The ICEHOUSE Newsletter - September 2010
Minimize

The ICEHOUSE - Business Growth Centre



ICE Bridge (Education for Owner Managers)



ICE Accelerator (Incubation for start-up businesses)

 

ICE Angels




ICE Network



From our Partners






The ICEHOUSE - Business Growth Centre

From the CEO - Andy Hamilton
When will the New Zealand economy improve? Is it really that bad? Over the last month there has been a lot of debate around the true state of the economy. Despite our best efforts, things are flat and world markets seem to moving from one moment of uncertainly to another. I wrote an article for the New Zealand Herald a couple of weeks ago after reading a piece by Paul Holmes that I felt was overly negative. There has been great discussion amongst members of our ICEHOUSE Linked In group over the last couple of weeks, “Is it as bad as Paul Holmes thinks?”

The point of all of this is not proving who is right or wrong – it is all about hope and aspiration. Sure, many businesses will struggle in this economic climate unless they are prepared to change. However, at The ICEHOUSE, we see entrepreneurs and business owners who make change and strive for growth every day.  The ICEHOUSE celebrates its 10th anniversary next year and we have never seen such an encouraging pipeline of businesses as we do now. Our incubator is totally full. The people involved are creative, innovative, hard working Kiwis that are passionate about making a change.

We should be saying, "How do we get from where we are today to where we want to be?"  Young entrepreneurs need to be inspired by successful entrepreneurs such as Derek Handley, founder and CEO of The Hyperfactory and Daniel Robertson, founder and CEO of Fishpond. Our residents had breakfast with Daniel last Friday and are having lunch with Derek next week to hear their stories of success and failure. Initiatives like this need to be encouraged.

It all comes back to hope. Kiwis are creative. Our entrepreneurial spirit serves us well. We are capable of believing and making it happen. We will continue to grow. We will participate in and win the global game. As I’ve said before, we can improve and we will.

The ICEHOUSE Linked In>

Cheers
Andy



Andy's Picks:

  • MORGO 2010: 2 & 3 September, Waitangi. Register>
  • Technology Development Grant - one of the new R&D investment products announced in the May Budget.  Registration closes 5pm, Friday 17 September. To learn more, please visit the TechNZ page
  • New Zealand Global Women Forum 2010, Innovation: Crossing the Global Chasm. More information>
  • TechNZ R&D:Funded Undergraduates, for Summer,2010/2011: Your firm can benefit from having a funded undergraduate over the 2010/2011 summer period to help support your research work. Call 09 817 7460 or email ass@clear.net.nz
  • Technology Investment Network100 2010 Report is about to be released! Launch event at Orams Boat Marina at Westhaven on Tuesday 14th September for drinks & nibbles at 5pm.
  • World Class New Zealand Awards 2011 - Nominations now open. Nominations close 24th September 2010. More information>
  • AmCham DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards Gala Dinner - Three ICEHOUSE alumni are finalists; Biomatters, Moblie Commerce Ltd and enlight photo. More information>
  • Congratulations to Anna-Claire Clendon from ICEHOUSE graduate enlight photo who won TVNZ Rookie Marketer of the year award. This is an outstanding achievement. See link for more information>
  • Finally, check out this great blog, MoneyBall for Startups: Invest BEFORE Product/Market Fit, Double-Down AFTER>

 



Back to top>





Huge thank you to ICEHOUSE League member, Bernie Crosby (OMP5), of Pro Life Foods, for sharing his story with the participants at the Hamilton Achieving Business Growth seminar, 10-11 August.
 

Two scholarship opportunities for business owners to attend our award winning Owner Manager Programme

Ernst & Young Owner Manager Scholarship

Investing in the future success of your business. Ernst & Young offers an annual scholarship for Owner Managers around New Zealand with significant growth aspirations for their business. This scholarship will fund 50% of the programme fees for The ICEHOUSE Owner Manager Programme. Application>

NZBusiness Magazine Owner Manager Scholarship

Be inspired! Find the confidence to ignite your business's potential. The 2010 scholarship funds $7,500 (50%) towards tuition costs for one person to attend each of the February 2011 and July 2011 Owner Manager Programmes. More information>



Turn your business dreams into action plans - come to an Achieving Business Growth Workshop near you

Growth is good. It is good for you, your business and your staff. Don’t waste a good crisis. Give your business a kick-start.

No more wheel-spinning, just forward motion that turns your ambitions into action plans. The ICEHOUSE can assist you to discover new ways to unlock your true potential. Spend a day-and-a-half challenging your thinking, looking at new opportunities and figuring out how to put them into practice.

This seminar is designed for owner managers of small-medium enterprises that have been in business for two years or more and have $500k plus turnover.

