Welcome to the Black Keels and Tractor Wheels podcast, where we are sharing stories from a range of women from around New Zealand.

Welcome to the Black Keels and Tractor Wheels podcast, where we are sharing stories from a range of women from around New Zealand.

For nearly a century, Rural Women New Zealand has been dedicated to strengthening and supporting women and children to become empowered members of their communities.

For nearly a century, Rural Women New Zealand has been dedicated to strengthening and supporting women and children to become empowered members of their communities.

We hope that by hearing these stories from inspiring women all around the country, you'll feel inspired yourself.

We hope that by hearing these stories from inspiring women all around the country, you'll feel inspired yourself.

We're your hosts, Emma Higgins and Claire Williamson and would love for you to join and subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss our rural stories.

We're your hosts, Emma Higgins and Claire Williamson and would love for you to join and subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss our rural stories.

So, Kate, thank you for your time. Today. We're going to embark on a journey about you and we're going to hear all about your story. But first of all, take us rewind you right back to the start. Tell us about tell us about young Kate.

So, Kate, thank you for your time. Today. We're going to embark on a journey about you and we're going to hear all about your story. But first of all, take us rewind you right back to the start. Tell us about tell us about young Kate.

As you know, I sort of come as a part of a package. But so my sister and I so Prau and I who run the business, and my brother Ben our brother. Grew up in Warmata Valley, Gisbon, so we are coasty girls and Wamata Valley is about forty minutes out of Gisbon. On some really hairy back shingle roads, and it still is pretty hairy actually, so it is quite isolated. And so we went to a tiny rural primary school that's no longer there. I think it dwindled down to about five people and they finally closed it down when my brother was there. And so we were farming out there. So yes, we are. We are rural people people. We grew up on a sheep and beef property and which farm. We're all fourth generation on that farm. And it was predominantly well was sheep and beef and predominantly wrongly sheep and angus cattle. And the whole operation up there centered around our angus kettle stud. My background is as a very very young age is going out opening gates for dad as we went around the angus, the black kettle. It's all about black kettle. The sheep were in his side, you know, They're just a necessary evil in his mind. So I was brainwashed from a very early age to love kettle and not sheep, which has changed now so anyway, but the whole year, so that was as the oldest, I was the farm girl that went out with dead a lot and helped a lot, and so some of my fondest memories and probably one of my favorite things still to this day, is when I was finally old enough, my parents relented and gave me one of the station bred mears, you know, at an old standardbred mere, and I was able to go out and mustering on horseback around the hills with the kettle, and it really it's just one of those things that's always that with me, and if I could, I just love to be able to incorporate that into my modern life now too. One of the most pure magic things, getting up first thing in the morning with the light and the dogs and going out on horseback just absolutely awesome. So that that is our upbringing. But so I was doing that helping dead a lot, and as I got older, I actually took on some responsibility and helped with Edmund with the stud in all sorts, sort of in the holidays. But at the age of seventeen, I decided I wanted to try something completely. I didn't want to be rural anymore. So I moved to Auckland and I became a travel agent rather randomly, don't I can't remember. I just I remember leaving school and going I don't know what to do I just don't know, and it sort of popped into my head one morning and I woke up this story of my life, and I thought, right, that's what I'm gonna do. So I went up there, and I was a travel agent till about two thousand and one. I traveled around the world a lot. Around New Zealand, I was involved in a lot of adventure tororism, which is awesome, so I got to do a lot of bungee jumping and skydiving and whitewater raffing cool stuff, and that was some of the best years of my life too, and learning being really social, so because there's a lot of customer service when you're a travel agent and be guining to see the world and meeting all sorts of different types of people. I remember to having a little rural injection while I was living in Austria and I worked in a dairy there, looking after cows in the winter because everything comes inside with the snow. They live in these big barns and feeding hay out of the lots, and I was looking up for these dairy cows. So I managed to take not only my travel agent qualification around the world, but I also managed to slip in some howl were while I was snowboarding in Austria, which was amazing. And so in two thousand and one, I've got sick of being a travel agent and decide, oh would have been in two thousand when I decided I want to come back to the farming thing, and so I I did it MESSI and became a vet. So I was a farm vet. And so that was at the grand age of like twenty eight. I think I did that, remembered so late started and that's where I met my husband, who was also a vet. But we didn't study together. I just happened to meet him at a sheep and beef conference, which is incredibly romantic and and the aresta's history. So when I met him and we became look like we were going to have a future together, I always knew he was going to be back to the farm. I'm like, well, that suits me because I love being on the farm. I love farming. So we both gave up veting. I gave it up when I had our first child eleven year twelve years ago, and he gave up soon after. And we came back to our parents' situation. We're on the family farm in Whybrogado in Hawks Bay. So that's where you've seen clips of us on the farm there in once and it's the most beautiful area. And we have two kids here, and you come a little bit full circle. But obviously I work from home doing other stuff. But that's my rural background in a nutshell.

