Annah, myself and my dearest friend are planning on starting a business together......YIKES.
Unfortunately we know of other friends that have gone into business together and unfortunately not only has the business suffered but also their relationship is no longer.
Do you have any advice to offer ? Many thanks - Jane
It is incredibly difficult to go into business with friends and family , I have only just mastered the skill myself … Its really about setting the parameters around the relationship as to how you will communicate should an altercation arise and trusting that you can adhere to that knowing that there are two types of relationship that will need to exist, the business and the friend .. Avoiding issues will slaughter the partnership and so will talking around them to anyone that will listen, always address the source ..
It is however so hard for most people to confront , although I do suggest that once you have done it a few times, as with anything, it simply becomes easier .. and incredibly worthwhile .. For me the truth will always be the winner in the end .
It about knowing that you are each making contribution at the levels you have initially agreed and if this changes you both address and discuss it … don't let things fester .. If you achieve success through operating together you can create a very strong business model, were people most can't … At the moment have my partner , mother, sister and a strong friend from school days in my operation .. it did however take a while to master the dialogue when there was a problem .. in that in most cases I simply avoided and hoped it would come right, given that the other relationship was supposedly working in the background.
Today I trust myself to communicate. The wonderful benefit of these people is that I totally trust them to get the job done well and protect the brand at the highest level. - Annah
Hi Annah,
When I was young I wanted to become a fashion designer, but living in a small town I thought it was tacky and forgot about it as a career.
Now I am sixteen and have recently revived my ambition to enter the fashion industry. I adore fashion! I love it with class and all my heart.
Someday I would like to own my own business, even a nice little boutique would be awesome. But I know that to get there, there is a build up.
How do I work my way into the fashion industry? Would you suggest moving to maybe Auckland and finding opportunities there?
I'm a little dreamy too, you see, and I would love to work with fashion magazines perhaps as an editor or stylist. (Kindled a few years ago after seeing 'The Devil Wears Prada' and 'Coco before Chanel', writing is another passion of mine too.) Anyway, any advice for a kiwi girl with big dreams?
Thanks heaps :) Megan
I see so many girls that want to be in the world of fashion at what ever level they can .. and yes it is hard work and there are very few opportunities as everyone wants them ..
You are still so young and the great thing is that you don't need to make any decisions yet .. .. My advice and its the same that I gave to my daughter who is about to take over my company ( she also wanted to study fashion ) … is as with anything, success in fashion is knowing how to run a business .. so learn about business first go to University or Polytech and do a business diploma or degree .. (fashion is 80% about business and 20% about the frocks) .
If you complete a qualification in business you will then be set up for the rest of your life .. as anything you choose to do will have business in its makeup , whether its fashion or not ..
I see so many of our really good fashion designers struggle and eventually walk away as they have so little skills around the running of the business they love so much , they are often forced to employ others to do this for them that is costly and may also be done badly so they simply run out of money ..and their dream dies with their business .
Annah
Hi Annah,
Each summer I find myself with the same problem in the heat of the afternoon… the office is the last place I want to be. My productivity falls from 100% – 30% and I often find myself starting into space – dreaming of my beach house.
What tips do you have for keeping focused? If I’m feeling like this I can bet my employees are feeling the same.
Thanks,
Isabel
Isabel Hi,
Here are my top 4 tips for increasing productivity for you and your team:
1. Tackle the tough stuff first
You won’t do yourself any favours by avoiding a report or writing an article until the end of the day. The very first thing you should do each day is make yourself a comprehensive ‘to do’ list that outlines your bigger, tougher tasks first and smaller, easier and enjoyable jobs later in the day.
2. Start the day right
The importance of a good, balanced breakfast is nothing new. I always start the day with fruit if on the run or muesli and yoghurt if I have more time. Exercise goes hand-in-hand with the right breakfast for me. Three mornings a week you’ll find me at 6.30am with my Pilates instructor. It’s the best time to arrange my thoughts, treat my body and plan for the day ahead.
3. A clear focus
Going along with starting the day right for me means coming into the office in a focus and positive mind set. That does often mean early starts to plan the work flow priorities but I’d much rather come into the office with only that day’s must do tasks on the list rather than having to catch up on the previous day’s as well. Also clear your desk of all clutter before you leave each night. A clear space = a clear focus to commence each day with.
