Mrs Voice, who with her husband Nigel runs The Real Dog Equipment Company in Ranfurly, was last night named the winner of the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Women Award 2012.
She also received the Fly Buys Online Business Award during Rural Women New Zealand's national conference in Taranaki.
When Mrs Voice went on maternity leave about 11 years ago, from her job as an anaesthetic technician, she thought she would make a few bits and pieces for the couple's own Alaskan malamute sled dogs. Then people started asking about gear and the business started growing.
"Being a fairly self-sufficient sort of girl, I sold a litter of puppies to buy an industrial sewing machine and had a go at making the equipment myself.
"I'd never used one before but managed to work it out."
Business grew slowly at first, and most of the sales came through word-of-mouth.
The couple met a few customers through sled racing and went to trade shows, but demand "really shot up" when they built a website and started using social media.
"I figured all we needed to make it work was broadband and a courier," she said.
More than 70% of their income came from online orders. Sled-dog equipment now accounted for about 10% of their sales.
The rest was gear for all sorts of dogs and they also produced gear for other animals, from horses to alpacas and llamas.
They made collars and training harnesses for farm working dogs and everything from lifting strops for search and rescue dogs to collars for guide dogs.
Mrs Voice's business was especially impressive because her clever use of online tools had not only helped her develop a thriving business, but also allowed the lifestyle she wanted for her family, Fly Buys for Business programme manager Trevor Jellie said.
"It was important for Rose and her husband to raise their children in a rural environment.
"Their country lifestyle has never been a hindrance to her business, because they're only an email away from their customers," he said.