As you know, I sort of come as a part of a package. But so my sister and I so Prau and I who run the business, and my brother Ben our brother. Grew up in Warmata Valley, Gisbon, so we are coasty girls and Wamata Valley is about forty minutes out of Gisbon. On some really hairy back shingle roads, and it still is pretty hairy actually, so it is quite isolated. And so we went to a tiny rural primary school that's no longer there. I think it dwindled down to about five people and they finally closed it down when my brother was there. And so we were farming out there. So yes, we are. We are rural people people. We grew up on a sheep and beef property and which farm. We're all fourth generation on that farm. And it was predominantly well was sheep and beef and predominantly wrongly sheep and angus cattle. And the whole operation up there centered around our angus kettle stud. My background is as a very very young age is going out opening gates for dad as we went around the angus, the black kettle. It's all about black kettle. The sheep were in his side, you know, They're just a necessary evil in his mind. So I was brainwashed from a very early age to love kettle and not sheep, which has changed now so anyway, but the whole year, so that was as the oldest, I was the farm girl that went out with dead a lot and helped a lot, and so some of my fondest memories and probably one of my favorite things still to this day, is when I was finally old enough, my parents relented and gave me one of the station bred mears, you know, at an old standardbred mere, and I was able to go out and mustering on horseback around the hills with the kettle, and it really it's just one of those things that's always that with me, and if I could, I just love to be able to incorporate that into my modern life now too. One of the most pure magic things, getting up first thing in the morning with the light and the dogs and going out on horseback just absolutely awesome. So that that is our upbringing. But so I was doing that helping dead a lot, and as I got older, I actually took on some responsibility and helped with Edmund with the stud in all sorts, sort of in the holidays. But at the age of seventeen, I decided I wanted to try something completely. I didn't want to be rural anymore. So I moved to Auckland and I became a travel agent rather randomly, don't I can't remember. I just I remember leaving school and going I don't know what to do I just don't know, and it sort of popped into my head one morning and I woke up this story of my life, and I thought, right, that's what I'm gonna do. So I went up there, and I was a travel agent till about two thousand and one. I traveled around the world a lot. Around New Zealand, I was involved in a lot of adventure tororism, which is awesome, so I got to do a lot of bungee jumping and skydiving and whitewater raffing cool stuff, and that was some of the best years of my life too, and learning being really social, so because there's a lot of customer service when you're a travel agent and be guining to see the world and meeting all sorts of different types of people. I remember to having a little rural injection while I was living in Austria and I worked in a dairy there, looking after cows in the winter because everything comes inside with the snow. They live in these big barns and feeding hay out of the lots, and I was looking up for these dairy cows. So I managed to take not only my travel agent qualification around the world, but I also managed to slip in some howl were while I was snowboarding in Austria, which was amazing. And so in two thousand and one, I've got sick of being a travel agent and decide, oh would have been in two thousand when I decided I want to come back to the farming thing, and so I I did it MESSI and became a vet. So I was a farm vet. And so that was at the grand age of like twenty eight. I think I did that, remembered so late started and that's where I met my husband, who was also a vet. But we didn't study together. I just happened to meet him at a sheep and beef conference, which is incredibly romantic and and the aresta's history. So when I met him and we became look like we were going to have a future together, I always knew he was going to be back to the farm. I'm like, well, that suits me because I love being on the farm. I love farming. So we both gave up veting. I gave it up when I had our first child eleven year twelve years ago, and he gave up soon after. And we came back to our parents' situation. We're on the family farm in Whybrogado in Hawks Bay. So that's where you've seen clips of us on the farm there in once and it's the most beautiful area. And we have two kids here, and you come a little bit full circle. But obviously I work from home doing other stuff. But that's my rural background in a nutshell.

Oh my gosh, I love that man. You have had the journey, You've had like four careers already.

Oh my gosh, I love that man. You have had the journey, You've had like four careers already.

Goodness me.

Goodness me.

I wanted to pick up a little bit on you mentioned obviously your siblings and your upbringing and how that was obviously rural starting. But I'm just very interested in your relationship with your sister because obviously this is now blossomed into a beautiful partnership. So I'm interested in the journey of that relationship because I have a sister, and while we are close, you know, there are disagreements. So I'm interested to hear what that that story and that relationship has been like over time.

I wanted to pick up a little bit on you mentioned obviously your siblings and your upbringing and how that was obviously rural starting. But I'm just very interested in your relationship with your sister because obviously this is now blossomed into a beautiful partnership. So I'm interested in the journey of that relationship because I have a sister, and while we are close, you know, there are disagreements. So I'm interested to hear what that that story and that relationship has been like over time.

So yeah, totally, thank you. It all seems very very nice on the surface, but we have disagreements totally. And do you know what actually little know in fact with the sister due is that we didn't start getting along until our twenties, so we actually had quite a fractious relationship up to them. It's not serious, it's just normal cliching. Yeah, it did see idea. I don't know what it was. We often tried to look into that, but it's that it is what it is, and now where as close as can be. And say with our brother too, it's awesome triangle. He lives in Auckland now so pre ses a lot of him. But yeah, so basically Crew had a former career. She was very high up in marketing. She's corporate and she worked very very high up and very successfully in her job. But often with corporate she was you know, huge burnout, huge, huge commitment to working for someone else, especially too. I think that maybe I seeded the idea early on or earlier that you know, it would be great for us to work for ourselves, and it sort of grew from there. But I when I quit VET, I did actually have a little small side hustle when when our first was first our son was born, and making lamb shades at home and selling them online. So I had this sort of little online business. So I had a little experience of that, and I think I gave that up and then I just decided to sort of look wanted it. It wasn't enough to just be at home on the farm. I actually really struggled with I really struggled being at home alone for a lot of the day with kids. It was not sunshine and roses. So so I prayer and I sort of started dabbling with the idea of starting a business together and the reasons that we sort of had to look at on We've decided that would have to do an online but she was an orclip and she just she wanted to do it as a side hustle. I wanted to do it so that I could gain financial independence, and as with a lot of ladies on the farm, they want to sort of be able to contribute to the family income or you know, just have their own identity and do their own thing as well as being you know, a slave to the kids all day lot in the middle of no So so we looked at several sort of ideas. We both have a passion for home wears, and so there was always going to be something in that vein and online shopping scene was good because I had that previous business. I knew there was a sort of it was relatively easy to do, and we sort of because we were geographically separate. She's in Auckland and I'm in Hawk's Bay. Online made sense because it didn't matter. We didn't have to be committed to a bricks and water store. You can obviously, you know, run an online store for just about anywhere, and so that was always going to be a goer for us at the very beginning, and also having a online store that it was lower risk for us to start there. Prey could do it on the side and I could do it in my time. Thing Amom the home. But we saw the opportunity more back in those days too, where I was a rural woman who desperately wanted really good home weares because I loved it. I loved decorating my home, but I couldn't get them because I wasn't living anywhere near a main center. I knew there were other people out there looking for things online like online was our space. That's where we wanted to find them. We wanted to be able to order from our kitchen table and have it tuned up in the mailbox and our email box the next week or whatever. So we knew that there was legs there so that's how we started becoming closer and closer as just this business model and sharing this passion together. And as it became quite it's successful if you like or did well, and we gained trection. We just naturally fell into this really amazing business relationship and it's worked really well. And I think also being geographically separate, you don't have to have that head you know, that cliche. You know, you've got your own space, you're doing your own thing. But her strengths and our nice strengths there, Bernie, we're really well together. And when when it's not feeling we're not feeling the vibe, we can step away from the screen basically. So I hope that sort of gives you a sort of a little bit of a rounded insight into how things have happened for us.

