Call us:
0800 626 500
"Can a woman have a man cave? I'll give them a SheShed."
- Gemma J. SheShed Founder
This article shares the original founding story of SheShed and how the brand first began. Founded by local Nelsonian entrepreneur Gemma, SheShed grew from a simple idea into one of the most recognised timber cabin brands in New Zealand and Australia.
In June 2025, after relocating to Australia, Gemma passed ownership of SheShed New Zealand to Geoffrey and Joanne. Today, they proudly continue the SheShed story, building on the same foundations of quality, inspiration, and customer care that have been at the heart of the brand since day one.
Gemma founded SheShed and spent eight years growing the business into one of the most recognised timber cabin brands in New Zealand and Australia. Her entrepreneurial vision helped shape a brand built around a simple but powerful idea: creating inspiring spaces where people can pursue their passions, work, create, relax, and grow.
The SheShed mission has always been about helping people create space for what matters most. Whether it's a home office, art studio, yoga room, hobby space, accommodation cabin, or simply a quiet retreat from everyday life, SheShed cabins give Kiwis the opportunity to create a place of their own. One look through the SheShed Inspiration Gallery is enough to see the incredible spaces customers have brought to life.
The story of how SheShed began is one of inspiration, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit. We sat down with founder Gemma to learn how a simple idea grew into a business that has helped thousands of people across New Zealand and Australia create spaces they love.
Gemma was attending a home show in Christchurch eight years ago, representing another business. To make the exhibition stand more appealing, the company used a poster featuring a charming potting shed as a backdrop. Throughout the event, visitors repeatedly approached Gemma asking about the shed in the poster and whether it was available for purchase. As the questions kept coming, a thought occurred to her:
"We should sell sheds like that."
The demand was clearly there, and then the name came to her - SheShed.
Before the day was over, Gemma was sitting in her car in the car park registering the brand name and securing the domain. In that moment, she knew she had found her next venture.
When Gemma first started SheShed, she faced plenty of challenges. At the time, she was working full-time in her family's business while building SheShed on the side. Like many entrepreneurs, she was balancing growing customer demand with the realities of family life and raising a young child.
As the business grew and the range of cabins expanded, the demands of running SheShed continued to increase. What started as a simple idea at a Christchurch home show gradually evolved into a thriving business serving customers across New Zealand and Australia. Through persistence, hard work, and a commitment to quality, Gemma successfully transformed SheShed from a side project into a widely recognised and trusted brand.
When asked what sets SheShed apart from other kitset cabins on the market, Gemma's answer was simple:
"It's the design, quality, customer journey and the brand. We also wanted the cabins to be easy to buy, which is why we handle the shipping with a flat rate and delivery straight to the customer's house."
From the beginning, Gemma's vision was never to create just another garden shed. She wanted to offer beautifully designed timber cabins that were both practical and inspiring. Quality materials, attractive European styling, and a seamless customer experience became central to the SheShed brand.
She also recognised that customers weren't simply buying a cabin, they were creating a lifestyle space. Over the years, SheShed cabins have been transformed into home offices, art studios, yoga rooms, beauty salons, guest accommodation, hobby rooms, gyms, creative workshops, and countless other personalised spaces.
Rather than selling sheds, SheShed was helping people bring their dreams to life.
"If you are a woman looking to start your own business in a male-dominated field, all I say is to get some advice and do it. Sometimes if you have a passion and then you turn it into a business, you lose your passion for doing it. Be prepared for that. There are a lot of functions of the business that you need to know such as finance, marketing, sales, your product development, your competition, staff – you just need to be prepared for new obstacles as your company grows.”
- Gemma J. SheShed Founder
Since its beginnings, SheShed has helped thousands of New Zealanders and Australians create extra space for work, creativity, relaxation, accommodation, and business. The range has expanded from a handful of designs to a comprehensive collection of premium timber cabins, engineered for local conditions and supported by dedicated customer service.
In June 2025, after relocating to Australia, Gemma passed ownership of SheShed New Zealand to Geoffrey and Joanne. Today, they continue to build on the strong foundations established by the founder and the original SheShed team, while remaining committed to the same mission that inspired the business from the very beginning: helping people create beautiful, practical spaces of their own.
What began as a chance moment at a Christchurch home show has grown into one of the most recognised timber cabin brands in New Zealand and Australia. While the business has evolved over the years, the vision remains remarkably consistent. SheShed continues to help people create inspiring spaces where they can work, create, relax, connect, and pursue their goals.
The original idea that sparked SheShed all those years ago still lives on today: Everyone deserves a space of their own.
2026
SheShed New Zealand (Code Group Limited). All rights reserved.