Shannon Burns, Director, GAS Manufacturing & Enclose
Being an entrepreneur is a bit like walking a tightrope – a balancing act between taking risks and reaping rewards. It’s like teetering on the edge of success and failure, trying not to lose your balance. Every step forward is a calculated risk, a daring move in the face of unpredictability. But despite the odds, there are the risk-takers, the bold visionaries who don’t shy away from the unknown. They refuse to tread the safe path, rather dive headfirst into the challenge, and turn those risks into incredible wins with determination, resilience, and an unwavering belief in their vision. These entrepreneurs don’t settle for the comfort of a single shot at glory; they continuously seek new opportunities, hopping from one venture to the next with an insatiable appetite for turning dreams into reality.Today, we are thrilled to share the remarkable journey of one such courageous woman entrepreneur, Shannon Burns, who is making a ripple in the New Zealand entrepreneurial scene through her spirit of resilience, creativity, and the ability to turn challenges into accomplishments. Shannon was the co-founder of Undercover Industries and Saylor Mae, and is the current founder and co-owner of GAS Manufacturing – and it’s in-house brands including Enclose Aluminum Covers, Archishade – architectural shade systems, and Urban Cookout –kiwi aluminum outdoor kitchens, Shannon has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability in the outdoor solutions industry.
A Journey Shaped by Family Values and a ‘Kiwi Can-Do’Attitude
Growing up in a hardworking and talented family, Shannon Burns learned the ropes of a robust work ethic early on. Her father could hammer out solutions to any problem, and her business-savvy mother made sure they understood the value of money. She even made them submit invoices for their pocket money. These early experiences instilled in Shannon a “Kiwi can-do” attitude and laid the groundwork for Shannon and her younger brother Bronson, to become entrepreneurs in their own right.
After finishing school without a clear plan, Shannon pursued degrees in Business and Property at Auckland University, gaining a solid foundation of knowledge. Working for industry giants like Jones Lang Laselle and CBRE fueled her passion for property. At 22, she met her husband, and together they took a calculated risk by buying their first land section in Tauranga within eight weeks. And, this move, guided by their appetite for calculated risks, turned out to be one of the best decisions they made.Shannon’s husband, a skilled fabricator and creative problem solver, introduced her to a new way of thinking. Combining his hands-on skills with her corporate experience and love for property, they identified a gap in the market for architectural aluminum shade products. “Over five years, we transformed a humble $10k startup into a multimillion-dollar, seven figure, award-winning engineering brand—our proudest achievement, second only to our children,” Shannon proudly asserts.
Shannon’s Trail of Entrepreneurial Triumphs
After selling their award-winning shade business, Shannon and her family embarked on a transformative journey of home renovations and global exploration before founding GAS Manufacturing. Specializing in outdoor enhancements through innovative engineering, GAS focuses on general, architectural, and specialized fabrication in aluminum and stainless materials – including custom signage, architectural rooftop gardens, and specialized hospital fit-outs.GAS Manufacturing has 3 sister brands – Archishade, Urban Cookout, and Enclose. Enclose, addresses the need to conceal outdoor eyesores, such as bins, heat pumps, and gas bottles. Initially starting with heat pump covers, Shannon collaborated with ISO-certified scientists in Australia to craft covers that are both acoustically and aesthetically pleasing while ensuring proper ventilation. Further, expanding the range, they prioritized scalability, utilizing machinery and software to offer nationwide delivery of their NZ-made products in easy-to-order, easy-to-install kit sets. These customization options empower customers to tailor Enclose covers to their specific needs. Drawing inspiration from their travel across Europe and New York, they now aim to adapt beautiful outdoor living solutions to fit New Zealand’s climate and local tastes. The user-friendly e-commerce platform allows customers to choose custom colors and order directly from the standard size range, showcasing a commitment to delivering high-quality, customizable products nationwide.
At the core of Shannon’s brand philosophy lie the fundamental values of quality, service, and innovation.The commitment to quality runs deep in each of their products,evident in the meticulous selection of premium materials such as NZ extruded aluminum, comprehensive pre-treatment, and Dulux powder coating. Enclose actively contributes to sustainability by incorporating Toitu carbon-reduced certified aluminum in its products, boasting high recyclable content. Any unused aluminum is recycled internally or within the supply network.