So yeah, totally, thank you. It all seems very very nice on the surface, but we have disagreements totally. And do you know what actually little know in fact with the sister due is that we didn't start getting along until our twenties, so we actually had quite a fractious relationship up to them. It's not serious, it's just normal cliching. Yeah, it did see idea. I don't know what it was. We often tried to look into that, but it's that it is what it is, and now where as close as can be. And say with our brother too, it's awesome triangle. He lives in Auckland now so pre ses a lot of him. But yeah, so basically Crew had a former career. She was very high up in marketing. She's corporate and she worked very very high up and very successfully in her job. But often with corporate she was you know, huge burnout, huge, huge commitment to working for someone else, especially too. I think that maybe I seeded the idea early on or earlier that you know, it would be great for us to work for ourselves, and it sort of grew from there. But I when I quit VET, I did actually have a little small side hustle when when our first was first our son was born, and making lamb shades at home and selling them online. So I had this sort of little online business. So I had a little experience of that, and I think I gave that up and then I just decided to sort of look wanted it. It wasn't enough to just be at home on the farm. I actually really struggled with I really struggled being at home alone for a lot of the day with kids. It was not sunshine and roses. So so I prayer and I sort of started dabbling with the idea of starting a business together and the reasons that we sort of had to look at on We've decided that would have to do an online but she was an orclip and she just she wanted to do it as a side hustle. I wanted to do it so that I could gain financial independence, and as with a lot of ladies on the farm, they want to sort of be able to contribute to the family income or you know, just have their own identity and do their own thing as well as being you know, a slave to the kids all day lot in the middle of no So so we looked at several sort of ideas. We both have a passion for home wears, and so there was always going to be something in that vein and online shopping scene was good because I had that previous business. I knew there was a sort of it was relatively easy to do, and we sort of because we were geographically separate. She's in Auckland and I'm in Hawk's Bay. Online made sense because it didn't matter. We didn't have to be committed to a bricks and water store. You can obviously, you know, run an online store for just about anywhere, and so that was always going to be a goer for us at the very beginning, and also having a online store that it was lower risk for us to start there. Prey could do it on the side and I could do it in my time. Thing Amom the home. But we saw the opportunity more back in those days too, where I was a rural woman who desperately wanted really good home weares because I loved it. I loved decorating my home, but I couldn't get them because I wasn't living anywhere near a main center. I knew there were other people out there looking for things online like online was our space. That's where we wanted to find them. We wanted to be able to order from our kitchen table and have it tuned up in the mailbox and our email box the next week or whatever. So we knew that there was legs there so that's how we started becoming closer and closer as just this business model and sharing this passion together. And as it became quite it's successful if you like or did well, and we gained trection. We just naturally fell into this really amazing business relationship and it's worked really well. And I think also being geographically separate, you don't have to have that head you know, that cliche. You know, you've got your own space, you're doing your own thing. But her strengths and our nice strengths there, Bernie, we're really well together. And when when it's not feeling we're not feeling the vibe, we can step away from the screen basically. So I hope that sort of gives you a sort of a little bit of a rounded insight into how things have happened for us.

That's perfect. And I imagine that there's a lot of listeners mothers of girls out there who are just saying a huge, big say of relief hearing that you know, in the end, it's all going to work out with their fractious daughters right now, just fast forward twenty pass and they'll be fine.

That's perfect. And I imagine that there's a lot of listeners mothers of girls out there who are just saying a huge, big say of relief hearing that you know, in the end, it's all going to work out with their fractious daughters right now, just fast forward twenty pass and they'll be fine.

So thank you for that comment.

So thank you for that comment.

You want to before I go into my next question. I also just want to say thank you for being so honest about how hard it is being at home, being isolated with kids. There are a lot of women out there who are just finding.

You want to before I go into my next question. I also just want to say thank you for being so honest about how hard it is being at home, being isolated with kids. There are a lot of women out there who are just finding.

It absolutely and I am super passionate about this. Don't even don't even give me, you know, an inch here, because there's just so there's so much on the surface, and you know, and obviously social media has a huge part to play with that. But you know, when I first had the kids, there wasn't a lot of social media, but I really felt that pressure that pregnancy and having kids and all that was meant to be beautiful and living on the farm. And I remember some literally remember someone saying to me, what's wrong with you? You should be and that this should be the highlight of your life. And I remember feeling skilty because everybody else had great, easy babies and they were loving it, and gosh, it's not true. So like every opportunity I get, I do tend to say, hey, I had a really rough time. I really struggled, and I was and I still have less than desirable memories around it.

