"Off rear ends" says shop owner

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 253, 2 August 1988, Page 1

"Off rear ends" says shop owner

A promment Ohakune retailer has hit out at apathy among shopkeepers. The owner of Ohakune Shoes, Mrs Val Parkes, says it's time retailers got off their "rear ends" and did something positive to promote the town. She said in a letter to the editor of the Bulletin this week she is disappointed that only 10 of Ohakune's 40 retailers have paid subscriptions to join the Ruapehu South Business Association. This compares with a 100 per cent positive response to the recent membership drive from Turn page 8

Retailers blasted From page 1 ski shop owners and moteliers. Over the next two weeks the BP-Europa FIS Ski Races will put Turoa and Ohakune in the limelight with many journalists and television people in town for the prestigious event. She says for a little town like Ohakune "this is our big opportunity to advertise the Ruapehu r e g i o n throughout the world at no cost to anyone locally." Mrs Parkes says that in October last year after a commercially dismal ski season, a meeting was held in Ohakune to discuss ways to promote the town. There was almost a total turnout of representatives from businesshouses. From that meeting the Ruapehu South Business A s s o c i ation was formed. After a number of meetings and much thought and discussion a draft strategy was compiled. This put forward the aims and objects of the association. The membership drive followed as a means of raising funds. Generally, she says, the result has been disappointing to date. Mrs Parkes appeals to business owners in the entire Ruapehu region to get behind the association and to take advantage of promotional activities associated with the impending FIS ski races.