Business owners walk away, having had a hard look at their own business and see immediate benefits. The tools, confidence and renewed focus they gain translate into improved profitability and greater growth. We have seen businesses flourish with product range extensions, business expansions and acquisitions. The next success story could be yours.

Take advantage of the last opportunities for the year to attend one of The ICEHOUSE's famous "Achieving Business Growth" workshops. Contact Rob Holmes today on 09 308 6203 or r.holmes@theicehouse.co.nz

Wellington                      14-15 September
Auckland                        19-20 October         

For more information>     


Congratulations to our OMP directing team who received a Teaching Excellence Award for Collaboration in teaching
We already knew that we had the best teaching team for our Owner Manager Programme – now the University has recognised their excellence and contribution too! The Owner Manager Programme Directing team has received the University of Auckland Business School Teaching Excellence Award for Collaboration in Teaching. This award recognises and rewards excellent performance in teaching. It acknowledges staff chosen by their colleagues as individuals who exemplify the values and the pursuit of excellence that the Business School strives to achieve. The team, consisting of Associate Professor Darl Kolb, Dr Leith Oliver, Dr Deb Shepherd and Dr Chris Woods, facilitate the ICEHOUSE Owner Manager Program, and provide an unique mix of academic and practical expertise. Congratulations from everyone at The ICEHOUSE.




Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year - ICEHOUSE Alumni
Congratulations and good luck to three of our alumni who are finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2010

 

More information>
 


Congratulations on the big strategic growth initiative by ICEHOUSE Alumni Warren Leslie of Wickcliffe (OMP 9)

Printing company Wickliffe Ltd, owned by Warren Leslie (OMP9) is merging with Kalamazoo to form an independent, New Zealand owned graphics and logistics solutions group offering an integrated supply chain that incorporates design, direct marketing, mailing, print, and logistics.  Wickliffe Limited commenced trading in 1948 and is one of New Zealand’s largest print solutions providers with integrated strategic print management and capabilities in business forms, variable data and digital print, strategic sourcing, full third party logistics and e-commerce. The new group offers the most extensive design, print and logistics platform in the country.  It operates from ten sites across the North and South Islands, employs 360 staff and presents a complete range of communication and fulfillment products and services that connect its customers to their customers in the conversation economy!   The merger has immediate effect and the ICEHOUSE team wishes Warren all the best over the transition period.

Press Release>



From Ian Holyoake, Hitex Building Systems, OMP8

Ian went through OMP8 working on a novel addition to his business in the building industry. He launched a home monitoring system for owners to check the condition of their buildings without cutting them up – neat little moisture probes that fit into the skirting – and has now been successful working closely with council and Government on compliance matters for his products that offer alternative and cheaper solutions to repair houses found damaged by leaky building problems. It’s a bit like now the pill is ok to swallow (financially won’t cripple you) we may be prepared to wake up and accept our homes could be in danger so acting early and protecting you and your families is ok – and with Ian’s companies products you may be saved financially – so well done – let's move forward and get on with life. Ian estimates overall this could provide savings for NZ of many billions. 



From Chris Williams, OMP6
August 7 was the official launch of my first CD, Looking for a Song. My performing name is MIDDLEMAN.

This effort was the culmination of 2 years work, including writing and recording the CD, assembling the band, rehearsing, promoting the show and performing. As far as the results went we had 250 people along, the band played like demons, we got a standing ovation and an encore. More than we had ever hoped for.

So we are now planning the next show and I am mid way through writing my next album along with a musical called “State Highway 48”.

What’s the moral of this story? It’s bloody hard going at the moment so you need to take the time to do stuff that keeps you fresh.

Middleman>

 
Back to top>
 





Chris White, Big Little Bang, Graduation
On the 8th August we joined Chris White from Big Little Bang (an innovative platform that allows users to make music with their favorite band in real time) for his graduation from The ICEHOUSE Accelerator programme. This significant milestone has been achieved with much hard work from Chris and a supporting cast of many since joining The ICEHOUSE as a winner of  the University of Auckland’s Spark business competition in early 2008.    
 
 

Resident CEO Lunch
This six weekly “lunch and chat” event on the 18th August brought about a great attendance from new and existing residents, the roundtable approach allowed representatives to discuss the current status of their start up endeavors, share some highlights and get guidance from those who had been there before. 
 
 

The ICEHOUSE welcomes new Residents   

  • Scott Burcher, Bolt Research
  • David Pederson, Sell2Me
  • Simon Thomson, Rator
  • Craig Duffy, Duffy Twins
  • Martin Cleland-Pottie, Visitor Parking

Cedric Armit, Integrated Pipelines



First Wednesday is extremely popular!

On the First Wednesday of every month, The ICEHOUSE opens up to ambitious entrepreneurs who are hungry to understand the steps to start-up business success. Spend a free afternoon in Parnell with the experts at The ICEHOUSE Business Growth Centre, recognised by Forbes.com as one of the world’s Top 10 Technology Incubators.  Access our knowledge, tools and contacts to discover how to turn your idea into a business success.

