Mākete Mahi Toi yields early results
Released: Wednesday 25 November 2020
Supporting local artisans through the Mākete Mahi Toi project is showing huge early success.
Putāruru Ward Councillor, Sandra Wallace hatched the idea to support local artisans in the lead up to Christmas, through a ‘collective’ model, operating from a once vacant shop in Princes Street, Putāruru.
Council’s marketing team was quick to see the potential to build better understanding of the scale, scope and opportunities for predominantly home-based artisans to transition into retail.
Wallace said, “Getting more detailed knowledge of our local artisans, post Covid-19 and in the lead up to Christmas, was a drawcard for Council to get involved and support the project, through existing research budgets, with promotion, coordination, rent and power.”
“The first few days have been successful,” said Anton Sudano, Council’s Marketing Officer. “We were blown away by the number of people interested in operating out of the space - over 30 enquiries in three days. The way the artisans worked together to determine how it would operate has been great.”
Mr Sudano believes the project will provide valuable insight, to help inform plans to reinvigorate our town centres, saying, “this is costing less than a market research company and at the same time helping these entrepreneur’s dip a toe into bricks and mortar retail, a win-win for Council, the artisans and our community.”
‘’I am 100% behind this initiative,” said Mayor Jenny Shattock. “Putāruru is already home to artisanal cheese, bread and meat products, Mākete Mahi Toi will highlight and celebrate our wonderful craft sector.”
Mākete Mahi Toi opened its doors on Monday 23 November. It is operating from the old Edmeades Jewellers site in Princes Street in Putāruru six days a week (from 10am to 4pm weekdays and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays), through until Saturday 2 January.
Wares include knitted products, dreamcatchers, soaps, herbs and veggies, Indian snacks and sweets, health food, jewellery and pottery. There are six corner stone operators and the intention is to have one revolving space to rotate through several other artisans who were unable to have a presence at the site full time.
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