recently she travelled to Australia to visit the opal mines and bring back more stones. Karen decided to set-up business in Ohakune because, without another manufacturing jeweller in the area, she could see the I potential here not only to provide a service to local residents but also for the many overseas visitors who pass through Ohakune each year. 'Besides', she said, 'we are all keen skiers on the staff and could see an opportunitv for combining business with pleasure.' The business will be an all-year round one however. Jewellery Etcetera is open during the following hours each week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - 9.00am to 5.00pm; Friday 9.00am - 9.00pm; Wednesday and Sunday closed.