Business Beat: Wine owner's eight country tour; Uber and Big Save eyeing Blenheim?

Amanda Johnson, owner and managing director of Spy Valley Wines, recently returned from a marathon seven-week, eight-country, one-woman marketing and public relations tour.

First stop Dubai, then (via Morocco) on to England, Ireland and Scotland, next up Poland and Norway, before spending two weeks travelling the East Coast of the United States.

Though chilly economic winds are ruffling the wine industry in many countries, Johnson has returned feeling positive about the future. “There’s still definitely a great response to good quality New Zealand wine.”

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Uber, whose high-tech taxi service is firmly established in New Zealand’s larger cities, is now eyeing Marlborough as the company looks to expand into provincial regions.  “We hope to bring the convenience of Uber to Marlborough soon and will be in touch if and when this is confirmed,” said Keeley James, from marketing and communications firm Acumen. If Marlborough does get the green light, Uber will begin advertising for drivers, signalling both new transport options and earnings opportunities for local residents.

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The first commercial electric flights between Blenheim and Wellington have moved a step closer following completion of almost $11 million worth of improvements to the infrastructure at Marlborough airport.

Along with re-sealing the runway and improving parking, an electrical upgrade means the electric plane’s batteries can now be re-charged in around 90 minutes.

Air New Zealand, which will initially operate the cargo-only flights in partnership with New Zealand Post, says the service will begin next year but has not yet announced a firm date.

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Local tradies will likely be first to have a workout at the freshly relocated City Fitness in Blenheim. The gym, currently in Nelson Street, has taken over the lease of the former Noel Leeming outlet in the CBD.

Fit-out tendering closed two weeks ago so it shouldn’t be long before builders, painters, electricians, plumbers and others start working up a sweat transforming the roughly 1250 square-metre interior.

After more than 20 years in central Blenheim, Noel Leeming moved to new premises in the Westwood Business Park, Springlands, in February.

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As Smiths City prepares to close its doors for the last time on July 6, there are plenty of predictions on who might move into the Kinross Street site. However, the name mentioned most frequently is Big Save.

The company, which bills itself as New Zealand’s largest privately-owned furniture business, has not responded to requests for comment while Marlborough District Council, which owns the property in question, also remains tight-lipped as “commercial negotiations” continue.

By Frank Nelson