From humble beginnings towell-known Waikato entrepreneurs, Joe & Ali Van Dyk were Dutch immigrants whomade the Waikato their home.
Putaruru during the 50’s,60’s and 70’s developed into a thriving hub for the South Waikato, withprominent farming/forestry industries supporting local businesses, and familiesmoving into the region with prospects of jobs, growth, and opportunities. Joe& Ali were able to join the community, moving where the work was, beforesettling in Putaruru.
The Van Dyks family openeda 7-day dairy/grocery- working hard to establish themselves in their newsurrounds. Presented with challenges and opportunities, their business venturesgrew, adapted, and changed with the times, to what’s now known as Van DyksFurnishers, encompassing beds, flooring, furniture, appliances, and bikes.
With a focus on offeringwhat their local community needed, the Van Dyks acquired Rex Mora Furnishers inPutaruru taking over on 1st April 1974. Henry Van Dyk, the oldestson of Ali and Joe joined the ranks and helped run the business alongside hisparents. Increasing their store size, the Van Dyks were able to offer theircustomers a much larger selection of products.
Henry's brothers John andLeighton joined the growing family business between 1976 and 1977. John broughthis expertise to the curtains division and administration, while Leightonthrived in the furniture and bedding departments.
The Van Dyks have alwaysbeen a family that embraces progress. Recognizing the changing retail landscapeand the rise of new technologies, they became one of the first businesses inNew Zealand to operate mobile curtain and flooring vans in the 1980s.
This commitment toinnovation ensured they remained at the forefront of providing convenient andpersonalised service right to your door. The vans stocked with curtain andflooring samples, operated all around South Waikato bringing choice tocustomers in the comfort of their own homes.
In 1985 Joe & Aliretired. Sons Henry, John, and Leighton purchased Van Dyks Furnishers. Thebrothers saw an opportunity in 1989, after 18-months of renovating, to open astate-of-the-art furnishings showroom on Main Street, Putaruru. This is whereVan Dyks still stands today.
In 1990, Van Dyksrecognized an opportunity to expand its offerings. As Ian Rolls, a belovedlocal appliance store, transitioned out of business, Van Dyks welcomed thechance to bring a wider range of appliances to Putaruru.
Building on thismomentum, Van Dyks proudly celebrated the grand opening of its dedicatedfurniture store in 1998. The grand opening, inaugurated by the then Mayor ofPutaruru, Gordon Blake, was a momentous occasion, solidified with positivefeedback from their loyal community.
For the first time ever,in 1996 Van Dyks expanded outside their beloved Waikato region, to Rotorua,bringing a wider selection of designer furnishings to Bay of Plenty residents.
The year was 2011, andVan Dyks saw an exciting opportunity to joined forces with BedsRus, a companythat shared their passion for providing exceptional customer service andquality sleep solutions. This collaboration brought together two industryleaders, creating a powerful presence in the Waikato and Bay of Plentycommunities.
Since joining the BedsRusfamily, Van Dyks has continued to invest in the latest bed-matchingtechnologies. With seven establishedlocations across Waikato and Bay of Plenty, and an eighth on the horizon in 2024, they continue to offer their customers a personalised sleepexperience, ensuring they find the perfect bed for their needs.
AtVan Dyks, a strong sense of community extends beyond their stores. Loyal staff,some with over 20 years of service, are a testament to the company's positivework culture. These long-standing relationships foster a family-likeenvironment, reflecting the Van Dyk values.
Asa proud Kiwi-grown business, they been a pillar of Putaruru and the Waikatoregion for 50 years. The Van Dyk family, along with their dedicated staff, aredeeply committed to giving back to the community that has supported them. Theircountless sponsorships of local schools, rugby, squash, netball clubs, and TheRangiura Retirement Home showcase their passion for seeing the region thrive.Volunteering thousands of hours to local groups and charities demonstratestheir commitment to making a real difference.
Lookingahead, Van Dyks is excited to continue this journey of growth alongside theircommunity. In several weeks they will celebrate and unveil the new HamiltonFlooring Xtra on Clarence Street. Additionally, a brand-new Van Dyks Livingexperience, combining BedsRus and Flooring Xtra under one roof, will also beunveiled in Matamata later this year. This mega-shopping destination willprovide a one-stop shop for everything you need to transform your house into abeautiful home.
Forfive decades, Van Dyks Furnishers has been a local family business at the heartof the Waikato community, celebrating their golden anniversary for this locallegacy now and for many generations to come.