Time: 3.00pm - 6.00pm
Where: The ICEHOUSE

September, October and November seminars are now full, so get in for December! 

 

 

 

Book a FREE Screening for your business idea - expert feedback and advice

If you have a new start-up business idea and would like some free expert feedback tailored to your current start-up issues, you can come and see us earlier. Even for those of you that have booked a place on First Wednesday, we understand there is still a while to wait before the October, November and December seminars and you are welcome to take up this offer.

If you would like that opportunity, you can take part in our free screening process. Simply fill out this form and send it back to this address.

If you have a business plan or company overview, you are welcome to send it with your application. This will help us to understand what your business needs are and who are the best experts to help you accelerate your business.




Resident news









Karyn Hay, Morocat

Having just come back from Shanghai I was surprised to find that you can’t change yuan at NZ banks. Thought we had a free trade agreement! We were there overseeing the production line of the Morocat toy boats for a shipment that was going to a toy distributor in the US. This was our first shipment for this company so I was keen to make sure that there were no problems in regard to the production line quality as we had had issues with our initial shipment to NZ last year. It was a valuable couple of weeks as it became apparent that things can definitely get lost in translation and being face to face was what was required.

The Chinese are very hospitable and made sure we were well catered for and driven here and there, sometimes over very long distances which seemed inconsequential to them. I was surprised to learn that 9-5 is standard for working hours in Shanghai. It was well over 30 degrees and very humid with monsoon-like downpours every other day. While we were there we spent an evening at the Shanghai Expo. It was mind-boggling. 330,000 visitors daily. The New Zealand Pavilion was well received, easy to navigate and very ‘down-home’ and friendly. China is making a huge effort to clean up its water as they are having major supply difficulties and Shanghai is a good example of the progress they have made. The air is polluted though but the Chinese are definitely embracing the green movement (which was a major theme at the Expo) and like everything else I think they’ll nail it!

http://www.saggimau.com/ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Mackay, The Optima Corporation, ICE Accelerator Graduate

TVNZ - Kiwi emergency response technology goes global

A Kiwi research company is earning big plaudits in the US for its mathematically based emergency response software... read more>

 

Back to top>
 

 

 

ICE Angels Overview

August has seen the ICE Angels busy preparing for the August 24th Investment Evening hosted by BNZ Partners on Queen St.  The evening featured presentations by three companies, all of which were followed by engaging Q&A.  The two ICEHOUSE start-ups that attended the evening as “flies on the wall” were without a doubt enlightened. Also in attendance were six new ICE Angels and five prospective ICE Angels.  It is a pleasure to see both membership numbers and engagement at such a high level.

In investment updates, BigLittleBang is progressing well, has met its first milestone, and has recently moved out of the ICEHOUSE and into its own office across the road.  Chris, the CEO, describe the move as similar to “moving out of your parents house and into the granny flat out back.” We’re happy to have him in the neighbourhood. 

Two upcoming events are not to be missed- the Angel Summit in Nelson and the AngelLink/ Angel HQ networking event in Hamilton.  The Angel Summit in Nelson has a great line up of international speakers including Ian Sobieski, the founder of Band of Angels, and Aydin Senkut, one of the first 12 employees at Google who has made 40 angel investments.  For more information on either event, contact Robbie Paul at R.Paul@theicehouse.co.nz.

Finally, check out a great blog passed on to us from our friend Bridget Liddell from Fahrenheit Ventures. 

 

Back to top> 

 

 



The Business Growth Essentials Workshop Series – for Owner Managers and your teams

  • Accelerated Strategic Growth – Breakthrough thinking tools for planning your bigger future - 21 Oct (Tauranga) & 22 Feb(Auckland) - Full day
  • Finance Essentials for Owner Managers – Identify key value drivers to help manage the value of your business 13 Oct & 3 Mar (Auckland) - Full day
  • Managing People for the Challenges of Growth – Understand your leadership style and how to lead through influence - 24 Nov (Auckland) & 10 Feb (Tauranga) - Half day
  • Designing employee incentive schemes that work – Design incentive schemes that align with business objectives - 17 Nov(Auckland) & 23 Feb (Tauranga) - Half day
  • Communication Essentials for Effective Teams – Substantially improve communication within your organisation - 15 Dec (Auckland) & 14 Mar (Tauranga) - Half day


In a small group, you will gain access to The ICEHOUSE knowledge, tools and contacts to help you target business growth. These hands-on workshops are led by ICEHOUSE facilitators with experience in the unique landscape of business ownership. All workshops finish with networking drinks and the chance to connect with other members of The ICEHOUSE family.

