Success of small town op shop confounds a few sceptics

The success of a new St John op shop in Ngatea is leading to similar stores opening in Auckland.

The op shop opened in the Hauraki town last October and is doing better than owners predicted.

St John Op Shop’s Jan Paton said, “I think a lot of people thought, ‘Oh no, Ngatea’s so small,’ and a lot of people were very sceptical of whether we’d be successful because we are such a small community here.

“Because of its success, there are a few shops now opening in Auckland that perhaps weren’t before”.

Kate Main and Nikki Keane are both shared part-time managers of the op shop.

Mrs Main said she loves working for St John. “It makes you feel worthwhile, that you actually are working for a cause.”

Mrs Keane, as a St John customer herself, said that it has been “really good” having the shop there because “there’s nothing else in Ngatea”.

“That’s been the general consensus in the area, that they no longer have to go out to Thames or Paeroa. They’ve got their own.”

Not only the Ngatea community is getting behind the new op shop. Aucklanders passing through are also finding their way to the store.

Mrs Paton said there is a group of people from Auckland who come down and do the op shop run, going to Ngatea, Paeroa and Thames.

There was a little concern with the placement of the shop because it is not on the main road, but it has proved not to deter people from finding it.

Mrs Paton said, “It was a worry it wouldn’t get that passing traffic, but let’s be honest, op shoppers seek you out."