It absolutely and I am super passionate about this. Don't even don't even give me, you know, an inch here, because there's just so there's so much on the surface, and you know, and obviously social media has a huge part to play with that. But you know, when I first had the kids, there wasn't a lot of social media, but I really felt that pressure that pregnancy and having kids and all that was meant to be beautiful and living on the farm. And I remember some literally remember someone saying to me, what's wrong with you? You should be and that this should be the highlight of your life. And I remember feeling skilty because everybody else had great, easy babies and they were loving it, and gosh, it's not true. So like every opportunity I get, I do tend to say, hey, I had a really rough time. I really struggled, and I was and I still have less than desirable memories around it.

Yeah, thank you for saying that, because it makes me feel better. I'm someone that yeah, sometimes struggles with it from time to time. So thank you for being so honest.

Yeah, thank you for saying that, because it makes me feel better. I'm someone that yeah, sometimes struggles with it from time to time. So thank you for being so honest.

And honestly people. I would have liked to have heard that, you know you can't. Yeah, it's got it's got to be, it's real, you know, keep it up, You'll get there.

And honestly people. I would have liked to have heard that, you know you can't. Yeah, it's got it's got to be, it's real, you know, keep it up, You'll get there.

Yeah, we will, we will. Hey, so your business has been hugely, hugely successful. Tell us about any champions or mentors that might have helped along the way to give you either a head start or just a helping hand out.

Yeah, we will, we will. Hey, so your business has been hugely, hugely successful. Tell us about any champions or mentors that might have helped along the way to give you either a head start or just a helping hand out.

I must say obviously our parents, I mean, isn't with a lot of rural kids, and we grow up with this amazing work ethic and and I think that has a lot to do with being on a farm. And my parents were, like a lot of great parents, were incredibly honest and thump it into us from a very early sad about the importance of integrity and being honest, doing the right thing, and just leading by example. They weren't necessarily telling us these things, but just leading by example. If you think back, and it's like, well, you know, they didn't even know they were doing it, but they worked incredibly hard and with integrity, always being honest and being sorry when you should be sorry and owning up to you know, it's not all about the neat stuff and kind and being happy and honest. It's also when you make mistakes, which we all inevitably inevitably do, being sorry and owning that. I think that's really taken through me, especially. I really feel that that's taken me a long way in life, and especially now and I'll become a bit more. We've become a parent. And I understand why they were telling me the things they didn't and so strict, but they had a very good, you know, very good point.

I must say obviously our parents, I mean, isn't with a lot of rural kids, and we grow up with this amazing work ethic and and I think that has a lot to do with being on a farm. And my parents were, like a lot of great parents, were incredibly honest and thump it into us from a very early sad about the importance of integrity and being honest, doing the right thing, and just leading by example. They weren't necessarily telling us these things, but just leading by example. If you think back, and it's like, well, you know, they didn't even know they were doing it, but they worked incredibly hard and with integrity, always being honest and being sorry when you should be sorry and owning up to you know, it's not all about the neat stuff and kind and being happy and honest. It's also when you make mistakes, which we all inevitably inevitably do, being sorry and owning that. I think that's really taken through me, especially. I really feel that that's taken me a long way in life, and especially now and I'll become a bit more. We've become a parent. And I understand why they were telling me the things they didn't and so strict, but they had a very good, you know, very good point.

But yes, I know, I think when I left, to be honest, when I left for Auckland, my social groups that I sort of came into up the air and off like a lot of farm hills, and I went to boarding school and all sorts as well.

But yes, I know, I think when I left, to be honest, when I left for Auckland, my social groups that I sort of came into up the air and off like a lot of farm hills, and I went to boarding school and all sorts as well.

I came into Auckland and just let loose and enjoyed very much, enjoyed my time up there and the new group of friends that were you know, completely urban and all sorts, and they had a great influence in teaching me how to function. I was just never street smart, being a really you know, ignorant farm girl, you know, very innocent, and yeah, so I think when I was struggle to think of one single person, but I know that they had a huge influence on on where my where you know, the directions I talk and the choices I made, whether they be good or bad. Actually, but I do have an important one as far as business is concerned, and making that switch from and this was a huge thing for me personally, is being working for someone else. So I was always as a travel agent, and I had thousands of jobs in between, and then becoming a vet and working for different veterinary practices and all sorts. And I can't remember who gave me the book, but I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kayasaki. Have you have you read it? Yes? It was huge. It was absolutely massive for me. And while I don't necessarily I just want to put a disclaimer in here. I don't necessarily agree with everything Robert says these days and age and his political views and all sorts of none of that. It was just a book, right, So we're talking about the book. He was saying, you know, if you can sell, which I could. I knew I was good at that. Customer services. That's what I've always done, and I'm quite good at it. I think and if you can do that, and you can do this, and you can do that, and you have the power to do anything you want. And that was just so bloody inspiring to me. And he really made me believe in and that you could do anything. So without going into all the nitty gritting on that, I would say that's one of the biggest game changes in my life is that that particular book and then finding books after that in a similar vein and just giving yourself that just so motivating and I really believed in it, and I said, yes I can, and I don't want to work for anyone else. If I'm going to work really hard, I'm going to do it for myself and build my own company.

