Hi, everyone. Just a really quick note from me before we launch into this episode.  I have been on holiday and have come back a little sick and I'm running a little bit behind. So I  decided to re-release an episode that isn't too out of date and that also could keep my little one episode a week algorithm going! So for those of you that haven't listened to this episode with Frances Shoemack from Abel, I know that you will love it. And for those of you that have already listened to this episode, I will be back next week with a brand new amazing episode. Have a great week. x Catie

~

In this episode I speak with the clever Frances Shoemack - founder of Abel, a modern 100% plant-derived fragrance house fixated on a better future.

Following a failed search for a natural perfume that was chic, modern and long lasting. Abel was founded in Amsterdam by Frances with a simple goal - to create the world’s best natural perfume. For nearly a decade, Abel have been working on that mission without compromising on ethics or aesthetics, and in doing so, inspire positive change.

Now based in the brands Wellington Fabriek (which is Dutch for factory), Abel is sold in 33 countries including Japan, the US and Germany and beloved by customers around the world.

I love this this is a slightly different take on a kiwi business journey – considering this is a kiwi that started her company on the other side of the world, achieved some global success and then brought her business back home. I was full of admiration for Frances even before we chatted and our conversation did not disappoint – it’s hard not to get nervous when talking to these incredible women but Frances was so genuine, humble and generous with her time telling me her story (we were on a time limit so I was trying very hard to get all my questions in!).

Please enjoy my conversation with Frances. I know you’ll love it as much as I did.

You can find Abel Odor online at abelfragrance.com and check them out on Insta - @abelfragrance

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, I speak to Eliana Glover –managing director of FSL foods, a family run business with 20 years’ experience sourcing and selling frozen fruit and vegetables. FSL work closely with local and international growers to produce leading retail brands that we find in our supermarket freezers such as Fruzio, Goodness Kitchen and The Berry Fix, the majority of which are packed by the team in their Nelson based factory.

Eli’s story is slightly different to many of my previous guests. Over the past few years she’s had quite the entrepreneurial journey which has led to her current role. After identifying a gap in the baking market, Eli launched Hill St Wholefoods in early 2019, which offered easy, affordable and nutritious plant-based baking mixes for the modern baker. Building the business from the ground up, Hill St Wholefoods quickly acquired a presence and stockists throughout Aotearoa and Australia. 

However, Eli faced an unexpected challenge in 2021 when a trademarking dispute arose from an Australian company. Faced with the cost of continuing the legal battle or rebuilding the brand under a new name – Eli made the choice to sell Hill St to New Zealand company Mrs Rogers, who rebranded the products under their existing baking line. It was then that Eli refocused her attention to the family business, taking on the role of Managing Director at FSL.

So, as you can see, in a few short years Eli has learnt a lot of business lessons, the good and the bad, from awesome highs to massive challenges. There is so much that we can learn from Eli’s story, and I absolutely loved this chat. Like with all my guests, Eli was so open and willing to share all the details of her business journey and her experience and learnings makes for such an inspiring listen.

I really loved talking to her about her current role and learning more about the world of FMCG – a world which I really don’t know too much about. We talk about the broad scope of her role – from business strategy, pricing and logistics to new product development and marketing, there is so much creativity and opportunity, I personally learnt so much.

Anyway, to learn more about FSL you can visit their website fslfoods.co.nz or find them on Instagram @fslfoodsltd but probably the best way you can learn about their delicious products is by finding them in the freezer aisle of your supermarket! 

I know you will love my chat with Eli as much as I did.

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, I speak to Julia Matthews –founder of Two Islands, a range of lifestyle food and dietary supplements creating daily rituals for skin, hair, nails, joints, gut health, brain and sleep.

Made in Aotearoa, Two Islands is a blend of science and nature, an expertly formulated range of intentionally crafted supplements using only the highest quality ingredients at effective doses. Two Islands aims to simplify wellness and give its customers greater control over the health of their bodies, peace of mind and possibly even delight their soul.

