HEY.
WE'RE RX.

An experienced CEO, Company Director, Keynote Speaker and Media Commentator, Juanita is our founder and the person that makes everyone strive harder to raise the bar in retail.

​

Her career has spanned many different industries including QSR, agency to retail and consultancy. She has held executive leadership roles at Countdown NZ, The Warehouse Group, Yum Brands (Pizza Hut, KFC) and Noel Leeming Group.

 

Energy and enthusiasm are the hallmarks of Juanita’s style and she’s always happy to share her knowledge and insights. She travels the world extensively and uses her network to explore and understand as much as she can on trends, opportunities and challenges in the industry.

 

Juanita has a very unhealthy passion for retail which results in lots of shopping. In her spare time, she loves to read and travel, walk her Cavoodle - Arlo and watch an unhealthy amount of Tik Tok (she calls it research).

Our master of merchandise, process and systems design, Gina leads business optimisation projects and solutions. Harnessing the experience of a career which spans marketing, merchandise and operations across retail, manufacturing and supplier sectors, Gina asks the right questions, provides insights based on data analytics and delivers high impact outcomes. 

​

Gina also leads the team in our sister company, RetailO2.  With a deep understanding of all the processes involved internally and what is required to connect a business intimately with the customer journey, Gina and the team work alongside retail businesses to review their "go to market" systems related to marketing operations, merchandise, experience and the customer and introduce tech where we see fit. 

​

When she is not at work she loves to be at the beach (her happy place) or on a tennis court. 

With a combination of creative flair and a pragmatic, business-savvy approach, Lisa designs award-winning spaces and customer experiences in the physical world from retail stores to showrooms. As a highly skilled graphic designer, Lisa leads our creative team who produce marketing communications assets from websites to point of sale materials and collateral. 

​

Having honed her passion for retail on the shop floor many moons ago, Lisa rose through the ranks through her attention to detail and innate understanding of how to engage customers on their journey. She has delivered award-winning concepts and when not in lock down, travels the world to learn from the best, then scale accordingly. 

​

Lisa’s passion is the beach and nature. In her spare time, she runs her lifestyle block Donaldson Farm (we named it that) just outside Matakana. Here you will find her tending the yard, doing renovations, hanging with her pigs and chooks, or taking the dogs for walks at the beach...then relaxing with a cold beer at the end of the day. 

Bex is our pocket rocket with a deep passion in empowering emerging consumer-goods businesses to thrive, both domestically and beyond. With 20+ years' experience in launching and growing FMCG and CPG brands in NZ and around the world, she now shares her experience, knowledge and skills with RX clients to supercharge their growth trajectory.

 

She has led the strategy, innovation, and market launches for household names like Fonterra, Premier Foods, and Nestle, and more recently have worked with emerging consumer-goods businesses to take their business to the next level. Her advisory and strategic understanding of what it takes to make it is next level.

 

In her spare time, Bex is a Startup Mentor at the Ministry of Awesome and outside of work she enjoys getting out and about with her family with two young boys, exploring the local beach and parks.

An experienced Senior Marketing Executive and CMO, Julie knows how to develop exceptional brands and deliver a stunning customer experience. She leads our brand and marketing division and works closely with our clients that use RX Fractional Marketing services. With an extensive background in FMCG, services, entertainment and retail, Julie has been a key member of the Executive Leadership team at a number of key NZ businesses.

 

She oversaw the transformation of SkyCity repositioning itself into an entertainment, dining, and accommodation leader. Julie also helped reshape The Warehouse into a stronger market position in the highly competitive retail sector and prior to joining RX, led the relaunch of Metlifecare which delivered increases in engagement scores and performance right across the board.

 

A keen traveller, gardener and foodie, Julie has combined her three loves by growing way too many chilli plants, resulting in home-made Thai sweet chilli sauce being gifted to everyone she knows - even the occasional courier guy or meter reader. If you are ever in the RX office, there will be chili’s to help yourself.

Sophie brings the pizzazz to our team and specialises in the design and construction of retail spaces developing innovative and visually captivating designs. Her aim is to always capture a company’s ambition, a brand’s position, a customer experience goal and a shoppers heart, mind and wallet delivering the ultimate three-dimensional experience.

 

Sophie brings an incredible international perspective from her time in the UK and Europe working with brands such as Argos, Homebase, and Carphone Warehouse. Since her return to our shores she has worked with DFS Group and Early Settler in trans-Tasman roles. Sophie has a laser focus in her projects, developing cohesive designs that make a cohesive brand statement, create an impactful customer experience, and drive overall retail performance. 

 

If Sophie got locked in a retail store for an entire weekend she hopes it is an Anthropologie store. She loves a good crime drama to watch or read and her soul is always refilled whenever she swims in the ocean.

