Doors open after major expansions and renovations

Press, 18 July 1979, Page 10

Doors open after major expansions and renovations

The High Street branch of Para Rubber Company, Ltd, (a subsidiary of S k e 11 e r u p Industries) opens its doors today after major expansions and renovations have turned it into one of the largest and most modern retail complexes in the 48store Para Chain throughout New Zealand. The branch has come a long way from the Para repair and reception de-

partment it started out as in 1939. Now taking in the whole corner of High and Tuam Streets and stretching well down the block of Manchester Street, the Para High Street branch maintains a reputation as the number one store for sales in the Para chain. The recent expansion of the High Street branch took in the old premises of the Direct Furniture

Co. and has doubled the shop space area. Now able to provide a better and more efficient customer service, the branch is also presenting a much greater range of merchandise. The store stocks and sells everything from Para swimming pools to clothing, footwear, hosing, milkerware, balloons, floor tiles, moulded rubber goods (including door wedges and walking stick tips), and many other rubber and polyurethane lines.

“There are literally hundreds of thousands of applications today,” says the Canterbury area manager of Para Rubber (Mr Alistair Bowie).

The branch also has been completely refurbished with fitted carpets in the main store areas, the latest fittings, sales and display devices. “The philosophy of Para Rubber is a genuine desire to give service, keeping in mind that the customer is our bread and butter — that the customer is king,” says Mr Bowie. “We are very proud of our stable work force and have introduced an instore retailing training programme.

“And although we use fast, professional and personal methods of retailing, our main emphasis is still on goed value and the excellence of our products.”