4. Do not disturb
Allocate your day into sections for tasks and be vigilant in keeping to your timetable. Perhaps the first few hours may be for meetings. During this time all emails, texts and phone calls are put on hold. Let the team know not to disturb you during this time unless they have to. This will allow you to stay fully focussed and complete the task at hand. Then afterwards, you could reserve an hour for catching up on these requests.
This is more easily said than done as urgent things will always come up but if you have the framework there and your team are aware of it you’ll find your productivity increasing in no time.
Am I bad a mother Annah? Last year I started my own house cleaning business and am loving being my own boss. As the weeks have progressed my client list has increased which is great but I feel like I’m missing out on so much of my kid’s lives. I don’t want to give up this amazing career I have created… help!
Laurelle
Laurelle Hi,
Really I can't believe women still ask me this question. There is no mummy guilt. It's all in your head so it's time to rethink. No man would ever ask this question so let's start there.
You can do everything. In fact, your children will eventually thank you for this. You have an entitlement to carry on with your own life. They simply join you in this - not take over. You can be a great partner, mum and run a business or hold a job and yes you will need support. So make it happen whether it's paid or gratuitous.
Plan ahead. Bringing up kids is about a quality of time - not a quantity. It's about installing great values and for you to do this well, you need to be forwarding your dreams and visions.
No more guilt, trust yourself to bring your children up well. You are not an extension of them. You are simply guiding them for the duration. So come up with a plan that works for you both so that you can live a great life.
Hi Annah,
I see you’ve started up a charity to help refuge women. Congratulations on this great initiative. I wanted to ask how you’ve found time to do this? I can barely manage my 9-5 and family life – I couldn’t imagine how busy you must be…
Rebekah
Rebekah Hi,
This is easy really. So many people get caught up and distracted by piffle in their day. I work to the 80 /20 rule and there are plenty of books on this. Identify the 20% that needs to happen in a day and leave the rest. Either delegate, delete, or remove it but make sure that you are not attending to it in this day. Don't waste time on things that don't need to happen.
Find your 20% and prioritize. Make things happen. You will be surprised at how efficient you become as you meet deadlines and tick things of your list. 80 /20… live by it.
Hi Annah,
How do you know what to work on when you are doing it all yourself? I’m sure you were in my shoes once… having my own business is the best thing I have ever done but I don’t see things lasting very long as I’m constantly stressing over my ever-growing ‘to do’ list.
Thanks,
Olivia
Olivia Hi,
This is common problem as we start out in business. Knowing that we will be the one armed paper hanger for months if not years to come we launch in boots and all. So how do we stay on track and look forward and work on the business so to speak when we simply only have so many hours in a day?
We have all been here and all felt the exhaustion when confronted by the ongoing to do list. So a suggestion to you is that no matter how hard it appears to find, look at some time to work on the vision. Check that you are still heading in the right direction; that you are still on track. That means selling as you forecasted and ensuring some level of profitability. Surround yourself with the right people, get out and connect with others and find time to market the vision. Doing doesn't always equal growth… planning and measurement does.
Q: Annah – I work for a large organisation, I work hard and always put in the extra mile but I never get my ideas noticed or the work that I do doesn’t seem to be acknowledged. What are your suggestions for getting noticed? – Permanently in the background Amanda
A: Quite simply Amanda you need to stop being invisible! You might be the hardest worker, the most skilled and talented but if you’re not in people’s minds then you will be passed by. Here are some strategies that might help:
-
Put in the hard and smart work and be passionate about what you do
-
Get out of the shadows – if you have a good idea research it and email the boss – what’s the worst thing that can happen? It’s not accepted. At least they know you have tried and you are thinking beyond the day-to-day tasks.
-
Become a specialist in areas of the business that you feel has gaps – look at what the business needs… is it a stronger focus on customer service, is it better processes and systems in some areas i.e. stock control – apply your knowledge and thoughts, document and share them rather than being a “generalist”
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Get passionate about improving and making change. Companies often get stuck doing the same old thing and it takes fresh eyes to make change.
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Track your accomplishments – if you are working hard it is easy to forget about what you have achieved. Keep a file of completed projects and other areas where you have enabled change. Take this with you when you are having your performance review.
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Ensure you have an advocate – invite a mentor or leader out for a quick coffee and share some of what you have been doing. People love to give their advice. Learn to listen as well as that’s where the gems and the growth for you lie.
