End of an era in Dunedin’s retail history
STANDING in the cosmetics section where she had worked for her entire career, Gaye Harris was feeling sad and apprehensive yesterday.
The H&J Smith Dunedin department store, formerly Arthur Barnett, in the Meridian Mall, closes its doors to customers for the final time tomorrow after 118 years.
Mrs Harris is the longestserving team member among almost 90 staff whose jobs come to an end along with the closure of one of the city’s landmark retail stores.
Also closing concurrently tomorrow are related businesses H&J Smithowned The Armoury Store, in the Wall Street shopping precinct, and the Mosgiel H&J Smith store in Gordon Rd.
The Mosgiel shop will relaunch under new ownership as APT Collections late next month.
Mrs Harris, nee Barclay, started as a junior sales member in the cosmetics department of Arthur Barnett aged 15, in Christmas 1972, straight out of Otago Girls’ High School.
‘‘This has been my only job right through until now,’’ Mrs Harris said.
‘‘I am feeling a wee bit apprehensive. I am a bit sad for the loss of this beautiful store for Dunedin.’’
Working with cosmetics was a labour of love.
‘‘I was always interested in cosmetics, right from a very young girl.
‘‘That was all I wanted to do.’’ Her first duties as a junior salesperson were dusting and cleaning, back when the store was open only Monday to
Friday.
She had since worked on many different cosmetic counters, helping customers to look their best.
The Invercargillbased H&J Smith took over the Dunedin store after Arthur Barnett ceased trading in 2015.
Mrs Harris remembered the days when the ‘‘daylight store’’, as it was known, in George St was much larger, before it was demolished and replaced by the Meridian Mall in 199597.
‘‘The original store had a big cafe, a conference area and a lot more departments — furnishings, carpets, drapes, haberdashery areas.’’
She paid credit to the way
H&J Smith had managed the impending closure since it was announced in June last year, but it had been hard for staff.
‘‘Some staff have got jobs and some haven’t. They’re not easy to get these days.
‘‘So we are feeling sad. Particularly me.’’
Mrs Harris, who said she was thinking of retirement in a couple of years, was looking into doing some voluntary work.