Rose Voice, of The Real Dog Equipment Company, is a woman whose passion and Kiwi "can-do" attitude saw her named the Supreme Winner at the recent RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Awards 2012.
She also won the Fly Buys Online Business Award category.
Rose's passion is for dogs and the unusual sport of sled-dog racing. She has a dozen malamutes and a rare breeding pair of Canadian eskimo dogs - the only ones of their kind in New Zealand - which she runs on the trails around Central Otago and races as far afield as Taupo.
Eleven years ago Rose - a theatre nurse by profession - and her husband, Nigel, decided to relocate from the city back to the Maniototo to raise their young family.
"I wanted to bring the children up in a small rural community that would offer them respect for people and the environment, which is really important to me for my children," she said.
Rose realised that with a regular courier service and a website, operating a business from a rural location was not just a possibility but a positive asset.
Her first step was to build a website, and the family set up purpose-built premises at Ranfurly with on-site dog kennels, a machine room and a shop, as well as their own home.
Rose began making sled-dog equipment, such as harnesses and collars, after closely examining the gear she'd been importing from the United States and deciding she could do better.
As the business grew Nigel was able to give up his job with the police, swapping his dream of owning a large motorbike for an industrial sewing machine.
Rose says they work well together: they are both perfectionists and pride themselves on making the highest-quality equipment that will last a dog's lifetime or longer.
Rose designs most of the products and tests them on her own dogs: "If my dogs can't break it nobody can!"
The product range has expanded and now sled dog equipment is only 10 per cent of the business. They also make equipment for horses, alpacas and even bulls.
"Most of the business is pooch in the backyard. But it's all quality - brass and stainless."
Rose sources New Zealand materials where she can, saying she has a huge following simply because her products are New Zealand made.
She also sources the highest-quality webbing from France and the US.
"It's lovely on your hands, and never wears out. You can tow your car with our dog leads and they're not going to break."
In a delightful "selling snow to Eskimos" twist, Rose now exports equipment back to Alaska, the home of sled-dog racing.
Rose says winning the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award is a huge validation for all she's worked for.
"I think I have learned over the years that real marketing is not just an advert in the paper. It's about talking about the business, people understanding who I am and why I am doing it - that is the best advertising and marketing you can get.
"This year has been a huge year of growth for us with us both working in the business."