· Lastly, take ownership. Most people just do the job. It’s a refreshing change for any employer to see a team member that treats the business as if it were their own. Be mindful of the money, even though it’s not yours, it’s coming out of your employer’s bank. Give them a reason to notice you and that’s all about using your initiative, being a can-do person and applying good levels of common sense to all that you do!
Good luck.
If you get all this right I'd employ you.
Annah
Hi Annah,
I know there is a fine line between being a friend and being a boss. I wanted to ask, how you decide where praise is due? All of my team do a great job but there are a few that go above and beyond to see my business succeed. I don’t want to appear to have favourites…
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts,
Julie
Julie Hi,
Here are few ideas for you:
-
If you feel as though your ‘star’ team members are continually being praised while others who may not perform as well go unnoticed, try directing the lesser performers to observe your star. They’ll quickly pick up on the often small things that make a top performer and your star will take it as a compliment that you trust them to pass on their knowledge/ work ethic to others.
Giving thanks/praise doesn’t make you appear soft in the eyes of your employees. Don’t be surprised to see your team working harder to be publicly acknowledged by you.
Annah
Hi Annah,
The news continues to highlight our country’s problem of violence against women. Just today I see another man in the court system for a prolonged and vicious attack on his partner. I want to do something to help these women and get the message through that they deserve so much better. Can you recommend any worthwhile charities that will help me?
Thanks, Kirsty
Hi Kirsty,
There are several worthy organizations out there offering support to women who could do with your help…
Here are a few:
Women’s Rights and Advocacy in the Pacific
www.wrap.org.nz
Women’s Refuge
www.womensrefuge.org.nz
Women’s Centre Rodney – this website has links to centres throughout the country
http://www.womenscentrerodney.org.nz/links.aspx
Voice for Life
www.voiceforlife.org.nz
Association for Women’s Rights in Development
www.awid.org
This year I have also taken it upon myself to do something more than give a few dollars to someone else’s campaign…
Over the last three months I have become incredibly passionate about Women’s Refuge and some of the women that are forced into these refuge homes.
In support of this and to fill the gap that sees so many of the women that have been initially rescued and cared for in these safe havens return to their difficult and violent situations, I have now launched RAW - Reclaiming Another Woman.
I believe RAW will create a pathway forward for these women and give them the step up needed to not fall back into the negative cycles many have grown accustomed to.
For more information visit www.raw.org.nz
Annah
Q: I spend my life battling my weight and now that we are heading into Christmas and all the events and yummy goodies, I will be even more challenged as I pull out my bathing suit to grace the beach these holidays. Any simple advice?
A: Here are 12 of my best tips to lose a KG going up to Christmas without having to do anything at all…
ONE
Reduce coffee intake - especially if you have milk. Try green tea (it even tastes great cold).
TWO
Buy a body framer in black.
http://bit.ly/1eNnv64
THREE
Order My Food Bag. For $139 it’s great value for four healthy meals.
www.myfoodbag.co.nz
FOUR
Plant vegetables. They grow quickly and look so good you will want to eat them.
www.gardengrow.co.nz
FIVE
Walk more. It’s warmer so think about your carbon footprint and beat the feet or join a walking group.
www.wonderwalkers.co.nz
SIX
Cut sugar. Just take out one thing a day and replace with fruit.
SEVEN
Drink diet drinks - not full sugar or better still, water.
EIGHT
Have almonds in your handbag. They’re a great go-to snack. I love the tamari ones.
NINE
Get a new hobby. The renewed focus takes your mind off food.
TEN
Buy a wrap dress… then who knows what weight you really are as it will always fit.
www.flipitfrock.com
ELEVEN
Watch Jamie Oliver's video on pink slime… you will never eat a fast food burger again.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wshlnRWnf30&noredirect=1
TWELVE
Eat slowly. Practice being the last one to finish.
Q: With all the competition that is out there in the market and especially in the digital spaces. How am I going to make my business stand out? I know that if I don't find that absolute point of difference I will simply end up in the business graveyard that I have seen so many go to. Help!
A: How do you make your business STAND OUT? IT SO CROWDED OUT THERE.
How do you set your business apart when there are so many others doing the same thing?
I pick up the Kia Ora magazine. It’s another day and another plane trip to the capital. Electronic devices have to be turned off so I'm forced to read. I don't have anything with me so I reach for the airline’s magazine. It flips to the story of Nice Blocks detailing two blokes endeavouring to enter a crowded market with a healthier choice of ice blocks and ice cream.
