What was the best business decision you have made?
Turning my passion for patchwork into a business. After 16 years I still love coming to work every day.
Why did you decide to move the shop into town?
I decided that I needed to take my business one step further and had always thought about having a quilt shop with a coffee shop. The building we are now in was vacant and I thought had great potential and perfect positioning for my business.
Our coffee shop is called "Coffee and a Yarn". When you come to visit our shop you need plenty of time, it's not a shop that you walk in and out of in a few minutes. There is so much to see and be inspired by. What better way to spend some girl time having a coffee, thinking about what you've seen, or what colours you want to make your quilt in, or just meeting with a friend to have a yarn, it's a great place where your husband can sit and read the paper or men's magazine while you shop!
Was it a risky move when other shops in the CBD are closing up?
I guess everything you do comes with a risk, but I love what I do and so therefore believe in making it work, I have no option but to make it work.
Are you pleased with how it's going so far?
Absolutely delighted with how things are going, I have so many wonderful customers who are just as passionate about their quilt making and hobby as what I am, they support me 100 per cent and we now also have lots of new customers that are passing by and calling in to visit and see what we are all about.
What was your worst business mistake (if any) and what did you learn from it?
Touch wood I haven't made any business decision that I regret - so far!
What do you see as the biggest opportunity for your business in the year ahead?
Establishing my business in the CBD and expanding our profile so people know who we are, where we are and what we do.
What do you think it is that makes your business a success?
Being passionate about what I'm doing ... giving my customers the best service I can always ... knowing and giving the best advice so my customers have success with what they are sewing. Being me! And having the best staff members all working together to make Cottage Flair what it is.
If you could do any other job for a day, what would that be?
Be a full-time granny to my seven grandkids.
How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?
Try to have a day off each week and occasionally a weekend (with a seven day a week business this can be hard).
What's the best thing about being in business in Rotorua?
The diversity of the people we see in our shop every day.
If you were mayor of Rotorua for one day, what one change would you make?
Change the 15 minute parks outside my shop to 120 minutes free parking!
- Cottage Flair is at the lake end of Fenton St, near the intersection with Pukaki St. Its website is www.cottageflair.co.nz
