Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
There never seem to be enough hours in the day! It is very important to us as a family that we manage our time carefully between family and business. Having a young family and a growing business keeps us on our toes. We ensure that our children come first, going to sports games, productions, etc., even if that means we have to work very early in the morning or late at night. Running your own businesses gives you the flexibility to be able to do that.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Developing a trusted brand within an already busy market dominated by larger, corporate businesses has been challenging, as well as overcoming the overwhelming demand and faster-than-expected growth of the business. Also, obtaining our export license and understanding the requirements per international markets, which vary a lot!
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Again, the flexibility to work around our family is the biggest pro, along with providing a product and service that we are proud of. One of the biggest cons is that work doesn’t finish when you leave the office. We often have to work long hours during the honey flow season. Another con is having to deal with the different time zones when communicating with overseas customers.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
We want to continue to grow the business as we expand into more overseas markets and add new products to our portfolio.
Visit the Gillard Honey website to find out more and to view their delicious range of New Zealand honey. You can also follow their journey on Facebook and Instagram.
