Here there is something for everyone
A29-year-old has gone from putting a few of her favourite things together to wooing a town with her new business.
Grace McCallum, 29, is the founder of Hawera’s new store This Plus That - a shop with a name that truly sums it up.
‘‘Flowers, prints, books, gifts, body stuff, jewellery, homewares; it really is this plus that, plus a dog, plus coffee,’’ McCallum laughed.
The store may sound as if it only appeals to the ladies, but there are men’s products and plenty of ideas for gifts.
Since the shop opening on February 8 McCallum said she has been loving it and already has her regular coffee drinkers visit each day.
She is yet to find a moment she’s bored and said she has future plans if the quiet time comes.
‘‘I haven’t really had a lot of time just to chill out. I just clean up, change stuff around, and then I’m constantly looking for new gifts or new things to do,’’ she said.
McCallum went to primary school in Hawera and moved home just before Christmas with her partner.
‘‘There were little bits and bobs I could have done, but I wanted to do stuff for me so I put all my favourite things together, and here I am,’’ she said.
One of her favourite things that came with the opening of the store was her wee Jack Russell puppy, Swag, whom customers love.
McCallum studied design and marketing at university and has worked with top florist Nicci Goodin.
‘‘I’m really liking the bloom side of it, mixed blooms, putting them all together, fresh flowers, but definitely I do arrangements, hampers. I’m getting into hampers a lot which is cool. I want to do some themed hampers, 21st, coming home and all that sort of thing.’’
She has also worked with coffee in the past and with events when she was overseas, which is something she sees as a possibility here too.
As for the now, she’s encouraging people to bring their food in for lunches and sit at her long instore table.
‘‘Get away from the office, come sit down, have a coffee and a look around, there’s games and books,’’ she said. ’’It’s social in here too.’’
McCallum has taken on businesses in the past, but this is her first time on her own - with an exception of course.
‘‘My Gran just lives on Argyle St, so if I every need anything I’m like ‘Gran’, and she just walks around and does whatever I need,’’ she said.
McCallum said it’s quite special to be back in her stomping ground, especially working with flowers.
‘‘My grandparents who aren’t here would absolutely love it,’’ she said.
The store is based at 220 High St and worth a look.