I came into Auckland and just let loose and enjoyed very much, enjoyed my time up there and the new group of friends that were you know, completely urban and all sorts, and they had a great influence in teaching me how to function. I was just never street smart, being a really you know, ignorant farm girl, you know, very innocent, and yeah, so I think when I was struggle to think of one single person, but I know that they had a huge influence on on where my where you know, the directions I talk and the choices I made, whether they be good or bad. Actually, but I do have an important one as far as business is concerned, and making that switch from and this was a huge thing for me personally, is being working for someone else. So I was always as a travel agent, and I had thousands of jobs in between, and then becoming a vet and working for different veterinary practices and all sorts. And I can't remember who gave me the book, but I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kayasaki. Have you have you read it? Yes? It was huge. It was absolutely massive for me. And while I don't necessarily I just want to put a disclaimer in here. I don't necessarily agree with everything Robert says these days and age and his political views and all sorts of none of that. It was just a book, right, So we're talking about the book. He was saying, you know, if you can sell, which I could. I knew I was good at that. Customer services. That's what I've always done, and I'm quite good at it. I think and if you can do that, and you can do this, and you can do that, and you have the power to do anything you want. And that was just so bloody inspiring to me. And he really made me believe in and that you could do anything. So without going into all the nitty gritting on that, I would say that's one of the biggest game changes in my life is that that particular book and then finding books after that in a similar vein and just giving yourself that just so motivating and I really believed in it, and I said, yes I can, and I don't want to work for anyone else. If I'm going to work really hard, I'm going to do it for myself and build my own company.

I love it. It was totally agree. I share your views one hundred percent. And I think, you know, speaking of business and you know, being able to do anything if you have the right mindset, What do you think you need to be really successful in business?

I love it. It was totally agree. I share your views one hundred percent. And I think, you know, speaking of business and you know, being able to do anything if you have the right mindset, What do you think you need to be really successful in business?

What skills do you need?

What skills do you need?

Things have you learnt, What challenges might you have faced that potentially our listeners might find inspiring. I know we have had a couple of incredible business owners on here who have been able to inspire the next generation and such to start things. But challenges wise, what might you have experienced?

Things have you learnt, What challenges might you have faced that potentially our listeners might find inspiring. I know we have had a couple of incredible business owners on here who have been able to inspire the next generation and such to start things. But challenges wise, what might you have experienced?

So, yeah, great question, I think very early on because I did love to read books and I was sort of I love reading books and gaining information. I love learning. That's just my on my personality and character, whatever you call it. But I remember a book very early on about reading about creating a brand. And this was very early on at Folkstrot and they had amazing tips about how to do that. And I think probably one of the one of the biggest lessons in business that is to concentrate on the brand and not the product. And I've seen there as an ad on Facebook and I'm not quoting it, so please don't think I'm ripping that guy off. Whoever it is a big teams up on your feed, but that really is important. A lot of people go and thinking, oh, this is really pretty and I really want to sell it, and this makes me feel good and I love it in my own home, and I mean out to be honest, our linen is a little bit right there. We do love it. Selling the linen meet so many criteria. It wasn't so much what Lian. This is really hard to explain. It was more about what the brand was. So for the brand, we knew that we wanted to be online. We had to have a highly visual product like people. So because we knew Instagram and Facebook were really blowing up in that space. When we first started.

So, yeah, great question, I think very early on because I did love to read books and I was sort of I love reading books and gaining information. I love learning. That's just my on my personality and character, whatever you call it. But I remember a book very early on about reading about creating a brand. And this was very early on at Folkstrot and they had amazing tips about how to do that. And I think probably one of the one of the biggest lessons in business that is to concentrate on the brand and not the product. And I've seen there as an ad on Facebook and I'm not quoting it, so please don't think I'm ripping that guy off. Whoever it is a big teams up on your feed, but that really is important. A lot of people go and thinking, oh, this is really pretty and I really want to sell it, and this makes me feel good and I love it in my own home, and I mean out to be honest, our linen is a little bit right there. We do love it. Selling the linen meet so many criteria. It wasn't so much what Lian. This is really hard to explain. It was more about what the brand was. So for the brand, we knew that we wanted to be online. We had to have a highly visual product like people. So because we knew Instagram and Facebook were really blowing up in that space. When we first started.

About seven years ago, eight years ago, now maybe seven years ago, it was still un just you know, gain intraction, and so we knew that Instagram would be the way of how.

About seven years ago, eight years ago, now maybe seven years ago, it was still un just you know, gain intraction, and so we knew that Instagram would be the way of how.

People shop, you know this online and online, So we had to have a product that you could photograph really well and people would stop and go, wow, that looks beautiful, and so we concentrated a lot on finding something beautiful. And you can sell a lot of things online, but it does help if it looks pretty and people are interacting and they want to take photos of it. We've gained a lot of following on Instagram and in general in our online community by people sharing their pictures of their home. So we've created a community too, and that's been a big part of our brand, is that very accessible. We're trying to be accessible and friendly, and I think that's genuinely who we are. The danger of being online, of course, is that it's just transactional and you don't see who it is or know these people. But we try to be very at the forefront.

People shop, you know this online and online, So we had to have a product that you could photograph really well and people would stop and go, wow, that looks beautiful, and so we concentrated a lot on finding something beautiful. And you can sell a lot of things online, but it does help if it looks pretty and people are interacting and they want to take photos of it. We've gained a lot of following on Instagram and in general in our online community by people sharing their pictures of their home. So we've created a community too, and that's been a big part of our brand, is that very accessible. We're trying to be accessible and friendly, and I think that's genuinely who we are. The danger of being online, of course, is that it's just transactional and you don't see who it is or know these people. But we try to be very at the forefront.

Of our brand and we are part of it through n Kate are part of the Linen thing.

Of our brand and we are part of it through n Kate are part of the Linen thing.

