Stronger Waitaki Economic Development Working Group

Blair Middlemass, Business Lending Specialist at ANZ joined us for the Stronger Waitaki Economic Development Working Group last Wed, 24th August with an update on business banking. Some key insights are below.

• Oamaru is holding well compared to the financial variability seen in other parts.

• Through Covid, people have stayed employed however we can expect to see people moving off shore again.

• The key challenge locally is staff shortages and difficulty attracting people.

• Banks shorter hours means more 0800 and website contact is on the increase.

• CCCFA changes have put lending under more scrutiny, needing extra effort around disclosure and the need to protect vulnerable customers - this has slowed the speed of transactions.

• Of importance for business customers is to be prepared to make an extra effort and to deal with product specialists rather than your (pre-Covid) go-to contact at your bank.

ANZ is also offering a range of FREE workshops and events to support business owners: from how to create a business plan for start-ups all the way to how to be an effective business leader and how to navigate cyber security and financial risks and everything in between.

Simply register for the workshop you’re interested in and attend online:

www.anz.co.nz/business/bizhub/workshops

Don’t forget that Digital Boost is also offering FREE training videos and Q&A sessions to help get your business online at digitalboost.business.govt.nz. Topics range from websites and social media to online productivity and accounting tools, e-marketing and much more.

The next Stronger Waitaki Economic Development Working Group will be on Wednesday 19th October. If you would like to attend and / or receive the minutes, please email the chairperson, Cara Tipping Smith at cara@thebusinesshive.co.nz.

Economic Development Update from The Business Hive

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;

1. Construction

2. Accommodation & Food Services

3. Healthcare & Social Assistance

4. 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

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.

Upskilling in Digital for Businesses

Digital Boost - it’s time!

If you’ve ever struggled with websites, social media or wasted money on digital services that haven’t delivered, this free programme is likely for you.

We’re just waiting on approval but we’re hoping to be able to deliver a 40 session programme of learning about digital tools for business. The programme will cover things like;

Websites

• the basics

• legal requirements

• set up

• funnels & ecommerce

• analytics

• search engine optimisation (SEO)

• content (words, video, photos)

Social Media

• Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Twitter

Email & Messaging Campaigns

Productivity (money, people and time management)

Setting and maintaining goals, plans and schedules for marketing

We’ll be using the Digital Boost’s fabulous short-form content along with subject matter experts and we’ll be ‘doing the doing’ in session.

What kind of digital tools?

The focus will be on marketing and sales, as well as productivity.

What will it cost?

Nothing (if we can secure the funding).

When will it start?

The beginning of July is our intended start date.

Sessions will be held weekly and people are expected to commit to a minimum of 24 of the 40 sessions over 9 months.

A full calendar of topics will be provided once we’re confirmed so you can see which ones you want to prioritise. Every session will include local insights so ideally, plan to attend them all.

There will be a six-week break from sessions over the holiday period so you have time to put all your learning in place and see some more results while you enjoy the sun (we will be monitoring our individual progress throughout).

Behind the scenes of The Business Hive

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Essence of Facilitation - June 2022

Next dates: Wednesday & Thursday 22-23 June 2022

Facilitation is a learned skill and one that makes a huge impact on personal and team productivity. Expert facilitators know what they want to achieve and have a tool kit of approaches to help them ensure they deliver the outcome they’re after. This programme will help you evolve your facilitation skills now and long into the future.

Whether you are an experienced facilitator looking to update your tool kit or a relative newbie to facilitation (‘1 to 1’ or ‘1 to many’), this two day programme will give you deep insight into your own practice and experiential oversight of a range of different techniques you can call on.

Each participant will have an opportunity to ‘work the group’ on a facilitation related topic so practice and session content are maximised. Participants will leave this workshop confident they have the skills to continue their own development as they support others in moving forward with theirs.

---

HOW DOES IT WORK?

This is a facilitated programme and as such has a loose curriculum complimented by the material brought into the room by the participants themselves.

The process is a fascinating: one of self-discovery and self-disclosure for the purpose of learning what creating safe environments is all about – a reality-based rather than theoretical methodology is used.

Real examples are worked with in the room.

---

WHO IS IT FOR?

People leaders who want to further deepen their understanding of the facilitation process.

This is an advanced programme although no previous facilitation experience is necessary.

---

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN ABOUT?

