History

The 90-year long association of the Norcross family with the west began in 1910 when Henry Norcross brought his family from England and set up a general store in Helensville.

Back in the early 1900s – long before the harbour bridge – Helensville was an important stop-off and trading place between Auckland and the north – and a good day’s journey from the city. Therefore the general store established by Henry Norcross back then, would have had far more significance than any single store today.

The link with the north provided the first move for the family, to Northern Wairoa. In 1921 the Norcross family returned to west Auckland to run the general store in Henderson, which was by then a thriving business centre with a growing population.

Henry, the storekeeper known by all, became Mayor of Henderson in 1940, and his son Robert took over the family business.

In 1951 Robert, together with his daughter Ann, opened a bookshop on Great North Road, Henderson.

Eldest son Charles opened his own business in sports and toys in 1952. This has developed over the past 48 years into a high class sportsworld store, managed and run by Charles’ eldest son Robert.

Henry B Norcross began his business life in 1959, when he bought his sister Ann’s share in the business. Henry B, four years later, purchased the remaining shares from his father Robert.

The 1960s were a time of hard work and expansion for the company, culminating in the opening of a new 25,000 sq ft showroom and office block in Henderson.

It was during the 70s that the company made another natural progression – from stationery to printing. This was in response to customer demand for a high quality, good value local printer.

Computerisation, expansion, increased colour printing capability all followed under Henry B’s management. By 1987 an innovative Norcross Printing was printing in five colours and had offices in Henderson, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Wellington.

In 1992, the fourth generation of the Norcross family took over the reins of a business that had been evolving for more than 80 years.

Under the direction of Henry J Norcross, a new wave of consolidation and growth has seen, the establishment of Prepress, Sales and Customer Service departments, an expanded Henderson plant and the arrival of the very latest Heidelberg five colour press with aqueous coating.