Not all business networking is created equal
Business networking that works - check out our three types of regular networking events and choose which one (or all) that work(s) for you:
The Exchange - Purposeful networking with themed speaker
Industry Co-Labs - connect with others in your industry
BNI - structured referrals
We all know business networking can be a powerful tool for growth—but only when it’s done right.
Too often, it’s reduced to small talk and business cards, with little follow-through or value. Worse, sometimes it’s not even that, but rather an obligation to show up and observe the usual cliques being cliquey.
We believe good networking is about something more: connection, relevance and shared purpose.
That’s why we offer a variety of business networking options, designed to suit different styles and goals.
Exchange: the power of purposeful connection
Our monthly Exchange event is built for those who want more than a handshake and a hello. Held in The Bank, Exchange is a relaxed, after-work event that blends genuine connection with expert insights.
Each month, we invite a local speaker to share their experience or market knowledge, followed by time to ask questions, meet others and explore opportunities.
It’s not about selling—it’s about learning, sharing and moving your business forward with the support of others in the same boat.
BNI: structured referrals that get results
We’re also proud to initiate a local chapter of BNI (Business Network International), the world’s largest structured networking organisation.
BNI is ideal for business owners who want a clear system for referrals, strong accountability and weekly momentum. With over 38 years of results behind it, BNI helps members grow through regular connection, shared goals and a 'giver’s gain' approach.
It’s a format that works—especially for those who thrive on consistency and structure.
Industry Co-Labs: connect with people who get it
Sometimes, you just want to talk to someone who understands your industry.
Industry Co-Labs are informal, sector-based sessions where you can swap stories, test ideas and ask the questions that only peers will understand. It’s a chance to meet others in your field, stay across trends and find potential collaborators—without the pressure of a pitch.
Why it matters
Not all networking event types work for everyone—and that’s okay.
You might not feel super confident about business networking, quite possibly because you’ve had a poor experience or have been given a fixed idea of what it’s “supposed to be”.
We’ve come to understand that a good experience usually comes down to a few key ingredients:
Clear expectations about the type of event you're attending
Good hosting, so you're not left standing around looking at cliques
Recognition that there isn't one right way, you just need to be yourself
Whether you're looking for leads, knowledge or connection, our networking line-up gives you the chance to show up in a way that feels authentic and worthwhile.
Done well, networking can change the course of a business. It’s how we find new opportunities, gain perspective and remember that we’re not doing this alone.
Grow Your Business in 2025 BNI-Style
BNI is the most effective networking organisation we have come across, by far. We’re looking to form a group here in Waitaki and looking for people who great at what they do, focused on growing their business and looking for new opportunities locally. Find out more here.
About a thousand years ago, when I first went out on my own as a copywriter in the UK, I joined a networking organisation that within a year, produced 90% of my revenue. Now I’m going to introduce that organisation to you.
Regular revenue wasn’t the only benefit I gained. I got to work in new ways that developed my craft and I got outstanding business advice that helped me increase my charge-out rate AND my overall profitability.
I was a business of one.
Some people in the group came from far bigger businesses.
All of us turned up week after week because it was REALLY good for business.
Returning to New Zealand I tried some different networking groups - women’s ones, informal ones, breakaway versions of the one I joined in the UK but ultimately the only one that reliably worked for me home in NZ was the one I first found in the UK - BNI.
What I came to recognise is that over four decades, all around the world, across vastly different cultures (including over 25 years in New Zealand), BNI has stuck to its knitting because it works.
It works to grow businesses.
It works to grow expertise.
It works to support incredible connections.
I know from experience that BNI is not a magic bullet for everyone.
But if you’re the sort of person who does what you say you will, are good at what you do, are focussed on growing your business and looking for some new opportunities - it could be for you.
If you’d like to know more, fill out the form below and I’ll be in touch.
Economic Development Update from The Business Hive
Get the latest lay of the land on local economic development initiatives. There’s a lot going on and we think you want to be informed to make the most of the opportunities coming up.
There’s a huge amount of thinking going on around how we create and maintain successful economies (district-wide, regionally, nationally and globally). As businesses, our access to people, skills and resources is challenging and it’s likely to be that way for a while. At The Business Hive, we try to support local and part of doing that is to help make sure you know the latest lay of the land. Read on for an update around the key local initiatives you’ll want to know about.
WDC Economic Development Strategy
The Waitaki District Council has launched its Draft Economic Development Strategy consultation and it’s an exciting opportunity to look up from our individual businesses and see how we can start to solve some of our issues in the Waitaki. We were pleased to host our CEO Alex Parmley and Mel Jones to speak to it at Business South’s BA5 this week. While there is some pushback from the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust, feedback on the night and since has been overwhelmingly positive - seeing this as a potential step change for our district. We don’t have all the answers yet, but it’s a good start.
