Hutt City Council and the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce have joined forces to create a website, to help Naenae business owners reach customers.

Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry says the Shop Naenae virtual marketplace and website is an important new initiative for local businesses to help them connect with customers in the Naenae and wider Lower Hutt community.

“Supporting local businesses in Naenae has been a priority since the pool was closed due to seismic issues. A range of things have been done to help the business community get back on its feet. This is the first time that businesses have come together through support from the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and Council to create an online presence for customers.

“This is an opportunity for Naenae shopping centre businesses to reach the Hutt Valley. It means that people outside Naenae, even outside Lower Hutt can shop from home and at the same time have the opportunity to find out what amazing things these businesses offer,” says Campbell Barry. “Working together and creating a digital marketplace can help the community discover and support their local businesses which is so important at this time.”

Shop Naenae allows customers to view and select what they want to purchase online making services and products more accessible. Perhaps a customer could pick up their coffee on the way to the office? Or a company could order a morning tea the day before.
Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Helen Down is confident the new virtual marketplace will make a big difference.

“Together we spent a lot of time talking to and working with the businesses in the Naenae shopping area. It was clear that the single best opportunity we could provide to them would be to take their businesses online and create an online marketplace.”

Retailers that sell products that are sought after by people outside Naenae – like Vinay Kumar’s M8 Mini Mart are pleased to have the support of Shop Naenae; “We sell cooked Taro and other Samoan products and it may be easier for our customers to order through a website and then we can make arrangements for contact-less delivery.”