Cost:
Full day
$850.00 + GST
League members and ICEHOUSE residents $650.00 + GST

Half day
$450.00 + GST
League members and ICEHOUSE residents $350.00 + GST

Bring your team and get three places for the price of two.





 

Sit around the dinner table with inspiring New Zealanders

  • Sir Stephen Tindall, Founder of The Warehouse and of the Tindall Foundation - 21 October, Vinnies Restaurant, Auckland
  • Geoff Ross, Founder of 42 Below and Ecoya, author of Every Bastard Says No - 10, November, Auckland


Numbers are limited to 20 per dinner to ensure good quality conversations with the guest speaker. Ask questions, get ideas, expand your horizons. These are great opportunities to get up close and personal with leading business people others wait for years to meet.

Price:

  • $350 + GST
  • League members $250.00 + GST


Contact Raewyn Goodwin r.goodwin@theicehouse.co.nz or +64 9 308 6216 with the dinner(s) you would like to attend.

 
 

Kevin Roberts Intimate Dinner

A great group of ICEHOUSE League members and individuals from the wider ICE Network gathered at Fables in Parnell on Tuesday evening, August 17th for a private dinner with Kevin Roberts – Worldwide CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi.  Kevin was in New Zealand for one of his whirlwind visits but the pace and busyness that is associated with these visits was not evident – he was firing on all cylinders!  Kevin candidly spoke to the group about his experiences and shared some insights and ideas that sparked stimulating discussion.  The dinner was another thoroughly enjoyable opportunity to catch-up with good friends and make some new connections  and at the same time learn and be inspired by Kevin’s enthusiasm, energy and exuberance (reference Tom Peters).  For all of us in attendance, we felt privileged to share this occasion with Kevin and it was great that Rowena Roberts could be with us as well.  All in all a good time was had by all!

P.S. – Thanks to the TriBeCa team for the stunning food, wonderful ambiance and consummate service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ICEHOUSE League Member Anne Palmer from Lake Heron Station, has discovered it’s easy to get great looking video for your website and wants to share the concept with other ICEHOUSE friends - caution, you will want to stay at Lake Heron after watching this clip...

WEBSITE TELLY  have created this cool production Lake Heron Station WEBSITE TELLY by utilising existing still photos and turning them into a professional and effective Virtual Video, at a fraction of the cost of a full video shoot and edit.

 

 

 

 

Full motion video is typically expensive to acquire and, unless done to a high standard, can do more harm than good. Most businesses have good quality still images and WEBSITE TELLY can convert these into professional and economical video for far less cost than traditional production processes. Take a look at some client examples here - WEBSITE TELLY - examples

 A key part of WEBSITE TELLY’s offering is the easy access users get to talented professional voice over artists - the quality of the audio delivered is equivalent to that acquired in a full studio - but it costs just 20% of the usual audio studio and voice rates. Find out more at - WEBSITE TELLY - pricing

Air New Zealand have created over forty WEBSITE TELLY videos for their Holidays brand as shown here - www.airnewzealand.co.nz

The WEBSITE TELLY studio is a simple user-friendly environment where it’s easy to drag-and-drop your images for super-quick assembly of your video. Audition voice overs from NZ , Australia, the UK or USA. Commission your selected voice over and your audio track, professionally mixed with music of your choice will be returned to you within two business days - all for just $145 (plus GST) for a 30-second read. Click here to find out more - WEBSITE TELLY - how it works

Video files are available for your website, email marketing, uploading to Facebook and YouTube and iPhones and iPads.

Too busy to have fun in our studio? WEBSITE TELLY offers full production services from creating your script through to completing your video and supplying you with required files. 

SPECIAL PROMO FOR ICEHOUSE LEAGUE MEMBERS:  Let the Producer team at WEBSITE TELLY build your Virtual Video for you.  A 30-second Full Service production video, including scripting services and MPEG-4 (H.264) output file (for loading your video to the main social networking sites) is normally $495.00 plus GST. The first ten ICEHOUSE League Members or Alumni will receive a hefty 20% discount making your price just $395.00 plus GST. Your completed video will be delivered with 4-business days.

All we need is a few good photos and a brief. To get your video started please contact Michelle Mearns or Blu Steven on 09 523 0000 or support@websitetelly.com

 
 

League News

The ICEHOUSE League is an exclusive business owners’ club that gives you direct and ongoing access to ICEHOUSE knowledge, tools and contacts. It is designed for you to celebrate, connect and learn alongside your peers, continuing your experience with The ICEHOUSE. The League began officially on 1 April 2010. We invite you to get involved early, join our 28 Foundation Members and get free registration to our Power Up for Growth workshops in February.

