Celebrating over 100 years of trading in Dunedin

On January 15 1896 Mr James Wren started in business on his own account as a painting and decorating contractor.

The business grew and a small retail outlet in Stafford St was opened. The rest, as they say, is history.

The management of the company was taken over by the founder's two sons, Percy and Chris Wren in 1920.

In 1928 Chris died and Percy took over the running of the company. Initially Alex Wren, Percy's son, was employed by the company. When Alex was killed in action during World War 2, Percy's second son James (Jim) Wren entered the family business.

Jim Wren was to spend more then 46 years with the company until his retirement in 1988.

The company was then purchased by Stewart Driver and Alan Dunbar. The pair formed a partnership which continued until May 31, 2003 when Alan retired from the company.

Stewart Driver retired in 2005 the company is now owned by Richard Daniell.

Other changes began at the start of 2003 with the decision to close the Dunedin retail shop but to retain the Mosgiel shop.

At the same time the glass department was sold to two of the company's existing employees, Les Wilson and Craig Duncan. This now operates under seperate ownership under the name of Glass Solutions.

The former Princess St property was sold off to a furniture retailer and the head office of James Wren & Co relocated to the old glass department at 50 Carroll St after extensive alterations were carried out.

Over the years the focus of the company has shifted and changed to meet the ever-changing requirements of the public it serves.

When the company started out in January 1896 it was a painting and decorating contractor. This has always been James Wren & Co's main focus; building a strong reputation for quality workmanship.  The company has branched out into Plasterboard Stopping, Solid Plaster and Tiling.

In October 1988 the company was awarded an Automotive Distributorship for ICI paints in Invercargill, followed a year later with the same distributorship in Otago.

In the late 1990s PPG, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, purchased the Southeast Asia and Australasian operations of ICI UK for automotive refinish.

The relocation from Princes and Stafford St sees the Contracting Division and Automotive Division under the same roof at 50 Carroll St.

The Mosgiel Retail division based at 15 Factory Rd Mosgiel, which was opened in August 1978, continues to flourish, and in early 2004 became a Resene Paint Shop. The Contracting Division now operates from bases in Dunedin, Queenstown Balclutha, Cromwell and Alexandra.