People focus the key to success

In these days of giant shopping malls, online stores and chain supermarkets, it is getting harder to find that staple of the ‘good old days’ of shopping – the local general store. A small but welcoming place, where you could get anything and everything and get old-fashioned friendly service.

The people of Waitara don’t have to go far for that, however, as the Bin Inn on McLean Street is just such a store.

Owner-operator Paul Gundesen has only been running the Bin Inn for a relatively short time, but the shop under his management has most definitely become a fixture of Waitara’s CBD.

‘‘We’re coming up on four-and-a-half years in operation next month,’’ says Paul. ‘‘We originally returned to Waitara for family reasons, but when we came back, this business came up for sale, and we took it on.’’

Paul and his late wife Sue were both veterans of the food trade in one way or another, with Sue having experience as a chef and both of them working for Foodstuffs in a variety of roles. Paul himself was a food safety advisor, among other duties.

Today, he oversees his three staff in providing bulk food, wholegoods and speciality items from a shop one could almost describe as a Tardis – looking small from the outside, yet containing a massive variety and volume of goods inside. Anything from granny mints to freezedried blueberry slices to organic vanilla pods and everything in between can be found there.

And it is the organic items that Paul and his team are focusing on as the shop’s inventory expands.

‘‘We’re always building up our stock range, building up the organic foods,’’ he says.

‘‘Frozen items, pies, pastries, and glutenfree products. There’s an increasing demand for gluten-free products - and sugar-free for that matter.’’

During this reporter’s time with Paul, he was called away to look after a customer, and his easy-going, friendly manner with his clients makes it easy to see why Bin Inn is a great success.

It is the people he serves that Paul thinks is the best part of living and working in Waitara.

‘‘The people make this town what it is,’’ he states firmly. ‘‘There is nothing they won’t do to help out when you need something, and there’s just a real community feel here like no other. The support is just unreal. We help each other out. A nice town to live in, great people.’’

This could well be the secret to the prosperity of Waitara’s biggest little shop – not just customer service and a wide range of goods, but love and respect for the community it serves.