Membership is exclusive to business owners who have graduated from one of the ICEHOUSE journey programmes. If you are eligible, this is a brilliant opportunity to get in league with a powerful group of business owners with common aspirations - to grow themselves, their networks and their businesses. League>




Steve Millar, Lifestyle Health & Fitness Centre, OMP17
Succeeding in a competitive market.
The current retail market is challenging and competitive, not since the early 90’s can I recall a time when I’ve witnessed so much discount advertising in the Health & Fitness industry. In response our strategy has been to market our points of difference both internally and externally while working hard to retain our existing members. We’ve had a couple of notable successes that have seen our sales increase 18% (over the same period last year) so I thought I’d share a ‘good news’ story.

Lifestyle Health & Fitness Clubs deliver the best Zumba say our Members!

The Zumba craze is an international hit spreading through small community halls to local and nationwide gyms.  After initially rejecting it as a fad during 2009 in January 2010 we identified Zumba as an innovative group exercise offering that would, if we acted quickly give us a huge USP in our market. Consumers in this market are constantly looking for creative and effective new methods of exercise, and delivering on this provided us with a definite competitive edge.

In February we contracted the only two trained instructors in Wellington to launch our programme. Our Members and their friends were impressed that we were one of the first to commercialise this craze in NZ and bring it to life for them. Initially we had 2 classes a week with over 120 participants in each class. It soon became obvious 2 classes a week wasn’t enough.

It became a Party! we went on to improve and innovate on the Zumba concept by training and certifying our own instructors, adding more classes and then our own flavor to the experience by running them like a party, blinds closed, disco lights on and high energy excitement from our instructors. Classes are free to our members and they love it!

Our members confirm that we provide a much more dynamic and enjoyable experience than others and the resulting word of mouth recommendation has been excellent. We leveraged off this with a Billboard campaign using a TXT2Get response mechanism.  FREE CLASS when you text ‘ZUMBA’ to 244.  Enquiries flooded in, our instructors are very passionate about delivering a fantastic Zumba experience and this combined with the sales team follow up the meant many of the free trial prospects joined the clubs as full members while others continue to pay casually, boosting our cash sales.

Lifestyle is the first in New Zealand to offer it's Members BioAge testing as used in the hit TV series The Biggest Loser for the last two years.

BioAge is a measurement of a person’s 'real' or 'biological' age telling them how well they are performing for their years (biological age vs chronological age).

This is accomplished by testing 3 broad categories; Metabolic, Physical and Behavioural tests and feeding the data into an online portal that compares the results against 100,000’s of other individuals tested. The tests are conducted by our 1-1 RBT (Results Based Trainers)

We see BioAge as another new initiative that provides us with a competitive edge when prospecting for new members and, more importantly, an excellent retention tool for existing members as it empowers and motivates them to continue or add to their exercise plan.

Imagine someone said they could identify changes you could make that would make you feel years younger AND THEY COULD PROVE IT most of us would be interested (if not a little apprehensive).

Prior to our launch of BioAge in July we used our staff and selected members as a case study putting them through the test in small groups of 4-5. This allowed us to educate the team so they could promote it, upskill the RBT’s testing protocols while coaching them as to how they could use BioAge as a tool retain or gain clients.

The results in some cases were surprising with higher bio-ages than chronological ages being recorded for some of the staff. The response from those who performed less well was a desire to quickly rectify the situation. This clearly demonstrated that the BioAge test and detailed report did provide compelling motivation to take control of their health and fitness and empowered individuals to take action in clearly identified areas such as blood pressure, stress, nutrition and cardio fitness. 

In mid July we launched BIOAGE by rewarding our existing RBT clients with a free test, we rolled it out two weeks later to the rest of our members and to date well over a hundred tests have been carried out. Member excitement and take up of the new BioAge testing continues to be excellent.

To personalise the BioAge offering and to drive interest and publicity we put Carters Petone Branch Manager Laurie Gallen through the BioAge test and announced the results before 100+ guests at a Carters breakfast held for Mens Health Week. For this we gained a half page editorial in Hutt News and M2 online. 

Results since the launch have been strong with our RBTs saying that it has helped retain clients and attract new ones.  We have also witnessed long time members, utilising our RBT's first the first time after taking the test, and wishing they had done it sooner. It has delivered a refreshed motivation for our members and a reconnection and stronger engagement with the Club.

Our latest news is TV1's Good Morning Show has agreed to put one of their presenters through the BioAge Test live on-air giving the viewers some entertainment along the way. It’s planned to retest the presenter 6-8 weeks down the track after our trainer has worked with them and present the results live on air also.

For more details about BioAge>
 

 








James Madelin, enlight photo, ICE Accelerator Graduate

Another good month, despite what most would consider a setback. At the eleventh hour we missed signing a potentially huge new distribution territory. Why doesn't it feel like a setback ? Because the intelligence we gathered as a result has left us in a very strong position to continue our campaign to get there in the end. It just looks like some more detailed repositioning of our main product will be required (and not simply translation) for it to reach its full potential in the proposed market.

