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As the name suggests, the new boutique in Orewa called Intrigue is a place to discover an eclectic mix of fashion sleepwear, shoes, jewellery and other nice-to-have accessories.
For the owner, Carol Sommerville, opening a second shop was an opportunity too good to pass over.
“When we moved to Millwater three-and-a-half years ago, we’d just closed our clothing store in Albany,” Carol says. “I thought I’d take a few months to have a break and then look for a job.
“But then, Cobblestones became available and it just seemed like the right fit.”
The name was changed to Main Street and Carol hasn’t looked back.
“Orewa is a growing area with a great future for retailers and even post-lockdown, the support from locals has been fantastic. People don’t want to lose their local shops.”
When a store a couple of doors down from Main Street closed, Carol once again saw an opportunity.
“Listening to Main Street customers, we’ve learned that there is demand for good quality sleepwear so that’s where we have started. There is a wide demographic on the Coast and our brands will definitely accommodate that, particularly the cotton and bamboo range from Givoni, which is designed in Australia.”
The store also has Spanish and Italian shoes and boots, knitwear and clothing, and local products such as plants and pots by Black House Creative, and paintings by Coast artist Jill Bryce.
Carol says the name Intrigue was a deliberate choice.
“It doesn’t lock us in to one thing in particular. I believe that to be successful in business, you have to read the market and be open to what people want. It’s then a case of taking the bull by the horns and giving it your best shot.”
Far from being threatened by online shopping, Carol believes clothing stores will always have their place.
“When customers come in to Intrigue or Main Street, we encourage them to have a play, and try on a range of styles and colours. Shopping should be an enjoyable experience, where you can see how a garment looks and fits before you buy it. You can’t get that online.”
