Māori businesswoman scoops prestigious business award for excellence in retail.

Paula Wade of Ngāi Tahu entered her beauty salon business The Edge Beauty Studio and her lingerie business Top Drawer in the ABN AMRO Craigs Wanganui Business Awards 2007.

Both businesses were selected finalists in the retail excellence category of the awards.“I was so excited that both my businesses were selected as finalists for the awards,” says Paula Wade.The Edge Beauty Studio won the award with Top Drawer coming second.

Paula’s business journey started back in 1990 when she opened her beauty salon.In 1997 she employed her first staff member because business was taking off and now employs two full-time staff and four part-timers.

In 2003, Paula introduced a lingerie line into her beauty salon that really took off and eventually Paula had to open a standalone lingerie shop - Top Drawer.

Early last year Paula joined Te Puni Kōkiri’s Business Facilitation Service after meeting Account Manager Keria Ponga who had been a client of Paula’s salon for more than five years.

“Te Puni Kōkiri’s Business Facilitation Service has been really beneficial. I’ve been in business for many years and I never had a business plan,” says Paula.

“My main goal is to now work more on my businesses and not in them by continuing to develop and grow them.”

Paula took a student from the local kura kaupapa - Te Kura o Kokohuia on as part of a work experience programme.The student eventually became a paid part-time employee over the busy Christmas period.“It was great to see a young Māori girl with so much to offer and so much potential working with me,” says Paula.

Pauline’s final advice to potential Māori businesses is that you have to be passionate and determined to succeed.“You have to be strong enough to take the good with the bad in business – I’ve certainly had my fair share of knocks in my time.”