Her Magazine is New Zealand’s only women’s business lifestyle magazine! Her Magazine highlights the achievements of successful and rising New Zealand businesswomen. Her Magazine encourages a healthy work/life balance.
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KateRiley Riley Developments for the managing director's current enterprises: Riley Interiors, Riley Build, West Coast Accommodation and the West Coast franchise of Module NZ. In 1997 the young Wellingtonian fresh out K of boarding school travelled to the West Coast. Here she met a handsome apprentice builder and they married at the age of 18, settling into life in the very small settlement of Fox Glacier. Whilst predominantly a farming community the West Coast's majestic scenery is stunningly captivating and entices tourism, which adds valuable dollars to the West Coast economy. "After spending too much time feeling like a fish out of water, I realised that I could use the learnings of my city upbrining and create my own life in a unique environment." Kate created Place Plateau, a fine dining restaurant in Fox Glacier. "An absolute, money sucking disaster" is how she describes her first attempt at business. "I knew nothing about accountancy or how to run a restaurant, but I had created a beautiful space and learnt valuable lessons. " "I now surround myself with a team of staff and subcontractors who are knowledgeable in their fields and are reliable. These people along with my bank manager, lawyer and accountant are my dream team. My father taught me my first financial concept that if you don't take cash out of your pockets there will be no room to put more in. I learnt later that companies are given tax incentives to encourage spending and therefore expansion to keep the economy healthy. I soon realised two things - I would always need to create a project as opposed to work a job, and that in his way my dad was right!" RileyBuild was formed in 2002. Using a team of like-minded tradesmen and professionals ate Riley grew up with the belief that she could be anything she wanted to be. This self-assurance was the foundation it constructs residential housing to architect- designed plans. With the shift in the economy RileyBuild has franchised ModuleNZ on the West Coast to offer an affordable housing option that is in keeping with the RileyBuild focus of quality workmanship and materials. This project is one that in an aged housing area is important to Kate. Another lesson that made an impact on Kate was listening to a tax specialist discussing assets. "True assets are income earning he said and I quickly realised that what assets I did have all cost me personally. " This planted a seed and West Coast Accommodation was formed. Using the skills of the team at RileyBuild, a house on the Hokitika beach was renovated and set up as a holiday home. RileyInteriors completed the fitout, transforming what was known as the 'ugly green house' to a haven for holiday makers offering exceptional value for money. West Coast Accommodation is still in its infancy but now has three houses available in Hokitika and another is in the planning stages. Using one of the Module NZ plans, the fourth house for West Coast Accommodation in Hokitika will be constructed by the team at RileyBuild. Once again they will be working with the strengths of the individuals in the team and focusing on cost effective quality, because regardless of which buiness they are focusing on it has been the key to their success. West Coast Accommodation is the business that Kate is most proud of. Whilst being small, and one of capped earning potential, it offers to others the most valuable lesson of all. "Time is our greatest commodity, as are the people we choose to spend it with. Success should be gauged not on your bank balance but the enjoyment you take out of life whilst contributing to the well being of our economy. "If I'm ever having a rubbish day I go into one of the holiday houses and read the guest " book. It is humbling to be able to share the spaces that I have created with others. When people take time out and stay with West Coast Accommodation I know that they go to bed smiling, and wake up smiling. How perfect is that?" www.rileyinteriors.co.nz www.westcoastaccommodation.co.nz www.rileybuild.co.nz www.modulenz.co.nz WHO'S WHO 2012 33