A concrete foundation
Wanganui woman Erin Bayler has combined her love of concrete with a new retail outlet for the city.
Tomorrow Garden Inspiration opens in Taupo Quay, next to the Waimarie berth, selling a variety of concrete garden ornaments and other garden accessories.
Ms Bayler makes some of the pieces herself and the rest come from Albany-based company Yard Art.
The garden ornaments include wall plaques, furniture, statutes and planters, with a choice of finishes.
Garden Inspiration is the Wanganui/Manawatu dealer for Yard Art.
Ms Bayler said she'd always wanted to work with concrete and her father enjoyed the medium as well.
She was always thinking about different pieces she could do.
"I think my kids get sick of me talking about concrete."
She started making the pieces in March. The operation had outgrown her home and she wanted people to be able to view the pieces.
Each month there'd be a different themed display so different pieces could be showcased ? this month's theme is the beach.
Ms Bayler has extensively renovated the building, formerly the home of The Tyre Man, creating a retail space in the front and a workshop behind.
The location was fabulous, being next to the Waimarie and with the backdrop of the Whanganui River, she said.
Garden Inspiration also sells tribal bags made by local woman Kala Flack, tiles and tools for making mosaics decorations, and bird shacks made in Palmerston North.
The shop is open weekends, public holidays and by appointment.
New building
Wanganui business Creative Aluminium has moved next door in Heads Rd into a brand new building.
The new premises provided more room and better handling for the aluminium products business, a spokesman said.
www quack quack
A newly opened internet caf? in Waiouru is not only benefiting travellers, but the nationally endangered blue duck (whio) found in the central North Island.
The Blue Duck is on SH1 and has 10 computers offering access to email, internet and games.
Owner Marie Fore there was a need for an internet caf? in Waiouru with the number of tourists travelling through.
She came up with the name after reading about the blue duck during Conservation Week and she has a donation box at the caf? for DoC efforts to save the bird.
The caf? also sells New Zealand-made gifts catering to the tourist market, packaged snack food and hot and cold drinks. It's open seven days from 11am to 9pm.
Franchise sold
Green Acres Wanganui master agents Jack and Bev Payne has sold another franchise, bringing the number of lawn mowing franchises in the district to four.
The fourth franchisee was Kevin Wishnowsky, a former farmer, Mr Payne said.
BP 2go
BP Avenue and BP Taupo Quay have joined the BP 2go dealer network operated by independent BP dealers.
Both Wanganui service stations had undergone makeovers in terms of shop presentation and also now offered a larger selection of convenience food products, owner Harvey Green said.
Being part of the network allowed the service stations to tap into BP's Caf? Zip supply chains and offer a wider range of food.
Mr Green has also relocated his vehicle repair business and administration office from BP Wanganui East into a bigger workshop at BP Avenue.
Guest nights up
Bed and breakfast guest nights at Braemar House have increased by 15 percent over the last year and backpacker guest nights by 10 percent.
Clive Rivers, co-owner of the Wanganui accommodation provider, provided the figures in response to research contained in the latest New Zealand Bed and Breakfast Book.
The book lists 1400 hosts, which accounted for 380,000 guest nights in the last 12 months, an average of 270 guest nights per B & B.
Hosts reported that while visitors from the United States were well down on pre-September 11 levels, there was strong growth from Western Europe and Canadian and Australian numbers were steadily growing.
The guide book found hosts were expecting to have significant growth over the next 12 months. Mr Rivers said Braemar was also expecting growth.
Since February up to nine contractors working on flood repair work at Mangamahu have been staying there.
<i>Business Briefs:</i> With Judith Lacy
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