Growing up in Dunedin, Jane Walsh (nee La Hood) always aspired to work in fashion.
She attended the University of Otago and graduated with a BA majoring in design and then headed off overseas.
Realising she needed to bolster her CV with a more fashion-specific qualification to snag the sort of job she wanted in the industry she came back to New Zealand and studied for a graduate diploma in fashion design at Massey University's Wellington campus.
Jane went on to secure a job with a major retail footwear chain, its management soon noticing that she had an eye for fashion and could predict trends.
After a series of promotions she ultimately became the women's fashion buyer for the company, controlling a multimillion-dollar budget and frequently travelling overseas to keep abreast of trends and source new product.
But Jane's work-related ambitions remained unfulfilled because she had always dreamed of her own business. So she gave up the great job with its assured income and frequent travel to the fashion capitals of the world to pursue that dream.
"I'd recognised the gap in the New Zealand market between discount retailers offering volume shoes at low cost and higher level retailers with expensive prices,'' Jane explained.
In so doing she and her husband Tom decided it was time to put their plans of home ownership on hold and instead invest their life savings in establishing Mr. W & Me, a new online business offering exclusive women's fashion shoes at affordable prices.
The couple, who are based in Auckland, travelled to Italy and the Far East to source styles and build relationships with suppliers. "Our aim was to develop an exclusive range of women's styles that reflected our quirky yet elegant brand aesthetic,'' said Jane.
This done, the website was developed and went live on July 9, 2013.
The shoes offered speak for themselves. Styles include leather boots and flats made in Italy, heels perfect for work or play and lace-up canvas in the latest fashion colours. Best of all, nothing is priced over $149.99, which includes free courier delivery within New Zealand.
Check the full range online at www.mrwandme.com.
