Tim Calder

Drawing on the very same traditions for inspiration that has influenced Highlanders Rugby we have proposed that our Stadium seating block be named after the most famous of Scottish Regiments the Black Watch.  Last night at the Robbie Burns a ballot was draw for the first seats to be picked in the new stadium amongst our Lounge Membership group. I was extremely fortunate this night to be standing next to Professor John Burke whose number was called first. Not knowing what seat to choose John asked me to help him whereby I got to  select the two best seats in the entire stadium for both him AND me! So you may say that I had first pick of the 31,184 seats available at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium at the University Plaza, and of course I chose the best ones to go with our Lounge Membership package!

It all began in 1725 when General Wade, as leader of the King’s Army in Scotland, set up six companies of the Highland “Watch”, dressed in what was to become known as The Black Watch tartan; inadvertently he created one of the world’s greatest and most enduring military brands.

In 1739 George II amalgamated these companies that had performed with such distinction to form a single infantry regiment which became known as ‘The Black Watch’.

The regiment spent the next 266 years fighting for King, Queen and country from its first great battle at Fontenoy in Flanders in 1745 to Fallujah in Iraq in 2005. Along the way The Black Watch collected an incredible 164 battle honours, 14 VC’s and a reputation that places the regiment in a category of its own.

This month All Stor (Christchurch), All Safe (Wellington), Ezi Stor (Palmerston North), and Ezy Stor (Dunedin) completed a combine website under the domain storage.co.nz. This joint venture has made the range of website features like storage calculators, online booking systems, and easy updated specials more affordable for smaller operations to justify. As each company offers a comparable service in different regions it has made it possible for us to work together efficiently without causing any competition issues. Eventually our operations will run closer together to allow customers to receive a similar secure service and relative storage product offerings in most major cities across the country as well as the ability to have their goods moved between locations when moving. As our local operations grow and more centers are acquired our collaboration will hopefully give us a competitive edge over our competition.