Welcome back! Last Thursday 31st March, St. Pierre’s did something we’ve never done before – opened two shops on the same day! One was reopening Symonds Street, and the other was the brand-new Papamoa shop. Read on to find out more!
Papamoa is on the sunny Bay of Plenty coast, east of downtown Tauranga. It’s a popular area both for summer holidays and to live, so we were keen to be involved. Our new shop is centrally located, just by the community centre, local doctors, supermarket and other busy destinations.
The shop design puts a new spin on our current design language to suit the area and site layout, with bright geometric wall patterns and oversized lightshades providing colour. The chunky furniture against black walls is another highlight, all together making the shop bright yet cosy, relaxing and inviting to everyone, especially families with kids.
Partner Managers Seak and Tee were overjoyed on opening, saying that
“We’ve both been with the company for some years, but this is a massive step up. Opening a new shop – rather than joining an existing one – has been such a challenge. We couldn’t have done it without the support of the head office staff, especially area manager Lili, our new Papamoa team, and nearby partners such as Ivy, Joanne and Yohanes. In particular, Ivy and Joanne put a lot of time into training our new staff before opening.
So many details go into great customer experience, but we’re all committed to delivering great products and service from day one. Our aim is to create a fun workplace which brings smiles to staff and customers, a shop that we and the whole company are proud of. Finally, we’re moving here as a family, so we’re excited to learn more about the community and how we can contribute to it.”
Lili commented that
“Seak and Tee have run their own café as well as managed different departments at St. Pierre’s, so they definitely are experienced. However, running a sushi department in a new city will be a big challenge! As well as building a high-performing team, partners also have to develop links with their community to build the business. This is a critical part of our 7 Steps to Partnership pathway. Tee and Seak will need to spend a lot of time getting to know schools and community groups, working on promotional channels, etc., while still maintaining the company‘s reputation and delivering customer satisfaction.
Finally, I hope they can inspire and develop their team members to grow in their career at St. Pierre’s. It’s a big job, but I’m here to support them, and they’ve made a great start! I wish them all the best with their new city and lifestyle.”
Finally, Director Perry Katsoulis commented
“Congratulations to our new trial partners Tee and Seak! They are full of energy, passion and enthusiasm, and I know they are ready to become St. Pierre’s Partners! I and the other directors wish you the very best of luck in your future in Papamoa. I imagine that moving your children from Auckland and starting a new life and a business is a huge step to take, but the St. Pierre’s family is here to help. Yohanes came from Rotorua and Ivy and Joanne from Tauranga for opening day, and we’ll always be here for you.
Papamoa is an important shop for us, as it’s a popular lifestyle choice and a growing market. Who wouldn’t want to live in a beautiful Bay of Plenty beach resort? I hope that Tee & Seak love the lifestyle here too.”
The new shop was busy on opening day and has been even more so in the days that followed. Customers who themselves relocated to Papamoa were happy to see their favourite sushi available locally, and many locals were keen to see what the fuss was about. Feedback was positive, with words like “delicious,” “I see why it’s so popular!,” “kid friendly,” and “welcoming” repeated over and over. It’s so far so good in Papamoa, making all the hard work by many staff worthwhile.
We believe that the Papamoa shop will soon be a landmark in this relaxed beachside area, and by opening on the same day as Symonds Street, it’s a special milestone for the company as well. If you’re visiting Papamoa or just passing through, do stop by and see Seak and Tee – see you there soon!
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