Rockyyz rocks as it turns six
July 31 2009
Like many entrepreneurial success stories, Murari and Geeta Aggarwal’s foray into business in New Zealand was propelled by deep discontent. The highly experienced chartered accountant from New Delhi and his academic tutor wife began life in this country with their two young sons in 2002.
“Like all new settlers from India, one of the first things we did was to scour the streets of Auckland for good Indian groceries. We would search and high and low and often return home disappointed because we couldn’t find what we want,” Murari says. “We really missed the quality of the dals, spices and other provisions that are available so easily in India.”
Before long, the couple decided to start an Indian grocery store with a difference – one that would stock and sell quality goods hand picked from India. But not knowing where to begin in a new country, they approached Rocky Oberoi who then ran the popular Rockyyz Mini Mart at Manurewa. “We became great friends and he encouraged me to open a franchise here in Papatoetoe,” Murari says.
It was a great learning experience, he acknowledges. But as it turned out, Oberoi sold his store in early 2004 but Murari convinced him to keep his own franchised store out of the deal and that’s when Rockyyz Papatoetoe became independent.
This week, Rockyyz Papatoetoe is celebrating its sixth birthday.
“It was an uphill struggle initially,” he says. “But consistent good quality and customer service is what really carried the day for us. I can now look back with great satisfaction – our hard work and sincerity has truly paid off.”
Murari and Geeta have developed a personal rapport with most of the customers whom they know by name. “It is really like a large extended family,” says Geeta. But Murari gives his wife all the credit. “She has a real way with people – for many of our regular customer, their shopping is not complete until they have a chat with her,” he says.
The store is a veritable outing for many Indian families. A number of people arrange to meet up there and shop together in the weekends, says Murari. “Especially during festivals like Karva Chauth, we have a lot of activities like free Mehendi which customers have really appreciated over the years. Everyone likes to mix and mingle while they also shop.”
According to Murari, Rockyyz customer profile is 40% each of Indians from India and from Fiji while the remaining 20% comprises non-Indians.
Though they put in up to 10 hours of work every day, they don’t miss social life. “We have a busy social life with so many customers who are more than friends,” says Murari. “The only difference is that all our social interaction happens in the same setting – right here in the shop.”
This is amply illustrated by the fact that their older son found the love of his life right there. “The girl was a regular shopper here with her parents. We got friendly and then one thing led to another and now we are family,” says Murari, now a proud grandfather.
The couple’s sons are both qualified engineers with the younger of the two working with a bank and the elder one managing the family’s liquor store in nearby Otahuhu.
Both Murari and Geeta attribute their success to quality of product, personalised service and competitive pricing. “It’s tough keeping the quality-price balance in this fiercely competitive field,” says Murari. “But we place quality above all else. We will never sell what we ourselves would never use in our home – it’s as simple as that.”
It’s not for nothing that customers come to Rockyyz all the way from West Auckland and as far away as Tauranga and Hamilton.
Rockyyz has a clean feel to it and though relatively small, has a pleasing and uncluttered layout – and for its size has a great variety of groceries and household goods that Indians can’t do without including a range of Puja and festive items. The store is currently selling a wide range of rakhis for next month’s Raksha Bandhan.
,Like many entrepreneurial success stories, Murari and Geeta Aggarwal’s foray into business in New Zealand was propelled by deep discontent. The highly experienced chartered accountant from New Delhi and his academic tutor wife began life in this country with their two young sons in 2002.
“Like all new settlers from India, one of the first things we did was to scour the streets of Auckland for good Indian groceries. We would search and high and low and often return home disappointed because we couldn’t find what we want,” Murari says. “We really missed the quality of the dals, spices and other provisions that are available so easily in India.”
Before long, the couple decided to start an Indian grocery store with a difference – one that would stock and sell quality goods hand picked from India. But not knowing where to begin in a new country, they approached Rocky Oberoi who then ran the popular Rockyyz Mini Mart at Manurewa. “We became great friends and he encouraged me to open a franchise here in Papatoetoe,” Murari says.
It was a great learning experience, he acknowledges. But as it turned out, Oberoi sold his store in early 2004 but Murari convinced him to keep his own franchised store out of the deal and that’s when Rockyyz Papatoetoe became independent.
