For nearly four decades, Gubba has been a go-to for Kiwis looking for quality garden products, but recently, there’s been a bit of uprooting to make way for future growth.
For Sally Shaw, gardening is part of the family DNA. After returning to Auckland to join the business her parents founded nearly four decades ago, Sally now leads Bugg, the next evolution of the Kiwi gardening brand formerly known as Gubba. With a passion for flowers, a knack for product design and a deep appreciation for quality craftsmanship, she’s helping shape a new generation of gardening essentials while staying true to the values the business was built on.
What led you to get involved in the family business?
I was a pharmacist, living in Wellington with two children. I’d been working part-time and was looking for something more when Dad asked me if I’d like to move back to Auckland and manage Gubba. I thought about it, said yes, then told my husband. We’d moved to Wellington for his job and now we were moving back for mine. There’s a lot of pride in continuing something my parents built, but also a sense of excitement about where we can take it next.
Why did Gubba decide to rebrand as Bugg?
As we refined our product range and vision, we landed on a simple idea – “premium products for people who live in the garden”. That clarity changed everything. And as we started thinking about growth beyond New Zealand, a fresh name felt right. Bugg captured the energy and direction we wanted for the business and really stood out to us.
What should Kiwi gardeners know about Bugg?
We’re a family-owned New Zealand gardening business built from a genuine love of gardening. Every product we stock is there because we believe it’s the best version of that item we can find. Quality matters to us. For example, we manufacture the webbing for our tote bags in New Zealand because imported alternatives weren’t durable or UV-resistant enough for our standards.
What are your favourite things to grow?
I’m the person who heads outside to pick a few flowers and looks up three hours later, covered in dirt with a bag of weeds beside me. I love picking flowers and giving them away to friends and family.
Do you have any funny garden stories?
The business started because Dad accidentally ran over one of Mum’s favourite gardening tools. My grandparents had bought her a Sneeboer two-prong weeder at the Chelsea Flower Show, but Dad managed to drive over it. Rather than apologising, he set out to make her a new one. Then Mum’s friends wanted one, and before long, he was manufacturing them. From there, he came up with a self-standing garden bag. It’s still how we operate today. We look for problems and create thoughtful solutions.
Tell us about the Bugg gardening collection and who it’s aimed at.
I couldn’t find the tool belt I wanted for myself, as I prefer to wear it across my body and I wanted pockets designed around the tools I use. So, I took Dad’s three-pocket design and adapted it to create spaces for my hori hori knife, secateurs and phone. From there, I sourced fabrics and manufacturers. It’s been a challenge – and many people think I’m slightly mad for insisting on local production, but it’s important to me. My neighbour is a keen gardener and I’m forever popping over the fence to ask, “Would this work for you?” The range has grown to include a tote and kneeler, all designed with the same philosophy – functional, beautiful products that make gardening more enjoyable.
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