A NEW PHASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 38, 24 November 1937, Page 9

A NEW PHASE

SHOPPING IN ASHBURTON. MANY AIDS TO BUYING. A GLIMPSE AT McKENZIE’S. After several weeks of preparation McKenzie’s, Ltd., have completed their Ashburton department store ifnd the opening, an event that has been awaited with considerable eagerness by many people since the announcement that the firm would open a branch in Ashburton 3 will take place to-morrow morning.

The advent of McKenzie’s will open up a phase of shopping that is new to Ashburton but not entirely new to the residents, who have had experience of similar establishments in other centres. The shop has definitely new attractions to offer the public of Ashburton, superseding anything previously seen here in shopping service. A first glance at the store frontage has an immediate appeal through its modern fittings. The windows, well dressed, bright .and enticing, employ, for the first time in Ashburton, bent glass at the two entrances. As the visitor enters the shop, he (6r she) is at once struck with the spaciousness of the store and the multiplicity of wares, all set out to the best advantage. Every facility for the rapid handling of bulk goods has been provided, so that the spacious show bins can be kept in stock to the full with the minimum trouble. The aisles are exceptionally wide; there are no obstructions to arrest the movements of patrons, and the lighting shows off the stock to the best advantage. 1 Apart from skylights, there are 29 large electric fittings ranged in three rows, and over the jewellery section there are five chrome fittings to give added assistance to purchasers in making their selections. Air Conditioning. The store is completely ventilated by a system of air conditioning. . In the summer fresh air is induced into the shop from 16 vents and drawn out at the rear of the premises by suction fan placed high up in the wall. In winter hot air is sent through the same vents and changes of atmosphere outside can be counter-balanced inside in a few minutes. Every department is fitted with modern service display pieces to assist buyers, and some of these are highly ingenious pieces of apparatus. The colour scheme inside the shop is cream and red. There is a white ceiling, which serves to reflect light on to the stock, and there are no dark corners. Everything is bright, airy and cheerful. A characteristic of all the other McKenzie stores, music, is also to be found in the Ashburton shop. Bright music is relayed through a loud-speaker facing toward the rear of the trading arda. Among the numerous automatic features of the place is that which operates the window ventilation from the movement of one lever. The show bins and the shelves behind them present a remarkable range of goods calculated to win the favour of patrons. As the opening is so near to Christmas the management is endeavouring to show something of its gift lines, as well as its full ordinary range, but as the festive season approaches nearer still, the full Christmas range of goods will be displayed. The toy section is one that can bear close scrutiny, and this refers particularly to the selection of dolls, in which there are what appear to be astonishing bargains. A frock bay, where garments are

displayed in the best circumstances, has been installed, and each section of the store has a special demonstration board, on, which customers may see articles in operation (if there is a mechanical movement associated with them). It took no fewer than 100 tons of goods to stock the shop for its opening, a weight which is more than 20 tons above the total weight of the largest express train locomotive. Again, the show bins on the counters are separated by plate glass partitions, and over a ton and a half of this glass was used. Ten of the latest high-speed cash registers have been installed and this will facilitate the handling of change. In the last 10 days every piece of stock has been handled, marked off and placed in the fixtures and the staff did it to the complete satisfaction of the directors. The Upstairs Store.

Spacious departments have been erected in the storeroom above the shop, where the reserve stocks are car-

ried, and a travelling electric hoist serves to give easy handling of bulky parcels. Automatic machines are employed wherever possible, and among them there is a tea-weighing device. A specially air-conditioned room is set aside for the stoi:age of sweets, thus ensuring that the items reach the buyer in first-class condition. Shelves crammed with goods would amaze the ordinary onlooker who was privileged to have a glimpse behind the scenes in the store room. Comfort for the Staff. McKenzie’s have been foremost' in i reforms aiming at the greater comfort and wellbeing of staffs, and something of this aim is being carried out in the Ashburton premises. On the top floor there is a large room devoted to the uses of the gn-ls on the staff. It has electric kettles for the making of hot drinks, sinks, cupboards for storing crockery, frock racks, cubicles for handbags, a couch, table, lockers and an appliance far heating soups, as well as a unit for the drying of damp clothing on wet days. A special department has been set aside for the use of the ticket writer. All the latest principles of lighting and aids that will assist the efficiency of the writer have been employed. Seats have been provided behind the counter for the girls and there is provision far refreshment and rest periods for the whole of the staff. Social and sporting activities are fostered by the firm, which gives every encouragement for the organisation of sports teams. When the staff has settled down, teams in the several types of pastimes will be formed. A social fund for the girls has also been established. An Ashburfton Staff. With the exception of the manager and the head lady, the staff has been

entirely recruited from Ashburton residents. When application for positions on the staff were called, no fewer ilian 300 young people were interviewed in one day.

The manager is Mr H. O. Weldon, who is the South Island branch adviser for McKenzie’s and whose duties include the opening up of new branches. Mr Weldon will remain in Ashburton for several weeks till the appointment of the permanent manager. Miss Vickery has been appointed head lady for the branch. For the opening, Mr Weldon has had the assistance of Mr L. Freeman, of the High Street branch, and Mr A. Torstonson, of the Oamaru branch. Senior members of all the departments have in the last few weeks been carrying out training work at other branches. The Joinery Work. The contractors for fhe building were Messrs Smith and Black, who are to be congratulated on a good job well done. The joinery was the product of Messrs Tucker’s, Ltd’s, factory, and it is an excellent example of work of this type as turned out under modern conditions. The workmanship was particularly good and earned praises of Mi* J. R. McKenzie when he was in Ashburton last Friday. A considerable saving of time in the opening of the shop was effected by the system employed in regard to the construction of the counters. For the first time in the firm’s experience, the counters, some of them 40 feet long, were made outside the shop. Usually, the carpenters have to wait till the other tradesmen are out of a building before they can get on with their job. In

this case, however, the counters were already complete at this period and they were taken to the shop from the factory on special j inkers, a task that occupied the best part of four hours.. Brickwork and Plastering. The sub-contract for the brick and concrete work in connection with the building was in the hands of Messrs W. Inwood and Co., and that for the plastering was held by Mr A. C. Argyle. In both instances first-class work went into the building, which was erected in excellent time, giving other contractors ample opportunity to carry out their work to allow for the early opening of the premises. The “finish” of the work in these directions leaves little to be desired. The Electrical Installation. Electrical equipment beyond the average is included in the new shop, and this Avork was in the hands of Messrs G. T. Russell and Co., Ltd. An electric hoist, an exhaust fan, lighting fixtures and arrangements in accordance with the McKenzie store standard and an automatic heating appliance are among the work called for by the contract, while there is also a Neon sign under the verandah.