Case Studies

When Faye wanted to spend more time at her bach in Whangamata, she decided to make the most of her creativity. She'd always had an interest in art and is fascinated with different mediums and the stories of the artists themselves. So, when she visited the Little Gallery, she thought, "Oh, I think I could do this, and it could be quite fun!" The business is actually two galleries—one in Whangamata and one in Tairua. This proved to be a blessing.

For your business to succeed, you need to work well with your people and have them work well for you. However, managing poor performance can be particularly difficult for business owners with a small or close-knit team. You need to ensure that everyone delivers while maintaining morale and relationships. Early awareness, clear communication and following a fair process are key.

Beginning with the end in mind is one of the best productivity hacks. For small business owners, there is huge potential in thinking about your exit plan long before you choose to step away. Early planning can improve your exit process, business valuation, and financial outlook, as well as help you be more efficient while you're still driving things.

Hosting a sale is an effective way to boost your cash flow, attract customers and clear the way for a new season. If you’re going to the effort of having a sale, why not do your best to make it a spectacular success? Here are some tips for smart planning, effective marketing and great customer experiences to maximise your rewards.

New Zealand’s inflation pressures are set to stick around for a while. For business owners, it can feel like one more challenge to overcome after a tough few years. The United Nations' 2024 World Economic Situation and Prospects forecasts that inflation will drop, but much more slowly than many would like. So, how can you find your way past the headwinds and bring your business through to easier sailing?

How would you feel knowing your social media channels are sorted for the whole year? And what about if you could do it in just one day? If you’d like to cross off months’ worth of posts right away, then read on. It’s all about structuring your social media strategy and smart scheduling.

If you can't find enough time to get through everything on your task list, AI may be just the help you need – even if you're not technologically inclined. Recently, AI's writing and imagery 'skills' have been in the spotlight. Generative AI is the technology that does this, and the big tech companies are in a kind of tech-tool arms race with their releases. As a business owner, you can benefit by getting smart about your prompts and what you use them for. ...

The design thinking approach to problem-solving is as popular in corporate boardrooms as it is among charities. That’s because it puts people’s needs first to find innovative ways forward. And small businesses can benefit from design thinking as much as anyone else! This blog explores what it’s all about and why it’s still a favourite for so many.

If you’re struggling to fill a tech position in your business, you’re not alone, but you’re also not powerless. Here, we explore the latest findings about tech talent in New Zealand and identify some things you can do to build the pipeline of expertise for yourself and the country.

In the digital age, online reviews have emerged as a double-edged sword for small businesses in New Zealand. On one hand, they can help you attract new customers without marketing costs. On the other hand, they bring the risk of reputational damage should something go wrong. Here, we explore the benefits of reviews and how to manage if you attract poor ones.