The roll out of our next product continues. We've already begun to feed teaser shots and details to bloggers and traditional media globally and initial feedback on the ground both to the pre-launch media efford and the product is ridiculously strong.

Signing off the packaging was a challenge as it's so small. I wanted to fit three elements onto the front of the POS card, a description, a slogan and the website. But we only had room for two, in addition to the logo. Just as we began to resolve ourselves to having to kill one of the elements I had a rare moment of inspiration... why not make the slogan into a website and kill two birds with one stone. A quick check for our slogan re-written as a web URL confirmed it. Rather than Connect, Combine, Create™ fighting with the product website on the packaging, I registered ConnectCombineCreate.com. Bingo. Problem solved, job done.

Other news ? We launched another Youtube video. This marked a big difference from all the ones we'd done before as it was much longer and more in-depth. Effectively a mini-documentary. We hit more than 2,000 views in the first week which we're rather chuffed with. How many did we sell on the back of that success ? Hard to tell for another month or two when we'll compare regional sales from our dealers and distributors with the Youtube analytics.

Watch it>

I gave a very well-received presentation to some ICEHOUSE affiliated owner-managers on social media and how it works for me. If you'd like me to present to your staff on this topic, drop me a line.

 

Keith Sumner, Gilpin Travel, OMP8

Rugby World Cup has come roaring at us in the past couple of months. Two of our larger clients are using the event as an integral part of their marketing/customer care strategies. Obviously the event presents some logistical challenges but for a service provider like us it also presents us with a golden opportunity to really show our capabilities as a travel expert. Not only is the team fired up about the tasks ahead but we now feel an even stronger connection to the event and it’s ultimate success.

We will be proud Kiwis and proud travel agents all at the same time when Richie hoists the trophy!

 

Lindsay Faithfull McKay Electrical Engineering Ltd, OMP5

ICEHOUSE graduate lands a big one

Whangarei-based electro-technology company McKay is now playing with the big boys.  The company recently sealed the deal for a $3.5million contract for electrical design and monitoring of the systems equipment for a 85m American superyacht, Cakewalk.  This contract also led to them picking up an additional $1.5million of work supervising the electrical installation and electrical engineering co-ordination.

Owner and Chief Executive Officer Lindsay Faithfull graduated from The ICEHOUSE Owner Manager Programme 5, and has since expanded the business, establishing a branch in the Middle East and taking on massive projects in Abu Dhabi. McKay also recently acquired the MGE and MSL switchboards businesses in Auckland, considerably expanding their switchboard capabilities.  Graeme Bratty, graduate of The ICEHOUSE Leading and Managing for Growth Programme 2, now manages this new Switchboard division. 

McKay has international experience in providing a range of electrical engineering services (including design, manufacturing, testing and implementation) for superyachts and navy ships and sets itself apart by being able to deliver service from commission to completion. McKay’s engineering manager Peter Brenndorfer attributes the company’s success to “good management, good luck and the company’s small size, which allows us to respond to client’s needs far quicker than our larger competitors”.

We love to hear about The ICEHOUSE graduates growing and succeeding on the world stage. Congratulations to Lindsay, Graeme and the whole team at McKay.

Photo>



Lindsay Aitken, Jalcon Homes
Family values reap rewards   

Family-owned and -operated building firm Jalcon Homes has continued its success at the Registered Master Builders House of the Year awards by collecting another six awards at the 2010 Auckland Region awards dinner.

“This sees our tally of medals reach 37 for the past 7 years,” says director Lindsay Aitken. “Our continued success is testament to the Jalcon brand and everything we have achieved in just over 17 years.”

Jalcon Homes was awarded Gold medals in Categories* 6 and 7, Silver medals in Categories 5 and 8, as well as in the James Hardie Show Home category, and was category winner in Category 5.

When asked to what he attributed this continued success, Lindsay Aitken replied, “We are constantly striving to improve on what has gone before, while staying true to our motto – our promise is our guarantee.”

LIndsay, along with wife Julie, established Jalcon Homes in 1993 determined to deliver quality – both in design and construction.

“We felt there was room in the New Zealand market for a family-run business, one that understood the unique circumstances families can face when building a home,”.

“It’s been a tough time in the building industry over the past couple of years, but Jalcon Homes has been able to weather the worst of it because of our family approach. From my wife and myself, my sisters, brother-in-law and mother, our clients appreciate the personal attention they receive from every member of the Jalcon Homes team. It takes a lot of work to do things the right way, the proper way, but that’s the way we choose to operate at Jalcon Homes.”

* Category 5: New Homes $250,000 - $350,000  Silver Award and Category Winner
Category 6: New Homes $350,000 - $450,000   Gold Award winner
Category 7: New Homes $450,000 - $600,000   Gold Award winner
Category 8: New Homes $600,000 - $1million Silver Award winner
Showhome Category:  - Silver Ward Winner









Back to top>
 

From our partners






BNZ International Payments
BNZ’s new International Payments product is already making a difference in businesses around New Zealand. And it could be just the thing your business needs too.

