Ash Hornell, owner of Peach Stories.
Photo: Supplied
Any small business owner will tell you taking a risk on an idea and starting a company is hard work, but New Zealanders in the United Kingdom are proving their businesses can thrive overseas.
London hairdresser Ash Hornell is one of them.
She moved to the UK 10 years ago, and started out working in a local salon.
But Hornell quickly built her own list of clients.
“I got to the point where I was like ok, I’ve got no more capacity to bring any more clients in, so what next?” she said.
She had always wanted to start her own hairdressing business, but thought that would happen in New Zealand.
However, with a bit of guidance from friends, Hornell found a space to rent in London, and even some Kiwi builders to help turn it into a hair salon.
More than a year and a half later, her Hackney salon ‘Peach Stories’ has continued to grow.
Hornell explains that there have been a few lessons along the way, including when she first opened to clients.
“I was working alone and I had double booked myself all day, because at the start you’re like, ‘Oh my god, now I’ve got to pay all this rent, so let’s just work 10 hour days’, and anyway I ended up overbooking myself, I ran late for every client by like an hour, the salon was a mess, I was here until 11 o’clock, but I feel like you have to have that day,” she said.
Hornell now employed six staff members, including several New Zealanders.
Eighty percent of the salon’s clients were Kiwis and Australians, and word of mouth had helped grow the business.
“I always get told by my Kiwi and Australian clients, they were so happy to find a Kiwi salon, because they also feel like we do the hair slightly different as well,” Hornell said.
New Zealander Regan McMillan believed the Kiwi reputation was a big part of his company’s success too.
He started his moving business, Kiwi Movers, 18 years ago.
What began as a bit of extra work on the weekend with one moving van, had grown into an operation with 20 staff.
“From just everyday people just wanting to move a few items, to billionaires, to movie stars – some of the guys have had, you know, sitting in the truck with a movie star for a few hours,” McMillan said.
Many of the staff were trained lawyers, engineers, teachers, or sportspeople who had left New Zealand for their OE (overseas experience).
“One of the refreshing things you get is the feedback, just about the attitude of the guys and how friendly and proactive they are,” McMillan said.
“New Zealand is a trusted brand in itself, and people feel comfortable with Kiwis, they go, ‘Right, ok, I know what I’m getting’.”
McMillan said starting a business overseas came with the extra challenge of figuring out how to do things in another country, but he believed the right attitude was a big help.
McMillan encouraged anyone who was in the position he was 18 years ago, to take the chance.
“Just go ahead and do it, give it a go, you’ve got nothing to lose. Being a Kiwi, you’ve probably got the right attitude, and people will be more open to giving you a shot as well”.
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