A couple of years back two mates started on a mission to create a better summer treat for their children. Today the natural and organic treats (that also hold the title of the first certified Fair Trade ice block range in the world) can be found in stores throughout New Zealand.
Lately I have also been a happy recipient of the My Food Bag goodies that are dropped at the gate every Sunday evening with instructions and contents for four of the week’s meals. I loving the massive tick that this has put into my week of tasks. And I am also assisting two start-ups determine their point of difference as they commence their entrepreneurial life. And daily I am forced to consider the main product drivers that we offer as we take to the social media platforms to entice more people to buy our frocks rather than those of my many competitors.
So what do we need to do to really make our business models fly from the start? How do we set ourselves apart in crowded markets? Given that there is very little that is new out there, success is often about re-inventing traditional business models.
Take My Food Bag… success has been about taking away the pain, the weekly ‘what do we have for dinner’ question that we all dread and the nightly supermarket shop that many of us have fallen into.
So take one celebrity chef, the poster girl for healthy eating, Nadia Lim, one business guru, Ex Telecom CEO, Theresa Gattung and Cecilia Robinson, another smart entrepreneur who has concepted the idea and had the foresight to gather others around her and to all intents and purposes the business model is flying. Simple really. Identify the pain points for your target market and remove them by creating a robust business model.
Let’s look at Nice Blocks… they are all about a healthier alternative to ice blocks (plenty of us that would and should make that choice if we could). They have jumped on the sugar band wagon and while they don't profess to have removed all sugar, they certainly are providing heather options and interesting flavours so now at least you have another choice.
Then there are the skateboard ramps that my son has created as his first entrepreneurial venture. Our defining feature is the art work that we have placed on the side of the ramps as yes, there are others in the market that have constructed the same ramps and offer them for sale on Trade Me (the platform we have chosen) at similar prices. So will the original art work affected by our awarded graffiti artist be enough to drive the business model?
What about the doggie day care business that I am passionate about supporting (after all I love dogs) and really do see a need for great dog care in every town that even borders on extreme, in regards to the offerings for those that can afford it and let’s face it, there are plenty of us out there that will indulge if given the right platform. So what will it take to set this service apart from some of the others? As we do know that it’s not a new idea. For this we have looked at experiences… hat can we do with the dogs in the time that they are in our care that makes sure that we are the day care of choice? And let’s not forget also that this choice will also be about the operator.
Q: I am such a dreamer. I have great ideas (everyone says so) but I'm so nervous of taking that next step. I continue to come up with objections and reasons as to why each idea I have will fail and as I have been doing this for so long I simply don't believe that anything I start will be a success. Help! How to I change my mindset?
A: Be careful what you wish for. It may just happen. HOW TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE COME TRUE…
It’s Sunday morning and I’m casually trawling my Facebook page and there is an optimistic post from Kiri Nathan, a wonderful designer that I am supporting asking anyone that has a contact for Beyonce who is in town performing at the moment to pass on her details, as she'd like to gift her some pounamu as well as invite her to dinner. I ‘LOL’ as I suggest we all did, liked the post and got on with my day. So a week later imagine my surprise when my astounded partner called out… ‘Hon, come and watch this… Kiris' on the 6 o'clock news… something about meeting Beyonce’. Unbelievable! Yep, she did it. A happy set of incidences lead to Kiri being able to present a pounamu and cloak that she had woven to Beyonce at the conclusion of her last concert.
This truly does show the power of simply putting it out there and daring to dream big. Knowing that you can achieve whatever you set out to do as long as you push hard enough. Consider any gold medal winner and their aspirations; thinking from the front foot always. Most of us would never have thought this big.
You and only you …
Q: It’s that time of the year again and I never seem to be able to come up with great gifts for those significant people in my life. Even google yields the tried true and cliché… help Annah!
A: 10 OUTSTANDING gift ideas for the woman who has everything
Believe me these are different. You need to read this!