A true creative, Jo has had an extensive career as an in-house production manager for several NZ businesses. Jo knows what it takes to bring to life creative storytelling within any category context, blending the rational, functional and emotional elements with precision.  

​

She takes time to understand your brand and deliver best practice design solutions. Jo has developed brands and reimagined marketing communications, POP and POS, signage and ticketing for a host of brands including Farmers, Warehouse Stationery, Green Cross Health, Delonghi and Countdown. 

 

Jo is a budding photographer and when she isn’t wrangling her gorgeous children, you will find her capturing the most perfect sunsets wherever she can. 

With a background as a category and marketing specialist, Claudia brings a wealth of retail experience having worked with one of NZ’s largest health companies specialising in the beauty and fragrance sector.  ​ 

​ 

Claudia also brings an exceptional understanding of customer service and front-line skills integral to developing customer engagement and experience initiatives from her time working with The Department Store, Tigerlily and Blakchaos.​ 

​ 

Our clients consistently tell us what we already know; that Claudia is an absolute delight to work alongside, that she has fabulous interpersonal skills, and that her sunny disposition and make-it-happen attitude is a joy.  

 

Inspired by one of her favourite countries in the world, she has taken up learning a new language – Spanish! 

Liz is a talented marketing specialist who has worked in several different industries to hone her skills and understands what engages customers hearts, minds and wallets.  Liz has brought to life many campaign ideas and all the mechanics to get them to market.  

 

Liz has extensive experience working directly with store managers, store owners and sales assistants in both the B2C and B2B markets, understanding how best to communicate and involve each of them to achieve a better outcome. 

 

Liz has a side-hustle business Flosse, which is 100% nail polish but more fun and easier to apply. Otherwise, she can be found nurturing two incredible little people who consistently challenge her leadership. 

Kate is a graduate from Otago University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts – Psychology, Marketing and Communications alongside a Diploma for Graduates endorsed in Marketing. 

 

With extensive internship experience, Kate has acquired a good understanding of customers and the nuances of executing marketing strategy.  

 

She consistently writes blogs, does social media posting and repurposes content for different channels bringing a positive enthusiasm. As one of the freshest RX team members, Kate is learning more about what reinventing experiences means, especially starting work with the team just before our first COVID lockdown. 

 

Outside of work, Kate’s happy place is the beach or trying out a new restaurant with friends and family. 

The backbone of the RX team, Kirst ensures that the business runs efficiently, effectively, and profitably.

 

As most of the team are ex-retailers, they are prone to being a soft-touch and giving away work. Kirst makes sure that the business runs sustainably so that both our client partners and our business continue to grow and provide a win/win for all. Kirst has enjoyed an extensive career in Finance in both NZ and the UK. 

​

Although Kirsten is our resident bean-counter, she is also in her 2nd year of studying towards a degree in Psychology.

 

In her spare time, you’ll probably find her enjoying a coffee at the beach, or on the sidelines watching her kids play sport. 

There is not much Melissa does not do. As RX’s Marketing Operations Manager she is a superwoman that makes sure everything happens. Melissa is our dynamic force behind project management and has a keen eye for detail and a knack for problem solving.

 

Prior to joining RX Melissa had previously worked alongside Juanita and the team and has developed an acute understanding of the pressures and nuances of retail. In her spare time Melissa is the Marketing Manager and support IMANZ (Independent Media Agencies NZ), a not-for-profit industry association developed and run by independent media agency leaders.

 

Having raised three loud and busy boys, Melissa’s happy place is now immersing herself in DIY and most recently took up pottery and did much better than she claimed (we have the evidence on Juanita’s desk – retail ready product!)

Arlo is the youngest member of the RX team in human years but a Millennial in dog years. As our Chief Snooze Officer, he's dedicated to keeping it real and prioritising health and wellness with three daily walks and numerous snoozes. Arlo ensures security by greeting every visitor and making courier drivers think twice before crossing our lease line.

 

Before joining RX, Arlo was a house dog, but the pressures of COVID made him realize the importance of office life for his mental health. He provides cuddles and belly rubs, ensuring the team feels loved. Recently, Arlo has lost a few kilos and is working hard to avoid side-eyeing snacks and direct eye contact while colleagues eat.

 

Arlo is a strong proponent that all Kiwi retailers should be allowing dogs on their premises and is also campaigning for dogs to be allowed on public transport. He believes that these moves will improve the vibrancy of those who visit our retail precincts. In his opinion, retailers are missing a trick because, if your pet-pawrent can take their fur-baby shopping, they are likely to go shopping more, increase their dwell time and spend more money.