It all began in a backyard shed back in the 80s and has grown from a one-person operation to now employing 80 people with offices in most states of Australia and people manufacturing under license to us in NZ. Meet its award-winning founder, Chris Cameron founder of Rockcote.

Briefly tell us about your business and how you got started.
Rockcote is recognised at the forefront of manufacturing premixed renders, environmentally friendly paints and texture coatings.
It all began in a backyard shed back in the 80's and has grown from a one person operation to now employing 80 people with offices in most states of Australia and people manufacturing under license to us in NZ.

What have been your major achievements?
Personally, having my daughter Jess and meeting the man of my dreams, who has made me a better person over the last 17 years.
Professionally, being recognised as the leaders in sustainable development and business practices and manufacturers of quality environmentally friendly renders, textures and paints and naturally, winning the Qld and then Australian Telstra Business Woman of the Year, Westpac Group Business Owner Category. Another major achievement was winning the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s National President’s Award for the best building in Australia; the Rockcote Design Centre at Nerang on the Gold Coast.

What have been your major challenges?
There have been so many challenges which is all part of business life but if I had to select just a couple; dealing with employee fraud in the early days of Rockcote, it almost sent us broke and growing the company while retaining the “family feel” and not damaging the planet.

Who has been your greatest mentor?
First and foremost my husband Bob who is an incredible visionary (not always practical I might add) and entrepreneur. He is a man of great honesty and integrity. Bob has shown me how to stay calm when chaos is all around and remember that you may not be able to change a situation but you can change the way you react to it.
Another mentor is Kon Hepers, Rockcote’s former GM who was with us from the early days and retired after 14 years. Kon taught me a lot about the corporate world and the ability to be flexible and adapt to whatever is thrown at you.

How do you stand out from your competitors?
Without doubt our strong environmental stance has set us apart from our competitors and being recognised as an ethical company that manufactures high quality architectural coatings.

Where would you like to see your business in five years from now?
Nationally and internationally recognised as the leaders in environmentally friendly paints and coatings. A company that has been able to grow into a small corporation while remaining friendly to the people that work in it, the community and the planet.

What are your Top Five Strategies for Success?

Honesty and Integrity in all that you do.

Relationships - form relationships with your bankers, suppliers and customers and pull on outside resources when you need them, for example your solicitor and accountant; make them part of your business.

Having balance in your life. That means balancing your work, family, social and community lives and not forgetting yourself.

Have Fun – Business is the greatest game of them all and you’ve just got to have fun doing it. We’ve never thought we were doing anything else until we started winning Awards!

Good Structure and Systems. Structure influences behaviour – you can put an excellent person in a poor system, that being, lack of organisation, little or no training, poor or unclear processes and procedures and they’ll perform at a mediocre level at best, or more likely fail. Conversely, if you put an average person in an excellent system they can excel.

I know you’ve only asked for five but another very important key to success is to Plan and set Goals. Remember in the absence of clearly defined goals one can become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia!!!

Chris Cameron is the Director of Rockcote. She can be reached at 0412 713 180 or at rockhome@ozemail.com.au. You can visit her website at rockcote.com.au. Chris will be a guest panellist at the Profiling Your Business Through Awards workshop being held in Brisbane on 20th February.