Pam Lawrence is passionate about collecting quirky vintage pieces from all over the world. Her Arrowtown store, Blue Moon Rummage, reflects her love of the unusual  from an 1890s Austrian one-horse sleigh and antique chandeliers to eccentric 1980s ski fashion and elegant 1940s wooden skis.

The design and home interiors store opened 15 years ago and Pam has been at the helm for nine of those.

“It’s been a real joy. For nine years, I have always enjoyed coming to work. Things have changed a lot since online shopping took off but I’ve taken pride in sourcing unique, one-off pieces from around the world that you can’t find elsewhere.”

Pam has an extensive background in retail and decor and she and her partner, Ross, have had a strong link with New Zealand’s ski industry since the 1980s.

“We’ve lived and worked at Rainbow and Mt Ruapehu ski fields and the kids grew up in Methven close to Mt Hutt.  Ross currently runs The Remarkables ski areas so we’ve always had a connection with the ski industry. I’ve worked in design and décor for a long time and I was employed at Harrods and Selfridges in London back when we would do demonstrations and huge displays. But I always wanted to create a store that would have a real point of difference. I had a vision of mixing old and new to create a bespoke look.”

Blue Moon Rummage has achieved just that and is renowned for its attention-grabbing shop window display. From a porcupine quill lampshade and a glam-rock studded bra to unusual wine glasses, door mats and even garden fountains, the shop is a treasure trove.

“I get a lot of customers from the North Island, people moving into the area who want to add the finishing touches to their home and I also have gift lines for locals, like the old-style ski signs which can be personalised and made to order. Collecting vintage ski stuff is my major passion.”

Occasional pieces are available on the store’s website, but “rummaging” is a special part of the experience at Blue Moon Rummage.

“It’s fun finding those quirky finishing touches for nice homes,” says Pam. “I stay away from tourist lines and offer a worldly collection curated from the US, Canada, India, Vietnam and New Zealand.”