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Teacher-turned-business owner Pamela Riordan last month celebrated the first birthday of her mobile coffee cart, Bean Roamin’.
After 30 years as a teacher, and most recently the deputy principal at Hingaia Peninsula School in Karaka, Riordan decided to become her own boss by opening a coffee cart.
“In my earlier years, I had a boyfriend who was a chef, and he was sort of an introduction to hospitality. In my twenties, when I backpacked around the world, I did a little bit of hospitality and really enjoyed it.
“I love the people’s side of things. I also know that coffee in New Zealand is loved by the
Kiwis, I just wanted to try something different,” Riordan said.
The first year was a steep learning curve for the 52-year-old and was completely different from anything else she had experienced as an educator.
“It’s been challenging, it’s been physically hard work, I’ve been working seven days a week, and just recently I only started taking Mondays off.
“I’ve been fortunate to have people around me that have their own business, either friends or family members who have set up their own businesses, who have been able to advise and sit with me.”
With an estimated 10 to 20 per cent of New Zealand businesses closing after one year, Riordan’s advice is simple: stay positive and have faith in yourself, believing that you can succeed.
While it is not always easy, she advises to “give it your all.” As an educator, she was always reflecting on how she could do something better or more effectively.
“I think those skills have come in really handy in this role, to constantly reflect on what can be without taking things personally, and just staying positive,” said Riordan.
