Page 111 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

Taking advantage

of every opportunity.

Focused on growth, It wasn’t long before Tarryn and a car, perhaps mistaking the accident scene for
Chief Executive Officer
of Colindale Trading identified the potential of online shopping, and a roadblock and trying to evade it, mowed into her.
introduced an online store that rapidly proved Told she would be unable to walk for two years, she
ARRYN TAIT imports homeware and furniture successful, and now accounts for approximately remarks that she surprised herself – and everyone
from China, India, Malaysia and Brazil, 45% of turnover. else – by how well she coped. Downplaying the
Tsupplying national retail clients and selling After almost a decade, Tarryn realised that she permanent damage and pain, she chose to focus
online direct to consumers. wanted complete control of the business. The Paruk on the positive. “I could have died, so learning to
walk again wasn’t such a big deal. It was merely an
A Durban girl through and through, Tarryn has family, owners of the Coventry Group of Companies, obstacle to be overcome.”
travelled the world sourcing products for South had supported her throughout, but in real terms
African consumers. After four years working at an she was running the business with minimal input Happily married, with two children, Tarryn says her
antique shop, she joined a merchandising company and wanted to do it on her own. After lengthy children inspire her to be a better person every day.
where she worked with buyers who sourced negotiations, the sale of the business was finalised “I think about the values I want them to learn, and
product for Game and Dion. When one of these and Tarryn took over Colindale Trading in 2018. I realise I need to live those values to teach them.”
buyers started her own business, she head-hunted It’s all about people But while family life is integral to her happiness,
Tarryn to join her, and sent her off on her first trip to she admits that she doesn’t have a good work-life
China to source homeware items. “People are my thing,” says Tarryn, “and if I know one balance. “I’m a people-pleaser and an over-achiever,
thing for sure, it’s the people I’ve met along the way
Two years later, the Coventry Group of Companies that have made the difference in my success. Yes, I so I take on too much.” She’s joined the Durban
decided to open a new homeware division and work hard and I’m an over-achiever, but I couldn’t Entrepreneurs Organisation and says she’s getting
approached Tarryn to set it up. Initially apprehensive have done this on my own.” And with each career better at balancing her life. “We hold each other
because of her lack of experience in running a move, she’s maintained relationships with previous accountable. I can’t meet every month complaining
business, she soon realised it was a great career colleagues and been able to move on and up about my lack of balance; they won’t let me get
opportunity. They’d also offered her shares, making without jeopardising those who have supported her away with that – they’ll demand to know what I’m
it even more enticing. And, as her husband pointed and created opportunities for her. Which is probably doing about it!”
out, if she didn’t like it she could always find why she’s stayed in the same premises, renting from Tarryn’s happy about what she’s achieved so far.
something else. Keeping a principled perspective, the Coventry Group. And her staff is equally loyal to “But there’s a lot more I want to do. Specially in
Tarryn was careful to ensure there was no overlap her – her right hand woman has been with her for terms of contributing to and improving the lives
with her previous company and joined the Coventry eleven years – and she maintains friendships going of others. I haven’t even scratched the surface
Group in 2008, setting up Colindale Trading, focusing back to her school days. yet.” She says there’s a lot of advice she wished
on office furniture and securing Makro as their major she’d been told when she was younger. “Most
client. Realising the risks inherent in over-reliance Focus on the positive importantly, don’t be so hard on yourself when
on one client, Tarryn soon branched out and began At the age of 21, Tarryn was involved in a hit and you fail. Learn the lesson and move on. If I’d learnt
supplying other customers, including Game and run accident that almost left her crippled. She and to do that sooner, I’d have saved myself a whole
Woolworths. another lady stopped to help victims of an accident, lot of stress.”

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