• The facilitator as a leadership role

• Creating safe environments

• The importance of a clearly defined purpose and outcome

• The facilitator’s role and influence on others

• Emotional intelligence and interpersonal competency

• The importance of clear instructions

• The human fear response

• The neuroscience of motivation

• Group dynamics

• Dealing with conflict

• The role of intuition

• Trusting the group process

• The practical and the subtle aspects of effective facilitation

---

HOW WILL YOU BENEFIT?

• Gain more confidence and competence

• Develop a toolbox of useful transferable skills

• Save preparation time, effort and energy

• Achieve purposeful outcomes more consistently

• Reduce angst and stress in preparation and in the room

• Understand how to manage conflict in groups

---

FEEDBACK:

Having completed The Essence of Facilitation I wish it could be part of every company's staff training - very valuable information presented by Amanda in her usual inimitable style of fun, and uplifting support for all participants. I believe everyone can benefit from this little gem of a course.

Actually I’ve been to other similar training courses along my career development, e.g. Sales Training, Negotiation Skills Training. The skills they’ve taught in those courses are more on the outside and focus on the “What”. But The Essence of Facilitation is more on the inside and focus on “Why” and “How”. I’ve also realized that how communication can easily go wrong without essential messages. The other reason I liked the course is the environment created. It is a non-threatening and friendly learning environment. In a nutshell, it is a really good course that I would recommend other colleagues to attend.

---

Essence of Presenting - July 2022

Next dates: Monday & Tuesday 4-5 July 2022

For some people, public speaking is their absolute worst nightmare. For others, it’s a necessary evil that they wish they were better at doing and yet, for others, it’s a super comfortable zone where they excel. How do you go from feeling one to the other?

That’s a process and one that’s best encountered with an experienced practitioner who’s actually been through it herself. That practitioner is Amanda Fleming. Once upon a time the thought of public speaking horrified her. Decades later, she’s one of New Zealand’s leading transformational facilitators in this space. If you’re ready to begin, improve or excel in presenting or public speaking… this is the programme for you.

---

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Overwhelmingly, feedback shows this programme is a very safe and stimulating way to explore a traditionally challenging topic resulting in often profound shifts in confidence and competence.

Authenticity is key and this course is designed to bring out the best speaker in you, your way. Participants explore the underlying causes of the common fears relating to ‘public speaking and presenting’ in a safe, stimulating and non-critical environment. We also get to learn some tools and tips to help deliver better, enjoy presenting more and achieve better outcomes from the ‘room’.

Although there is no compulsory part in the programme, participants will have opportunities to be filmed. No play-backs are done in session.

---

WHO IS IT FOR?

Anyone regardless of previous experience who wants to enhance their presentation skills, self-confidence and influencing (sales) skills.

---

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN ABOUT?

• The essential principles of presenting

• Becoming more confident (controlling your state) and the role of self esteem

• The 8-STEP preparation plan

• Establishing credibility

• Framing yourself and your material for best results

• Creating, building and maintaining rapport

• Self-coaching techniques

• The human fear response

• The importance of behavioural flexibility

• Going blank and what to do when you dry up

• Thriving on the unexpected – the joys of impromptu speaking

---

HOW WILL YOU BENEFIT?

• Gain greater confidence communicating in any environment

• Reduce angst and stress in preparation and in the room

• Better manage presenter-audience dynamics

• Increase rapport building skills

• Strengthen individual style and presence

• Achieve better outcomes

---

FEEDBACK

The course was incredible… it was insightful, thought provoking, challenging and humbling. It put you in a position where you were outside your comfort zone and vulnerable – but in a good way. It provided a safe environment to test new skills and receive constructive feedback – it changed the way I perceive work, customers… and interactions with others...[and has improved] my overall confidence and self-respect.

~ Nicola McKenzie, ANZ, South Canterbury

Next dates: Monday & Tuesday 4-5 July 2022, 9am - 5pm both days

---

Essence of Facilitation - August 2022

Next dates: Thursday & Friday 11-12 August 2022

Facilitation is a learned skill and one that makes a huge impact on personal and team productivity. Expert facilitators know what they want to achieve and have a tool kit of approaches to help them ensure they deliver the outcome they’re after. This programme will help you evolve your facilitation skills now and long into the future.

Whether you are an experienced facilitator looking to update your tool kit or a relative newbie to facilitation (‘1 to 1’ or ‘1 to many’), this two day programme will give you deep insight into your own practice and experiential oversight of a range of different techniques you can call on.

Each participant will have an opportunity to ‘work the group’ on a facilitation related topic so practice and session content are maximised. Participants will leave this workshop confident they have the skills to continue their own development as they support others in moving forward with theirs.

---

HOW DOES IT WORK?

