On March 31, Party Plus owners Stephen and Claire Robertson will be hanging up the keys to their party hire company.
Mr Robertson said the decision to close the doors after more than 50 years in the industry had not been an easy one, but their attempts to sell in the past 20 months had been unsuccessful.
"We just haven’t had anyone who was wanting to do what we do."
There had been some buyer interest, "but they just can’t get their head around it and how it works in Invercargill".
He also had tried to divide the sale option into two locations.
The couple ran a party hire company that had operated out of Invercargill and Queenstown for 30 years.
Working seven days a week, hiring and erecting marquees and moving furniture had, at times, been demanding.
"Covid took the stuffing out of the business ... we’ve built it back up. We’re just about back to where we were six years ago.
"I’m into my 70s now and thought, ‘I’m going to have to pull the pin here’," he said.
"My wife and I, we just want to move on and do a few things."
His father founded the business in 1964 as Hire Services but, in 2005, Mr Robertson split the business into two, keeping the Party Plus division and selling to the Hire Pool brand.
"I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been good for Claire and I. We’ve run the cycle and it’s time to move on."
He believed it was the right time to leave and timely for their Invercargill manager Brett Hoyle, who wanted to explore other career options.
His only regret was being unable to sell the business as a going concern had resulted in staff redundancies.
"I wish that someone would pick it up in Invercargill.
"It’s a shame really, because that’s where we kept all the big marquees."
Mr Robertson had high praise for their three Invercargill staff who had been with the business for up to 20 years.
Mr Hoyle said he understood the Robertsons’ decision as they had reached retirement age and wanted time with their grandchildren.
"We will still be on deck until the end of April. By then, hopefully the wind-up will be complete," Mr Hoyle said.
"I’ve seen a lot and enjoyed the time I’ve been in it. But it is what it is."
By Toni McDonald
