Business mission and vision:
Bec’s Shed mission is to bring joy to people through quality upholstery services and helping them decide on the perfect fabric for their special piece of furniture.
“Bec’s Shed is a small upholstery business based on the Kapiti Coast. We upholster and reupholster furniture. We manufacture headboards and ottomans and run upholstery classes.”
The absolute joy I get from delivering the best work possible. I love my job and it shows.
As a single parent I needed the flexibility of owning the business and setting my own hours to accommodate my family.
My desire to become an upholsterer was found after a having 3 children and difficult divorce.
The challenges I have faced are many!
-Trying to find an apprenticeship, it was not available.
-Learning on my own
-Building the business from scratch, buying tools, equipment, renting a space.
-Getting accepted by the reps, learning to build contacts.
-Learning how to run a business.
-Realising I needed staff, how to employ them, interview them and train them.
-Making my business succeed while still maintaining a family.
The challenges I have faced are many!
-Trying to find an apprenticeship, it was not available.
-Learning on my own
-Building the business from scratch, buying tools, equipment, renting a space.
-Getting accepted by the reps, learning to build contacts.
-Learning how to run a business.
-Realising I needed staff, how to employ them, interview them and train them.
-Making my business succeed while still maintaining a family.
One of the significant challenges of starting my own upholstery business, was that I had no knowledge of how to do upholstery or run a business. I made myself learn it all.
I remember taking on a job at the very beginning, and not knowing how to do it. I had to persevere on this particular chair for weeks. I made a huge loss on it. I remember even ringing another company to see if they would be able to do it for me, but they were so booked up they wouldn’t be able to do it for 6 weeks. So I said to myself “you will have to keep going, you will have to learn how to do this” I kept going and the customer was thrilled with the result. I have persevered continuously for 7 years, growing from strength to strength, and then teaching others.
As a single parent , adversity is all around. Deciding that I would do this came from a strong belief in myself, the belief that I could overcome challenges, the desire to succeed and bring joy. I stuck to my belief that I could also do this and maintain my family, which is hugely important to me. Many times I have worked late into the night, when my children were asleep, so that I could be there on a Saturday morning at the sideline of the football game, or in the audience at the music performance.
I have managed to grow my business to the point where I have 2 employees.
That I started it from scratch by myself and I now have an excellent reputation through out the industry.
Wood workers, fabric printers, printers.
Upholstery apprenticship.
Keeping my own hours. Showing my children its possible. Pride in my work and the business which improves self esteem and therefore makes me happier, which passes on the the wider world.
Bes Shed often donates to charitable events. I have donated to Te Horo School many times, and more reently Otaki College fundraisers.. Other fund raising raffles in the community. Becs Shed have also been a sponsor of the ” Special Kids Christmas Party” run for underprivileged children for the past 3 years.
I employ staff and I use contractors. I rent a space and storage facilities.
When I saw the email suggesting an entering, I thought, Oh, just another business awards.. But then when I saw what the topic was about, I was like, This is totally about me and my business. My business embodies everything this award is about. I could give many, many examples of overcoming adversity, and perseverance. And I imagine I would be inspiration to many Women in the community were they to know of the acheivements.
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