From paintings to pinot… hospitality and retail

From paintings to pinot noir… hospitality and retail sectors combine to launch New Zealand’s first ‘designers market in a bar’

Designer fashions and stylish art will soon be on display alongside pinot noir and cocktails with the launch of New Zealand’s first ‘market in a bar’.

The new concept will see innovative fashion, art and interior homeware designs on display at a market based within Auckland’s biggest and most talked about bar – Sale St.

Establishing a totally new mindset for market retailing, the ‘designers market in a bar’ initiative has been brought to Auckland by entrepreneurs Brendon Poole and Travis Standen who are partners in the online business EPIPHANYdesignstore.

“Bar markets are a concept that have proven highly successful in Sydney, and it made perfect sense to establish the idea here. We’ve been waiting for a bar like Sale St to come along as we needed somewhere with plenty of space, somewhere close to the city and Ponsonby, and somewhere the concept of hospitality retailing could be fully embraced,” said Brendon.

“People’s perceptions of ‘markets’ in Auckland have changed dramatically over the past few years. Markets used to be associated with car boot sales where you’d pile up a load of household junk.

“However, with the likes of the Matakana Famers’ Market just north of Auckland and the French Market in Parnell, we have become much more like the European markets – where artisans, craftspeople and boutique food producers are selling to a much more discerning customer. That’s what we’ll be doing at the EPIPHANYdesignstore@SALE ST market, launching from June 6.

“Exhibitors will be high-end artisans showcasing the latest fashion designs, jewellery, paintings, sculptures, interior décor fittings and gourmet food for example. To our knowledge, there’s nothing else like this in New Zealand.

“We have a wealth of creative talent in this country, but not every budding designer has the opportunity to exhibit their products – so we anticipate the EPIPHANYdesignstore@SALE ST market could well be a launching pad for the next Karen Walker or Ralph Hotere.

“The environment will see exhibitors potentially be flanked by bar staff pouring a glass of thirst-quenching lager, or beside the aromas of a professional restaurant kitchen cooking eggs Benedict. The EPIPHANYdesignstore@SALE ST will marry hospitality with retailing in a theme never before seen in New Zealand.”

EPIPHANYdesignstore@SALE ST will operate on Saturdays and Sundays between 9.00am and 3pm – a traditionally slower trading time for bars and restaurants whose focus is more the evening and late night trade. Live music is also planned for the market – with jazz and laid-back acoustic sets being pencilled in for the first month.

Larger-than-life hospitality personality and Sale St owner, Luke Dallow, said he was excited about launching the new marriage between the retailing, and food and beverage sectors.

“Saturday and Sunday mornings are quiet periods for most bars, so it made perfect sense to turn over the expansive floor space of Sale St into a European-styled market arena. I’m confident this market will set new benchmarks for retailing in New Zealand,” said Luke.

“Imagine, starting off Saturday or Sunday morning with brunch and a coffee where you can read the paper or wander around and go shopping, maybe catch up with friends, browse, have another coffee, or even come in a bit later and go straight for a glass of wine over lunch after picking up something new to wear that night.

“This is going to be huge among the Ponsonby set who love nothing better than shopping, eating and drinking… and at the EPIPHANYdesignstore@SALE ST event you’ll be able to do all three things at the same time. It’s an absolute winner.”

ENDS

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