One Bamboo Cutlery Set at a time: She Owns It Success Story and low-waste warrior Tasha Gray

Everybody knows that we are in a global trash crisis- but business owners like Tasha Gray are here to help us do something about it! 

Tasha runs GoAgain, a business that helps New Zealanders make low waste lifestyle changes with their range of no-plastic products. She is a yogi, traveller, beach lover and entrepreneur, so a low waste business was an obvious path.

She lives in surf-crazy Piha with her partner and two lively teenagers, and she is on a mission to make New Zealand a better place for future generations- one bamboo cutlery set at a time. 

Firstly we want to know about you! Tell us 3 things everyone needs to know about  you

1) I love to travel. Exploring New Zealand in our van is the best! 

We have a roof top tent and an awesome camping setup. My favourite place to go is Great Barrier Island, although I recently went to the South Island and that was pretty awesome too. 

I am already planning our next trip. I think my favourite place in New Zealand is… any beach, they are all so beautiful. I can’t wait to discover more.

2) I am a videographer for my surf crazy family and our friends. 

I spend a lot of time travelling, as our teens surf competitively.  I have a background in video production and now focus my efforts on making great surf videos.

3) Yoga also plays an important role in my life.  I am a yoga teacher in West Auckland. 

​I have been teaching since the early 2000s. I teach community and corporate classes and really enjoy bringing yoga together with scientific understanding of movement (biomechanics). 

SO tell us a bit about your business- What's your elevator pitch? 

Goagain – Tools for Low Waste Living helps busy people and families with tools, tips and tricks for a lower waste life.

People who use Goagain products (like our reusable bamboo cutlery sets and our beeswax wraps) are taking big steps to using less plastic in their lives, and are helping our environment. 

I understand what it is like to be rushing out the door with a massive day in front of you, picking up afternoon tea and dinner on the run.

You are always hurrying through the supermarket without much time to think about the best eco-friendly choices.

I want to make those choices easier for people too! 
 
At Goagain we focus on low waste rather than zero waste choices, so the regular Kiwi can feel empowered by the choices they make.  Every step we take makes a difference.

You've been running GoAgain for a while now- how did you get into it originally? 

I’ve always lived a relatively low waste lifestyle, and I started to get more concerned about how throw-away our society had become. 

I wanted to do something to help change that dynamic.  

I saw that many people have started carrying a Keep Cup to drink their coffee from, but they were still using disposable cutlery with their take out breakfast, lunch or dinner, that’s when I came up with the idea to try and get everyone using reusable cutlery sets. 

That was my original business inspiration, now I’m expanding out to other sustainable products.  

My friends joke that our family eat away from home so much, we must travel with a kitchen in the back of our car!  We don’t… but we do always have a chilly bin in the boot, and our bamboo cutlery sets. 

I also think I have perfected the art of how to eat takeout and not create too much packaging waste.

I can see a real desire in Kiwis to make sustainable changes and I love being part of that change. It was this desire to make a difference that led to me starting my business. -Tasha, GoAgain

Who do you serve? What gets you out of bed in the morning?

I am very community minded, and care deeply about treating people and our environment with respect and care. 

I would love everyone to think about how we can reduce and reuse, and I want to do it in a positive way that encourages, rather than depresses people.  
 
A year ago, the conversation around New Zealand’s plastic problem seemed to be held by a smaller group of concerned people… now I think it is on everyone’s mind!
 
If I think about who I serve, I think about the kids in our playgrounds, the kids that are yet to come into our world, the fish in our oceans… eek I’m starting to sound like a real hippy here!
 
I guess I would like to make a living in a sustainable way that leads to a more sustainable world. 

What has been the most challenging part about running Goagain so far? How do you feel as you are just starting out? 

With Goagain, every step is a learning curve.
 
I am very new to the product based business world, so am very tentative about a lot of things.

​I tend to really think about each decision.  I think I must have researched what accounting platform I was going to use for about a month!  Once I have made a decision, I get really excited about implementing it. 

I am quite a reserved person, so getting out and doing sales for my business is a real challenge for me.  This is an area I could probably do with more advice and support on.

​You’ve been a part of the She Owns It Members’ club for a couple of months - what’s your favourite part of being a member?

There are so many great things about being part of She Owns It Membership: the Facebook group has been a huge source of inspiration and information (I regularly use the search function when I’m deliberating a decision), I have learnt a lot from the SOI Masterclasses, and each of the Accountability Buddies I have been matched with have been really thoughtful and supportive. 

What originally made you decide to become a member? What are your hopes for your business by working with the She Owns It community? 

I spotted the free She Owns It group on Facebook and joined it .

Within a few days I knew I wanted to become a member, but I had to wait a month or so for the next membership intake. 
 
By becoming a member I really hoped to connect with people who could help get me started on my business journey, and the support I have had from members has been really valuable.  What I didn’t expect was that I would enjoy contributing to the group as much as I do!

The support I have had from members has been really valuable.  What I didn’t expect was that I would enjoy contributing to the group as much as I do!

What is the biggest accomplishment you’ve had in your business since becoming a She Owns It member? What results have you achieved that you are super proud of?

 I’m proud of every step I have taken, especially the website I have built myself for the business (that was a huge learning curve) and I’m really excited about the shop function going live.  

I have stepped out of my comfort zone to become involved in the business world and while I find promoting my business and products challenging, I really believe in what I am doing, so that makes it easier to do.  

I have a lot of ideas and I’m really happy that I am starting to put them in action. 

Lastly, what advice do you have for women who are just starting out in business? What advice would you give to your past self? 

I am still starting out myself!   

I think that giving yourself a set up budget is important, and getting your name registered with IPONZ is also a good idea.

Set up your processes early, get an accounting system sorted, look for free business set-up resources and checklists and keep your set up costs low.  

If you get overwhelmed, try to think of each step of the process as a learning opportunity, and find a way to take a break and clear your head.  

To my past (and present) self I would say that it’s OK to try, it’s OK to get things wrong and it’s OK to be a beginner.

I think I would also tell myself that there are heaps of helpful people in the business world- find them, collaborate with them, and get talking to people.  

Where you can find Tasha and Goagain online: 

​www.goagain.co.nz
www.facebook.com/Goagain
www.instagram.com/goagainlowwaste
​

She Owns It is a Member's Club that helps you 
Grow a profitable business,
Get brand more visibility online,
Learn with instant masterclass access
and
Build connections with other NZ businesswomen.
Click here to start owning it!