Jul 28, 2011

Gift shop a place to call home, say pairBy Michael BerryStuff.co.nz

New Zealand – Buying Blenheim gift store Gifts on Grove has given a Blenheim couple the chance to settle.

Roland van Asch and Xuemei Zhang met in China 13 years ago and have travelled around Southeast Asia doing rural and forestry consulting work for governments and charity organisations.

Mr van Asch had been working as a rural and forestry consultant all his professional life and it was time for something new, he said.

The couple were keen to settle down after spending so many years moving between countries, Ms Zhang said.

“It’s time to have a home.”

The pair have been in Blenheim since December after living in Bangkok for two years and took over the gift shop on July 1. Mr van Asch grew up in Blenheim and they had been hunting for a business to take on with a strong Marlborough focus.

“This is where we love and we have lots of friends round here,” Ms Zhang said.

They wanted something they could inject their creativity into.

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