This week, Rockyyz Papatoetoe is celebrating its sixth birthday.
“It was an uphill struggle initially,” he says. “But consistent good quality and customer service is what really carried the day for us. I can now look back with great satisfaction – our hard work and sincerity has truly paid off.”
Murari and Geeta have developed a personal rapport with most of the customers whom they know by name. “It is really like a large extended family,” says Geeta. But Murari gives his wife all the credit. “She has a real way with people – for many of our regular customer, their shopping is not complete until they have a chat with her,” he says.
The store is a veritable outing for many Indian families. A number of people arrange to meet up there and shop together in the weekends, says Murari. “Especially during festivals like Karva Chauth, we have a lot of activities like free Mehendi which customers have really appreciated over the years. Everyone likes to mix and mingle while they also shop.”
According to Murari, Rockyyz customer profile is 40% each of Indians from India and from Fiji while the remaining 20% comprises non-Indians.
Though they put in up to 10 hours of work every day, they don’t miss social life. “We have a busy social life with so many customers who are more than friends,” says Murari. “The only difference is that all our social interaction happens in the same setting – right here in the shop.”
This is amply illustrated by the fact that their older son found the love of his life right there. “The girl was a regular shopper here with her parents. We got friendly and then one thing led to another and now we are family,” says Murari, now a proud grandfather.
The couple’s sons are both qualified engineers with the younger of the two working with a bank and the elder one managing the family’s liquor store in nearby Otahuhu.
Both Murari and Geeta attribute their success to quality of product, personalised service and competitive pricing. “It’s tough keeping the quality-price balance in this fiercely competitive field,” says Murari. “But we place quality above all else. We will never sell what we ourselves would never use in our home – it’s as simple as that.”
It’s not for nothing that customers come to Rockyyz all the way from West Auckland and as far away as Tauranga and Hamilton.
Rockyyz has a clean feel to it and though relatively small, has a pleasing and uncluttered layout – and for its size has a great variety of groceries and household goods that Indians can’t do without including a range of Puja and festive items. The store is currently selling a wide range of rakhis for next month’s Raksha Bandhan.
“Like all new settlers from India, one of the first things we did was to scour the streets of Auckland for good Indian groceries. We would search and high and low and often return home disappointed because we couldn’t find what we want,” Murari says. “We really missed the quality of the dals, spices and other provisions that are available so easily in India.”
Before long, the couple decided to start an Indian grocery store with a difference – one that would stock and sell quality goods hand picked from India. But not knowing where to begin in a new country, they approached Rocky Oberoi who then ran the popular Rockyyz Mini Mart at Manurewa. “We became great friends and he encouraged me to open a franchise here in Papatoetoe,” Murari says.
It was a great learning experience, he acknowledges. But as it turned out, Oberoi sold his store in early 2004 but Murari convinced him to keep his own franchised store out of the deal and that’s when Rockyyz Papatoetoe became independent.
This week, Rockyyz Papatoetoe is celebrating its sixth birthday.
“It was an uphill struggle initially,” he says. “But consistent good quality and customer service is what really carried the day for us. I can now look back with great satisfaction – our hard work and sincerity has truly paid off.”
Murari and Geeta have developed a personal rapport with most of the customers whom they know by name. “It is really like a large extended family,” says Geeta. But Murari gives his wife all the credit. “She has a real way with people – for many of our regular customer, their shopping is not complete until they have a chat with her,” he says.
The store is a veritable outing for many Indian families. A number of people arrange to meet up there and shop together in the weekends, says Murari. “Especially during festivals like Karva Chauth, we have a lot of activities like free Mehendi which customers have really appreciated over the years. Everyone likes to mix and mingle while they also shop.”
According to Murari, Rockyyz customer profile is 40% each of Indians from India and from Fiji while the remaining 20% comprises non-Indians.
Though they put in up to 10 hours of work every day, they don’t miss social life. “We have a busy social life with so many customers who are more than friends,” says Murari. “The only difference is that all our social interaction happens in the same setting – right here in the shop.”
