About Us
I started Zest in 2005 to fulfil a long held ambition of being my own boss along with creating a role for myself that would allow me flexibility to spend time with my young children. This didn’t really work out for the first couple of years and my family saw a lot less of me!!
My previous lives involved various roles in marketing and product management with my latest role as Senior Category Manager for Whitcoulls with responsibility for most non book product including cards, wrap, games, toys and gift stationery. This gave me a fabulous grounding in retail and developed my eye for a product that would sell.
I started the business by securing the distribution rights for New Zealand for the hiPP brand of designer packaging and stationery and the Baby Boo brand of soft toys. Both these product ranges were a hit and we have just kept building from there. I just love travelling to International Trade Shows and searching the web hunting out exciting new products thus we have a constant flow of new and exciting things to show you! We are now proud to also be distributors of Missi Missi, Table Topics, Three by Three, Baby Cup Cakes, Paper Eskimo, myBagTag, Wheelie Designs and Toshi. We have also developed our own range of soft toys – Lily & George, which have had a sensational reaction in the market place.
We are also working with some of the major chain stores designing and manufacturing NZ designed product for their Christmas card and wrap ranges. This ensures that it is always the festive season in the Zest office!
Let me introduce the team to you....Alison is General Manager and basically organises us all – she has also just hit the road as the Auckland sales rep so many of you will become familiar with her. Linda is our all round office goddess – she is the one that you will talk to when you call us - She processes the orders, creates the brochures and price lists, pays the bills and generally takes charge! Marlene is in our warehouse and she is responsible for picking and packing your orders and getting them out to you as speedily as possible.
We look forward to catching up with you at the Gift Fairs and showing you our latest finds.
Sarah Parker (Owner)
August 2009