Since the brand’s launch in 2017, Two Islands has quickly grown to be one of the most successful and recognised wellness brands in New Zealand, with over twenty-seven thousand followers on Instagram.

Like with many of my guests, you will hear in this episode that I am a big brand fan of Two Islands and I’ve been using the Protein Powder in my daily smoothies for years. As well as the taste and quality of the product, I’ve always really admired the brand from a business sense, from the outset the branding and marketing has always been so beautiful, simple, and clever, standing out from others on the shelf.

I first approached Julia to come on the podcast about 6 weeks before the birth of her twin-baby girls so the timing didn’t quite work. I was absolutely thrilled to get the chance to talk to Juls for my 50th episode. After watching the brand from afar, I was desperate to learn all about the inner workings of the brand and this conversation didn’t disappoint. I am in so much admiration of the business Juls has created and her role within it – I want a business like Two Islands for myself! I love that she has created a business that ticks so many boxes – a wellness product that is honest and ethical, beautiful branding, clever marketing and so many great opportunities for business growth both here and further afield, and it’s just a really cool business.

So, if you don’t already know all about Two Islands you can find their incredible product range and learn more about ingredients and the brands ethos at twoislandsco.com or follow on Instagram at @twoislandsco. 

I know you will love my chat with Juls as much as I did.

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, I speak to Victoria Harris – co-founder of The Curve, a financial education platform providing investing and finance content to women globally. As well as a website, Harris and her co-founder Sophie Hallwright host workshops, corporate events, and (my personal favourite) multi award-winning podcast, called Raising The Curve.

With over ten years in the investment and finance industry, Vic continued to see the women around her struggle with the confidence to build their finances.

Together with Sophie, they created The Curve - a safe space for women to get investment-savvy, without the noise and confusion. A place for women to learn about investing in a way that makes sense to them and makes sense for their lifestyle. And one of the best things about The Curve is that no question is a silly question. The platform is founded on the idea that if you’re asking it, so is everyone else.

I am a recent and big fan of The Curve. As a fellow podcaster, I am full of admiration of what Vic and Sophie have created as well as being the perfect target audience for the content that The Curve generates. As you will hear me tell Vic in this episode, I WISH that I had had this kind of information available to me in my early twenties.

This is such an awesome chat with Vic. I loved hearing all about her life in the investment and finance industry and the story behind launching The Curve. Vic and Sophie are just so inspiring and they have created a really clever business in such a short time. In this conversation I gain some invaluable insight and it was such a treat to get to pick Vic’s brain one-to-one.

I know you will definitely want to go and learn more about The Curve (if you don’t follow them already!) so head over to thecurve.co.nz or follow @thecurve____ on Instagram for all sorts of amazing and clever financial education content.

I know you will love my chat with Vic as much as I did.

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, I speak to Sophie Hurley – co-founder of luxury luggage and accessories brand Honest Wolf.

Sophie, along with her husband and co-founder Sam, are part of the third generation to farm at Papanui Estate. Nestled in the heart of New Zealand’s North Island, Papanui Estate covers 3,300 hectares and is home to over 25,000 happy, healthy sheep. Their property has been thriving for more than 80 years and they hope to keep it alive and well for at least another century or two.

Honest Wolf launched in June 2020. Sophie and Sam were inspired by the phasing out of plastic bags and were looking for a way to utilise the high quantities of wool produced on Papanui Estate. Together they came up with Honest Wolf’s first product; the casual shopper – a biodegradable, fashionable shopping bag made from wool. 

In a few short years they have since expanded their range to include high-quality tote bags, luggage, wallets and more - designed in the country to withstand the city. The brand has grown quickly, and they have even opened a beautiful flagship store in Hunterville right on State Highway 1 between Wellington and Taupo.