This is amply illustrated by the fact that their older son found the love of his life right there. “The girl was a regular shopper here with her parents. We got friendly and then one thing led to another and now we are family,” says Murari, now a proud grandfather.
The couple’s sons are both qualified engineers with the younger of the two working with a bank and the elder one managing the family’s liquor store in nearby Otahuhu.
Both Murari and Geeta attribute their success to quality of product, personalised service and competitive pricing. “It’s tough keeping the quality-price balance in this fiercely competitive field,” says Murari. “But we place quality above all else. We will never sell what we ourselves would never use in our home – it’s as simple as that.”
It’s not for nothing that customers come to Rockyyz all the way from West Auckland and as far away as Tauranga and Hamilton.
Rockyyz has a clean feel to it and though relatively small, has a pleasing and uncluttered layout – and for its size has a great variety of groceries and household goods that Indians can’t do without including a range of Puja and festive items. The store is currently selling a wide range of rakhis for next month’s Raksha Bandhan.
,Like many entrepreneurial success stories, Murari and Geeta Aggarwal’s foray into business in New Zealand was propelled by deep discontent. The highly experienced chartered accountant from New Delhi and his academic tutor wife began life in this country with their two young sons in 2002.
“Like all new settlers from India, one of the first things we did was to scour the streets of Auckland for good Indian groceries. We would search and high and low and often return home disappointed because we couldn’t find what we want,” Murari says. “We really missed the quality of the dals, spices and other provisions that are available so easily in India.”
Before long, the couple decided to start an Indian grocery store with a difference – one that would stock and sell quality goods hand picked from India. But not knowing where to begin in a new country, they approached Rocky Oberoi who then ran the popular Rockyyz Mini Mart at Manurewa. “We became great friends and he encouraged me to open a franchise here in Papatoetoe,” Murari says.
It was a great learning experience, he acknowledges. But as it turned out, Oberoi sold his store in early 2004 but Murari convinced him to keep his own franchised store out of the deal and that’s when Rockyyz Papatoetoe became independent.
This week, Rockyyz Papatoetoe is celebrating its sixth birthday.
“It was an uphill struggle initially,” he says. “But consistent good quality and customer service is what really carried the day for us. I can now look back with great satisfaction – our hard work and sincerity has truly paid off.”
Murari and Geeta have developed a personal rapport with most of the customers whom they know by name. “It is really like a large extended family,” says Geeta. But Murari gives his wife all the credit. “She has a real way with people – for many of our regular customer, their shopping is not complete until they have a chat with her,” he says.
The store is a veritable outing for many Indian families. A number of people arrange to meet up there and shop together in the weekends, says Murari. “Especially during festivals like Karva Chauth, we have a lot of activities like free Mehendi which customers have really appreciated over the years. Everyone likes to mix and mingle while they also shop.”
According to Murari, Rockyyz customer profile is 40% each of Indians from India and from Fiji while the remaining 20% comprises non-Indians.
Though they put in up to 10 hours of work every day, they don’t miss social life. “We have a busy social life with so many customers who are more than friends,” says Murari. “The only difference is that all our social interaction happens in the same setting – right here in the shop.”
This is amply illustrated by the fact that their older son found the love of his life right there. “The girl was a regular shopper here with her parents. We got friendly and then one thing led to another and now we are family,” says Murari, now a proud grandfather.
The couple’s sons are both qualified engineers with the younger of the two working with a bank and the elder one managing the family’s liquor store in nearby Otahuhu.
Both Murari and Geeta attribute their success to quality of product, personalised service and competitive pricing. “It’s tough keeping the quality-price balance in this fiercely competitive field,” says Murari. “But we place quality above all else. We will never sell what we ourselves would never use in our home – it’s as simple as that.”
It’s not for nothing that customers come to Rockyyz all the way from West Auckland and as far away as Tauranga and Hamilton.
Rockyyz has a clean feel to it and though relatively small, has a pleasing and uncluttered layout – and for its size has a great variety of groceries and household goods that Indians can’t do without including a range of Puja and festive items. The store is currently selling a wide range of rakhis for next month’s Raksha Bandhan.
