Modern offices and showrooms

Press, 22 June 1981, Page 24

Modern offices and showrooms

The modernisation ‘of Palmer and Doaks motor vehicle showroom and offices in Rangiora is typical of the trend to rebuild and up-date commercial premises in the town.

With new buildings such as the shopping mall and civic centre almost completed, and the new look of Palmer and Doak’s complex, the commercial face of Rangiora has undergone considerable change.

Palmer and Doak has added about 200 sq m of showroom space, and provided about another 100 sq m for new offices upstairs at its High Street premises.

The alterations have been cleverly fitted into the existing structure of the building. The showroom has been formed by glassing in the pillars which were formerly in the forecourt of the building; and the offices have, been built upstairs in the original building making efficient use of space which was formerly wasted.

The total floor space is now about 1500 sq m, including the workshop area. The managing director of Palmer and Doak, Mr John Palmer, said the company had decided to renovate its premises as the business had outgrown the space available.

Some thought had been given to building completely new premises but investiga-

tions proved that the 50-year-old structure housing the business was sound and could be extended. The alterations enable Palmer and Doak to display 12 cars in the new showroom — previously there was room for only one car under cover. Extending the showroom has meant sacrificing some of the space formerly used for petrol sales, and now there is only one pump operating, but plans are afoot to restore the company's operations in that field.

“We plan to develop a full service station complex at the corner of Ivory and Alfred Streets,’’ said Mr Palmer. The new service station is expected to be in operation by the middle of next year. Intended improvements on the company's property at the corner of Ivory and Alfred Streets include a redeveloped truck workshop. Until the alterations were completed, Palmer and Doak s offices had been situated in Ivory Street — there was no room for them on the' main site. But by making use of the loft area upstairs, it has been possible to bring the offices back to the hub of the business. The new offices are tastefully decorated in beige and browns. Much use has been made of natural wood panelling, a feature which Mr Palmer specially desired.

By spending money on upgrading its premises, the company had indicated its confidence in the future of the motor industry, said Mr Palmer.

"After the upheaval in the early 19705, dealers throughout New Zealand are now rationalising.

"We had to look at the strengths and weaknesses of our business, and organise ourselves to keep up with motoring services, looking ahead to the 19905.'* Mr Palmer said most people these days prefer to choose their new car inside, rather than outside in the rain — and that had made the new showroom necessary.

An interesting feature of the motor trade was that the service area today was no bigger in size than that of 50 years ago, even though the amount of business had increased. Today, it is more common to replace parts than carry out repairs which were done in the earlier days of motoring. "The modern car goes into the garage less often than the 20-year-old one." said Mr Palmer. This was because of improved technology.

Mr Palmer said the motor industry was going through a

period of increased activity after a lull a few years ago.

"In 1975 there were over 100,000 new car registrations. In three years that figure was halved, but it is gradually coming up again,” he said.

The higher costs of petrol, and increases in sales tax had contributed to the decline in car sales at the end of the 1970 s but these problems have been accepted by the public now. and new car sales are inr •-asing, said Mr Palmer.