My Story....Part One

The Trade Me Listing That Changed Everything

Back in December 2023, the corporate company I worked for was going through yet another restructure. I was sure this was the one that would finally get me. (Spoiler: it didn't. I'm still there. Funny how that works.)

Inspired by my neighbours venturing into an ice cream cart business, I jumped on Trade Me to explore. Scrolling through, Kiwi Spices' name, logo and products grabbed my attention instantly.

One name, one logo, a few conversations with the owner, and I was hooked. Being spontaneous by nature, I made myself slow down and do some “due diligence” — which mostly meant buying way too much stock and bombarding friends and family with it for feedback. Before long, a deal was done.

My predecessor Thea packed her van and drove all the way from Te Puke to Onekaka with the stock and equipment. She stayed with us for a week, and we blended, cooked, drank, laughed — and I learned the ropes.

We set up right there, then Thea and I did the Village Market and Motueka Market together. That woman could sell. I was totally gobsmacked — I remember thinking, I think I've just hit the jackpot.

Then she left, and it was all up to me. Flying solo, full of drive, no idea what I was doing half the time — but life was peachy.

Part of my strategy was pure brand awareness: get out there and show your product. So one summer, we dressed our quirky little truck — which has a name we can't print in an email — in Kiwi Spices signage, cranked the Spice Girls, and drove it round the Golden Bay camping grounds — Tukurua, Collingwood, Pakawau, Pohara — right at BBQ time, when everyone was sitting around contemplating dinner. We had no idea if it would work. It was an absolute hit.

The Batch That Wasn't Meant For Sale

Thea taught me how to make our Black Garlic Caramelised Balsamic — it takes quite some time to produce, and perhaps we had too many wines that day, because we sure as heck over-reduced it. Wasn't any good for resale. But WOW, it was so delicious on ice cream, it set almost like toffee. I've since learned the art of perfecting it.

One last confession: before Thea even arrived with the business in the back of her van, I'd already made my own Kiwi Spices sign with whatever craft gear I had lying around. I was so proud of it at the time.

Looking at that photo now? Pure cringe. But that's honestly how this whole thing has gone — enthusiastic first, figure the rest out later.

Thanks for being part of the story. Hope to see you at a stall one day — or at the very least, in your kitchen tonight. Stay tuned, because this is only chapter one — there's a lot more (including the year it very nearly didn't work) still to come.

— Louise

Prefer to shop in person? You can also find Kiwi Spices at Fresh Choice Takaka, Fresh Choice Nelson, HealthPost, Georgie Moleta Butcheress, and Village Market Takaka.

Kiwi Spices · NZ Spice Suppliers

37 Onekaka Ironworks Road, RD2, Takaka 7182, New Zealand

PURE SPICES ~ HAND BLENDED ~ SMALL BATCHES ~ LOCAL PRODUCTS