Paula Fore, Marketing, Promotions and Events Co-ordinator, has been at Mitre 10 Mega since day one when the building was an empty shell, has worked in most departments and knows the place and its vast product range.
Who better to organise next Wednesday's Ladies' Night?
Ladies' Night is for women who want to learn some DIY and have some fun as well.
"We start planning about four months out," says Paula. "We have to book reps way in advance or, if they send us stuff, we have staff members who can promote on their behalf.
"Women aren't under any pressure to perform," says Paula. "They get to try tools out in an environment they feel comfortable in. We are giving them an opportunity and showing them things you don't need to hire a handyman for. For instance, you want to hang up a picture but haven't got a stud, we've got the gadgets and know-how to show them how to do it."
Company reps come from all over New Zealand, bringing experience and product knowledge.
"They can answer the technical questions." says Paula.
"There are about 50 stalls and a lot of them are activity-based. We give the women a list of stalls, brands and companies with their demonstrations and activities as well as a floor plan. We also have a Builder and Baker competition in which they have to bake and decorate a cake according to a theme (they bring the cakes with them from home), after which the cakes go into a silent auction. We are promoting our garden club and the theme is 'Spring', so the cakes are going to be beautiful. For the Builder part they have several weeks in which to create something in the theme Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, so they can make anything they want out of recyclable materials."
It can be practical, decorative or artistic.
Paula says the women often head to the power tools and Plumber Dan usually shows them how to change a tap washer.
"He's going to change it up this year so we're expecting something big from Plumber Dan."
An electrician will show how to change a fuse and a rep from Expol will show how to install under-floor insulation and has product to give away.
"We've got the nail challenge — women get a 4x4 piece of timber and they have to bang in a nail with the least number of hits."
Gardening companies will be in attendance as well as power tool firms and lots more.
Food and wine will be served and More FM will supply an MC for the evening.
While Paula does the bulk of the organising, she says she gets the team leaders on board and they make it happen.
