Page 2 - OPE September 2020

CLIPPINGS
Local and International News
Lockdown good or bad for business?
We’ve come out of and gone back
into lockdown again since the last issue of NZOPE.
In our July magazine, even though more than a handful of servicing dealers expressed real concern for their survival, given the upsurge in demand since then, really, who’d swap their outdoor power business for hospitality right now?
But will the mini boom that many home- or home & garden-related industries have been seeing last?
What with the usual potential for an election-time freeze on spending looming, this may be just a temporary upswing in demand, demand which may just have shifted sideways in an early Spring reaction to people wanting to improve where they live in lieu of a vacation.
Time will tell – so, until next time, stay healthy and please, don’t just act in your own best interests.
Steve Bohling, Group Editor
steveb@mpm.nz, 09 304 2705
NZ Outdoor Power Equipment
is published 4 times per year
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Website : www.ope.co.nz
ISSN: 1177-4215
The opinions expressed and material published in New Zealand Outdoor Power Equipment
are not necessarily those of the publisher, except where specifically stated. The content is copyright and may not be reprinted in any form without the permission of the publisher.
SERVICING DEALERS
Local pair put new life into Gisborne
Group Editor Steve Bohling 021 0223 6887 steveb@mpm.nz
Account Manager Karen Condon 0275 420 338
karenc@mpm.nz
Account Manager Susan Kennedy 021 317 176
susank@mpm.nz
Studio Manager Rachel Walker 021 169 0201
rachelw@mpm.nz
Publisher Simon Little 021 507 343 simonl@mpm.nz
city and surrounding Otago area as an extremely progressive part of New Zealand.
“This is our 27th branch and we’re grateful to our loyal customers, who are the reason why we are able to continue to
grow our network. We’re looking forward to becoming part of the community, supporting the local economy and its people.” n
www.kennardshire.co.nz
02 NZOUTDOORPOWEREQUIPMENT SEPTEMBER2020
moreat www.facebook.com/NZOPEmagazine
TONY AND KIRSTEN Morris are
the proud new owners of STIHL SHOP Gisborne (formerly STIHL SHOP Clares).
Having officially “opened their doors” in the third week of July, during the relative normality of Alert Level 1, we talked to the Morrises about their new venture and where they’re from.
With Kirsten Gizzy born and bred, and Tony nearing his 20th year in the area, the pair are nothing if not local.
Usefully, Tony’s background includes being a customer of STIHL SHOP Clares, professionally and personally.
Until this year, he had spent the last 18 years of his working life in forestry and this means he comes armed with valuable insights into how a servicing dealership could and should be run from the customer’s perspective.
“I frequented the store for many years, I guess, for personal and for business, and I’ve always thought it would be a good business to get into.”
On top of this local knowledge, STIHL SHOP Clares’ significant history in the area will be standing the new owners
in good stead and, with STIHL SHOP Gisborne apparently selling more products per household than almost any other, the brand looks set for a new lease of life in Gisborne.
HIRE INDUSTRY
Kennards
opens in
Dunedin
Kennards Hire has officially opened its latest purpose-built branch in Dunedin, bringing its
branch network in New Zealand to 27. The new 3,000m2 Dunedin branch is perfectly positioned as a new asset to
support both the local infrastructure and active community, says Kennards.
New Zealand General Manager, Tom Kimber, says: “It’s exciting to open our newest branch in Dunedin. We see the
Does Tony’s background as an end user add a different perspective on how the Carnarvon Street store has traditionally been run or the kind of products that it’s had?
“Not so far,” he says. “But I think over time, once we find our feet and as we get more confident, we will look to put our own slant on things.
“At the moment we’re just working on the tried and true,” says Tony, who qualifies this outlook, calling it “a business with potential.”
STIHL SHOP Gisborne’s customer base is predominantly land-based, surrounded as it is with farming and forestry, and
that’s a double positive: as with Tony’s own experience, professional outdoor power customers often return to the same place for their domestic needs.
STIHL SHOP Gisborne also has a decent working relationship with the Husqvarna outlet almost across the road and will
also continue to sell up customers who’ve bought a product from one of the local DIY big barns that turns out to be expensive to fettle and repair and send them out the door with something that can be repaired later on at a reasonable price.
Tony Morris believes there is a bit of an ongoing flight to quality in this respect.
Was negotiating their way into the new business through lockdown an obstacle? “Not really,” says Tony Morris. “It was
more just getting over ourselves really and having the confidence to go ahead in these sorts of times.
“But, as most people in the industry are aware, you know, it’s been pretty good for business over the last few months and I’m not complaining.”
We’ll revisit the Morrises and STIHL SHOP Gisborne in a year’s time to find out if and how they’ve put their own stamp on this “business with potential”. n
www.stihlshop.co.nz