New craftshop opens in Waiouru

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 5, 25 June 1985, Page 14

New craftshop opens in Waiouru

Local crafts people living in Waiouru now have a place to sell their crafts, thanks to Mrs Anne Overton and Mrs Jill Frances who have opened a craft shop on the main highway in Waiouru. The shop, previously a video parlour, will sell handmade crafts and ornaments made by Anne and Jill and other Waiouru residents. When selling on behalf of other people Anne and Jill will take between 10 and 20 percent commission. "Just enough to pay the rent,"says Anne. The shop opened on Queen's Birthday Weekend, but did not have a large quantity of stock available for sale. However, stock is increasing and Anne says there have been many people browsing through. The shop is next door to the Sahara Restaurant on State Highway One and Jill and Anne hope their new business will "take off" once the snow arrives and the volume of traffic passing the shop increases. Jill and Anne also buy old children's furniture, repair it and then sell it in the shop. At present the shop is selling soft toys, pottery, babies' clothes, macrames,

finger puppets, table-clothes, pillow cases, hand and machine knitted jerseys and live fish!" The shop is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but open all weekend. It's opening hours are from 10am to 3pm. Prior to opening the shop, Anne was kept busy with the Kea group, in which she is still very active. The group now has 12 boys aged six and seven. "The group is to prepare the boys for cubs and scouts and give them a good grounding," says Anne.