Owner of The Otago Buzz, Karin Hermens-Jolink, says: “I love Cromwell and Central Otago. Our town is expanding, facilities are improving and the future is looking bright. I’d love to contribute to that expansion and show visitors what this region has to offer. Lots of tourists are still driving by our beautiful town and that is such a shame. This town and region have so much to offer”.
Karin moved to Cromwell from the Netherlands over a year ago with her husband and two children after they fell in love with the country during two holidays. But to be honest, she drove by Cromwell too. Being a tourism graduate she decided this shouldn’t have happened if the town could just show what it has to offer seen from the State Highways. So earlier this year, after a friend funnelled all of her ideas into a mobile shop the preparations began. The search for a caravan and stock and transforming it into a shop. The design on the outside is influenced by the regional colour scheme – The Otago Buzz is an official partner of Central Otago’s Regional Identity – A World of Difference – and the curvy pattern represents Central’s rolling hills and the blue water.
LOCAL HANDMADE PRODUCTS
Karin wants to offer tourists something to take home in their suitcase or backpack. For locals it’s a place to buy that one special, quirky and affordable gift. Part of the stock is made out of local materials: sand, driftwood, stones, tiles, merino wool and other NZ fabrics. This creative section of the shop will develop in the forthcoming months. “I met some very lovely and clever people who are capable of making the most stunning things. And I know there are many more out there. I’m hoping to create a centre of all those local treasures. Once it gets warmer I would like to organise some smaller outside activities too. I think it would be a wonderful experience for tourists and local kids to see someone working on a spinning wheel in front of my caravan or to be able to paint their own rocks through a small workshop”.
LIVELY HUB
Karin: ‘I want my shop to be a reason for visitors to stick around longer in the area and to introduce them to Central Otago and Cromwell. Hopefully in the near future this will grow into a bigger lively strip of food trucks and mobile shops’.
WINTER OPENING HOURS
During Wintertime The Otago Buzz is open from Wednesday until Saturday from 10am to 2.30pm and in case of special events (like the Cromwell Light Up Winter Festival). Facebook.com/theotagobuzz
- Karin Hermens-Jolink
