| 3 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Mountain Jade “The awards are testament to the work everyone does, and the beautiful jade products that we’re lucky enough to work with.” T T Richard Loader Supreme award for jade artisans Mountain Jade lead artist, Tamora Walker, takes visitors through a tour of the company’s workshop. Rotorua-based Mountain Jade creates and retails beautiful pieces of pounamu and jade jewellery, crafted and sold by passionate people that care about the products, and love engaging with customers to deliver a world-class experience every day. That passion was reflected in the company’s success at the 2023 Tompkins Wake Rotorua Business Awards, when the team took home the Retail category, and went on to become the Supreme Overall Winner. “We had previously won the Retail category in 2019, and so had a fair idea about what the judges were expecting in 2023, which is business excellence across the board,” says chief executive Sam Hulton. “We felt pretty strongly about the Retail category, but never in a million years did we think we would take the Supreme award out, so it was quite a surprise. There are just so many businesses that are bigger and more complex, have mature markets and turn over significantly more money than we do.” Sam says the value in Mountain Jade’s success at the awards is immeasurable with the kudos it gives the people who make the business the success that it is. “Many of our team are front-line retail or carvers in the workshop, carving beautiful pendants all day long, and they don’t normally get the kind of exposure or glossy, glitzy pat on the back that comes with winning an award like that. “We have our own internal awards system and employee recognition programme, but there’s nothing quite like winning such a broad category against so many other businesses. “The carvers and retail staff are backed up with a pretty strong management team with marketing and E-commerce wizards. The awards are testament to the work everyone does, and the beautiful jade products that we’re lucky enough to work with.” Mountain Jade’s roots go back to 1986, when it was founded by John Sheehan, an expat American and renowned jade carver. Today, the Sheehan family maintain a passionate interest in their business from a distance, with the founding family values of looking out for each other remaining a strong thread through the team culture. Over the years, artists of significance have joined the workshop, building upon the legacy left by John and his family, and developing a strong Māori-cultural connection. “Tamaora Walker is now our lead artist and constantly pushes the envelope with design and the products produced. “We’re most proud of the New Zealand pounamu and the Māori designs that come out of our workshop, but we’re an international jade specialist with unique and contemporary jewellery, sometimes with the addition of gold and diamonds. We have a very diverse catalogue of work. “Pounamu from the South Island’s West Coast makes up 80% to 90% of our carvings, with the remainder sourced from all over the world. “New Zealand pounamu is very unique with a very special cultural connection.” Mountain Jade’s head office, studio and two retail outlets are in Rotorua, with another retail outlet in Auckland and another soon to be opened there. Start to finish Rotorua fitout and joinery services - from design & manufacture to installation P 021 122 5448 E shane@rwj.co.nz W redwoodjoinery.co.nz Specialising in quality kitchens, commercial fitouts, and custom joinery in the Rotorua and greater Bay of Plenty Region Proudly supporting Mountain Jade
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=