The linen is just the incident we could I'm not saying we could easily, but maybe now that we have taken through during this and we love our actual homewornes, we could take that further and look at other products. So it's not about don't focus on the product, focus on what you're selling yourself. The first thing people, this is one of these amazing tips that mum gave us, gave it Crewe very early on in her life, which I only found out the other day, is if you're going to sell something, you sell yourself first, not the product, and so don't get caught up and making you know in the actual thing you're selling, and it's more about the whole picture.

The linen is just the incident we could I'm not saying we could easily, but maybe now that we have taken through during this and we love our actual homewornes, we could take that further and look at other products. So it's not about don't focus on the product, focus on what you're selling yourself. The first thing people, this is one of these amazing tips that mum gave us, gave it Crewe very early on in her life, which I only found out the other day, is if you're going to sell something, you sell yourself first, not the product, and so don't get caught up and making you know in the actual thing you're selling, and it's more about the whole picture.

We fast forward. This is where we first meet you. We meet you in person at the end of day. We're a woman Business Awards and we were so stoked to read your name out as one of our winners and our end of your Awards that we held last year.

We fast forward. This is where we first meet you. We meet you in person at the end of day. We're a woman Business Awards and we were so stoked to read your name out as one of our winners and our end of your Awards that we held last year.

Tell us a.

Tell us a.

Little bit about what made you enter those awards and how did it all come about for you?

Little bit about what made you enter those awards and how did it all come about for you?

Yeah, well that was literally more to do with Prue and one of our very amazing clever ladies that we work with, Kelly, who's also a rural woman and she works with me and wife Ocoto, and they conspired between them to enter me. But they did tell me because there's no way they were going to get away with it. So they did tell me, and they said, how do you feel about this? And I was like, that was a terrifying prospect. Was it was also the one thing I think with the New Zealand rural women, I thought I'm gonna if we're going to enter anything, it would be that because I have learned about your awards that long before. Actually we entered via I think it was grassroots media, so other rural women online who I really love following. I love following all women in business, you know, working from working from rural New Zealand. So that's how it came about. That's how we re li did about it, and then they mentioned it and we all sort of put it in and wrote the application together and I was both terrified, I don't like this. It's really against every fiber of my being it's putting myself out there for you recognition. You know, I think women really struggle with that, but it was always going to be with your particular organization that we were going to do it because it's it's who we are New Zealand rural women.

Yeah, well that was literally more to do with Prue and one of our very amazing clever ladies that we work with, Kelly, who's also a rural woman and she works with me and wife Ocoto, and they conspired between them to enter me. But they did tell me because there's no way they were going to get away with it. So they did tell me, and they said, how do you feel about this? And I was like, that was a terrifying prospect. Was it was also the one thing I think with the New Zealand rural women, I thought I'm gonna if we're going to enter anything, it would be that because I have learned about your awards that long before. Actually we entered via I think it was grassroots media, so other rural women online who I really love following. I love following all women in business, you know, working from working from rural New Zealand. So that's how it came about. That's how we re li did about it, and then they mentioned it and we all sort of put it in and wrote the application together and I was both terrified, I don't like this. It's really against every fiber of my being it's putting myself out there for you recognition. You know, I think women really struggle with that, but it was always going to be with your particular organization that we were going to do it because it's it's who we are New Zealand rural women.

I love that you talk about rural women and celebrating because I think you're right, we don't maybe celebrate enough.

I love that you talk about rural women and celebrating because I think you're right, we don't maybe celebrate enough.

And it's actually one of the reasons why the awards.

And it's actually one of the reasons why the awards.

Actually came about to begin with, was that we wanted to celebrate more and so now we do that every year, which is pretty exciting. And I just remember your speech at the awards and just how greatful you were for your team and obviously pro and having the pretty big challenges that she'd had in that previous year as well. So wonderful to be able to celebrate and actually celebrate the achievements. So my mindset of.

Actually came about to begin with, was that we wanted to celebrate more and so now we do that every year, which is pretty exciting. And I just remember your speech at the awards and just how greatful you were for your team and obviously pro and having the pretty big challenges that she'd had in that previous year as well. So wonderful to be able to celebrate and actually celebrate the achievements. So my mindset of.

Tunes as oppose now to what's next for you?

Tunes as oppose now to what's next for you?

So you have kind of gone from this girl who grew up in Guzzy or outside Guzzy, to a travel agent in Auckland, to VET helping farmers, to a farmer to an e commerce like amazing e commerce brand. So talk us a little bit about what's coming up for you, Like I feel as though there's a new chapter at some point and potentially even extending on what you've already achieved.

So you have kind of gone from this girl who grew up in Guzzy or outside Guzzy, to a travel agent in Auckland, to VET helping farmers, to a farmer to an e commerce like amazing e commerce brand. So talk us a little bit about what's coming up for you, Like I feel as though there's a new chapter at some point and potentially even extending on what you've already achieved.

