Kitchen craft ideas turn into full-blown industry for mum

From making sheepskin bugs on a kitchen table to running a thriving business with more than 30 staff - Roz Hunt is proof you should always follow your dreams.

Mrs Hunt owns Rotorua-based Rozcraft - a souvenir manufacturer that supplies to retailers across the country.

And despite competition from Chinese-made souvenirs, her staff are working flat out to fill orders for its 400 or so products.

It's difficult when you are a small company, the best thing is to come up with new stuff.

Roz Hunt

Amid a growing backlash against misleading labelling, retailers are increasingly keen to stock products they and their customers know are Kiwi made, Mrs Hunt said.

She is used to her designs being copied and made in bulk in China, so now she just tries to stay one step ahead.

"It's difficult when you are a small company, the best thing is to come up with new stuff," she said. "You just have to get on with it."

Mrs Hunt's been "getting on with it" since 1976, when she was a science teacher and the mother of three young children.

Wanting to earn some money to build a beach house, she started her business with a $2 bag of sheepskin pieces.

She invented the "sulphur bug" - a blob of sheepskin with two eyes - for Toot 'n Whistle and the colourful "rainbow bug" for Rainbow Springs.

Within six months she had staff and over the years she progressed from the kitchen table to a special bench then a room in the basement. An extension to the house was followed by a move to Tallyho St premises - the business now operates out of a Riri St factory.

Son David Hunt is in charge of sales while his mother is the innovator - "I have more ideas than I can make".

There are six workers in the factory and another 30 outworkers who sew and glue Mrs Hunt's creations from home.

They are trained, provided with equipment and can work as little or as much as they like. They are retired, stay-at-home mums and beneficiaries, who are allowed to earn a certain amount above their benefit.

Giving a chance to people others may see as unemployable means the world to Mrs Hunt.

"I've always had a passion to create jobs for people ... I always thought I was given the ideas to give someone else some work," she said. "Some [outworkers] you see blossom ... it's quite exciting to see the change in people."

As with tourism in general, summer is the busy season for making souvenirs. Over winter, for the last few years, the focus shifts to her other business New Zealand Craft Supplies, which sells craft and art materials to preschools around the country.

There's also the Bead Me Up bead shop at the end of the factory's driveway.

Mrs Hunt said people were often fooled by the shelves of toys and fun souvenirs lining the factory walls - but this is a serious business. "It's hard work, it's not playing all day."

After almost 40 years in the trade she's still working hard - it's not uncommon to still be at work at 10 or 11pm. Yet she wouldn't have it any other way, she loves it.

"People thought we were nuts [at the beginning]," she said. "I'd say if you have an idea or a dream go for it."

Rozcraft is always looking for more outworkers. If you are keen, contact Mrs Hunt on (07) 348 6852 or email sales@rozcraft.com.