Balancing act
Words Milly Nolan
An e-commerce dynamo, Sarah Gunn speaks to Junction about her role as Chapter Area Lead/General Manager at The Warehouse Group and how she maintains a healthy work-life balance.
Having enjoyed a successful career in e-commerce both in New Zealand and Australia, Sarah Gunn was an obvious choice to help conceptualise and bring the online retail store, TheMarket, to life. Tapped on the shoulder by a former work colleague, Sarah was beckoned to join a small team of four to help create a digital platform for The Warehouse Group, aimed at expanding their presence beyond their brick-and- mortar stores. “The brief for TheMarket was to build a vibrant online marketplace with a broad range of local and international sellers to provide more options for kiwis with the convenience of local click and collect and returns enabled through leveraging The Warehouse Groups network of stores,” explains Sarah.
In 2019, TheMarket made its debut, instantly resonating with New Zealand customers due to its one-stop-shop approach. The concept encompassed everything from fashion and electronics to home décor and gardening supplies, all conveniently accessible for purchase in one place. Well-known New Zealand brands like Hyper Ride and Blunt as well as artisanal products are blended alongside global giants such as Lacoste and Samsung, allowing customers to explore a wide range of products while still supporting local business.
TheMarket initially operated as a small independent entity akin to a true startup within The Warehouse group which includes The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, Torpedo7 and Warehouse Stationery. “The speed at which TheMarket grew was phenomenal” notes Sarah. “In such a short period, TheMarket brand gained impressive brand awareness through New Zealand, with a proud moment being a sponsor for Emirates Team New Zealand during the 2021 America’s Cup.” Now TheMarket has been able to take our learnings and is excited to introduce our third party range on The Warehouse website.
At the helm as General Manager of TheMarket, Sarah’s role has been all encompassing over the past five and a half years but she is grateful for the balance that living outside of the city brings. Having lived in the heart of Warkworth with her husband Tim and two children, Oscar and Matilda, for eight years, last year the family moved to their idyllic “forever home” which they built on a plot of land between Algies Bay and Snells Beach.
“I just love everything about living up here. On the weekends, there is nowhere I’d rather be. It is 100% worth the daily commute” enthuses Sarah. “We have a really busy social life on the weekends and I love that as it helps keep me connected to the area, which is important to me as working in the city most days of the week means I can feel quite disconnected to the community. We love to go to the Matakana Village Farmers' Market on Saturdays, zip across to Kawau in the summer, and very nearby we have one of our favourite beach picnic spots at Scott’s Landing.
Sarah has also found that seeking help from an external coach has been transformative in striking the right balance between life, motherhood and work. Sarah speaks with her coach, Rhonda Parry at Our Minds Matter, every three weeks. Rhonda helps Sarah live to her values and keeps her accountable to what matters to her the most. “Initially when I first started seeing Rhonda I thought, do I really need to do this? But each discussion is so rewarding with results beyond measure. It’s been a very healthy experience for me.”
Exercise is another pillar of Sarah’s life that helps her cope with work stress. “When things get really tough at work, I up my exercise,” she says. Running, in particular, serves as her trusty ally for clearing her mind and maintaining mental clarity. Challenging herself with a couple of half marathons a year is not uncommon for Sarah, and this year she is boldly setting her sights on conquering the full Auckland marathon. “I’m by no means a fast runner,” laughs Sarah, “so there’s zero pressure to win the race, it’s more about the journey to get there. Some people find solace in meditation and yoga, but for me, going for a run does wonders mentally - it clears my head and sets the tone for the day. Discovering what keeps you grounded and balanced is crucial, and once you have that figured out, stick with it.”
Sarah attributes much of her success to the unwavering support of her husband Tim. As a self-employed lawyer, Tim handles school drop-offs and pick-ups for their children, earning himself the endearing title of ‘ballet Dad’ - a nod to the many after- school activities he chauffeurs the kids to. Sarah acknowledges that she wouldn’t have achieved what she has at TheMarket without his support. “Tim has been incredible, I’m now working on how I can up my contribution by spending more time with my family and building deeper connections to this beautiful region.”