Meet Five Shopkeepers from Wellington's Te Ngākau Civic Precinct

How long have you been working at The Village Goldsmith?

I began my apprenticeship in manufacturing jewellery in 1974 and opened The Village Goldsmith in Kelburn in 1981. The company has now been trading for more than 43 years.

Tell us about the service you provide and what sets the business apart.

We provide a complete design and manufacture service for our clients, including restoration and repair services, all under one roof. We have nine jewellers crafting in the onsite workshop, so clients can rest comfortably, knowing their precious items are personally looked after.

How do you define the store style?

The Village Goldsmith is renowned for crafting individual items with our own distinctive style. They have a point of difference and are designed to last. Clients often mention that observers comment, “I bet that’s a Village Goldsmith piece!”, which is really cool.

What is your favourite product in-store? 

We have so many wonderful items it’s impossible to narrow it down to one piece. The workshop is currently working on a new collection of rare black jade and diamond pieces. Seeing those come to life is very exciting at the moment.

How did you discover your love for what you do?

As a child, I always painted, drew, and made models and loved making things. I’d always planned on becoming an architect, but the offer of a jewellery apprenticeship jumped in the way. I’ve never regretted it.

When you're not in the shop, where do you find your inspiration from?

Inspiration is everywhere. From architecture to nature, there are so many beautiful forms everywhere that constantly excite me. It’s endless.

How long have you been working at Vessel?

I set up Vessel in August 2003, and it has been 20 years of enjoyment. We have been in the same location all this time. 

Tell us about the service you provide and what sets the business apart.

At Vessel, we sell mostly locally made ceramics, with an emphasis on functionality. But we have many other artisan products to put in your home to make it comfortable and inviting - everything has been chosen for its quality, value and usefulness.

How did you discover your love for what you do?

Forming relationships with the makers is rewarding, and many have been selling at Vessel since it opened. The loyalty from our customers built up over many years is also heartwarming and fun.

When you're not in the shop, where do you find your inspiration from?

Although running my own business is full of rewards, for relaxation and de-stressing I play golf. Whatever the weather, you will find me hitting a ball around Miramar Golf Club when time permits.

How do you define the store style?

The store opens to the street, with its wide sliding door and big windows. The work is displayed on marine ply shelving, which adds to the utilitarian atmosphere.

What is your favourite product in-store? 

Although our sales are mostly pottery, Vessel is an eclectic store. I do love to sell the Stansborough throws and blankets. Woven in Petone on old looms from Northern England, these blankets are versatile and are used everywhere, from exclusive high country lodges to trendy Sydney hotels and even ‘Middle Earth’. They add a wonderful calm feel to any bedroom.

How long have you been working at Iris?

We opened at the end of February 2023. It has been my life ever since, as I'm in store or working on the business most days.

Tell us about the service you provide and what sets the business apart.

The beauty industry is an oversaturated beast, and it is often fed by making people feel less-than. It's super noisy and increasingly confusing as more and more brands hit the market, each with their own 'unique' point of difference. At Iris, we help our customers navigate the world of beauty simply by getting to know them. We take time to chat about their skin, lifestyle, budget, and individual likes or dislikes when it comes to texture or scent so we can get a good handle on what is going to suit them best, whether a product or service.

We are very deliberate with the brands and products we choose to stock. Everything on our shelves needs to tick the boxes of efficacy (doing what it says on the tin) and sensoriality (beautiful textures and scents), while ensuring there are options available for all skin types and tones. 

We pair our retail ranging with beauty services, which allow our customers to dip a little deeper into our extensive beauty knowledge, and experience how our products feel on their skin. Our facials include an in-depth skin consultation, so we have all the information we need to give an effective treatment in our beauty cabin, as well as offer personalised advice on how best to care for skin at home. We give makeup lessons where we work through a makeup look using a customer's existing makeup bag, and our brow rehab service is sought after by the overplucked (it takes one to know one). 

How do you define the store style?

We worked with Wonder Group to create a beautiful, elegant, inviting warmth with a hint of quirk. It's a place where I love spending so much of my time and clients love to visit as a respite from their busy lives. The retail and makeup area is designed to be a social space, and we love hearing customers sharing their stories with others here. The Brow + Lash Studio and Skin Studio are quieter, more intimate spaces. 

What is your favourite product in-store?

This is like trying to choose a favourite child! I'm a big fragrance nut and massively sensorial, so like to wear scent based on how I'm feeling or how I would like to feel. A jasmine to brighten a glum mood, a vanilla to wrap me in cozy feels when it's cold, or a banging amber to encourage a sense of inner strength. I love the fragrance Discovery Sets, which we stock in both Heretic Parfum and Sana Jardin. They're perfect to sample the ranges, to experiment with layering to create your own unique scent signature, and are perfect for gifting. 

How did you discover your love for what you do?

