I thought it was time to introduce you to a face that you do not see here at Chasing Sundays, but this lovely lady makes up for a huge part of our (small) team! Let me introduce you to Kate, our truly amazing marketing and operations manager. I first reached out to Kate back in 2021 to take on the rebrand of Chasing Sundays. This was a huge job that took the best part of 12 months to roll out completely across socials, product, packaging, and the website. During this time, I learned just how talented Kate was, how easy she was to work with, how committed she was to getting jobs done to a deadline (even sending me an email on the way out the door to the hospital to give birth to her first child, Mia!), but also how vast her skill level was. So, basically, I never let her go since ‘21 and it was only a matter of time before I locked her in to be my right-hand girl! Today, Kate is the one who we can thank for all our packaging design, sending out our emails and SMS, she brings my print mood boards to life, and she also tinkers away on the back end of the website ensuring your shopping experience is a seamless one. I sat down with Kate to ask her a few questions so we can get to know her a little better!
Tell us a little about yourself Kate
Grew up on a small farm in Taylors Arm in the Nambucca Valley. We had a handful of cattle, a beautiful bull named Snowy, doggies, rabbits, and guinea pigs. We had bananas and passionfruit. Had an amazing childhood and teen years living in the valley, was always at the beach, had amazing friends and had a great time at school. Fast forward to uni days in Brisbane, then 15 years in the big smoke (Sydney) before selling up for a tree change in the Sunny Coast. Wife to Hayden, Mumma to a tiny tornado Mia (2) and fur-child Frankie. Love travel, gardening, yoga, reading, the beach.
How you came to be a designer & marketer?
After school, I wasn’t super sure what I wanted to do. I moved to Brisbane and pretty much randomly picked a Business Degree and my majors of Marketing & PR. From there I worked in a range of marketing roles – a PR agency, a credit union, an events agency, e-comm and an adventure travel/charity challenge agency. It was in one of my first Marketing roles I started dabbling in design, went on to do a few short courses and found it worked really well as a combo with marketing. I ended up doing a Diploma of Design years later. I started freelancing about 5 years ago alongside my regular Marketing role. I work with good-hearted brands on branding, marketing and web design.
This is how I wound up working with Bev from Chasing Sundays! It is a little serendipitous as when Bev launched Chasing Sundays I thought it was such a good idea (that I wish I had had myself), loved all the products/designs and thought now that’s a brand I’d love to work with. When Bev reached out I was quuuuite pregnant but there was no way I was letting the opportunity pass me by so we leapt straight into a re-brand. Then once I was back working months later we picked up where we left off and then this year as CS has scaled, I’ve come on in a more permanent ongoing role. I really enjoy the variety of the work with CS, everything from product, print and packaging design to the email marketing automation.
You recently sold up in Sydney and made the move to Noosa in QLD, what’s your favourite thing about living on the gorgeous Sunshine Coast?
The space! We are so lucky to have 1.5 acres with a veggie garden and chickens – the dream! The weather is pretty amazing, although summer is next-level hot. Then the dog-friendly beaches up here are so good.
What are your favourite CS products right now?
I can’t choose just one so here’s my top 3 –
- I can’t go past a stonewashed turkish towel, they are so soft and compact – seagrass is my absolute fav colour.
- The bucket hat – I just took them to Bali for both myself and Mia. They are perfect for hiding out from the sun.
- Totes and wet bags – makes packing for the beach so much easier and everything comes home in wet bags and organised – the dream!
Describe your perfect Sunday
Well, gone are the days of sleeping in (thanks Mia), but I do love a slow Sunday. Chilling on the deck with a coffee, saying hi to the chickens and then taking Frank and Mia to the beach. Then throw in a cheeky pub dinner – perfect!
Favourite Quote
Be kind wherever possible. It is always possible. Dalai Lama
It always seems impossible until it’s done. Nelson Mandela
Sunrise or sunset?
Sunset, only because I am not a morning person. I’m sure sunrises are lovely too.
How do you unwind?
I want to say yoga, which to some degree is true. But honestly, I like watching tv and eating Tim Tams.
Three random things about yourself?
- My left pupil is permanently dilated. It’s a long story.
- I’ve hiked to Everest Base Camp, still probably the coolest thing I’ve ever done
- I can speed-read
Favourite holiday destination or where to next?
Sicily in September next year for a mate’s wedding.
What is next?
Work life – I’m loving the balance I have right now, my marketing role and a handful of lovely clients – so just keeping on as is for now!
Personal life – starting to plan some renovations and landscaping on our property. I want to “rewild” parts of the garden. Then expanding the veggie patch and we are also hoping to get some bees.