Otago Regional Workforce Plan
Alex and I went to Queenstown for the launch of the Otago Regional Workforce Plan a couple of weeks ago and had the opportunity to see and hear for ourselves how Central Otago is suffering from a major skills shortage - most obviously in hospitality (‘staff wanted’ signs on most hospo doors) - but less obviously, across sectors. We’re all struggling with the same issues - including the problem of satisfying the needs of partners and children when recruiting from other regions.
The Otago Regional Workforce Plan highlights four initial industries that need some new thinking;
Construction
Accommodation & Food Services
Healthcare & Social Assistance
Food & Fibre
The plan is well worth a read but in short, we need to be considering how we coordinate as a region, transform the way we educate. as well as train on the job to build local capability, and deliver a quality of life that people can aspire to. These mirror our mission at The Business Hive and we’re pleased to see region-wide recognition for these goals.
Hiring News
Speaking of recognition, last week, we caught up with Rebecca Finlay (Business South) and our recruitment partner - Dean Delaney from Platinum Recruitment to chew the fat (literally delicious bacon-y fat as we all had lunch at Badger & Mackerel).
The impact of the skills shortage in everyday recruitment is massive. Tough decisions are being forced - higher onboarding salaries for less capability have become a rude reality. At least one company has made the decision to pay all their existing staff at new market rates to protect the skills they need. Onboarding the new person at a higher rate than existing staff is problematic of course, and more so nowadays for sure.
Where once upon a time, staff didn’t discuss their salaries at work, now it’s commonplace especially amongst younger generations. Accompanying that is increasing scrutiny on gendered and ethnic pay gaps (last month on Women, last week on Pasifika, etc…) where pay transparency is actively being encouraged.
With this skills shortage, we have to be thinking about how we can keep our skilled people for longer. Stats NZ tells us that nationally we can expect to reach a population of one million people aged 65+ by 2028 - that is just six years away! And, we already know that we're ahead of the curve here in the Waitaki. Older workers also want flexibility so again, terms and conditions matter.
These are difficult waters to navigate for the small business owner, so what can you offer when you can’t compete on salary? This is exactly what we collectively need to figure out and why the Regional Workforce Plan is so important.
Immigration and Training Solutions
The word on the street is that we need to further widen our boarders and let immigrants in. The global situation makes that just (if not more) as competitive. We can’t import all the skills we need, we have to grow them and grow them quickly. On the job training is essential. Hiring for potential and growing our own people is vital. Talking with one local coffee shop owner, they reflected that they’d trained up the last key employees and make sure their pay and conditions are ahead of the pack. It’s not all about the money, it is all about the relationship.
Creating and maintaining that relationship takes leadership and a 21st century mindset around the way we communicate with our teams. Amanda Fleming’s Essence of Facilitation workshop is coming up in the middle of August - a transformative two-day programme that really heightened my skills (and I’m an experienced facilitator!). If you or your people are feeling a bit wobbly on how to facilitate the results you need and have those difficult conversations, this is a master class. Seriously, it’s life changing.
Working Together & Getting Involved
The Stronger Waitaki Economic Development Working Group, of which I am chair, meets next at 4pm on Wednesday 24th August at The Business Hive. This two-monthly meeting is open to all and a great opportunity to discuss local economic needs and initiatives. Let me know if you want to attend and we’ll get you on the meeting list.
Resources;
Essence of Facilitation Workshop
WDC Draft Economic Development Strategy
Otago Regional Workforce Plan
Immigration Skill Shortage List
Digital Boost @ The Business Hive
If the online world has you bamboozled (even just a little bit), sign up for this FREE, 40 week programme to help you master all things digital for your business.
Digital Boost is a government initiative to get us - small business owners and operators, up to speed on all things digital. Bottom line, digital is where we’re at and we know that now, because… Covid.
So, there’s no excuse not to learn how to use these super affordable tools to promote your business, increase your productivity and frankly, do more with less.
We already have one group of 15 signed up. We reckon two groups would be even better. But you have to act quickly or the funding will have run out…
Did we mention this programme is entirely free for participants?
FREE training! Expert content. Peer support and learning. What’s not to love about this awesome opportunity?!!! Get in.
Programme content and estimated delivery dates below.
Ready for a new year
Looking forward, Xero tells us that small business trends for 2021 include: more remote working, more online sales, more workplace flexibility, more pivots and more small business tech. These are things The Business Hive can help support and we’ll keep working hard to help keep local businesses thriving.
