Wallpaper world

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 25

Wallpaper world

“See it, select it and hang it tonight” is a Hurst and Drake slogan. It is a suggestion that will be easy to follow in their large new wallpaper showroom that opens today in their High Street shop. Wallpaper World is the whole of the first floor at the High Street shop of Hurst and Drake, all 22,000 square metres (7000 square feet) of it, plus offices. It is a vast well-lit area, with large windows and a forest of wallpaper stands. Stripes, abstracts, florals, modern and classical, the wall-length samples on the stands have been teamed with ready-to-go rolls wrapped in plastic, for customers who want to use the self-help service. Most papers are New Zealandr/.ade but Hurst and Drake also have a wide range of quality lines from Britain, the United States, Australia, Germany, Canada, France and Japan. I The Wallpaper World) showroom is big enough to have the entire stock of paper on display. Branch ’ shops have contributed samples for the opening day rush, and customers are to be offered substantial reductions in some lines to celebrate the event.

Even if you know that strictly speaking you don’t need any fresh wallpaper for vour home, you will find yourself browsing over the papers on display and getting new ideas about homedecorating.

Careful staff supervision will ensure that as wallpaper lines are discontinued they are weeded out, so that customers do not have the furstration of choosing a pattern that is unavailable. Although today marks the official opening of Wallpaper World, a steady stream of customers has already been through the showroom, to get a preview of the goods that will be offered

for sale. As well a., the exciting

choice of wallpaper on the stands, additional patterns have been used in five openfronted room settings, that line two walls of the showroom. Here the varying designs cover the walls and ars seen to their best advantage behind complementary modern furniture.

Two other bays are occupied by a selection of framed art pictures to set off the papers, and a children’s corner with toys and play equipment, where smaller children will be safe and happy while mother chooses her wallpapers in peace.

As in many of ' their branch shops, Hurst and Drake are offering an extensive range of curtaining samples in a corner of Wallpaper World. No more traipsing from shop to shop, before deciding on the colour scheme of rooms that are to be redecorated. In Wallpaper World, colour coordination of wall paper, paint, drapes and vinyl surfaces is just a step away. Another thoughtful Hurst and Drake customer service is their help-yourself to do-it-yourself corner. Here, with staff assistance, beginners at home-decorating will be able to have a trial run. They can watch a paperhanging demonstration by a staff member, and then see if they can do as well, making their mistakes when it doesn’t matter.

Wallpaper World will deliver free of charge within the city, and will be pleased to arrange additional services for their customers through their suburban branches. Although the firm has no branches beyond Canterbury, mail orders come from many parts of th South Island, and Wall-

paper World will expand and continue this service.