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franchise.co.nz – PUTTING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
hen Mike Pero sold his real estate interests in 2019 and retired,
he didn’t expect to return to business so quickly. The man who
pioneered mortgage brokering in New Zealand with Mike Pero Mortgages
in 1990, says he just couldn’t resist Blackwell Trading Post. “It was an
opportunity too good to miss.”
Initially Mike was invited to advise the Greytown Gin Distillery board.
Instead, he asked to become a stakeholder after seeing the business
model developed by Adam Blackwell, Gavin Hodder and Peter Warren.
“I’ve seen a lot of business ideas,” says the former Apprentice Aotearoa
CEO. “Greytown Distilling Company has created an award-winning gin,
the world’s best marketing and a brilliant franchise model.”
The brand plan
Mike Pero and his fellow
shareholders formed the
Blackwell Trading Post
brand in January 2025 and
together they launched a
plan to roll out Blackwell
Trading Posts nationwide.
While the Trading Posts
will stock Greytown Gin,
they’ll carry the Blackwell
name. “Adam Blackwell
created a now famous
retail store in Greytown where the gin is currently sold and our new
Trading Posts will continue the unique store branding elements from the
original,” explains Mike.
“Customers can try before they buy, with complimentary tastings at every
store,” he says. The goal: more than 60 locations across New Zealand.
The gin appeal
Gin is booming globally, appealing to both younger and older
consumers, and Greytown Gin is leading that charge, winning two Gold
Medals at the 2024 Paris Gin Awards. Alongside gin, the stores will carry
premium vodka, whiskey and other craft spirits.
The Trading Post concept is modelled on the flagship gin store in
Greytown, which opened in December 2022. Despite being just eight
square metres and located in a small town of fewer than 3,000 people,
the store has performed exceptionally well. “It’s not on a main highway,
but people go out of their way to buy Greytown Gin,” says Mike. “We offer
ten unique variants, and online enquiries are growing fast, including
huge numbers of requests from Australia.”
The full-service franchise
The franchise business also offers an appealing lifestyle. “It’s a cruisy
setup – open at 10am, with seven hours of engaging with tourists and
The franchise veteran
Mike brings serious franchise
experience to Blackwell Trading
Post. He franchised Mike Pero
Mortgages in 1995, grew it to over 40
locations, and in 2003 won Supreme
Franchise of the Year at the Westpac
New Zealand Franchise Awards. He
later launched the Flight Experience
(Boeing 737) simulator franchises
around the world and built a
nationwide real estate brand with 62
offices in six years. Now, with over 100 franchise sales under his
belt, he’s off to set a new personal record with Blackwell Trading
Post – bigger, better and another iconic Kiwi brand.
locals,” notes Mike. Perfect for those who may want to back off from full
time but still want the corporate-style income.
Franchise options include a compact nine square metre boutique (ideal
for shared retail space like cafés, lifestyle stores, etc.) and a full-scale
50+ square metre store offering merchandise and accessories.
Mike sees the ideal franchisee as a mature, communicative couple,
capable of obtaining their license under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol
Act 2012, supported by two part-time casuals. Total turn-key costs,
including fees, fit-out, stock and plant, are from as little as $170,000.
Mike adds, “The ROI is significant.”
You’ll see Blackwell Trading Posts opening across the nation from
August. “They’re what I refer to as ‘full-service franchises’– by this I am
meaning, as the franchisor, we’ll do all the backroom work and the stuff
that business owners and salespeople often can’t be bothered with.
That will include stock control, ordering, accounting and various other
specialist roles,” says Mike.
“If you’re keen to know more about a Blackwell Trading post franchise,
then first we’d like you to enter into a Confidentiality Agreement. You can
apply via the link below and
this way we will agree from
the start to treat each
other’s information in
absolute confidence.
“Contact us now if you would
like to be in on the ground
floor of this exciting new retail
franchise opportunity.”
The flagship gin store in Greytown
“I LIKED THE
GIN SO MUCH
I JOINED THE
COMPANY”
Opportunity: Retail
New retail franchise Blackwell
Trading Post launches with
the backing and expertise of
franchise veteran, Mike Pero.
Blackwell Trading Post
www.blackwelltradingpost.com
Contact
Mike Pero
mike.pero@blackwelltradingpost.com
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