Flowers & craft join forces

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 238, 5 April 1988, Page 6

Flowers & craft join forces

From humble beginnings, Kunikraft in Ohakune has gone from strength to strength. Last week owners Dot and Bea Barnes celebrated the business' fifteenth birthday, appropriately by adding to their stock. As from April 1, Kunikraft will be Ohakune's Teleflora agent, having taken over Alpine Flowers. Former owner Dawn Donaldson sold the business in order to devote more time to other interests, including doll making. Mrs Donaldson will also be specialising in wedding floristry from her home and is

available for table and church arrangements. Kunikraft is still in the original building where the business opened in 1962. The Barnes' opened the shop with just $150 worth of stock. "We placed it carefully to make it look more substantial," said Dot. It was then solely a craft shop where the ladies held craft classes for the public. Two years later it was enlarged to include a g arden court featuring shrubs and house plants. The shop's stock grew to incorporate a large selection of caneware, pottery, handcrafts, plants and plant sup-

plies. With the merger of the two businesses, Kunikraft will be selling out of handcraft supplies to accommodate the wide range of dried and artificial flowers, and fresh cut varieties now in stock. While Dot and Bea Barnes have no imme-

diate plans to move the business into larger premises, a major reshuffle of shelving is taking place to make the best use of available space. At the same time the interior of the shop is being brightened with a new coat of paint.