The entrepreneurial spirit that inspired Fred Kelly to create his own company more than 25 years ago is still reflected in his attitude toward business in the 21st century. His commitment to considered risk and controlled growth has positioned Hamsar as a serious contender in the global marketplace - a business that has gained success through consistent and gradual growth, always in a carefully chosen niche. “Yes, there’s an entrepreneurial streak and you need that,” Kelly comments. “My Dad taught me that. He always told me to choose my own road, and I did.”

Fred’s innate abilities to identify opportunities and respond with innovative solutions continue to be guiding principles for Hamsar’s projected growth. “You don’t always have to hit home runs,” he says. The singles and the doubles all add up. You’ve got to take risks yes, but calculated risks – and it’s up to you to make it happen. In the past ten years, I’ve travelled far and wide internationally with one goal. That was to get the ball rolling on international growth. The seeds were planted and now they’re bearing fruit.”

After sharing the experience of growing a business from an idea to a 40,000 sq.foot reality, Vida Kelly says that one thing holds true - the numbers may be bigger, the challenges different, but in the end it’s attention to detail that matters. “The first three years were the hardest,” she notes, “But we took the time to learn and that’s held us in good stead over the years. Principles haven’t changed. We keep track of things daily, so there are few surprises.”

As one of the founding partners of Hamsar, Ms Kelly has brought a conservative approach to each stage of growth the company has undertaken. She believes it to be the perfect counterbalance to her husband’s astute aptitude for sales. “Fred and I don’t step on each others toes. We respect each others judgement. Fred is more the risk taker and I’m the conservative one, just as someone always has to be.”