Ready for a change
to sell up. For the Haslers it was an opportunity to step up to owning and operating a bigger store.
“It’s a fast-moving industry, things are changing all the time. Customers’ needs change and so do trends. Gluten-free products have opened up a lot of choices for coeliacs and the gluten-intolerant.”
Garry sees the latest emerging trend is for hemp products across a wide food range.
The store itself has changed under the Haslers’ ownership. Four years ago they felt the store needed a fresh look and the entire front was rebuilt and new offices were built over 18 months.
The latest improvement has been I Shop, New World’s on-line shopping service with either a delivery component or click and collect option.
Garry says use of this service has been gradually building up.
“We are slightly ahead of where we expected to be.”
Unlike a lot of stores around the country Dannevirke New World still has a rural delivery service.
Maintaining a store’s individuality is harder now than it was when the Haslers first took over.
Bridget made her mark on the store by introducing a giftware range which proved popular. But over the last few years the business has become more corporate, making it harder to maintain individuality.
But in saying that the Haslers do consider the needs of their customers and have catered to special requirements where possible.
“We have a core product range that we must stock, but beyond that we can have flexibility. For example in Marton there was a strong Dutch community and we catered to their needs.
“Society today is becoming much more diverse and we always have requests for different things. However, it’s not always easy catering to these individual needs in a small community,” says Garry.
With 130 full and part-time staff, which increases over Christmas, the Haslers say good staff are key to the success of the business.
“But it’s also our customers too. Without both we would have nothing, they make or break a business.
“We have built up good relationships and will miss them. You really get to know your customers, and you always get to hear the gossip in a supermarket. It always comes here first,” says Bridget.
Quietly supporting the community, and community events, has been important to the Haslers.
They have helped the local food bank and have provided bread for school lunches as well as well as donating products and money to many organisations.
“We are happy to help behind the scenes. We don’t do it to be thanked, we do it because we can,” says Garry.
“Dannevirke is an awesome place. There is a good community spirit in the town.”
New owner Bruce Jenkins will take over New World Dannevirke on August 5.