Who are the people in your neighbourhood? Why we should keep it local...

Who are the people in your neighbourhood? Reasons to keep it local.

Devonport, being a peninsula with only a single road in and out, is a tight-knit community where a quick nip out to the local New World inevitably ends up a social occasion. The majority of Devonport’s shops and businesses are owner-operated by the very people who live here, and when we all shop local, not only are we showing our support of those people, but we are investing in our local economy. It’s closer, easier, and a better environmental choice.

This month’s Devonport Messenger will be introducing you to some of our newest local business owners; all offering goods or services a place like Devonport couldn't do without.

Happily Hammer Hardware

9 years ago Hammer Hardware Devonport sold to new owners and at the time a certain Matt and Carly Senior after hearing about the sale thought, ‘We could do that.’ And so, proving the idiom ‘good things take time’ to be a truth, they seized the opportunity when it arose in July of last year.

Having a Hammer Hardware, as almost every local will know, is an absolute blessing in a place like Devonport, where replacement parts, gardening tools, nuts, bolts, father’s-day-gifts, and buckets and spades are items we just don’t want to travel far for. To be able to quickly grab any number of do-it-yourself items, with quality guidance and friendly service, is just not something a community ever wants to lose.

Better than Fiction

It was local journalist Rob Drent who said he felt a “village bookshop is an indication of a civilised society” and indeed an hour spent pouring over the array of delicious publications now domiciled at Paradox Books, is a particularly civilised (and quite lovely) way to spend one’s own time.
Long time local Terrie Gray recently celebrated her first year as bookshop owner and here she tells us a little about her journey thus far..

Sorting Your Computers: Bit by Bit

Given the dependency we have on technology, it ought to be mandatory for every town centre to have a local tech-fix-it guy. Ours is the self-described ‘big-hearted Northerner’ Karl, who probably knows almost every local who has previously suffered an urgent tech-glitch or broken phone screen.

We asked Karl to tell us a little about himself, his business Clean Green Computer, and what we can do to better look after our gadgets.

MOVE - That's the Motivation You Need

Some people were born to make a difference; impacting others lives and helping them to find their own personal strength.

Hugh Biss, the man behind Devonport's new fitness studio MOVE is exactly that type of person and his enormous list of training credentials is enough to make anyone want to jump out of their seat and start moving.

It's a Zero Waste Devonport for Vondel

The Zero Waste Devonport Initiative is a partnership between community stakeholders who all want to see Devonport moving quickly towards a zero waste future.
This year the Devonport Business Assocation has signed up with the Community Recycling Centre to offer Devonport's Businesses an opportunity to have their waste collected and processed locally, diverting as much from landfill as possible. The new thrice weekly collections include food waste, compostable packaging, glass and card. Sam Bratton, owner of Vondel was one of the first businesses to take up this golden opportunity. We ask him why he was so quick to get behind it.