Owen and Kate Meyer with their friends Caroline and George Ritchie have taken it upon themselves to fill a need in their community by preparing to open Sports Circle, the first secondhand sports shop in Wānaka.
As enthusiastic adventurers and travellers with young children, the two families were familiar with the process of having to continuously get new bikes, skis and other equipment for their growing families.
In an attempt to be more environmentally conscious and save money, they were two of many Wānaka families who turned to secondhand shops and Facebook groups to source their equipment.
Wānaka’s sustainable ethos, along with the countless adventure activities, meant there were many locals and tourists looking to buy or sell equipment while minimising waste.
However, the process felt scattered for the Ritchies and the Meyers as they navigated frustrating Facebook negotiations and secondhand stores that did not specialise in sports equipment.
"You end up on Facebook Marketplace and you never know what you’re going to get until you get there and there’s a lot of time wasters," Mr Meyer said, expressing the hassle of having to find equipment online for his children.
The idea was put to action at the beginning of the year after Mr Meyer’s contracting job came to an end.
Once they had the time, it was a no-brainer to start putting together one place for locals and travellers to sell and buy without the stress, they said.
"Having a shop where people can sell their second-hand goods in one place and you don’t need to drive around to see lots of different items in different places is really convenient and kind of ideal for both sellers and buyers," he said.
The store was welcoming drop-offs for any sports equipment and clothing. Commission could be offered, depending on what was brought in, as well as a store discount if the items sold.
The shop was set to open tomorrow with opportunities to drop gear off until the opening.
To find out more, go to www.sportscircle.co.nz