Yes it’s that time of the year again. Unfortunately for all these around me they not only have to consider a suitable Christmas gift (I would be happy with just their time) but my birthday also falls in December as well. As I watch the ones who are closest to me struggle with the ‘what do I get her’ question, I am incredulous in that I believe there are so many wonderful things they could give me that they overlook in their quest to get the ultimate material gift that in most cases I already have in duplicate. So here it is team… a blog on what I consider to have been my best gifts ever (and some received by others) over the last 15 years (I can't remember back much further) and hopefully this may help some of the other hapless males and children of significant others find the ultimate gift…
ONE
You can never underestimate time. I love to do stuff with the ones I love. Find a movie, a show, an excursion… plan it and make it happen. Surprise me!
The day that we took of midweek, went to Waiheke and long lunched at a small vineyard while the rest of the world toiled is wonderful memory for me.
TWO
Capture a special moment. I love my children and my dogs. It’s as simple as that really. So the light boxes that have been created for me with these images on them have been my best gifts ever. A great causal shot by our pool of my two children with the two dogs that I adore has got to be one of my best presents (Tony found an old sleepy head light box when doing a shop fit to set it all into).
THREE
Trade Me… I'm obsessed and I'm always putting stuff on my watch list. It’s a massive clue guys. You will see a trend and can often discuss the list without her knowing what is happening or find similar stuff. An old Lynch print that I don't have would be a perfect gift. I'm also a fan of Sabner and Trechnichof and love flamingos at the moment… all things you can decipher from my Trade me watch list.
FOUR
What about writing and illustrating a book? They cost $50 to print digitally in hardcover.
I put together an illustrated story around our two dogs, Jam Jam and Paris (now deceased) for Tony’s birthday. It’s a great gift. You don't have to be able to draw, just add images (photos) that work and make up a story using meaningful characters.
These might be special moments in your life… the kids on a family adventure or a significant family holiday. I created a book for all the participants in our Indian trip last year… a photographic journey matched by letters from all the women on the trip that detailed the significance of the trip to them.
FIVE
Hold a small surprise party. Plan it without their knowledge and invite the most special people. The ones that she connects to all the time and serve her favourite food and drink.
SIX
Contract a video company and film a mock TV pilot. You may even have a friend that is great on a video camera. Find something that they are passionate about and create a reality TV show around it. These are all about characters and moments rather than celebrity. You never know… you may just be the next food truck… what a success Michael van de Elzen has been.
SEVEN
Create a great piece or art or buy one. Take a risk. This doesn't need to be a painting, it may just be an old car bonnet with a word as I got. Think outside the square. Look for interesting and different ways of creating art. You may be able to do this yourself.
EIGHT
Arrange a meeting with a profile person that she aspires to or you know she would love to meet. You never know what may happen if you just put it out there. Approach the person and make a request, endeavour to set up a quick 20 minute coffee… look at the result that Kiri Nathan got when she put out there that she wanted to meet Beyonce.
NINE
If she is your partner, make a private declaration of love. One of the best that has ever happened for me was a huge red heart on the ceiling of our bedroom. This was made up of hundreds of small red hearts that pieced together to form a large heart. Each small heart had a love message in it.
TEN
Bombard her with flowers for the day. Imagine how wonderful it feels to get several bouquets delivered throughout the day to your place of work… just because you love her. 10 huge bunches ought to do it!
Q:How do you decide what price to charge for you services or products? I always seem to think that people won’t pay the prices I think my services (products) are worth. I know I undervalue them but a get embarrassed deciding what price I should charge and always use myself and what I can afford to pay as the bench mark. And how do you know what price you should charge for your business offerings?
A: Why do we all find it so hard to ask for the money when we start out in business? And worse still, why do we undervalue the product and services that we offering by starting out with a modest and often not even break approach to our price setting?
Your income constraints will not be your customers. Research your competition and identify your points of difference (you need to be very clear as to what these are and define these in your marketing speak).
Then decide on your price. This may not be relevant to what it costs to produce but it must meet the market you are targeting and the perceived value. I know that if we price a dress cheaply people automatically assume it has something wrong with it.
The biggest mistake I see most people make is they assume that everyone that they are intending to sell their product and services to has the same income constraints as they have i.e. the retail team in our stores often do this. They will assume a woman can only buy one dress when in fact she has the earnings to buy so many more. It is simply about the range of service and fit for purpose offerings that are made to her.
Q: I have just started a small business and have so much trouble getting people to pay me (I hate having to ask people). The problem is worse with my friends and family that seem to think that they have done me favour by contracting my services. Help! How do I make sure that I get paid?
A: When did the money question become so hard?? When we have determined our price and start to sell a product, why do we find it so hard to get paid? Why do the money conversations become so difficult?
