Ogle is a family-run gift and homewares store in Shop 2 of The Royal Oak on Buckingham Street, Arrowtown. It opened in May 2010 and is owned and directed by Rosemary Duggan, with Lisa and Kate rounding out the team who help customers with their shopping needs.
The store describes its range as wonderfully eclectic, with something for all budgets, ages and stages, spanning homewares, gifts for her, gifts for him, gifts for kids, and fun and games items. Ogle has built up a loyal base of customers over the years who have helped grow the business, and it prides itself on catering to the diversity of its client base with a genuinely varied product range.
Since adapting during Covid-19, Ogle also offers online sales alongside its in-store shopping experience, though what's listed online is only a small sample of the full range available in the Arrowtown shop.
Ogle has been a fixture in Arrowtown since May 2010, when it opened as a new gift store in Shop 2 of The Royal Oak on Buckingham Street. It's owned and directed by Rosemary Duggan, and the small team — Rosemary, Lisa and Kate — have built up a loyal base of customers over the years who've helped grow the business into what it is today.
What Ogle is known for is the sheer variety of its stock. The store describes its own range as wonderfully eclectic, with something for all budgets, ages and stages, and that shows in how the shop is organised — categories run from For Your Home and Fun and Games through to dedicated Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, and Gifts for Kids sections. Whether you're after a homewares piece, a novelty item, or something for a child, the range is built to cover a genuinely broad set of customers.
Among Ogle's featured products are a Sheep or Kiwi Wooden Puzzle and a Rainbow Te Reo Wooden Blocks set, both squarely aimed at kids and gift-buyers after something distinctly Kiwi. For a bit of nostalgia or humour, there's an Antique Rugby Ball on offer, alongside practical novelties like the Bush Wonder Tool and Cutlery Wonder Tool — both multi-purpose gadgets. Home entertainers can pick up a Pump it up! Champagne Stopper, and for something a little more cheeky, there's the aptly named Shaking Shit Up Cocktail item.
Ogle credits much of its growth to the loyal customer base it's built since opening in 2010. That relationship-first approach comes through in how the store talks about itself — describing an aim to provide an enjoyable shopping experience, whether that's face to face in Arrowtown or from the comfort of a customer's own home.
Like many small retailers, Ogle adapted during Covid-19 by launching online sales to help keep the business going for both locals and tourists who couldn't visit in person. The store is upfront that what's available to browse online is only a small sample of the much larger range on offer in-store, with the online catalogue being updated as the team finds its feet in online retail.
Ogle is open every day of the week, from 9:30am to 5:00pm, seven days, making it an easy stop whether you're a local popping in or a visitor exploring Arrowtown. The shop can be reached by phone on 03 409 8840 or by email at [email protected], and is located at Shop 2, The Royal Oak, Buckingham Street, Arrowtown.
For anyone after a gift with a bit of character — Kiwiana, novelty, or otherwise — Ogle's eclectic range and long-standing local reputation make it worth a look next time you're in Arrowtown.