Andi Whitley and her partner Craig Mullan created their Mount Maunganui shop Retro America after returning from a stint in the United States three years ago with a pile of Americana collectables.
"There was so much stuff over in the US that we loved," said Ms Whitley.
"But it got completely out of hand. I love stuff, but I don't like clutter, so what better way of reducing clutter than by staying involved with what we loved and on-selling it."
The shop focuses on American antiques and collectables and has recently branched out to add a line of T-shirts and to incorporate a traditional-style barber shop on the premises. Typical items sold include neon bar signs, old coke fridges, pinball machines, gumball machines, vintage ice chests, drive-in movie speakers, pedal cars and old bikes. The items include genuine originals as well as reproductions created in the US to meet the growing market for retro objects.
This year the shop added the Legends barber shop, which is run on the premises by Kerry Rayner, complete with a neon clock, retro tin signs and wooden furniture. "It's an authentic barber shop experience," said Ms Whitley, noting that Mr Rayner's services include cut-throat razor shaving.