Like many entrepreneurial success stories, Murari and Geeta Aggarwal’s foray into business in New Zealand was propelled by deep discontent. The highly experienced chartered accountant from New Delhi and his academic tutor wife began life in this country with their two young sons in 2002.“Like all...
Like many entrepreneurial success stories, Murari and Geeta Aggarwal’s foray into business in New Zealand was propelled by deep discontent. The highly experienced chartered accountant from New Delhi and his academic tutor wife began life in this country with their two young sons in 2002.
“Like all new settlers from India, one of the first things we did was to scour the streets of Auckland for good Indian groceries. We would search and high and low and often return home disappointed because we couldn’t find what we want,” Murari says. “We really missed the quality of the dals, spices and other provisions that are available so easily in India.”
Before long, the couple decided to start an Indian grocery store with a difference – one that would stock and sell quality goods hand picked from India. But not knowing where to begin in a new country, they approached Rocky Oberoi who then ran the popular Rockyyz Mini Mart at Manurewa. “We became great friends and he encouraged me to open a franchise here in Papatoetoe,” Murari says.
It was a great learning experience, he acknowledges. But as it turned out, Oberoi sold his store in early 2004 but Murari convinced him to keep his own franchised store out of the deal and that’s when Rockyyz Papatoetoe became independent.
This week, Rockyyz Papatoetoe is celebrating its sixth birthday.
“It was an uphill struggle initially,” he says. “But consistent good quality and customer service is what really carried the day for us. I can now look back with great satisfaction – our hard work and sincerity has truly paid off.”
Murari and Geeta have developed a personal rapport with most of the customers whom they know by name. “It is really like a large extended family,” says Geeta. But Murari gives his wife all the credit. “She has a real way with people – for many of our regular customer, their shopping is not complete until they have a chat with her,” he says.
The store is a veritable outing for many Indian families. A number of people arrange to meet up there and shop together in the weekends, says Murari. “Especially during festivals like Karva Chauth, we have a lot of activities like free Mehendi which customers have really appreciated over the years. Everyone likes to mix and mingle while they also shop.”
According to Murari, Rockyyz customer profile is 40% each of Indians from India and from Fiji while the remaining 20% comprises non-Indians.
Though they put in up to 10 hours of work every day, they don’t miss social life. “We have a busy social life with so many customers who are more than friends,” says Murari. “The only difference is that all our social interaction happens in the same setting – right here in the shop.”
This is amply illustrated by the fact that their older son found the love of his life right there. “The girl was a regular shopper here with her parents. We got friendly and then one thing led to another and now we are family,” says Murari, now a proud grandfather.
The couple’s sons are both qualified engineers with the younger of the two working with a bank and the elder one managing the family’s liquor store in nearby Otahuhu.
Both Murari and Geeta attribute their success to quality of product, personalised service and competitive pricing. “It’s tough keeping the quality-price balance in this fiercely competitive field,” says Murari. “But we place quality above all else. We will never sell what we ourselves would never use in our home – it’s as simple as that.”
It’s not for nothing that customers come to Rockyyz all the way from West Auckland and as far away as Tauranga and Hamilton.
Rockyyz has a clean feel to it and though relatively small, has a pleasing and uncluttered layout – and for its size has a great variety of groceries and household goods that Indians can’t do without including a range of Puja and festive items. The store is currently selling a wide range of rakhis for next month’s Raksha Bandhan.
,Like many entrepreneurial success stories, Murari and Geeta Aggarwal’s foray into business in New Zealand was propelled by deep discontent. The highly experienced chartered accountant from New Delhi and his academic tutor wife began life in this country with their two young sons in 2002.
“Like all new settlers from India, one of the first things we did was to scour the streets of Auckland for good Indian groceries. We would search and high and low and often return home disappointed because we couldn’t find what we want,” Murari says. “We really missed the quality of the dals, spices and other provisions that are available so easily in India.”
Before long, the couple decided to start an Indian grocery store with a difference – one that would stock and sell quality goods hand picked from India. But not knowing where to begin in a new country, they approached Rocky Oberoi who then ran the popular Rockyyz Mini Mart at Manurewa. “We became great friends and he encouraged me to open a franchise here in Papatoetoe,” Murari says.