Being paid is the most important part of your business model so from the get-go make sure that you clearly identify how this will happen. If you’re in retail it’s not so difficult as there is an expectation that people will pay at point of sale.
If you are offering a service expect the same immediate payment whether you have finished the job or before you start. There are plenty of mobile transaction devices that will enable payments to happen offsite.
Simply be very clear about what you want. Have the money conversation as part of the initial contracting of your service. It is a healthy part of the transaction process (people expect to pay).
Tell them what your payment timeframe expectations are. In many cases you can get paid up front i.e. before you start the work, if you decide to set up regular sessions with the contractor of your services you may decide to enter into other arrangements for payment going forward. If so make sure they adhere to them or the service stops!
People contracting you have no problem making a request for your service so you should have no problem asking for the money. This is not a taboo subject. You need to be paid. It is a very necessary part of the business process.
Q: Annah, I am off on holiday tomorrow with some friends, leaving behind my three boys and hubby. I have this horrible felling "GUILT". I feel so guilty for taking some time out for ME and not taking my family with me. I work 9-3 5 days a week as an office manager for our business, I have three sons, one with a heart condition and one with Autism as well as being a family support worker and branch coordination for @Heart which is all done in my own time - I need a break from it all, but why do I feel so guilty doing it and how can I re-train my brain so I don't always have this horrible mothers guilt thing going on?
Tania
A: Tania hi,
I absolutely know the situation that is playing out in your head but it is so unnecessary. It is such a female dilemma and I'm sure no man would ever suffer from this guilt.
Firstly, analyse what the guilt is actually about. Are your family uncomfortable with your absence? Do the people that will care for your sons and/or your hubby in your absence not have the same abilities as you?
You have to try and establish a life for yourself that exists outside of your man and your children. It will not only give you an ability to contribute to the home at a stronger level but it will also improve the quality and longevity of your partnership if you remove some of the dependency that they have on you and you on them.
You are simply not an extension of this environment. It is important that you bring your values and life experiences to the pot so that your children can learn from them and you can't do that if you do not have them.
Nurturing children is not about the quantity of time you spend, it’s the quality and this quality includes your outside engagement.
You must invest in yourself. Being a mum and partner is only part of the total equation that is Tania…
You, as you suggest, will have to train your mind to think differently…
1. Cut out the emotive drama that’s playing out in your head
2. Focus on the facts. Are there really any real considerations with you absent? And plan to cover these.
3. Think forward about what you are about to do and the break you deserve, not about what might happen. Simply deal with it if it does.
4. You have one life… live it well. There are no medals handed out at the end of the day for homemaking. It’s simply ONE of the many wonderful hats that we women wear.
Q: When do you give up? I have started a great business, do LOADS of research, got a WINZs grant (it was that good) got a bank loan, now owe heaps! and I've hit a road block, a total brick wall .. how do I manage myself around this?
My website is www.camperhamper.co.nz. I put groceries into incoming tourists (95,000 hires per year in NZ) camper-vans, so they don't have to go to a supermarket for a few days. They get to relax, and try NZ product. Trouble is the van hire companies won’t link with me - they allow me to do this but that's it - even after I have offered them commission. I’ve had great reviews from the little product I have sold? I’m broke and I'm so stuck!
I love love love your clothes and your inspiration!
Fee
A: Fee hi,
I love the idea of what you are doing but not so sure as to why you need the van companies to link with you. Your goal should be to work with the suppliers of the product that you are putting into the hampers. They will need to supply you with their selected product at no charge plus pay a small fee to be represented in the hamper, (your fee) your website, any publications you do and social media pages. Surely it becomes your endorsement of what is great about New Zealand produce. That can be also turned into a possible road trip for them as well with you producing a published gourmet food trail to enable holidaymakers to visit the source of supply of many of the outstanding products in the hamper. It would require careful selection of the product that is a best fit re. truly representing New Zealand boutique brands and also has the ability to be transported back as gifts and interesting enough that they would want to visit the source, so you are yielding very real results for the suppliers and the travellers
We have so many boutique brands. They start up daily in the food and beverage market. Have a look at Taste and Cuisine mags… snippets re. new products are in the front of their publications.
Jucy Rentals may also be another good point of contact. It may pay to vary hamper content depending on the demographic of the traveller. A younger market will be interested in different food and experiences than an older travelling demographic.
