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.
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/76572
:loving your bubble sole owner and director of the company after Anja took maternity leave. Anja still works as a designer for the company, which Rachel says is a "testament to our friendship". The pair work from an office in Rachel's home that she shares with her two daughters, Saskia (4) and Carys (2) and her husband, Kristian who is the Commercial Business Manager for Noel Leeming Group – Bay of Plenty/Waikato. Throughout her self-employment journey Rachel's biggest wake up call has been learning to spend time on the business as well as in the business. "When you're working for a large practice you get lovely jobs land on your desk and you're able to just focus on design. With my own business I've fallen more into the business management side of things; networking and fronting the business then feeding that back into Anja, who does more of the design now along with a few contractors." Rachel is a strong believer of functional spaces that don't just look good but that are also user friendly for the people occupying them. "In these economic times people tend to see using a designer as an extra that they don't have the money to pay for. It's rewarding when someone does engage you and you're able to provide them with ideas that they may not have been able to come up with on their own, so they can then see the value in paying a professional for advice. "I'm excited that Tauranga is growing as a city, that people are open to us bringing our experience from Auckland and Melbourne to their businesses, and that people are learning that an environment can really support and promote their business' brand." "Your environment is your bubble … reflecting you, your people and your brand." www.bubbleinteriors.co.nz 78 | www.hermagazine.co.nz Rachel's top tips for an effective office: 5 1. Create a variety of work settings A desk is great for computer-based tasks but, with so much mobile technology available now it is important to provide different areas to support day-to-day activities away from the work desk – especially in open plan environments: phonebooths for private calls, quiet rooms for concentrative work, library zones for reading/research/relaxing and breakout/café zones for interaction and collaboration. 2. Provide access to natural daylight This has a huge impact on productivity and general wellbeing. Arrange your office so work areas are in close proximity to windows and natural light; and so the majority of staff have access to the natural light, long gone are the days of the large corner exec offices blocking every one else's daylight. 3. Add greenery As well as creating interest, plants help purify the air and lower levels of indoor contaminants to keep you feeling healthier, bonus! 4. Clear desk, clear mind A lot of offices I see that are "tight on space" really just need a very good sort out and tidy up! If you haven't any already then introduce good systems for filing and storage, then educate all your staff on using these systems, and support them with well designed, easily accessible filing, storage or library space. 5. Create some visual stimulation! An office doesn't need to be a 3D version of your business card. There are so many options available nowadays to easily inject some life and personality into boring flat- colour office walls: chalkboard paint in any colour, vinyl decals, and not only stock wallpapers, but the ability to turn any image into a full size wall graphic. So while front- of-house should support your desired business brand, there is no reason why you can't have some fun and mix things up a bit in your staff room or work areas. before & after @ the Tauranga Racecourse