Conquering Challenges Along the Way
In her entrepreneurial journey, Shannon faced a host of challenges with her initial engineering business.The unexpected surge in demand brought about capacity constraints and a shortage of skilled staff, creating obstacles to sustainable growth. Meanwhile, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a rapid shift, compelling them to devise innovative online quoting methods during lockdown nusing mapping tools and CAD software. Additionally, freight issues and supply delays forced them to come up with creative solutions. But throughout these trials, Shannon and his team always remained steadfast in their commitment to under-promising and over-delivering, skillfully managing expectations during uncertain periods. Between their engineering ventures, they delved into uncharted territories with a kids’ clothing and alcohol manufacturing business that brought a fresh set of challenges, ranging from wholesale models to e-commerce structures. After selling these ventures, Shannon shifted her focus to Gas Manufacturing and its brands—Enclose, Archishade, and Urban Cookout—armed with lessons from past challenges – both successful and not. This time, they prioritized reducing reliance on labor, implementing machinery, and streamlining manufacturing processes. Learning from their kids’ brand, Saylor Mae, they integrated e-commerce automation with customizable products. While Enclose continues to face daily challenges in freight efficiency and packaging, Shannon’s mindset and that of her team remain solution-oriented, guided by the unwavering belief that every problem has a viable solution.Shannon emphasizes, “Quick decisions, coupled with persistent questioning and adherence to our core business and brand values, have been crucial in navigating challenges.”
Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship
In Shannon’s Women in Business network, ‘She is Unleashed’, Shannon often engages in discussions about the elusive concept of “balance.”Eight years into running her own business and juggling the roles of a mother to a 6-month-old and a 4-year-old, Shannon recognizes that achieving “balance” is a continual work in progress. However, she has a winning strategy— she strives to dedicate specific weekdays solely to business and others exclusively to being a mom—no emails allowed. This strategy allows her to be highly productive during workdays and cherish precious moments with her children on dedicated mom days. Focusing on tasks that truly move the needle during work hours helps her make meaningful progress. So, her advice to fellow women entrepreneurs and moms revolves around mindset, emphasizing that effort and attitude are the only elements within our control. Shannon recommends investing in self-care, collaborating with her coach on limiting beliefs and setting boundaries to strive for balance. She asserts, “Gratitude and a positive mindset help navigate the inevitable chaos. A well-structured to-do list, support from family and friends, leveraging offers of help – very thanks for my own Mum here, and connecting with a supportive business group of women are essential strategies. ”In this journey, Shannon considers her husband not just as a life partner but as a key teammate, putting their relationship first and business partnership second. “His support I am forever grateful for and his drive, ambition, and talent – is my biggest inspiration,” she affirms with conviction.
A Multifaceted Business Approach for Growth and Impact
Shannon and her husband embrace the practice of goal setting at the beginning of every year, engaging in a thoughtful review of achievements and aspirations.This yearly ritual acts as a pivotal tool, enabling them to recenter and maintain clarity amidst life’s chaotic moments. Moving ahead, while she is wholeheartedly committed to ongoing personal development,on the professional front, as the driving force behind Enclose, she aims to solidify the brand, increase exposure, and capture more market share in the realm of apartments and multi-living developments. Positioned in a growth phase, Enclose strives to elevate visibility and customer affinity, with exciting plans including the launch of new Archishade shade products and an expansion of the aluminum outdoor kitchen range. Concurrently, Shannon is dedicated to nurturing her daughters, guiding them to be kind yet strong, driven yet balanced.“The year ahead holds immense anticipation for Gas Manufacturing across all 3 brands, with a vision for growth, innovation, and building lasting connections with our customers,” shares Shannon.
Shannon’s Recipe for Success in Business and Beyond
Reflecting on her journey to success, Shannon shares a simple yet powerful winning recipe—one rooted in the art of attentive listening, spotting the pain points in customer challenges, and creatively devising solutions. It means taking those leaps of faith, learning from the bumps in the road, and having the resolve to bounce back stronger. At the core of her approach is a commitment to prioritizing people—customers, suppliers, and staff—and recognizing the significance of these relationships. She encourages learning from like-minded individuals and building a business on unwavering values, maintaining brand identity with integrity for long-term success.Shannon also underscores the significance of giving back to the community and reciprocating the support received. On a personal level, she advocates prioritizing family, strong values, and maintaining a positive growth mindset. “Take control of your world—whether in business or personal life, if something doesn’t align with your vision, change it. As priorities shift with age and a young family, success is now defined by balance and creating time,” concludes Shannon.