Sauce presents Collective Harmony – In Partnership with Mi Piaci
At Sauce, we’re always endeavoring to open the curtains to get a closer to glimpse of women killing the game. So, we’ve proudly partnered with Mi Piaci to present the Collective Harmony.
Comprised by Mi Piaci, the Collective Harmony champions local female entrepreneurs who are paving the way for others to follow. It’s a group of likeminded women, who although work in different fields, have homogenous values.
Sauce founder, Zeenat Wilkinson, sat down with the four female Collective Harmony leaders from brands: Mi Piaci, Mina, Monarc Jewellery and Syrene Skincare to discuss business entrepreneurship, growth, differentiation and strength.
We hope you love these interviews as much as we do.
Mi Piaci - answered by Head of Design Louise Anselmi
Louise Anselmi of Mi Piaci
What is your point of difference when competing with larger corporations in the same market?
We are fortunate to have been in the market for over 20 years now, and while we were small when we started, we have grown to become one of the more prominent footwear players in the NZ market. We are however small at heart and this is a big part of our success. The structure in our business is “flat” meaning we do not have a hierarchy of status, I am just as likely to flatten boxes and take them to the recycling bin as anyone else. We stay close to the product and to what is happening in the market. Humility and openness to feedback are some of the things we value the most and encourage our team to lean into. A passion for the business comes from the top and this is something larger corporations lose in the layers and silos of larger team structures.
How do you manage feeling overwhelmed?
After 20 years in a fast-paced retail environment, with so many curve balls thrown our way over the years, you learn not to become overwhelmed. A technique I share is to face the worst-case scenario and in a country like NZ, even that is not too bad. Short of ill health, we are always able to pick ourselves up and carry on with at least some financial support from the Government. Failure is a big part of the success and we have experienced plenty of that along the way. Another effective technique I can also highly recommend is meditation, I describe this as a mental rinse and release, allowing your brain to process the overwhelming amount of information, to increase calmness, balance, and to impact your overall health.
What is your greatest career achievement?
My greatest achievement is really to spend time with our highly engaged teams and to experience the synergy of a focussed, passionate and determined team who love coming to work every day.
How do you want to grow your business in the future?
The area for growth is to move further into Australia and grow our brand there. We currently have an online presence in Australia and the feedback we get from our customers is we have a fresh and unique footwear offer and stand apart from the crowd there.
Mina – answered by founder Natalie Procter
How do you navigate the nuances of wearing so many different hats in your business?
It’s not something you even think about before starting a business but it’s really the toughest part of my role in Mina. Mina has been going three years now and I am still trying to navigate how I divide my time between different facets of the business.
What I have learnt/am still learning is doing more with less. Managing my time and where I spend my time is key along with making sure that time spent is productive. It’s the jumping from an accountant meeting to a design session that I have found requires, even if it’s short, just a quick walk for some fresh air. This allows me to clear my brain and start fresh.
What is your point of difference when competing with larger corporations in the same market?
We take a very authentic and honest approach to how we present Mina. Although it may not always be the case as we grow, right now I am involved in every touchpoint of our customers; journey so I can really connect with our customers on a personal level. Being in control of that is very calming. The market of New Zealand made is seeming to be getting smaller, which is sad for our industry. Our local community and makers and suppliers are really key to our brand and I think it’s so important to share that story with our customers. It gives them both an appreciation and understanding for not only what they are buying but who they are supporting.
Natalie Procter of Mina
How do you manage feeling overwhelmed?
Stop, reset, go for a walk. It’s so easy to get in your head and think about all the things that need to be done and although somethings are not priorities at the time, at that moment, you feel as though if those things aren’
t dealt with now a part of your business will suffer. Often stopping, taking a breath and changing your surroundings can give you clarity on what is really important right now, and what can wait.
What is your greatest career achievement?
Opening our store in Grey Lynn, although it was a natural progression for the brand, when I reflect on what we achieved, I feel really proud.
How do you want to grow your business in the future?
I always want to feel in control of my business and I think sometimes growing too fast can cause you to lose control of the direction along with its values. Our store is still so new but I have already learnt so much from being in there. I’m learning more from my customers than I ever have, and what they want from the brand which is helping meto navigate our future journey. Going through a global pandemic as a small business really gives you the opportunity to realign yourself with your business and gives you a fresh perspective.