One such business is IMall Brands, the very first company to use the new International Payments functionality within BNZ’s Internet Banking for Business. As a company that provides travel-related technology to companies all over the globe, they find themselves making dozens of overseas payments each month. Now they can do it online quickly and in bulk, with no paperwork and little fuss. It’s a huge time saver.

So much about what makes this new product great is around flexibility, with the ability to track transactions, save beneficiary details and do it from anywhere. But perhaps the best perk is the access to real time exchange rates. Just check the rate and “”pay now”"– no delays waiting on the phone to get a rate and then having to print and fax payment instructions. You can even set up email notifications, so the person you’re paying knows it’s coming.

Worried about security? No need. BNZ uses NetGuard and a second level of authorisation as specified by you. That’s the beauty of International Payments – you’re in control.

To find out more about International Payments in Internet Banking for Business, call 0800 269 42 42 or visit bnz.co.nz/interanationalpayments.
 

BNZ terms and conditions, fees and charges apply.

Correspondent bank commissions, fees and charges may also apply.




Microsoft 2010 Partner Awards winners

Winners were announced at a gala dinner in Auckland 18th August with Gen-i winning two awards.

Reseller of the Year: Gen-i

Platform Value Partner of the Year: Gen-i


For more information>

 




GST rate change - transitional measures

Many are only just focussing on what the impact of the GST rate increase means to them.   It is fair to say most are of the view a 2.5 percent increase is not a modest increase and the issues are more complex than anyone first imagined.

The measures released by the Revenue Minister to help ease the pain of the transition issues are welcomed.  They are also a credit to taxpayers who have got into the detail and consulted with the GST advisory panel and the Revenue Minister Peter Dunne, to try and ensure the GST increase does not result in unduly harsh consequences.

These changes are also a sign that the Government is listening and the GST Advisory Panel, chaired by Frank Owen, along with Revenue Minister Peter Dunne, are working hard to ensure the change is as fair as possible.

The wake up call is, taxpayers cannot assume GST is simple.  Even these measures which have been designed to ease the pain have a potential cost.

It is important to work out the cost benefit if you opt to take advantage of being able to continue to use the 12.5 percent rate as all of the transitional measures, other than those for finance leases, require you to pay the GST up-front in your return for 30 September.

If you are borrowing to do this and all of the benefit of the lower rate gets passed onto your clients who are not registered for GST then the obvious point is you need to justify this additional expense in the form of increased sales.

Jo Doolan

Tax Partner

Ernst & Young

GST rate change – details of additional transitional measures released today

Draft legislation was released today for consultation in relation to the additional transitional measures announced by the Minster of Revenue on 23 July 2010.  The deadline for feedback on the draft legislation is Monday 16 August 2010.

The changes will impact the following:

Supplies of insurance with periodic payment terms -  this primarily impacts general insurance and health insurance, but could also potentially impact other suppliers with periodic payment terms (for example, gym memberships, annual subscriptions and operating leases). 

The catch is the draft legislation requires the supplier to account for GST in full and up-front before 1 October 2010;

Insurance recoveries – This will enable insurers to account for GST at 12.5% in relation to insurance recoveries received post 1 October 2010 that relate to insurance claims subject to GST at 12.5%;

Monthly billing cycles – This primarily impacts telecommunications and utilities, but also other types of supplies with monthly billing cycles.  It will provide suppliers the option of accounting for GST according to the date of the tax invoice, rather than when payment becomes due.  It also requires tax invoices with a September date to be physically issued by 11 October 2010 for GST to apply at 12.5% (subject to certain conditions);

Finance leases – GST will be able to be locked in at 12.5% for finance lease of 5 years or less provided the finance lease is entered into pre 1 October 2010.  There will not be a requirement to account for GST up front before 1 October to take advantage of this change;

Replacement tax invoices – This will allow replacement invoices issued after 1 October 2010 to be subject to GST at 12.5% if the original supply was pre 1 October 2010 and dispenses of the need for credit notes to be issued.  This is of relevance to replacement goods;

Lay-by sales – The changes will allow GST to be accounted for at 12.5% to the extent payments are made for the goods prior to 1 October 2010.  Payments made after 1 October 2010 will be subject to GST at 15% according to the time of delivery of the goods;

Private training establishments – This will provide an option for GST to be accounted for at 12.5% in respect of fees held in trust as at 30 September 2010.

 

We expand on this summary in detail here>

 





NZBusiness magazine Subscribe for only $56 and save 30%

Take advantage of this fantastic offer! A discounted annual subscription to NZBusiness magazine for only $56, and the 2010 NZ Export & Trade Handbook only $20 SAVE 50%

Informative, educational and inspirational – NZBusiness magazine is a vital resource for business owners who want to stay resilient in the current challenging economic environment.