Hope this is off help,
Good luck,
Annah
Q: Hi Annah,
A lot of people really appreciate that you manufacture your garments in New Zealand. It as well as the fabulous designing is one of the reasons a lot of people support your label. It must be a challenge when so many manufacturers now go to China for business where quite frankly working conditions and remunerations are not up to scratch.
Your thoughts?
Kind regards,
Lia
A: Cornelia hi,
Thanks for your submission and I welcome the opportunity to discuss this.
It is a sad reality that the manufacturing industry in New Zealand has just about gone. All that is left are some smaller factories and operations that work from their home garages employing their extended family. These people are often unskilled and most of these operations are run by Chinese emigrants, as it is a skill base they bring when they migrate to this country.
The quality of work produced and the limited skill base are extremely challenging for the New Zealand fashion industry.
It has been important for our survival that we sought alternative manufacturing bases and these have been in China; a country that has its heart in manufacturing. China is closely aligned with New Zealand and certainly offers a much broader and exciting range of fabrics, trims and construction capability.
The China of today is very different to the China of yesterday and all of the factories that we work with I have visited and reviewed the conditions and skill capabilities. They all pay a living wage which in many cases means that it is not cheaper (in fact it is dearer) than getting garments made here in New Zealand. Conditions in the factories are better and all the machinists live in as part of their wage deal.
The cheap and exploitive end of the industry has moved to countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam where conditions and wages are shocking as you suggest.
China is a country (I visit 4 times year) that has made huge inroads into the standard of living that the people enjoy. Sure there are still challenges… how can there not be in a land of one billion people, but then New Zealand is not without its social challenges either.
I can see no other option for the operation that I run, than to embrace the opportunities that China offers. I also believe that survival moving forward is about a global vision. Digital platforms have made the world so much smaller and accessible.
While we will intend to keep some of our manufacturing in New Zealand I foresee increasing difficulty sourcing the fabrics and manufacturing plants to affect this. So starting to future proof simply is smart business thinking.
Q: What was your biggest failure?
A: I don't have a biggest failure as such, I do have a pathway of learning...that has enabled me. I have always believed that failure is the foundation of my success and at 21 years of age I truly know this it has been the failures that have shaped this company. There is no stigma in tripping...quite the opposite.
I have opened and closed so many stores, they either work or they don't. I have learnt to lead a large team of women and enabled them to achieve their dream through my platform by working along side me. Yes,my biggest challenges are people but without them I have no business, so it's all about recruiting well and retaining those superstars.
As the brand has grown in the NZ market there have been more lessons around the protection of my intellectual property...as the bigger you are the harder you will fall when the supposed mistakes occur...in that the media simply has a higher level of interest.
Business is about risk and when you take a risk there is a chance it won't pay off, it is however not a defining moment or a limiter it is simply part of a healthy business process.
Q: Do you still design the clothes you make?
A: I have always been the head of the design team where I work collaboratively with my head designer and the design team to put together our seasonal collections and the other styles that support the main range each season.
So yes, I am very involved, but I have no patterning skills, my training is in business and my passion is fine art, my input is more about the commercial reality that enables the longevity of the business fashion model. We look to design frocks that will sell.
Q: Where do I start if I have a great business idea?
A: Firstly you do your research...who else is in the market that is doing what you are considering?
Who are you going to sell to? Define your market and approach some of them to talk through your idea.
Are all your ducks in a row...family, finances, space to operate and people?
Find a mentor. Someone to chew the fat with, do not take the lone ranger approach, someone that is in business with a product or service that aligns with yours and will meet regularly with you.
Consider digital platforms of operation and marketing. Be prepared to fail it is all part of a healthy business process.
Q: What do you do to relax?
A: I know that most around me would see this as a very fine line, but I work on the premises that you are not a workaholic if you love what you do.
We live 50% of our time in Auckland and 50% in Hamilton, Auckland certainly sees me doing a lot less that is deemed work. I have two boxer puppies that provide a much needed balance, I love to write, plan and dream.
We have a beach house on the Coromandel (that we spend far too little time in) and I enjoy a overseas holiday, that is not work, each year. Aitutaki Rarotonga is a favourite.
I do Pilates 3 times a week...and I'm mildly interested in the garden. I love being with my girlfriends, my Mum and sisters and my two adult children Sam and Edward...which is more about great food and wine.
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