It was wonderful to chat with Sophie about all aspects of the Honest Wolf journey, from concept to creation, logistics and lessons learnt and then looking ahead to the future. Their journey is super inspiring, I’m in awe of this young couple (well, younger than me!) and the drive and passion that has created Honest Wolf.

To learn more about Honest Wolf and to check out their beautiful luggage and accessories visit honestwolf.co.nz or to go behind the scenes, take a look at the brand and and get a glimpse at life on the farm you can follow @honest.wolf on Instagram.

I know you will love my chat with Sophie as much as I did.

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, I speak to Olivia Boswell – award-winning public relations and communications specialist and founder of Common Ground PR. 

Olivia is a multi-faceted operator. With her extensive experience in the cultural space and her passion for New Zealand businesses with heart, she offers a unique and creative perspective. Common Ground PR supports companies with big goals in their journeys, from launching and profile building to maintaining a covetable position in the media.

It's not often I interview people on what I call the 'service' side of building a brand and business. Still, as many of my long-time listeners will know, I'm obsessed with PR, and I love hearing the behind-the-scenes stories about working alongside incredible businesses to help grow and build brands. And when I say incredible businesses and brands – these include podcast favourite Boring Oat Milk, brain drink Ārepa and recently the Womens Rugby World Cup.

Liv and I have an extensive extended network of mutual friends, but we truly connected after I spoke to Morgan Maw from Boring. I was really interested to hear everything about Liv's business journey.

Starting with redundancy at the beginning of a global pandemic, Liv’s journey to becoming a business owner is unique, and I know you will find a lot of value in her words. I'm so thankful to Liv for the transparency and generosity she shares in detail about the early days of Common Ground and her vulnerability and honesty when sharing some of the personal challenges she has faced throughout her time in business. 

This is such a fun chat, I laughed a lot and I enjoyed Liv's perspective on work and life, and overall, I think the work she does and the business she is building is just really really cool.

To learn more about Liv and Common Ground after this episode, visit commonground.co.nz or to get at behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of a PR specialist follow @livboswell on Instagram.

I know you will love my chat with Liv as much as I did.  

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, I speak to Katey Mandy – founder of the New Zealand botanical skincare brand RAAIE.

After 15 years working in the creative industry for other high-profile names in luxury beauty, Katey launched her own active botanical skincare brand just over a year ago. 

RAAIE represents a new realm of science-backed botanical skincare. With the antioxidant power of New Zealand botanicals and backed by the latest ingredients in cosmeceutical science, RAAIE is looking to redefine the clean cosmeceutical skincare game.

I first became aware of RAAIE not long after its launch. Suddenly I saw these beautiful bottles everywhere and was instantly intrigued. From an interested observer, every aspect of this brand launch seemed to hit the mark –unique packaging, gorgeous branding and imagery, creative content, and storytelling. And, of course, alongside the beautiful exterior – the inside really does count too – the products themselves have launched to rave reviews, global awards and an instant cult following.

I really enjoyed this chat with Katey – I loved hearing how far RAAIE has come in, this brand has made a significant impact in the short time since launch, and for me personally, it’s always just so wonderful to see a business that place so much importance on brand and marketing and to see that commitment pay off.

To learn more about RAAIE after this episode, visit raaie.co.nz or follow the brand on Instagram @__raaie__ 

I know you will love my chat with Katey as much as I did.

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, I speak to Claire Stapleton – a self-taught, New Zealand born artist based in Sydney, Australia.

Inspired by the human form and the connections we have with each other, Claire’s work is a continuous journey as she explores both conscious and unconscious responses through the process of painting on paper, raw linen and cotton canvas, and ceramics.

Only four years into her practice, Claire’s use of expressive colours, gestures and form is ever evolving. She is interested in the negative space around us, exploring dynamic brush strokes and colour palettes to bring to life playful impasto portraits. Claire’s work hangs in homes and businesses around the world.