To subscribe, please click on the links below:

NZBusiness magazine…... A Vital resource for business owners who want to stay resilient in the current challenging economic environment. Its content is informative, educational and inspirational. Subscribe today for the magazine that’s big on small business advice. Supporting Kiwi Businesses for more than 70 years! Only $56 annual subscription at www.nzbusiness.co.nz/suboffericehouse

The 2010 NZ Export & Trade Handbook Save 50% only $20…… The definitive guide for exporters and importers. Your Passport to new markets! Completely revised and updated the 2010 Export and Trade Handbook is the essential checklist when planning to break into overseas markets. Purchase online at www.exportandtrade.co.nz/suboffericehouse


 

Rt Hon John Key

Prime Minister

9 August 2010


Better businesses aim of PM's Business Scholarships

Prime Minister John Key today launched a pilot $1 million scholarship scheme to boost the capability of New Zealand businesses, particularly those with a focus on exporting.

The Prime Minister's Business Scholarships will allow people to apply for up to $110,000 to study at internationally-recognised business schools.

It is expected between 15 and 25 scholarships will be awarded annually with the exact number depending on the applications received.  Recipients will be selected from a shortlist drawn up by the Prime Minister and the Economic Development Minister.

“Recipients will choose which business programme they attend, and will each get up to $110,000 to cover half of the costs of their course and direct expenses.  Other costs are expected to be paid by the applicant or the nominating firm,” says Mr Key.

"The scheme is designed to complement the existing Prime Minister’s Science Prizes, which are helping raise the profile and prestige of science.

“We want the business scholarships to have a similar impact in the business world by providing senior managers and executives access to top overseas business programmes.

"The aim is to build the capability of our businesses and help make New Zealand more internationally competitive.  It is expected that applicants would come from firms looking to export more,” says Mr Key.

Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee says while applicants could come from a wide variety of businesses, the Government hopes to see applicants from areas identified as high priority for the Government’s economic growth agenda, including dairy, food, high-value manufacturing and services, and petroleum and minerals. 

“Successful applicants will need to show how they will benefit from the opportunity to develop their international business skills, the value they can add to their business, and that they have the full support of their employer.”

Funding for future years’ scholarships will be dependent on the outcomes of this year’s pilot.

For more information go to: http://www.med.govt.nz/prime_minister's_scholarships  

Applications close on 19 September, and the inaugural awards are expected to be announced in December.  

Media contacts: Kevin Taylor 027 600 5619 (for Prime Minister)

                            Nick Bryant 021 245 8272 (for Gerry Brownlee) 

Prime Minister’s business scholarships: questions and answers 

Why are such scholarships needed? 

The structure and size of New Zealand’s economy, our distance from markets, and a lack of large export-focused firms make it difficult for New Zealand managers to acquire the management skills they need to succeed in the globally-competitive marketplace.  We must look for ways to increase the level and application of the management and leadership skills required to succeed in international markets. 

What sort of courses might be funded? 

The business scholarships could include a range of medium and short-term international business education programmes, from one to two-year full or part time executive MBA degrees, to shorter courses focusing on topics relevant to the needs of individuals and their firms.  Education programmes focusing on the Asia-Pacific region will be preferred.  This area offers the most potential for New Zealand to increase trade and build the networks and relationships that underpin exporting. 

What will the selection criteria be? 

To be eligible for a business scholarship, applicants will need to be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents and employed by a New Zealand-resident business.

Selection criteria will include the following: 

The applicant is working in a firm which is internationalising or intensifying the internationalisation of its business 

Course relevance.  Applicants must provide evidence the study will enable them to improve their knowledge of management and international business, benefit their firm after completion of the course and expose the applicant to a learning environment unavailable in New Zealand 

The application is of a high quality and the applicant would be a worthy  ambassador for New Zealand business 

Education programmes focusing on the Asia-Pacific region will be given preference 

 

The full criteria and conditions can be found at: http://www.med.govt.nz/prime_minister's_scholarships  

Who will be on the selection panel?

The three-person panel will have representatives from the Government and business sectors.  They will review the scholarship applications and recommend a shortlist to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Economic Development for their final decision. Panel members will be appointed by the Minister for Economic Development and the Prime Minister from a short-list developed by the Ministry of Economic Development.



The University of Auckland SPPI Practices Survey

The Department of Computer Science at The University of Auckland would like to invite your organisation to assist in research to understand how software development roles and practices are managed within software projects in New Zealand.

Survey>

 

Back to top>

The University of Auckland Telecom Kinross Partners Paul Diver and Associates Grafton Consulting Group Gen-i The Boston Consulting Group Hewlett Packard BNZ Ernst & Young