I fell into makeup artistry in my late twenties as I wanted to find work which was more creative. However, the thing I love most about working in beauty is not the application of products to faces. It's relationship building, listening to peoples' stories and brightening their day in some way. It's helping them feel like more. I don't come at beauty through a lens of lack or shame or judgement, like so much of the industry. I discovered this early on when I was working for Bobbi Brown in Australia and customers would come back to the counter seeking me out because I was interested in them and honest.

When you're not in the shop, where do you find your inspiration from?

So many people think that because I'm a makeup artist, I'm constantly judging how they (or their eyebrows) look. I actually really enjoy people watching but it's nothing to do with making notes on what lipstick or eyeshadow they're wearing, I like to see how people tick. I read a lot and listen to loads of podcasts to get glimpses into other people's lives and psyches, and a lot of my inspiration comes through this, woven alongside conversations with female friends and customers. 

How long have you been working at Good As Gold?

I have been at Good As Gold (GAG) for just over a year. I started here in March 2023, roughly a month after moving to Wellington from Tauranga, and have loved every single day. I have learnt so much and made so many awesome connections in the past year. 

Tell us about the service you provide and what sets the business apart.

I think that the service we provide here is completely unique, from my experience working in other retail stores. With every interaction, we aim to share, connect, and learn with our customers. We genuinely want to hear about your day or week, or year, and most importantly we want to make every person feel welcome and comfortable. 

How do you define the store style? 

Honestly, I’m not sure I can put the store style into words - I think the store has such a diverse range of brands and items that we always have something for someone. We always want to have something new and fresh though, which is super important for us as a store and, more importantly, for our customers. 

What is your favourite product in-store?  

My favourite item in store has always been the Medicom bear bricks. I am such a sucker for little figurines, especially mystery boxes, so I have to buy one every time we get a restock. 

How did you discover your love for what you do? 

Ever since I was little, I’ve loved fashion and dressing up and like most little girls, wanted to be a designer when I grew up. I ended up studying fashion for three years, which definitely helped me understand retail on that level, but mostly I just love yarning to people. I love listening to people’s stories and also being able to put a smile on people’s faces.

When you're not in the shop, where do you seek inspiration from? 

My inspiration has always been drawn from nature. It influences my style, my mood, and even my creative works. I love being surrounded by nature and soaking up the sun; I genuinely think that is when I am my happiest.

How long have you been working at That Was Then, This Is Now?

I opened the store with my wife in December 2021. It was certainly a challenging (brave… or maybe stupid?!) time to open our doors, but for us it felt like the right time and there is never the perfect moment to jump into these things. And, I guess when things are at their toughest, they can only go up.

Tell us about the service you provide and what sets the business apart.

We are both a high-end, traditional barbershop and an independent clothing retail store. We have always loved clothing and fashion, but found the New Zealand offering, especially for menswear, pretty limited. We wanted to bring to New Zealand, and especially to Wellington, clothing you couldn’t find anywhere else. We have tried to champion small-scale independent brands - ones that focus on the people and the makers, that don’t mass produce seasonal trends, but instead promote quality, sustainability and craft.

How do you define the store style?

The store has a very utilitarian, workwear-focussed aesthetic. We have tried to curate brands and pieces that combine timeless design, quality fabrics, and beautiful construction - garments that will wear with you, that will last in your wardrobe for years to come, and have a story to tell.  There is definitely an Americana vibe, a strong Japanese influence, and a bit of a classic jeans and T-shirt style that never grows old! The traditional grooming parlour sits alongside this perfectly, and really complements the clothing aesthetic so well. 

What is your favourite product in-store? 

I think I have to say the Ridgeline Supply Jacket from RGT. It’s a 10oz, waxed cotton canvas, and has such an amazing cut and feel to the fabric. I had been coveting it from afar for months, and when we decided to open it was the first piece I knew I had to have in the store. I bought one for myself (of course) and the first time I wore it around Wellington I got so many comments on it - one person even stopped their car on Aro Street, wound down their window, and yelled “that’s a f**king amazing jacket, bro!” I took that to be a pretty good omen. I’m yet to see someone put it on who doesn’t look incredible in it.

How did you discover your love for what you do?

Growing up, I was always interested in subcultures and pop culture. I have a particular love for punk rock and rock ‘n’ roll in general, and have always been inspired by the visual aesthetic as much as the music. Punk rock to rock ‘n’ roll, to Americana, to cowboys, to selvedge denim - it’s a pretty linear path, right?

When you're not in the shop, where do you find your inspiration from?

Like I mentioned earlier, I have a pretty strong interest in pop-culture… maybe bordering on obsessive! I love music, reading, film and TV, and travelling. I find all of these outlets give me bucketloads of inspiration on a daily basis. We also have a really lovely and loyal community of customers who love what we do, and often come by just to share their finds, the brands and styles they love, and just general chats – it’s one of the best parts of the job!