Clebrating 10 Years of Owning eKo

Today we celebrate 10 years of owning eKo (although the shop itself is actually 12 years old).

To be honest, buying a clothing shop was never part of the plan.

At the time, I had found myself out of work. I was overqualified, and despite applying for roles over the previous 18 months, there were very few opportunities available. One job that I interviewed for was an hour and a half away from home.

So naturally... we bought a clothing shop.

I've had more than one person ask me over the years, "Why on earth did you buy a clothing shop?"

It's a fair question.

I knew absolutely nothing about fashion. In fact, anyone who knows me will tell you I'm probably one of the least fashionable people around. Well, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but fashion certainly wasn't my background. It was a steep learning curve, and there have been plenty of mistakes along the way.

What an adventure the last decade has been.

We've travelled to Italy, Thailand, Bali, India and Morocco searching for products that we hope you love as much as we do. We've wandered through markets, souks, visited factories, discovered artisans and filled countless suitcases with samples and goodies.

Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself how lucky we have been.

Of course, the last 10 years haven't all been easy.

We've navigated a global pandemic, watched international travel come to a standstill, dealt with shipping delays, rising costs and more recently the impact of fuel prices and changing economic conditions.

Small business is never boring.

But we carry on because we genuinely love what we do.

The greatest gift eKo has given us, however, isn't the travel or even the products.

It's the people.

I can't write about the last 10 years without mentioning Toni, my daughter.

From almost the very beginning, she has been my right-hand woman.

She was my travel buddy as we explored markets and suppliers around the world. She was the person I called when things went wrong and a shoulder to cry on when I was wondering what on earth I was doing. She was my sounding board, my Regional Manager, my Taupo Store Manager, my marketing team, my photographer, my model, my social media guru and the person I strategised with.

Since we have closed our Taupo store, her family has doubled in size, and she now has her own businesses on line, TORA Gardens and Magic Potion Play, which has left me a little high and dry and I've had to have another steep learning curve, let’s just say my social media skills still have a way to go!

Most importantly though, she is my daughter and my best friend.

The last 10 years of eKo would not have been the same without her, and I am incredibly grateful for everything she has contributed to this little business of ours.

I also can't reflect on the last 10 years without talking about Joanna.

Joanna has been with us from the very beginning. In many ways, she taught me everything I know about fashion. From understanding what suited different people, to merchandising, right down to arranging clothing from light to dark on the racks, she patiently shared her knowledge and experience with me.

Over the years she has become far more than a staff member. She is family.

One of my favourite memories was taking Joanna to Italy with us on a buying trip. I have never seen anyone buy so many clothes in my life. By the end of the trip, her suitcase was absolutely bursting at the seams.

What started as a working relationship has grown into one of my closest friendships, and I am incredibly grateful for that.

Three years ago, Joanna was diagnosed with cancer. The journey she has travelled since then is something I wouldn't wish on anyone. Through it all, she has shown extraordinary courage, strength and grace.

While we continue to hold space for her return, she is still very much part of eKo. We regularly call on her expertise for window displays, shop displays and the Christmas gift wrapping rush. Her eye for detail and creativity remain unmatched.

Most of all, I miss her, and I can’t wait for her to come back to work.

We've been blessed to work alongside wonderful staff who many have become friends, and we've met customers who have become part of our lives. Some of you have been shopping with us since the very beginning. We've celebrated happy moments together and supported each other through difficult ones.

The biggest reminder of what truly matters came 18 months ago when Logan, my better half, was diagnosed with incurable stage 4 cancer.

Suddenly, the things we valued most weren't the stock we'd sold or the numbers on a spreadsheet. Instead, we found ourselves looking back over the last decade and thinking, "Wow."

The memories we've created.
The adventures we've had.
The people we've met.
The life we've built.

I wouldn't trade any of it for a million dollars.

To every customer who has walked through our doors, placed an online order, shared a kind word, recommended us to a friend or simply stopped by for a chat — thank you.

Thank you for supporting us over the last 10 years.

Thank you for being there when we've been celebrating and when we've been struggling.

Without you, eKo simply wouldn't exist.

Here's to the next chapter.

With gratitude,

Rach & Logan