As you will hear, it was a friendship connection that led me to talk to Claire for the podcast. As with many of my guests, I’d become aware of Claire’s work a few years ago when she was just starting out and have followed along with her progress ever since, watching her work start to adorn the walls of my friends’ homes. I was really interested to talk to Claire as someone that taking a self-taught creative hobby and turning into a working artist.

On a personal note, I got SO much out of my chat with Claire. I feel like our conversation came at exactly the right time for me and listening to her journey, and her advice was just the tonic I needed as I attempt to take a few brave new steps this year. I think this will be such an inspiring episode for any of us that have a creative yearning, want to be brave and try new things but have no idea where to start.

And no doubt after this episode you will want to learn more about Claire and her work – you can find her at byclairestapleton.com or on Instagram @byclairestapleton.

I hope you love my chat with Claire as much as I did!

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast, I speak to Sarah Lindsay – founder of Sala, a multidisciplinary movement community in the heart of Ponsonby, Auckland.

Sala is more than just sweating. Born from the desire to create impactful experiences, integrated living and community, Sala hosts over 85 weekly classes in 12 disciplines, including yoga, reformer pilates, barre, HIIT, sound healing and more.

When Sarah moved to Auckland from London in 2018, she struggled to find her ‘place’ or her ‘people’, and after letting her loneliness transform into action, Sala was born. Over the last four years Sala has evolved and transformed in early 2023 became a full wellness mecca by doubling its physical space to host a new reformer pilates studio, healing room, concept store and a community co-working space.

I’m not going to lie; for those that know me, exercise and movement are often more of a chore than a passion, and I certainly don’t spend as much time as I should focusing on mindfulness and spiritual connection. And so, while I was really excited to talk to Sarah about SALA and the amazing business she has built and is growing, I wasn’t sure how much I would relate to the chat. 

But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I took from our conversation. I absolutely loved learning about Sarah’s life and business journey – from her life in the UK, yoga training in India, meeting a kiwi and moving to NZ before ever having visited and everything about the conception, creation and growth of SALA. I was captivated by every word!

After this episode, you will want to learn more about SALA and the beautiful community-driven business that Sarah has created. You can find SALA at www.sala.studio or on Instagram @sala_akl

I know you will love my chat with Sarah as much as I did.

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the podcast I speak to the incredible Mimi Gilmour Buckley - entrepreneur, restauranteur, hospitality guru, creative director, and mother. Many of you will know her as co-founder of burger empire, Burger Burger, she's also the owner and creative director of brand and design agency Mates and more recently she's the entrepreneur behind a new skincare range and resilience-building app, IAMMI.

Burger Burger opened in Ponsonby, Auckland in 2014 and is now in six locations around NZ. After spending many years overseeing the running of the restaurants, Mimi is now focusing on running Mates Agency and getting ready to launch IAMMI.

As passionate as she is about business, Mimi’s most important role is that of mother to her two gorgeous daughters, Olympia and Octavia. After her birth in 2017, beautiful Olympia was diagnosed with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy and epilepsy which has had a profound effect on the lives of Mimi and her family. Along with everything else Mimi has going on in her life, she also an advocate for Olympia, families like her own and Starship Children’s Hospital.

In this episode we talk about everything – from the very beginning of Mimi’s career journey, all her successes, challenges, learnings, and lessons both personally and professionally – and she also let me grill her for some marketing insights which I just loved. This is a very honest, vulnerable, and sometimes emotional conversation. I just feel so incredibly fortunate when these wonderful women come on my podcast and share their lives with me in such detail and with such generosity. I am in awe of Mimi and everything she’s accomplished so far – she’s a risk taker, a creative thinker, a change maker, hospo queen, marketing genius, fierce mama and also just a normal human like the rest of us.

After this chat you can find Mimi in many places online but on instagram you can find her @iammi.co @matesagency or @burgerburgernz.

My friends, this is a lonnnnng chat. You might need listen over a few sittings or just go on a really long walk.

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

For more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com

Hosted by Catie Dawson
Bought to you by Somewhere Creative
Find us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.