Colyn Devereux-Kay

Colyn Devereux-Kay is the founder of Fragrance Holdings which produces the Les Floralies range of perfumed products and has been hailed as one of New Zealand's most successful business people.

Les Floralies manufactures natural room fragrances, pot pourri and bath and body products. Colyn Devereux first had the idea after seeing pot pourri on New York's Fifth Avenue in 1988 and dropped her fashion business job to produce pot pourri in New Zealand, the start Les Floralies, with her savings of $800.00.

It was so successful that within a year she was awarded the KPMG Peat Marwick Business Enterprise Award and in 1990 won a New Zealand Trade and Development Board commendation. Her $800.00 transformed into an annual turnover of $500,000 in her first year. Her basement business has now moved to factories in South Auckland and has an annual turnover of $500 million.

In addition to a fast-growing market in New Zealand and Australia, she is developing distribution in the United Kingdom, Japan and the Middle East. In 1993 her products were chosen as the complementary toiletry range on all Air New Zealand flights.

Colyn's success story was selected to be shown on the television series "Made in New Zealand" following which she became a household name and much in demand on the Australasian speaking circuit.

Colyn is prominent in business circles. In August 1998 she became the first woman Chair of the prestigious Auckland Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Recently her success story has been told in the book by Paul Smith "SUCCESS in New Zealand BUSINESS". Colyn Devereux-Kay is an inspiring speaker and one of New Zealand's true success stories. Her commitment, ability to overcome obstacles and her perseverance should be heard by all companies. Colyn believes in:

· Constantly being willed to get out of the “same-old” same-old”.
· Constantly raising the Bar,
· Constantly testing new boundaries