Yeah, it's actually I guess an important difference in our business, or glaringly obvious difference in our business to a lot of people, is that it's all very very organic. Our growth has been quite very organic. We've never set a business plan, we've never written down goals, we've never we've never done it by the book, and we do it very much on gut instinct and how we feel at the time, and we just sort of roll with things and test out between ourselves and there's nothing. Yeah, nothing set in concrete or written down an awful lot and that would probably keep happening. So we don't know. We don't have a five year, one year, five year plan, we don't have any of that. So we just like to sort of roll with it. But I guess what I would like, and I know Improved sort of shares similar sentiments, is that we would like to keep growing. And we have taken this expansion into wool home is really speaks closely to our hearts, you know, And in the fact that you know, obviously wall being a wonder fiber in itself, you know, people, we do believe people should use it more. But also it's support of rural New Zealand. So we want we're doing more and more of that every single week at the moment, and how we can promote our will. So the war was good for our business, it's good for fox Strock Home, but there's more to it than that. It's all about supporting rural New Zealand and that's what we're really passionate, especially me, very passionate about just increasing their exposure to people who haven't who are not as familiar. We've got a whole generational generations of people who are being brought up with They don't know about will, they don't know what you know anything about sheep. They don't like rural New Zealand like it was and when I was growing up in the seventies and eighties. You know, it's a completely different thing and we've got to re educate and not do it in a judgmental way. People just don't know. So if we gently gently expose our customers or everyone around us, just our communities to into natural living, making conscious choices. We hope to do more of that in therefore the results of that what hopefully might be that New Zealand farming has a great a great future. So we don't think we're going to change the world, but we think that just doing it bit by bad a lot of us can sort of change one or two minds here and there and infuse it by osmosis into the general population. And it sounds like we're trying to take over the world. That may be a thing that we can do better for rural New Zealand. And I'm not I mean farmers obviously, but you know all those people communities connected with in farming, so that we want to do way more there. Per and I both love to travel, so we'd like to do more of that. We're actually due to do another factory visits this hopefully this year because we evidence during COVID, so we haven't done that for a while, and so we'll be heading overseas to do that. And we're talking about wall when we go and do that too, looking for more opportunities. I guess yeah, we just sort of roll with it and see where it comes. It's very much a sort of month by month or we certainly don't talk about even next year. The gift of having my own business and one of the goals I have written down theretre I have written this down when I first started. It is what I want out of my life in general is to be able to run a business and have the freedom to do certain things. And that is to be able to be there for my kids no matter what, and also to help my parents through their retirement and also to be able to give back. And there is a huge one for me and for Peru, and we'll be looking at We're always looking for opportunities. We don't have anything prescriptive written down about let we'll do this, and we'll donate to this and we'll help with this cause things come along and we like, let's support it. So we're really passionate about a hope. And then you know the space work in the mental health space in New Zealand. We just recently, just last week, did a pink ribbon fundraiser down in a warehouse for a linen warehouse and white good O because prow head breast cancer last year is what you alluded to before, and so we thought it would be a really great We've sold all our linen, our seconds and samples to help raise money for that. So we also opened the Wipe got a warehouse when Siphon grave Raal came about for people to donate all their large goods, so we have a warehouse full of furniture and hope, you know, washing machines and all sorts of things people were delivering to. We distributed that to people in needs. So we're always organically just watching out for things we can help with. So if we can keep doing that and do it better and better, I think, you know, we'll feel good about the future.

Yeah, it's actually I guess an important difference in our business, or glaringly obvious difference in our business to a lot of people, is that it's all very very organic. Our growth has been quite very organic. We've never set a business plan, we've never written down goals, we've never we've never done it by the book, and we do it very much on gut instinct and how we feel at the time, and we just sort of roll with things and test out between ourselves and there's nothing. Yeah, nothing set in concrete or written down an awful lot and that would probably keep happening. So we don't know. We don't have a five year, one year, five year plan, we don't have any of that. So we just like to sort of roll with it. But I guess what I would like, and I know Improved sort of shares similar sentiments, is that we would like to keep growing. And we have taken this expansion into wool home is really speaks closely to our hearts, you know, And in the fact that you know, obviously wall being a wonder fiber in itself, you know, people, we do believe people should use it more. But also it's support of rural New Zealand. So we want we're doing more and more of that every single week at the moment, and how we can promote our will. So the war was good for our business, it's good for fox Strock Home, but there's more to it than that. It's all about supporting rural New Zealand and that's what we're really passionate, especially me, very passionate about just increasing their exposure to people who haven't who are not as familiar. We've got a whole generational generations of people who are being brought up with They don't know about will, they don't know what you know anything about sheep. They don't like rural New Zealand like it was and when I was growing up in the seventies and eighties. You know, it's a completely different thing and we've got to re educate and not do it in a judgmental way. People just don't know. So if we gently gently expose our customers or everyone around us, just our communities to into natural living, making conscious choices. We hope to do more of that in therefore the results of that what hopefully might be that New Zealand farming has a great a great future. So we don't think we're going to change the world, but we think that just doing it bit by bad a lot of us can sort of change one or two minds here and there and infuse it by osmosis into the general population. And it sounds like we're trying to take over the world. That may be a thing that we can do better for rural New Zealand. And I'm not I mean farmers obviously, but you know all those people communities connected with in farming, so that we want to do way more there. Per and I both love to travel, so we'd like to do more of that. We're actually due to do another factory visits this hopefully this year because we evidence during COVID, so we haven't done that for a while, and so we'll be heading overseas to do that. And we're talking about wall when we go and do that too, looking for more opportunities. I guess yeah, we just sort of roll with it and see where it comes. It's very much a sort of month by month or we certainly don't talk about even next year. The gift of having my own business and one of the goals I have written down theretre I have written this down when I first started. It is what I want out of my life in general is to be able to run a business and have the freedom to do certain things. And that is to be able to be there for my kids no matter what, and also to help my parents through their retirement and also to be able to give back. And there is a huge one for me and for Peru, and we'll be looking at We're always looking for opportunities. We don't have anything prescriptive written down about let we'll do this, and we'll donate to this and we'll help with this cause things come along and we like, let's support it. So we're really passionate about a hope. And then you know the space work in the mental health space in New Zealand. We just recently, just last week, did a pink ribbon fundraiser down in a warehouse for a linen warehouse and white good O because prow head breast cancer last year is what you alluded to before, and so we thought it would be a really great We've sold all our linen, our seconds and samples to help raise money for that. So we also opened the Wipe got a warehouse when Siphon grave Raal came about for people to donate all their large goods, so we have a warehouse full of furniture and hope, you know, washing machines and all sorts of things people were delivering to. We distributed that to people in needs. So we're always organically just watching out for things we can help with. So if we can keep doing that and do it better and better, I think, you know, we'll feel good about the future.

