Kaitaia couple Ian and Anne Walker know as well as anyone that being a small town retailer is tough, and hasn't got any easier since the advent of the internet.
That was certainly the case for their main street business Marston Moor (formerly Paper Plus), where demand for stationery and books declined as demand fell and alternative ways of buying became available.
However, Mr Walker said, the technology that had made life harder was also a lifeline, offering not only the opportunity for a revival but a real opportunity to grow.
Now Marston Moor was offering its complete range of more than 7000 products, from books and stationery to homeware, online (www.marstonmoor.co.nz), giving it access to a customer base far beyond Kaitaia and the Far North.
"We believe the internet provides a viable future for small independent rural retailers, like ourselves, to remain relevant and profitable in what has become a very disruptive industry dominated by big corporates," Mr Walker said.