DO IT LOCAL! SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES
Buying local more important than ever In this issue of Channel Mag we focus on our Channel Magazine ‘Do it Local’ campaign, encouraging readers 19 Recove VIDry to help our local businesses as they recover from this unprecedented Covid-19 period. It is over a year now CO since this problem became serious for New Zealand and wel started to experience the lockdowns that have had a big impact on all of us – including businesses throughout the country. We established Channel Magazine back in 2010 with the aim of fostering our local economy for the benefit of the community. Thriving business areas are good for the community and we were keen to tell the good news stories. And we have. From day one we worked closely with local business associations and groups, and have had a policy of not including advertising that competes For our businesses with our local businesses. We have stayed true to this, knocking back advertising dollars from over and our community the bridge. It does hurt some times! In recent issues we have made it easier for local businesses to advertise and promote their businesses in this magazine as we start to recover and get back to normality post-Covid-19. Our ‘Do it Local’ is another initiative to encourage our readers to spend locally as it is good for our community. In this issue we talk to four local business people about their Covid-19 experience and what their recovery is looking like.
Caroline Mulholland, Well Hung Butchery, Milford Caroline Mulholland is a director of local Milford butchery, Well Hung, which has a store on Kitchener Road and also inside Milford Mall. The business is owned by a group of meat lovers from Auckland. After travelling overseas, they found it difficult to source premium high-quality meats that had been dry-aged to allow the true flavours and textures to shine through. Given that we have some of the world’s best meat producers in New Zealand, the team thought this was a travesty so went about setting up their own company. As none of the owners had a butchery background, they've brought together an incredible team of artisan butchers and sourced a brilliant network of suppliers. Everything is prepared with patience, an attention to quality and a focus on celebrating and creating mouth-wateringly delicious flavours. Channel Magazine: The last 12 months have been pretty tough for business. What have the key issues been that you have had to overcome? Caroline Mulholland: Covid has been so tough for many local businesses and my heart goes out to those businesses that haven’t been able to operate at all throughout levels three and four. From our perspective, one of the biggest challenges throughout the lockdowns has been struggling with changing rules. Initially, during the first level four lockdown, butchers were classified as an essential service, then not, before the rules were reversed again with butchers being able to operate. This made life pretty stressful on our team and difficult to get our stock levels right but ultimately, we’ve been exceptionally lucky to have had the support our of local community. CM: Have you had good support from your local community? Caroline: Our local community is incredible and we are so appreciative of their support. Our customers adapted to the changes to ordering processes due to Covid and have not only given us their business but have taken the time to check-in on how our team is doing and to provide us with feedback and suggestions. We feel incredibly lucky to have such a loyal customer base and engaged community – there really is no place better to live and work. You guys (Channel Magazine) are a great advocate for championing and promoting local businesses and we are so grateful for the team's ongoing support. We’re also so lucky to have the support of Murray (Hill) and
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Issue 118 - April 2021 www.channelmag.co.nz
the Milford Business Association, who do so much to support local businesses and keep the local community engaged. Our new MP Simon Watts is another advocate who seems to be passionate about the North Shore and promoting support for shopping local. It was really pleasing to see his support has continued post the election. CM: These lockdowns have given us time to discover new things. Is there anything you have enjoyed about the slower pace of lockdown life? Caroline: Although these lockdowns were not something we would choose, they have allowed us to slow down and spend more time with family. It also helped to highlight the really important things in life like family, friends and health. We are so lucky to live in a country like New Zealand where we do have a greater level of control over our borders, which has allowed us to live with a lot more freedom than the rest of the world. Border restrictions have also helped showcase just how much New Zealand has to offer right here at home. CM: Have you discovered anything new during this period about North Shore? Caroline: So many talented artisan providers have popped up (possibly through change of circumstances) and it's wonderful to see the indomitable Kiwi spirit alive and well as we pull together. Unfortunately, many small businesses have not survived through these lockdowns and many others are just hanging on by their fingertips, which is why it is crucial that we look for ways to support our local community. Local markets at Takapuna and Smales Farm are great ways to discover many of these local providers, as well as taking the time to wander the streets and explore some of the local shops you might not have popped into before. CM: Any exciting things happening with your business that Channel Mag readers should know about? Caroline: At Well Hung, we offer a sensational, premium selection of New Zealand grown, grass fed, AngusPure, wagyu and Matangi angus beef aged up to 100 days. This provides our customers with the opportunity to source restaurant quality cuts for their homes – and a real treat for the tastebuds when it might not be possible to get out of the house! Over the last 12 months, we’ve also considerably expanded our ‘ready to go’ meal options, which are a fantastic option for those who are short on time or when you’re looking for a care package to drop-off to friends or family. These range from home-made pies and
