Business developments
Mohua Tees launches local T-shirts
Artist Chachi Roden, manager Rea Stout and business partner Claire Webster are launching Mohua Tees this Friday, especially for art-loving T-shirt wearers.
“We have had a few challenges getting it all together,” said Claire, “but the current plan is to have a launch party at the Wholemeal Café on Friday 26 from 5.30 till 8ish. Upstairs at the back we will have tees on display ready to sell.” The artwork on all the tees are originals by Chachi, says Claire, “authentic Māori art—with Chachi and Rea flair. I think they look stunning.”
Rea has sourced sweat-shop-free tees, including some made from GM-free cotton, from Bangladesh and Morocco, to “start off on a good foot”. The initial range has three designs for women and three for men, but every year Chachi will create new designs. Rea said they are like wearing a canvas, a piece of art.
“They are essentially images of Aotearoa designs, but more contemporary and stylised.”
The group has gone through a tough period of planning and trialling. Embarking on such a venture with two-and-a-half-year-old twins wasn’t easy, Rea said, but the group was aware of business opportunities in the lead-up to next year’s World Cup.
“There will be some games in Nelson and there will be a lot of people filtering through to the Bay from the Cup, and we decided to go with the flow and catch the market now.”
Mohua Tees will sell for $30 and $45 at local markets and events. The group plans to expand the business to TradeMe and various selected outlets as they build stock and experience.
Ina Holst
The Sewing Shop: dream, create, make
People keen on sewing no longer have to travel over the Hill to buy their haberdashery. Sue Latimer now provides haberdashery basics, second-hand items, some fifties dresses and much more at The Sewing Shop in Buxton Lane, opposite the Muscle Farm.
With her slogan “Dream, create and make”, the former nurse wants to provide a space for sewing fans to meet and be creatively engaged in something she calls “wardrobe surgery” or “junky styling”.
“The idea is for people to adapt their clothes, to make their clothes fit and personalise their wardrobe,” said the self-taught sewer. “I will sell the basic haberdashery at the shop, and I am talking to wool producers and there may be wool and bits of fabric for sale later on. For the grand opening on Saturday there will be lots of good specials and wholesale pricing.”
One part of the shop is set up as a sewing room where people can use Sue’s equipment—sewing machines, an industrial overlocker and I-pad technology to download patterns and instructions—at an hourly rate.
“I want to bring sewing into our century and I encourage people to bring their laptops to follow instructions online,” said Sue. “I am really excited about the sewing side and I want to encourage young people to come and network with other sewers.”
Sue does sewing jobs such as mending, zip repairs and hemming, and keeps a register of sewers who do various alterations. Hourly rates for the room are $5 for 30 minutes for the first two hours, then $5 per hour.
The shop opens on Saturday, 27 November and Sue can be contacted on 525 9193.
Ina Holst
Waitapu Engineering joins TradeZone
Waitapu Engineering is now a member of a nationwide franchise, giving them access to bulk-buying opportunities and enabling them to offer a wider range of products at better prices.
Belonging to the franchise also means that Tradezone Takaka now stocks a new brand, Toptul tools. Its range includes hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, socket sets and spanners.
“They’re a new higher-quality tool at middle range prices,” says Tradezone Takaka owner Tony Nicholls. “Belonging to TradeZone means we can offer much more to our customers. The service will still be the same but our customers will notice the differences in our showroom.”
TradeZone is having an open day for all their customers next Saturday to celebrate joining the nationwide franchise.
“It will run from 10am till midday on Saturday 4 December and some of our suppliers like Hitachi power tools and Esseti welders will have their representatives along,” says Tony. “There will be special deals for that day only and we’ll draw the winner of the big toolbox full of $3000 worth of tools that we’ve been running as a promotion for a couple of months. One of our customers will go home very happy that day.”
Neil Wilson
