The Northern Rivers Times Edition 134

OATENS TURNS 50

By SAMANTHA ELLEY

In 1973 when Bill and Colleen Oaten opened an electrical appliance store in Kyogle, little did they know that half a century later they would be celebrating 50 years of growth and expansion.

“They would sell small amount of electrical appliances then he took on a guy who did tv repairs,” said general manager, Mark Oaten, the couple’s son.

“They expanded into furniture.”

The company kept expanding and outgrowing the various stores, even moving at one point to the Roxy Theatre for about fve years.

“That’s when I started (in the store) three days

after the HSC,” said Mark.

“From there it went up to the top end of Kyogle and then one of his mates told Dad about a place at Casino Fair there was a big open space.

“That would have been in the mid-1980s.”

By 1987 Oatens moved into the shop they are currently occupying in Canterbury Street, which at the time was only half the size it is today.

“He bought this building off the Aarons Brothers who ran Barry Aarons Motors,” said Mark.

Mark said moving to Casino was the next step.

“Just getting into a bigger populated area which allowed us to expand the business, more staff, more product,” he said.

“We outgrew this place in 2003 and actually did an extension, doubled the size.”

Oatens have taken on many different product providers including Carpet Court, Beds R

Us, Retravision and today they partner with Norwegian furniture company Stressless.

“(Furniture trends) have defnitely gone through couple of phases,” said Mark.

“It was all about Australian made when I started off, lounges, dining suites…

“From there it went into the Chinese phase, what I call ‘sausage made’ factor stuff.

“It’s come back totally the other way, with good quality product and back to Australian made.”

Mark said furniture is more individualised now.

“It(Furniture) is more customised now, with different sizes, so many colours to choose from, more options instead of the one size fts all,” he said.

“Things have moved

signifcantly.

“On occasions I’ve come over on a Sunday and helped people furnish a whole house as it was the only day they could get here.

“With the product we’ve got we can do the foor, they can buy their white goods and all their furniture.

“We can do the whole lot.”

Celebrations were held recently at the Lismore Turf Club, where Mark is the chairman, with a race day with family, staff, customers and suppliers.

“We’ve planned a few things during the year,” he said.

Watch this space for some exciting developments and giveaways as Oatens celebrate their 50 years.

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