And we’re back!
Just like that it’s 2021 and we’re back at work.
Blink. Right?!
But we’re excited.
Last year saw our local community rally together in a bunch of new ways and we’re better and stronger for it.
As it happens Xero agrees, stating “being part of a community has a very real commercial benefit that can’t even be broken by a pandemic”.
The local pivots and innovations that 2020 delivered or inspired are worth celebrating.
Things like Pen-y-bryn’s two Jameses’ own-price’ strategy last May. Brilliant and the frontrunner for elevating Oamaru in the minds of Kiwi travellers – thanks guys!
Things like Anvil Engineers’ foot-operated hand sanitising station that made us all that bit safer and made the national news. Go Hayes family!
Things like Jane Thompson and Helen Riley-Duddin’s inspired Meet the Maker fundraiser which showcased incredible local talent (some of whom sold a year’s worth of work in one day), instilled massive local pride and raised a wadge of cash for Fenwick School. Take a bow, guys – you’ve shown us the future!
As 2020 closed, we saw the launch of new local businesses – hospitality retail, manufacturing, trades, importing, health and wellbeing, professional services and more – all businesses being built by people boldly investing in their futures and our collective economy.
Congratulations and thank you, every one!
We also saw profound bravery in those who closed their businesses. You worked every bit as hard as the rest of us. Thank you for your service and your effort.
You got beaten in the ring that was 2020 but you’re not out for the count. Stand tall. There will be new bouts and you will win again.
Looking forward, Xero tells us that small business trends for 2021 include: more remote working, more online sales, more workplace flexibility, more pivots and more small business tech. These are things The Business Hive can help support and we’ll keep working hard to help keep local businesses thriving.
Expect some new offerings. Stay in touch and watch this space.
On a personal note, I was humbled by being named a Waitakian of the Year for 2020.
I have a lot of support that enables me to get involved in things that matter to me and am grateful beyond words especially for the guy who makes it possible – Alex Regtien.
Welcome to 2021! Let’s get cracking.
Cara Tipping Smith is a director of The Business Hive, a co-working space in Oamaru’s Ribble St.
Source: http://www.oamarumail.co.nz/opinion/ready-for-a-new-year/
Collective for local businesses
We think it’s important for local businesses to have local representation that doesn’t have to juggle the interests of any other district.
The Oamaru Business Collective is more than a retailers’ group. It offers collective support for all local businesses; professional services, trades, manufacturers, hospitality and more.
Back in the day, when people asked me what I was studying and I said, “psychology”, their response was usually to fold their arms, take a step backwards and say something like “are you analysing me?”.
Let’s just say psychology didn’t make me the most popular girl in the pub.
That all changed when I decided to lie and tell people I was studying palmistry. Cue a line-up of people with their hands out, palm up, asking me what I “could see”.
I learned that the way information is presented makes a difference.
Psychology is a science and like all sciences, it depends on numbers.
I quite like numbers. They either add up or they don’t.
So, a couple of weeks ago, when the Otago Chamber of Commerce put out some numbers about how it had distributed central government money to help support businesses in our region, I was interested.
Scrolling down the list of districts I read: Dunedin City, Clutha, Central Otago, Queenstown, Waitaki and then, last on the list, Wanaka. Wanaka’s not a district. Wanaka and Queenstown are part of the Queenstown-Lakes district.
At least they are in every single other government or regional authority report I could find.
Interest piqued, I went down the rabbit hole. Turns out, it was one of those dusty, shallow, lazy sort of rabbit holes that don’t run very deep.
With some quick maths, I recognised that, of all the funding distributed, Queenstown-Lakes received on average, about 61%.
Within that, it received 78% of the tourism transition and 58% of the Covid-19 advisory support money allocated to the Otago region.
By contrast, Waitaki received an average of 2% to 3%.
Personally, I can’t begrudge the support delivered to Queenstown-Lakes. It has by far been hardest hit.
Why create a separate Wanaka district? You can make up your own mind about that.
For us, the focus is local.
That’s why we’ve signed up to the newly incorporated Oamaru Business Collective.
We think it’s important for local businesses to have local representation that doesn’t have to juggle the interests of any other district.
The Oamaru Business Collective is more than a retailers’ group. It offers collective support for all local businesses; professional services, trades, manufacturers, hospitality and more.
Membership starts from $10 per month and the first event – a social media workshop – is free for those signed up.
Join the Facebook group for details.
Cara Tipping Smith is a director of The Business Hive, and an Oamaru Business Collective committee member.
