After almost 40 years in the furniture business, Allan Brown is putting his feet up.
The Otago Furniture commercial manager has been in the business since 1977, when he was employed by Butterfields Holdings in its Octagon shop.
He took over the Otago Furniture division in South Dunedin in 1984, and the rest is history.
"It's probably time [to retire],'' he said.
"I'm nearly 67 and the company's in good health.''
Otago Furniture was transformed "from nothing'' into a multimillion-dollar operation, Mr Brown said.
Among his highlights as commercial manager were the contracts he established with Ryman Healthcare in Australia and Millennium Hotel in Queenstown.
The company provided front-of-house furniture for all 27 Ryman retirement villages across Australia, and would provide furniture for four planned new villages.
It manufactured all bedroom furniture for the Queenstown hotel.
"That was just a pleasure to do, and it [the furniture] has stood the test of time,'' Mr Brown said.
Otago Furniture also provided many chairs for the Parliament Buildings in Wellington.
He would miss the camaraderie among workmates and clients the most in retirement, Mr Brown said.
However, he did not plan to sit on his hands. Hunting and fishing were on the cards, as well as a two and a-half-month trip to the Sunshine Coast.
"Your health is your wealth and I've got my health at the moment, so it's best to do it while you can.''
