Getting Shift Done
Patrice Green is visibly uncomfortable when asked about her latest venture. Having earmarked 2025 as her year for ‘getting comfortable with being uncomfortable’, it’s probably an expected response. But despite her visceral reaction to stepping far outside her comfort zone, Green appears to be living her rich, full life by the mantra, ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’. And doing it, she is.
Hot on the heels of buying bed manufacturing and retail business Wellington Beds from her uncle at the start of 2022 — a journey Green calls a “baptism of fire” — this year the pioneering business woman launched Wellington’s inaugural Rise & Shine—Kick-Arse Meetups for women in business.
Green’s vision for the event series is creating a space for women to “rise, shine, connect, learn, and laugh”, and to take that energy and infuse it into their whole lives. Despite initially thinking she could avoid public speaking if no one showed up, her first early morning Rise & Shine, and every one that followed, was a success.
While the 32-year-old admits her “nerves were palpable” hosting her first meetup, Green is now invested in the impact she’s making, and glad she took a courageous leap.
“There’s power in meeting other women in business and offering each other support, advice and mentorship,” she says. “At every event, the room is a hive of connection. I’ve met incredible women, and we’ve seen some amazing opportunities emerge from each one.
“These actions can leave a legacy and pave the way for exceptional women, and I’m really proud of that.”
Green says her business has also benefited. She’s opened the door to more opportunities by letting go of being “too scared”, and by backing herself to meet with people she once “perceived to be way bigger and more experienced” than she.
These are huge strides for the former Fonterra chartered accountant, who stepped headfirst into business ownership with her husband Scott Green during her third maternity leave.
“I don’t do maternity leave well,” she laughs. “I get bored easily and tend to do crazy things. My husband came home from work one day and I said ‘I think we’re going to move to Wellington and buy a bed factory’.”
“I find business fascinating,” she adds. “It’s having something that’s yours, that you can influence and watch grow; it’s both the challenge and the freedom. The world’s your oyster when it’s your own thing.”
Under Green’s leadership, Wellington Beds has continued to grow as a significant player in the Wellington and now Wairarapa regions, growing market share and reputation in the New Zealand bed industry, which is showing promising year on year growth projections.
In the role of Managing Director, alongside Director and Factory Production Manager Scott, the pair cut their teeth managing a team of 30 through ongoing covid illnesses, and the recession impacting their now six stores and factory — that “baptism of fire”.
But all through that, the duo opened a new store, extended their manufacturing, and are creating new products to help Kiwis get a good night’s sleep.
“It’s been a wild ride,” says Green, pausing to reflect. “2024 has been a really, really difficult year for everybody in business, juggling a cost of living crisis and a recession that’s changed buyer behaviour. We’ve had to rapidly adapt to this, along with freight crises that increased delays and costs. It’s been an incredibly challenging environment, especially as we’re 100% committed to keeping our manufacturing local.
“But while it’s easy to get caught up in the negative,” she adds, “these environments offer massive opportunities. We have plans for more new stores, e-commerce, and expanding our sleep and bed related products.”
It’s this future-focussed determination that gets Green up in the morning — often before dawn to switch on her factory. But what drives her most is being “absolutely passionate” about helping people choose the right bed to get their best sleep.
