Fabrics, haberdashery and goods for tourists included in firm’s first franchise-type shop

Press, 12 July 1983, Page 17

Fabrics, haberdashery and goods for tourists included in firm’s first franchise-type shop

Mrs Pope, Ltd, has opened a new store in The Mall, Methven. The firm’s first franchisetype operation, it is being run by Faye and Graham Mangin, formerly the proprietors of Faye’s Fabrics. This store has been absorbed by the new premises which extend through into what was previously a Dalgety’s bottle store. The new “Mrs Pope’s” has the firm’s distinctive decor and colour scheme, even to the same carpet. It is also typical of the firm’s modern outlets in its range of stock, except that it has Faye’s fabrics and haberdashery as well, and

some tourist lines. In other words, it specialises in babies’ and children’s wear; women’s nightwear, underwear and outer clothing; and a wide range of hand-knitting yarns. One of the helpful services at the new shop is that an item available at another Mrs Pope’s store but not in stock at Methven can be quickly located and obtained on request. Mrs Pope’s began as a family business well over a century ago, and has become a family firm again. It is now run by the Baddeleys, who have had contacts in Methven for the last 10 years or so.

The firm’s manager, Mr Peter Baddeley, says he believes Methven needs the merchandise that Mrs Pope’s offers, at the prices it can offer them. “We expect the store will be very popular with the locals and even with Ashburton people, since Ashburton is only 20 minutes away,” he says. Mrs Pope’s, Methven, is open from 9 a.m, to 5.30 p.m. on week days, with late night on Friday until 9 p.m. It is also open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the benefit of tourists and skiers.