There are so many aspects of what you just said that I love. I love the fact that you've you've written down these goals at the beginning of your journey, and it sounds like you're so on track to either meet them, you've already smashed them already and you're onto the next thing. So that's really really inspiring. And as someone who is a couple of years behind you, I just look at you and I think you are an inspiration for my generation coming through. So thank you so much for your time.

There are so many aspects of what you just said that I love. I love the fact that you've you've written down these goals at the beginning of your journey, and it sounds like you're so on track to either meet them, you've already smashed them already and you're onto the next thing. So that's really really inspiring. And as someone who is a couple of years behind you, I just look at you and I think you are an inspiration for my generation coming through. So thank you so much for your time.

This has been one of the best chats that we've had.

This has been one of the best chats that we've had.

Despite what I said earlier, it genuinely has been one of the best chats that we've had, and I just really want to thank you for sharing all these insights and the last thing I wanted to ask, if it's okay we can cut this if more but I've been thinking a lot about your speech and you made reference to pro How is Prue's health now?

Despite what I said earlier, it genuinely has been one of the best chats that we've had, and I just really want to thank you for sharing all these insights and the last thing I wanted to ask, if it's okay we can cut this if more but I've been thinking a lot about your speech and you made reference to pro How is Prue's health now?

Thank you so much. My gosh, she's really fantastic. She is all through it. I don't know the correct terminology to use. I was just the freaked out sister on the sideline, helping as much as I could. But so she has it all wrapped up. She did an amazing speech last week at the Pink Ribbon thing about her journey, and she would like she did. I did talk to her about obviously about this podcast because we've been excited about for some time. She said, if you get a chance, just do cres on people. But one big lesson I can share with everyone because she can because she's she's recovered. She's in fine. Is that Get tested, get your mammograms done, because Prue and you wouldn't be aware of this. She had no symptoms, she had no lumps, she didn't feel a lump. We've got no family history. She happen to find it on a routine mammogram, but actually it wasn't routine her GP. She was in between years. You get tested every two years after forty five her GP. For some reason, we still don't know why. She can't answer it said, I really want you to have one this year in between. I think Prue had been feeling a little bit off and I don't know why. But she pressed her and pressed her and brew dug her heels and she eventually went and they found cancer. So please, please, what if you do screen and you have another thing? And I didn't realize this is you have to enroll in that program yourself. It's not like cervical screening where they contact you automatically. You have to enroll into the system and then and then you're sent the reminders. If you don't that, you wouldn't know a thing. So I think she'd if you could include that, she'd be really heavy. It's such an important message. It's so important, and bless your heart, thank you so much for asking. She is great. She's a powerful, strong, amazing woman. And she is great.

Thank you so much. My gosh, she's really fantastic. She is all through it. I don't know the correct terminology to use. I was just the freaked out sister on the sideline, helping as much as I could. But so she has it all wrapped up. She did an amazing speech last week at the Pink Ribbon thing about her journey, and she would like she did. I did talk to her about obviously about this podcast because we've been excited about for some time. She said, if you get a chance, just do cres on people. But one big lesson I can share with everyone because she can because she's she's recovered. She's in fine. Is that Get tested, get your mammograms done, because Prue and you wouldn't be aware of this. She had no symptoms, she had no lumps, she didn't feel a lump. We've got no family history. She happen to find it on a routine mammogram, but actually it wasn't routine her GP. She was in between years. You get tested every two years after forty five her GP. For some reason, we still don't know why. She can't answer it said, I really want you to have one this year in between. I think Prue had been feeling a little bit off and I don't know why. But she pressed her and pressed her and brew dug her heels and she eventually went and they found cancer. So please, please, what if you do screen and you have another thing? And I didn't realize this is you have to enroll in that program yourself. It's not like cervical screening where they contact you automatically. You have to enroll into the system and then and then you're sent the reminders. If you don't that, you wouldn't know a thing. So I think she'd if you could include that, she'd be really heavy. It's such an important message. It's so important, and bless your heart, thank you so much for asking. She is great. She's a powerful, strong, amazing woman. And she is great.

I think you're both powerful, strong, amazing women. To tell you the truth, but thank you for sharing. I think it's it's great, too much great to have so many wonderful people blazing the trail, and that's one of the reasons for this podcast is to help others come along on this journey. And if we can sort of inspire a few more our listeners to take the path that you improve have and building such an incredible community, I think I think we'll all benefit.

I think you're both powerful, strong, amazing women. To tell you the truth, but thank you for sharing. I think it's it's great, too much great to have so many wonderful people blazing the trail, and that's one of the reasons for this podcast is to help others come along on this journey. And if we can sort of inspire a few more our listeners to take the path that you improve have and building such an incredible community, I think I think we'll all benefit.

So thank you so much for your time.

So thank you so much for your time.

Thank you so much. Ladies, You're just gorgeous and it's been a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you so much for the opportunity.

Thank you so much. Ladies, You're just gorgeous and it's been a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you so much for the opportunity.

Right So, if you have enjoyed this chat and the others that we've held with fantastic rural women, then please support us by joining the fold.

Right So, if you have enjoyed this chat and the others that we've held with fantastic rural women, then please support us by joining the fold.

Just he to our website ruralwomanzed dot in zed or check out the show notes to sign up and be part of shaping future generations for women in rural New Zealand.

Just he to our website ruralwomanzed dot in zed or check out the show notes to sign up and be part of shaping future generations for women in rural New Zealand.