It was a great learning experience, he acknowledges. But as it turned out, Oberoi sold his store in early 2004 but Murari convinced him to keep his own franchised store out of the deal and that’s when Rockyyz Papatoetoe became independent.
This week, Rockyyz Papatoetoe is celebrating its sixth birthday.
“It was an uphill struggle initially,” he says. “But consistent good quality and customer service is what really carried the day for us. I can now look back with great satisfaction – our hard work and sincerity has truly paid off.”
Murari and Geeta have developed a personal rapport with most of the customers whom they know by name. “It is really like a large extended family,” says Geeta. But Murari gives his wife all the credit. “She has a real way with people – for many of our regular customer, their shopping is not complete until they have a chat with her,” he says.
The store is a veritable outing for many Indian families. A number of people arrange to meet up there and shop together in the weekends, says Murari. “Especially during festivals like Karva Chauth, we have a lot of activities like free Mehendi which customers have really appreciated over the years. Everyone likes to mix and mingle while they also shop.”
According to Murari, Rockyyz customer profile is 40% each of Indians from India and from Fiji while the remaining 20% comprises non-Indians.
Though they put in up to 10 hours of work every day, they don’t miss social life. “We have a busy social life with so many customers who are more than friends,” says Murari. “The only difference is that all our social interaction happens in the same setting – right here in the shop.”
This is amply illustrated by the fact that their older son found the love of his life right there. “The girl was a regular shopper here with her parents. We got friendly and then one thing led to another and now we are family,” says Murari, now a proud grandfather.
The couple’s sons are both qualified engineers with the younger of the two working with a bank and the elder one managing the family’s liquor store in nearby Otahuhu.
Both Murari and Geeta attribute their success to quality of product, personalised service and competitive pricing. “It’s tough keeping the quality-price balance in this fiercely competitive field,” says Murari. “But we place quality above all else. We will never sell what we ourselves would never use in our home – it’s as simple as that.”
It’s not for nothing that customers come to Rockyyz all the way from West Auckland and as far away as Tauranga and Hamilton.
Rockyyz has a clean feel to it and though relatively small, has a pleasing and uncluttered layout – and for its size has a great variety of groceries and household goods that Indians can’t do without including a range of Puja and festive items. The store is currently selling a wide range of rakhis for next month’s Raksha Bandhan.
“Like all new settlers from India, one of the first things we did was to scour the streets of Auckland for good Indian groceries. We would search and high and low and often return home disappointed because we couldn’t find what we want,” Murari says. “We really missed the quality of the dals, spices and other provisions that are available so easily in India.”
Before long, the couple decided to start an Indian grocery store with a difference – one that would stock and sell quality goods hand picked from India. But not knowing where to begin in a new country, they approached Rocky Oberoi who then ran the popular Rockyyz Mini Mart at Manurewa. “We became great friends and he encouraged me to open a franchise here in Papatoetoe,” Murari says.
It was a great learning experience, he acknowledges. But as it turned out, Oberoi sold his store in early 2004 but Murari convinced him to keep his own franchised store out of the deal and that’s when Rockyyz Papatoetoe became independent.
This week, Rockyyz Papatoetoe is celebrating its sixth birthday.
“It was an uphill struggle initially,” he says. “But consistent good quality and customer service is what really carried the day for us. I can now look back with great satisfaction – our hard work and sincerity has truly paid off.”
Murari and Geeta have developed a personal rapport with most of the customers whom they know by name. “It is really like a large extended family,” says Geeta. But Murari gives his wife all the credit. “She has a real way with people – for many of our regular customer, their shopping is not complete until they have a chat with her,” he says.
The store is a veritable outing for many Indian families. A number of people arrange to meet up there and shop together in the weekends, says Murari. “Especially during festivals like Karva Chauth, we have a lot of activities like free Mehendi which customers have really appreciated over the years. Everyone likes to mix and mingle while they also shop.”
According to Murari, Rockyyz customer profile is 40% each of Indians from India and from Fiji while the remaining 20% comprises non-Indians.
Though they put in up to 10 hours of work every day, they don’t miss social life. “We have a busy social life with so many customers who are more than friends,” says Murari. “The only difference is that all our social interaction happens in the same setting – right here in the shop.”
