1549 days ago

80-year-old retail veteran yet to face a dull day after 64 years in the industry

Jake Kenny Reporter from Community News

Happy Tuesday neighbours,

When 80-year-old Barry Souter landed his first job in a clothing store 64 years ago, the retail industry looked a lot different.

Customers were not able to browse the shelves but had to ask for clothes to be brought out from behind the counter. When a sale was made, Souter had to handwrite the sale docket. And stock-taking was very much a manual task.

But through all the changes, Souter has never stopped having fun. “It’s the people that make it. Human interaction is what keeps us all going.”

Souter’s first job was at Hallensteins in Dunedin when he was 16, and he worked for Munns in Christchurch for a long time before opening his own business in Bishopdale nearly a decade ago.

Click 'Read more' below for the full story.

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More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Neighbourhood Challenge: Who Can Crack This One? ⛓️‍💥❔

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

What has a head but no brain?

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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13 days ago

Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.

We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?

Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.

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Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
  • 87.9% Yes
    87.9% Complete
  • 12.1% No
    12.1% Complete
116 votes
3 days ago

Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”

We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?

Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.

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Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
  • 40.9% Yes
    40.9% Complete
  • 33.8% Maybe?
    33.8% Complete
  • 25.2% No
    25.2% Complete
535 votes