WOMEN IN BUSINESS: Michaela James

Having three young children is enough to make anyone's head spin but Mount Maunganui woman Michaela James also has two businesses to run.
And this high-energy mum wouldn't have it any other way - she's passionate about her agency Design Juice and last year started a second business, The Vinyl Room.
The 31-year-old runs both businesses from an office at the front of her Mount Maunganui home, with the help of two fulltime staff.
Her older children Logan, who turns 5 this week, and Asha, 3, were at preschool three days a week, and home with mum on Thursday and Fridays.
And Mrs James juggles work around the needs of baby Holly, 7 months.
While she admits things can be "quite hectic", she says working at home is "perfect".
"I can be looking after Holly and proofing what the girls [her staff] have done.
"I don't want to be ever stressed out by work, because I love what I do."
Life has become busier since Mrs James launched The Vinyl Room in March last year.
The company designs and sells wall decals, which are a simple way to decorate almost any interior space.
The decals are removable, which make them perfect for people who are renting, or don't want to commit long-term to a design or colour.
A keen house decorator "pre children", Mrs James loved the idea of wall decals but found a lack of stylish designs available.
"There was the tacky children's stuff.
"I knew there was some amazing companies in France that did amazing wall graphics, so I investigated them."
She decided there was a gap in the market for New Zealand-inspired designs.
"No one was really doing anything Kiwiana, and I wanted to do Kiwiana and the Kiwiana bach range. These are our biggest ranges by far."
And as home decorators realise the decals can "jazz up a real plain space", the designs are becoming more and more popular.
"People are realising you can put them in your lounge room and kitchen. I've got one on my splashback," she said, pointing at a vibrant red toetoe.
It's obvious Mrs James loves her work - decals decorate almost every room of the house, from birds in the kids' bedroom to a favourite quote in the office.
The Kiwiana range includes everything from fantails and pohutukawa to jandals and paua, while other designs are kitchen, antique, Christmas and floral.
The Vinyl Room complements Design Juice as an outlet where Mrs James and her staff can let their creative sides run wild.
"With an advertising agency ... you don't get to be as creative as you would like," she explained.
And the success of the business has surprised even Mrs James herself.
"I didn't think it would be as big as it has been," she said. "It's massive."
The online business has gained nationwide attention in house and garden magazines, and has received orders from all over the country - and even as far away as Dubai.
Mrs James is also considering expansion into the Australian market.
"We have got designs that are quite New Zealand specific, but there are so many New Zealanders in Australia," she said.
Her latest venture is a collaboration with five New Zealand artists who have teamed up with The Vinyl Room to create the Artists in Residence Collection.
Mrs James picked her top five "wish list" of artists - Luke Hedley, Shane Hansen, Brad Novak, Timo Rannali and Ingrid Anderson - thinking she "may as well start at the top".
She was thrilled when all five artists accepted and had submitted designs within two weeks.
And she couldn't be happier with the resulting wall decals, which she says will inject a piece of original New Zealand art into homes all over the country.
So for now, life's getting busier - and that's just the way Mrs James likes it.
"If you love your job it's pretty good," she said with a smile.
www.thevinylroom.co.nz