This is amply illustrated by the fact that their older son found the love of his life right there. “The girl was a regular shopper here with her parents. We got friendly and then one thing led to another and now we are family,” says Murari, now a proud grandfather.
The couple’s sons are both qualified engineers with the younger of the two working with a bank and the elder one managing the family’s liquor store in nearby Otahuhu.
Both Murari and Geeta attribute their success to quality of product, personalised service and competitive pricing. “It’s tough keeping the quality-price balance in this fiercely competitive field,” says Murari. “But we place quality above all else. We will never sell what we ourselves would never use in our home – it’s as simple as that.”
It’s not for nothing that customers come to Rockyyz all the way from West Auckland and as far away as Tauranga and Hamilton.
Rockyyz has a clean feel to it and though relatively small, has a pleasing and uncluttered layout – and for its size has a great variety of groceries and household goods that Indians can’t do without including a range of Puja and festive items. The store is currently selling a wide range of rakhis for next month’s Raksha Bandhan.
,Like many entrepreneurial success stories, Murari and Geeta Aggarwal’s foray into business in New Zealand was propelled by deep discontent. The highly experienced chartered accountant from New Delhi and his academic tutor wife began life in this country with their two young sons in 2002.
“Like all new settlers from India, one of the first things we did was to scour the streets of Auckland for good Indian groceries. We would search and high and low and often return home disappointed because we couldn’t find what we want,” Murari says. “We really missed the quality of the dals, spices and other provisions that are available so easily in India.”
Before long, the couple decided to start an Indian grocery store with a difference – one that would stock and sell quality goods hand picked from India. But not knowing where to begin in a new country, they approached Rocky Oberoi who then ran the popular Rockyyz Mini Mart at Manurewa. “We became great friends and he encouraged me to open a franchise here in Papatoetoe,” Murari says.
It was a great learning experience, he acknowledges. But as it turned out, Oberoi sold his store in early 2004 but Murari convinced him to keep his own franchised store out of the deal and that’s when Rockyyz Papatoetoe became independent.
This week, Rockyyz Papatoetoe is celebrating its sixth birthday.
“It was an uphill struggle initially,” he says. “But consistent good quality and customer service is what really carried the day for us. I can now look back with great satisfaction – our hard work and sincerity has truly paid off.”
Murari and Geeta have developed a personal rapport with most of the customers whom they know by name. “It is really like a large extended family,” says Geeta. But Murari gives his wife all the credit. “She has a real way with people – for many of our regular customer, their shopping is not complete until they have a chat with her,” he says.
The store is a veritable outing for many Indian families. A number of people arrange to meet up there and shop together in the weekends, says Murari. “Especially during festivals like Karva Chauth, we have a lot of activities like free Mehendi which customers have really appreciated over the years. Everyone likes to mix and mingle while they also shop.”
According to Murari, Rockyyz customer profile is 40% each of Indians from India and from Fiji while the remaining 20% comprises non-Indians.
Though they put in up to 10 hours of work every day, they don’t miss social life. “We have a busy social life with so many customers who are more than friends,” says Murari. “The only difference is that all our social interaction happens in the same setting – right here in the shop.”
This is amply illustrated by the fact that their older son found the love of his life right there. “The girl was a regular shopper here with her parents. We got friendly and then one thing led to another and now we are family,” says Murari, now a proud grandfather.
The couple’s sons are both qualified engineers with the younger of the two working with a bank and the elder one managing the family’s liquor store in nearby Otahuhu.
Both Murari and Geeta attribute their success to quality of product, personalised service and competitive pricing. “It’s tough keeping the quality-price balance in this fiercely competitive field,” says Murari. “But we place quality above all else. We will never sell what we ourselves would never use in our home – it’s as simple as that.”
It’s not for nothing that customers come to Rockyyz all the way from West Auckland and as far away as Tauranga and Hamilton.
Rockyyz has a clean feel to it and though relatively small, has a pleasing and uncluttered layout – and for its size has a great variety of groceries and household goods that Indians can’t do without including a range of Puja and festive items. The store is currently selling a wide range of rakhis for next month’s Raksha Bandhan.
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