NZBusiness+Management

Welcome to the autumn edition of NZBusiness, which we trust you'll find both stimulating and informative. We certainly had fun, and learnt a great deal, compiling it. This issue kicks off with two inspiring case studies. First the story of Brett Band, the industrial designer-turned-watchmaker looking to stamp his mark in what is an incredibly tough niche industry. You can't help but be impressed by his determination to succeed and by his beautiful bespoke handmade watches. Jenni Giblin is another example of a business owner putting in the hard graft to realise a long-held dream. Getting her business off the ground has been a major test of her resolve too. If you're needing a little assistance to get to grips with your social media marketing (SMM), you should find our lead story on…

The countdown to the launch of The David Awards 2023 is almost over, with entries being accepted on the official website from May 1st. The Awards, now proudly supported by Voyager, have been around since 2008 and steadily gaining in popularity. They have also helped lift the profile of some now familiar brands, including Ethique, Pure SEO, Brolly Sheets, CarbonClick, Hybrid Bikes and last year's Supreme Winner The Block Dock. Ryan Burnett, marketing lead at Voyager Internet, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “We are proud to support The David Awards, an event that shines a light on the accomplishments of our small business community. By sponsoring these awards, we want to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation that fuels New Zealand's economy.” Targeting micro, small and homebased businesses, The David…

If you think running a business is tough, try doing it with a newborn baby. That's exactly what entrepreneur Laura Heynike did and she has written a book about it. The founder of award-winning interior design solutions company Pocketspace, Laura prepped her business to operate for maternity leave without a senior executive team or ability to hire a nanny. Being pregnant and running a business can be a scary and daunting prospect, and for Laura this was compounded by the onset of Covid. The Pumping Entrepreneur is an honest, raw look into how one entrepreneur navigated becoming a mum, dealing with ‘pregism’ and running a business through some of the toughest times our world has ever experienced. Laura describes The Pumping Entrepreneur as an empowering tool that reassures other women in a similar…

Some of the world's top innovators and business minds are descending on Auckland for “Future State” – an event which explores the driving forces behind the next era of tech innovation. Presented by Spark Lab and Semi Permanent, the event is aimed at attracting people from emerging small businesses right through to large enterprises, and has assembled an international calibre of speakers from some of the world's most innovative and successful companies, including adidas, Google, VICE media and more. Spark marketing director, Matt Bain says the one-day event will deliver a series of high-impact business briefings “from amazing leaders who have pushed the boundaries and found themselves at the edge of innovation”. “We are seeing the possibilities for digital technology to enable cross-sector transformation explode – and the speakers we've assembled will speak…

Financial Ombudsman Susan Taylor has warned small business owners to seek advice before applying for business loans using their homes, trusts or parents’ properties, as guarantees for debt. Financial Services Complaints Limited (FSCL), a free dispute resolution service, has reported an increase in complaints over the past six months, indicating that consumers are under increasing pressure to service debt. “As financial pressures increase, it is understandable that many may consider accessing credit through business borrowing as a viable option,” explains Taylor. “However, in addition to seeking independent legal advice, it is also important to know that the protections afforded by the CCCFA (Credit Contract and Consumer Finance Act) do not apply to family trusts or business loans. In other words, the protection only applies in instances where it is a personal loan.” Business…

The student-focused Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) is celebrating 40 years of helping young Kiwis become business leaders of tomorrow, and new research shows there has been a measurable social return on investment. YES, a charity whose alumni have gone on to start up hugely successful companies such as Sharesies, Xero and Kiwibank, has released its GoodMeasure report. It reveals the significant social value YES programmes have achieved for more than 5000 students in the past year alone. The report shows the social value (the social impact in dollar terms that a programme achieves for participants over their lifetime) is $2,753 for each participant. At a programme cost of $432 per participant the measurable benefit as a proportion of programme cost is 580 percent. Every $1 invested in YES results in $5.80 of measurable…