They’re a part of our lives, offering everything from newspapers and magazines to soft drinks and lotto tickets, but what do you know about your local newsagent.
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In our new series the Mercury will look at two local newsagents each week to find out what makes their business so successful.
It was a medical condition that took Geoff Kilmurray from the underground mines of the Hunter Valley to the newsagency business.
Formerly from Cessnock, Mr Kilmurray was forced to undergo a double hip replacement because of arthritis.
Twelve years ago he and his wife Sue bought Gillieston Heights General Store and Bottle Shop.
“I’ve done a bit of everything,” Mr Kilmurray said. “[This business] has been good to us.”
A popular drop-in spot for tradies and locals, the newsagency made major gains when a designated parking lane was installed outside the property.
“We tried for 10 years to get it, but the RTA put it in the too-hard basket,” Mr Kilmurray said.
“[Maitland MP] Robyn Parker and [Roads Minister] Duncan Gay helped and we got it about three or four years ago.
“It’s made a big difference,” Mr Kilmurray said.
He said the shop had always received support from a strong customer base.
And although he’s partial to reading a good magazine, Mr Kilmurray said he didn’t have much time to himself with the early morning starts the business required.
To its customers, Maitland West End Newsagency is more than a paper shop.
When an elderly customer had trouble opening the bonnet of her car, West End owner Lindsay Patfield was there to help.
When another couldn’t make it to the store he delivered her milk.
“We try to help people as much as we can,” wife Lyn said.
“We strive to give the best service we can.”
Along with his early morning rounds, Mr Patfield makes daily deliveries to Maitland Hospital wards.
“You try to bring a smile to people’s faces,” Mrs Patfield said.
“You get to see a great diversity of people and you make a lot of friends through customers.
“We’ve got a really good customer base.”
The couple came to the industry 15 years ago after they were made redundant from government jobs within three months of one another.
After four years spent at the Tenambit newsagency they moved to the High Street business where they have been for 11 years.
Mrs Patfield said the early morning starts took some getting used to with one particular customer known to pick up his papers at 2.30am.
“Naturally it’s a challenge when you first start out,” Mrs Patfield said.
“We’ve seen a lot of changes in Maitland.
“We do love [the job]; I think if you didn’t you wouldn’t have done it after all this time.”