There are always some great things to see and consider buying when wandering through Paula's Home & Living in Paraparaumu.
What you don't see is the huge effort, behind the scenes over many years, by owner Paula Lynch and her team, that has established the store as one of the landmark businesses on the coast.
The store is a finalist in the upcoming Electra Business & Innovation Awards.
Paula's business story started in 2004, when she moved to Kāpiti with her husband and their young family.
She was seeking a change of lifestyle as well as a desire to establish her own business.
While the Levin store would be shut down in time it has been the Paraparaumu store that has powered on.
Over the years the store would grow in footprint size, from 900sq m to 3000sq m, and have a big increase in range from beds and furniture to a wide range of interior and exterior furnishings.
"I set this store up for myself and never had any franchise or rulebook to go on, and have developed it all by myself.
"I basically relied on my own instinct and obviously engaged people when I needed help.
"I have loved owning my own business, growing it, and getting it to where it is now.
"I always say to people that they don't have to buy an existing business but to find out as much as possible and then set it up yourself."
It hasn't always been roses. One major setback was when a nearby stream caused flooding throughout the store. It led to a three-month closure to revamp and restock the store.
Mistakes have been made along the way, but that's all part of the journey.
"As long as you learn and don't repeat them."
There are several keys to her success, ranging from a dedicated team, letting staff get on with the job without her in the store all the time, a good location, having a vision to inspire, loving what she does, customer service and going the extra mile, through to always looking at ways to improve the business.
