Business Beat: A whale of a trailblazer

FRANK NELSON

Cyclists in Marlborough have a fantastic choice of great riding trails, the latest being the Whale Trail which currently runs from Tuamarina to Ward and will eventually connect Picton and Kaikoura.

However, when Andy Johnson looked at all these glittering options -- including the Molesworth, Rainbow Station, the Link Pathway, and the Queen Charlotte and Nydia Bay tracks -- he realised that accessing them could be an issue, especially for cyclists with limited time.

His solution was to launch Ride The Whale, a flexible pick-up and drop-off shuttle service offering hassle-free transport for up to 30 riders and 24 bikes (plus luggage) to and from some of Marlborough’s most memorable cycleways.

Johnson, who’s based in Blenheim, says he can tailor shuttles to suit his customers, from casual day-trippers to experienced trail riders, or from social group outings to corporate events.

The Blenheim legal practice Radich Law has created a little bit of history by joining forces with Duncan Cotterill, one of the largest legal companies in New Zealand.
For more than 30 years, Duncan Cotterill has had an office in Nelson offering legal services across the top of the South Island; now, for the first time, the nationwide firm has established a separate footprint in Marlborough.

“It’s a partnership that preserves our local identity while opening new opportunities for our clients and our region,” said a statement from partner Miriam Radich and consultant Peter Radich, her father.

Peter Radich has practiced law for more than half a century and was the Marlborough coroner for almost three decades, services to the law which earned him the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Since moving into a vacant store on Havelock’s main street in 2014, The Gallery has provided a welcome sales outlet for scores of local artists while also donating thousands of dollars to worthy causes throughout the wider Pelorus community.

Director Vicki Parker says the gallery welcomes between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors each year and has been averaging around $270,000 in annual sales. Artists pay a small fee for gallery space plus 15 percent sales commission.

Volunteers run the non-profit, so the major expenses are things like rent, rates and insurance. This arrangement has enabled the gallery to plough $89,000 back into organizations such as local schools, the Havelock Theatre, and four volunteer fire brigades.

Steve and Jo Hill, who owned Wine Tours by Bike for 11 years and ran a B&B from their Renwick home for even longer, have moved away from the tourism industry with their latest venture.

The couple now own Daneunder Workwear, supplying corporate and safety clothing which can be customised to each individual business thanks to the lettering and logo service provided by Rachelle Neal at Embroidery Lab, in Grovetown.

The Hills have a showroom on their Blicks Road property where customers can see workwear samples and discuss specific branding requirements. The quirky name of the business harks back to its founding in 2019 by Danish/Kiwi couple Karl and Julie Maltesen.

Got any business news? Comments, tips, suggestions? Contact [email protected]