Large format store opened at Auckland's Sylvia Park showcasing home decorating, homeware and lifestyle products under one roof.

Guthrie Bowron has opened a new large format concept store in Auckland. The store incorporates the core product categories of paint and wallpaper, curtains and blinds, and flooring together with a selected range of bed and bath products, homewares and furniture. The store delivers these decorating and lifestyle products within a single store and in an inspirational environment.

The store is located within the Apex Centre, opposite Sylvia Park and is open 7 days a week, with late nights until 6pm on Thursdays and Fridays. The Apex Centre houses a number of complementary retailers such as Freedom, Spotlight, The Design Store, Kitchen Things and Nood. It is located in close proximity to several main arterial routes (Southern Motorway, South Eastern and Mt Wellington highways) as well as being opposite New Zealand's busiest shopping complex, Sylvia Park.

The store features a Colour Lab where exterior and interior paints, stains and oils are mixed; Wallpaper Library showcasing the largest range of wallpaper in New Zealand; a Curtain and Blind department like no other, offering made to measure and ready-made window treatments; and a Flooring area with an extensive sample range of carpet, vinyls, timbers and laminates. In addition there is a café and kids area together with an interesting mix of home and lifestyle products such as Pure Fiji bath and body care, Espirit bedding, and Bodum kitchen equipment.

Steve Salmon, CEO, of Guthrie Bowron says, "Seeing the store finally take shape is just fantastic, and we are thrilled to open the doors to the first ever Guthrie Bowron concept store. We designed and created the store as a one-stop-shop for innovative ideas for the home. The layout of the store has been designed specifically for our customers by providing a comfortable and creative place for them to find ways to personalise their homes."

The store is managed by James Salmon who has extensive retail experience within large format stores and national retail chains. James has put in place an enthusiastic team with a passion for decorating and homeware products.

Please feel free to call in and see James and the team, they would be delighted to see you and discuss your decorating project.

For more information please contact:

About Guthrie Bowron Limited

Guthrie Bowron was founded in Dunedin in 1896. The business operates over 50 stores throughout New Zealand retailing paint and wallpaper, curtains and blinds, and flooring products to do-it-yourself and do-it-for-me customers. The majority of stores in the group are locally owned and operated by independent franchisees. Two stores (Sylvia Park, Auckland and Whangarei) are corporate owned. The group has strong market share in all of its key categories and the Guthrie Bowron brand enjoys high recognition and market awareness.

Additional information is available at www.guthriebowron.co.nz

About Waterman Capital

Waterman Capital is a New Zealand owned and based private equity firm established by Matt Riley and Chris Marshall in 2004. It is focused on investing in and adding value to mid-market businesses in New Zealand. Waterman acquired 100% of the shares in Guthrie Bowron Limited in May 2005 with a strategy of evolving the business into a home decorating specialist. Waterman Capital was the first manager appointed by the New Zealand Superannuation Fund (www.nzsuperfund.co.nz) for its Expansion Capital Strategy in 2010.

For more information visit www.waterman.co.nz.