Tucked between Chengdu’s dairy and Piace, Everyone’s Store Raglan is more than just a shop—it’s a love letter to local style, good vibes, and community spirit. Owner and former professional dancer turned retailer Indya Gibbs shares how the store came to life, what keeps it grounded, and why shopping local still matters.
Tell us about the history of your business and when and why you set it up.
I was born and raised in Whāingaroa but spent my early 20s living in Wellington and touring the globe as a professional dancer. I moved home in 2018 and was so excited to be back in Whāingaroa. I started working for Crowie at Fallenfront which was an online store and physical store here in town. I truly found such a passion for buying and selling to our local community. Naturally, my role started to get bigger and eventually I took over the business which we now call Everyone’s Store Raglan! I am now about to complete my fourth year in business.
How has it changed over the years ?
I took over the business in the middle of such a crazy time as we were in and out of lockdowns and everything felt so unstable. I learned a lot about keeping my cool and trusting the process. I feel as though that side of things has stayed the same! Retail ebbs and flows; there truly is no recipe to predict what is going to happen. So we just roll with what we get! Town has changed so much, with new things here and there, but for us it’s about staying true to what we do and staying true to supplying to our local community.
What is important to you regarding your business and what you offer customers ?
The most important part of my business is making sure it is a fun and vibrant experience. People are so keen to just find a good deal online and cut out the true retail experience. But let’s bring it back! Listen to the music, feel all the fabrics, be greeted with warmth and buy quality! A true curated space is exactly what we want to create, a unique experience that makes you feel special. Shopping locally is such a treat. Our town is full of epic spots so we really gotta keep the retail game alive.
What are the strengths of your business ?
Our strength is quality, fun, classic pieces to uplift you! Oh, and our store merch! I feel so proud when I see our hoodies and tees everywhere, representing our maunga, Karioi, along with the chain heart. It will forever feel so special.
What is your online presence and how does this work for you?
When it comes to our social media, I love it! To keep everyone updated with what’s new is exciting and I think people love to see it. Sometimes people rush into the shop saying they saw something on our Instagram and wanted to get it before anyone else did. Our presence in that space is something we like to have fun with and not take too seriously. With our physical website, I don’t pay too much attention to it as I really love to focus on that in-store experience. Online is saturated with so many brands pushing things on you. At the end of the day I run a small business and your in-store experience is what really matters to me! But online is always a helpful tool to reach our people!
What do you find are the challenges or obstacles in the business or industry ?
I feel there is a shift, people are falling in love with retail again… or at least I hope they are! The online world is just too much sometimes. I would say that is one of our biggest battles! I try to stay unique to keep on top of this. Another big challenge with trans-seasonal towns is, of course, the survival of the slower months. It is always such a tricky space to navigate but we are so lucky that our main customers are locals, so they are always our push and our drive. Since becoming a new māmā, I am learning the balance of owning a business and staying present with our tama. I am lucky to have a very strong support system to make this all possible.
What is on offer in store as we head into winter ?
We have so many beautiful, snuggly pieces to keep you cosy for winter! It’s so cool to see the season change and how it changes the store feel. Warm tones, classic cuts, and new colourways in our Everyone’s Store merch! We always look forward to seeing our community in store and are so grateful for the continuous support.
How do people find you ?
We are in the heart of Whāingaroa, next to Chundu’s dairy and now with Piace on our other side! We are on Instagram @everyonesstoreraglan. And our online store is everyonesstoreraglan.com. Nau mai, haere mai, we would love to see you. And this is a reminder to shop local and look after each other; we do it pretty good here in Whāingaroa 🙂
Images by Erin Smith