Source: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/opinion/collective-for-local-businesses/
Productivity gains made easy
Productivity.
It’s on every small business owner’s mind this time of year.
If we’re not ruminating on how our business could be more productive, we’re asking “how could I be more productive or get better life balance, work smarter not harder”, yadda yadda yadda.
Productivity.
It’s on every small business owner’s mind this time of year.
If we’re not ruminating on how our business could be more productive, we’re asking “how could I be more productive or get better life balance, work smarter not harder”, yadda yadda yadda.
Right now, productivity is all over the news.
Sanna Marin, Finland’s new (and young) prime minister, once suggested working six-hour days or four-day weeks. Admittedly that was some time ago when she was transport minister but hey, it’s making headlines again now.
Perpetual Guardian’s Andrew Barnes and Charlotte Lockhart are on a tour of the United States talking about their successful implementation of a four-day working week (whoop, another Kiwi company punches above its weight – love it!).
Of course, Barnes has a book coming and, in the interim, an interesting read in a free white paper download at 4dayweek.com.
Perpetual Guardian excepted, we’re not very productive in New Zealand.
We know this because our Productivity Commission says so. Yep, they are a real entity with a very informative (although ironically slow loading) website.
They reckon New Zealand’s firms are on average about 30% to 40% less productive than our international counterparts (2016-17 figures).
This week, our Government commissioned them to come up with policies to improve our collective business performance by analysing and extrapolating what works from our most effective firms
These defined, but I’m hoping there’ll be some from the 97% of all Kiwi businesses which employ fewer than 20 employees, including from the 360,000 business owners who work alone.
Perpetual Guardian has 240 employees.
Notwithstanding the difference in scale, some of their white paper suggestions can be easily applied for a small business owner.
Things like focusing on outcomes instead of time spent. Things like being clear about our goals and the payoff of doing things differently. Things like figuring out what we could do with that extra time and making that our reward.
Alex and I are going to test a few theories over the next little while. I think I’ll start with shorter meetings.
I figure if I have 10 meetings a week and they’re 45 minutes instead of an hour, I’ll get two and a-half hours back.
That gets me round a nine-hole course. Or could, if I did it more. Every week.
Food for thought.
Hope you’re having a happy and productive New Year.
☆ Cara Tipping Smith is the director of The Business Hive.
Source: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/opinion/productivity-gains-made-easy/
Busy? Take a minute to think
June has rocked around as it always does and “busy” is the new “weather” of chats.
How are you? So busy. Can’t believe it’s June already .
June has rocked around as it always does and “busy” is the new “weather” of chats.
How are you? So busy. Can’t believe it’s June already .
In the crush of the busy-blues myself, I went procrastination Googling to see if business owners are busier than anyone else.
Turns out we’re not. But I did find a thing called entrepreneur insomnia.
It’s exactly like insomnia, but made special by putting the word “entrepreneur” in front.
I did find some smug little sayings, “busy is as busy does”, “if you want something done – give it to a busy person”.
“Busy is as busy does”. Thanks, Google, we know we make our own busy.
But whether everyone’s busy is equal or some people’s busy is more equal than others has to be a matter of perspective (obviously not your own though – just ask any project or volunteer co-ordinator).
I’m convinced the “give it to a busy person” saying is only said by reprobates or masochists. Real busy people forget stuff and sometimes forget what they were supposed to do.
Super-efficient, busier-than-other-busy-people – maybe you’re the exceptions.
For the rest of us, the fear of forgetting is real and, come to think of it, most likely responsible for that “entrepreneurial” (or any other kind of) insomnia.
I did find time management advice including strangely animal-focused gems such as “beware the elephants on the horizon” and “how to eat two frogs”.
Those elephants? Apparently, they sneak up on you, like your mother’s 80th birthday that you had all year to organise .. a year ago.
The frogs? Eat the biggest, ugliest first. That way the second will be less awful.
Yes. That’s real advice.
While procrastination Googling might be fun (be honest busy people, you do it, too), I was looking for something simpler and more concrete.
The dictionary says “busy” means one of two things: having a great deal to do, or excessively detailed or decorated.
Hmmm, that sounds a lot like my kind of busy.
So, the wisdom I’m taking is this. “Do less, do less fussing”.
As business owners we’re in charge. Things will crop up, surprises will happen but we choose what we add to our plates (frogs and elephants included).
I wouldn’t give up my day job for a second.
That doesn’t mean I can’t tweak it. Likely so can you.
Why not do that?
Enjoy June.
★ Cara Tipping Smith is the director of The Business Hive.
Source: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/opinion/busy-take-a-minute-to-think/