Last year Office Furniture First won the Taranaki Retail Business of the Year Award and Small Business of the Year. It’s a pretty amazing achievement considering owner Anna Davis was more used to a cow shed or netball court than a retail business.

When her husband David died suddenly in 2001, her world changed forever. More than 30-years before, the Ngāti Kahungunu/Ngāti Porou girl from Wairoa who was already managing Post Office branches, had moved to his family’s Taranaki farm at Oaonui. Together they’d brought up three children and were heavily involved in their community. Anna decided to move on, handed the farm back to the in-laws and bought a home in New Plymouth. A year later a mate suggested she buy a business.

“When we were farming we had to develop our business acumen and we learnt from people around us who became our mentors in what was a very tight knit farming community.”

“I didn’t know anything about office furniture so I started from scratch learning every aspect of the business, from administration, to sales: learning by doing. I gave myself a salary and kept a close eye on turnover and cash flow - a habit from my farming days.”

She says support from others - including the Te Puni Kōkiri Māori Business Facilitation Network and the previous owners – has been hugely important.

”I realised business can be an isolating experience; there were limited networks, especially in retail. You become passionate about your product but you also need support to build your confidence. You need encouragement.”

Anna became active with the local Chamber of Commerce with a stint on the executive .

“Māori are incredibly entrepreneurial but we can find it hard to express ourselves naturally in the business world and can be shy to promote ourselves.”

Anna and other entrepreneurs launched the Māori business network “He Toronga Pakihi ki Taranaki” in 2010 and says networks are priceless. Establishing relationships with her clients is also critical.

“Our clients spend more time in their work spaces than they do in their own homes so we believe they should be comfortable, functional, safe and simply great environments to be in. We are creating partnerships with our clients so when they look at our website they aren’t just seeing furniture; they’re meeting the people they’ll be working with. I think that’s what I have brought as a Māori woman to the business - that sense of community.”

“Farming taught me to never be afraid of hard work. Retail has taught me to look after your customers. My voluntary work with the Māori business network and netball has allowed me to give back to the community.”

Anna pays tribute to her team because “awesome people are invaluable to a successful business.”

With children all grown up, 8 grandchildren, a new partner and a thriving business with nationwide plans - Anna’s journey is entering another, no doubt exciting phase.