Challenging Times
Challenging Times Spell Massive Opportunities
The Business: The Haven Bed Linen and Homewares The Heroes: Eddie and Sharon De Heer The Alchemist: Alastair Ness, Auckland Made In: New Zealand
Smart retailers are taking advantage of the challenging economy to look for new opportunities, to change the way they interact with their customers so that they ensure that they not only survive but thrive in a new market place. Sharon De Heer is one of those retailers who sees it that way and what is even more surprising and exciting is that Sharon is a novice retailer.
“In this economic climate, survival is key. Sometimes when things are going along nicely you become complacent and don’t look for opportunities. But when things are challenging you become more alert. So the one question we keep on asking ourselves is, what is the market looking for that we can provide?” says Sharon.
Sharon’s story is quite quirky, dynamic and novel. Retailing was not part of her skill set and house linen was just one of the nice luxuries she enjoyed as a consumer- not as a retailer. And, yet, she finds herself enjoying life at the head of a growing fine linen store in trendy upmarket Devonport, Auckland.
It all starts with the old Devonport post office going up for sale. The Art Deco building had been neglected for years. Sharon and Eddie, her husband, with a background in
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