With the upcoming launch of our new collection, it welcomes our new approach to design and collection structure. We’re able to be nimble as a small business, we could realign our values with our journey and start creating a future of ‘less is more’ with a transeasonal approach to how we design and when we release ranges.
Monarc – answered by founder Ella Drake
How do you navigate the nuances of wearing so many different hats in your business?
I thrive on being challenged and enjoy every day being different. The most difficult part of being a designer and owning a business is striking that balance between creativity and management; it’s a case of running wild with the right side of my brain but allowing the analytical left side of my brain to butt in with more practical and logistical reasoning. It’s a skill that I continually have to work on.
What is your point of difference when competing with larger corporations in the same market?
I believe that comparison is the thief of joy in many ways, so comparing Monarc to other jewellery brands is a distracting game that I try very hard not to play. It’s of key importance to me that all Monarc Jewellery enters the world with a clean conscience. Some large companies argue the very fine line between adhering to, and not following fair-trade and ethical guidelines. As an independent jewellery business, I am lucky that I can be steadfast in my approach to sustainable and ethical production by placing myself securely in the ethical camp. Everything I do across Monarc, throughout my supply chain, must be in line with these ideals. Buying jewellery is a very personal process, so I like to remain as hands-on and involved with every project as I can. Large corporations tend to lose a sense of personalisation and can have a cookie-cutter approach to their service and product offering. Monarc’s point of difference is to maintain and develop our bespoke service that caters to those looking for something unique, perhaps more elaborate and sentimental.
Ella Drake of Monarc Jewellery
How do you manage feeling overwhelmed?
I go back to basics by placing more emphasis on healthy and home-cooked meals, heading to bed an hour earlier, putting aside 30 minutes each day to focus on breathing, which is something I’ve come to rely on as I become more heavily
pregnant... it’s truly meditative and relaxing. Of course, over the past year in London, there has been the added stress of having spent the vast majority of this time in lockdown. As monotonous as it has become, my partner and I go for long walks around the parkland by our house, which offers a little more perspective and gives us time to discuss any matter of things, both business-related and not.
Are you able to share a career highlight?
Embarking on a career change and moving my life to London in my mid-20s was a pivotal point, and led me to what I’m doing today – running my own company. But, there is no one great moment of achievement, I think it’s the little learnings and experiences that make up my professional and personal growth across the past decade.
What’s next for your business?
I’d like to continue growing Monarc Jewellery into a business that is in harmony with our lifestyles, the team and customers alike. I want Monarc to be a business that echoes and includes life’s most important factors such as family, travel, friendships, all with a focus on not forsaking the environment for commercial gain. I use this as a yardstick; if the business starts to take away from these fundamental things, I consider it as a flag for changing how I see the structure of Monarc Jewellery.
Syrene – answered by Co-founder Karen Yang
How do you navigate the nuances of wearing so many different hats in your business?
When starting a company, I had to do things I’d never done before. Things I didn’t know how to do. Something you maybe don’t like doing. Things you didn’t know needed doing. However, because the business is your passion and dream, you naturally do it in a way.
What is your point of difference when competing with larger corporations in the same market?
Love and soul. Our products are not just commercial goods for us. We add a lot of love and make sure the formulation, fragrance, and packaging are perfect and please our consumer when they use them.
How do you manage feeling overwhelmed?
I don’t feel overwhelmed most of the time. I’m very passionate about what I’m building. But a good day off with a lot of sleep and food always helps me.
What is your greatest career achievement?
I have opened many new international markets for the New Zealand brands I worked for, including China, Japan, Korea, the USA, and Germany. To see great New Zealand brands’ selling overseas and loved by overseas customers always brings me so much joy as I love supporting local and seeing amazing Kiwi brands flourish on a global level.
How do you want to grow your business in the future?
We are focussing on extending our market reach. We want to be a global brand and be able to be shoulder to shoulder with bigger brands.
Collective Harmony is a community of likeminded women, championing one another to continue challenging preconceptions. Read more about this special partnership on Mi Piaci’s Journal.
