ADVERTORIAL
Celebrating 45 years in business is a monumental achievement that Gary Johansen and the team at Paeroa Marine & Cycle Centre are proud to celebrate this month – but that’s not all.
“I am actually the longest standing Yamaha dealer in New Zealand… we’ve been 45 years in business and 45 years in association with Yamaha New Zealand,” he said.
Gary wanted to thank the customers who have supported him for the past 45 years.
“What’s made it enjoyable is the friends I’ve met. They come as customers and become long-term friends.”
Gary started his business on Normanby Rd, Paeroa, in 1979 as a Yamaha motorcycle dealer, which led to taking on the Yamaha outboard franchise.
“The company back in those days was called Bike Shop Paeroa Ltd.”
After a change in business name and location, Paeroa Marine & Cycle Centre moved to 29 Puke Rd in 2002.
“And ever since then the company’s slowly been growing.” With a focus on providing quality and friendly service, Gary said the main parts of his business were outboard repairs and Yamaha outboard sales.
Fishing and hunting gear, push bikes and marine chandlery are also available.
Gary started with a team of three, and now there are seven. Workshop manager Sam Johansen and head mechanic Dylan Harris are the mobile mechanics.
Even though servicing is mainly in the Coromandel Peninsula and Clevedon – “we travel as far as Parengarenga up north, and as far south as the Chatham Islands”.
Based out of the workshop and office are the rest of the team – office manager Cath Crosby, retail/shop representative Carly Roff and apprentices Steven Dee and Hadlee Marshall. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Gary and his team have been running a few giveaways and a spend and win promotion in store.
– Davidda Hikatangata