This is a facilitated programme and as such has a loose curriculum complimented by the material brought into the room by the participants themselves.

The process is a fascinating: one of self-discovery and self-disclosure for the purpose of learning what creating safe environments is all about – a reality-based rather than theoretical methodology is used.

Real examples are worked with in the room.

---

WHO IS IT FOR?

People leaders who want to further deepen their understanding of the facilitation process.

This is an advanced programme although no previous facilitation experience is necessary.

---

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN ABOUT?

• The facilitator as a leadership role

• Creating safe environments

• The importance of a clearly defined purpose and outcome

• The facilitator’s role and influence on others

• Emotional intelligence and interpersonal competency

• The importance of clear instructions

• The human fear response

• The neuroscience of motivation

• Group dynamics

• Dealing with conflict

• The role of intuition

• Trusting the group process

• The practical and the subtle aspects of effective facilitation

---

HOW WILL YOU BENEFIT?

• Gain more confidence and competence

• Develop a toolbox of useful transferable skills

• Save preparation time, effort and energy

• Achieve purposeful outcomes more consistently

• Reduce angst and stress in preparation and in the room

• Understand how to manage conflict in groups

---

FEEDBACK:

Having completed The Essence of Facilitation I wish it could be part of every company's staff training - very valuable information presented by Amanda in her usual inimitable style of fun, and uplifting support for all participants. I believe everyone can benefit from this little gem of a course.

Actually I’ve been to other similar training courses along my career development, e.g. Sales Training, Negotiation Skills Training. The skills they’ve taught in those courses are more on the outside and focus on the “What”. But The Essence of Facilitation is more on the inside and focus on “Why” and “How”. I’ve also realized that how communication can easily go wrong without essential messages. The other reason I liked the course is the environment created. It is a non-threatening and friendly learning environment. In a nutshell, it is a really good course that I would recommend other colleagues to attend.

---

Essence of Presenting - October 2022

Next dates: Thursday & Friday 13-14 October 2022

For some people, public speaking is their absolute worst nightmare. For others, it’s a necessary evil that they wish they were better at doing and yet, for others, it’s a super comfortable zone where they excel. How do you go from feeling one to the other?

You find an expert practitioner with a track record of achievement in helping people change their relationship with public speaking for the better.

Meet Amanda Fleming - self-confessed former public speaking phobic and now one of New Zealand’s leading transformational facilitators in this space.

If you’re ready to begin, improve or excel in presenting or public speaking… this is the programme for you.

“I did the programme myself and I’ve been speaking in public professionally since forever. I came away with useful feedback, new tips and tools, and a refreshed approach. What I witnessed though was mind blowing - total transformation in people who had arrived genuinely terrified of public speaking.”

~ Cara Tipping Smith, Director, The Business Hive

---

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Overwhelming feedback shows this programme creates a very safe environment to explore this traditionally challenging topic which results in profound shifts in confidence and competence.

Authenticity is key and this course is designed to bring out the best speaker in you, your way.

Participants explore underlying causes of common fears relating to ‘public speaking and presenting’ in a safe, stimulating and non-critical environment.

Learning is delivered through practical exercises that help cement the key takeaways, bundled with tips and tools to help present better, enjoy it more and achieve far better outcomes from ‘the room’.

This programme is appropriate for any level. Expect to be stretched to deliver your best and achieve that!

---

WHO IS IT FOR?

Anyone regardless of previous experience who wants to enhance their presentation skills and develop greater self-confidence both personally and professionally.

---

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN ABOUT?

• The essential principles of presenting

• Becoming more confident (controlling your state) and the role of self esteem

• The 8-STEP preparation plan

• Establishing credibility

• Framing yourself and your material for best results

• Creating, building and maintaining rapport

• Self-coaching techniques

• The human fear response

• The importance of behavioural flexibility

• Going blank and what to do when you dry up

• Thriving on the unexpected – the joys of impromptu speaking

---

HOW WILL YOU BENEFIT?

• Gain greater confidence communicating in any environment

• Reduce angst and stress in preparation and in the room

• Better manage presenter-audience dynamics

• Increase rapport building skills

• Strengthen individual style and presence

• Achieve better outcomes

---

FEEDBACK

The course was incredible… it was insightful, thought provoking, challenging and humbling. It put you in a position where you were outside your comfort zone and vulnerable – but in a good way. It provided a safe environment to test new skills and receive constructive feedback – it changed the way I perceive work, customers… and interactions with others...[and has improved] my overall confidence and self-respect.

~ Nicola McKenzie, ANZ, South Canterbury

Next dates: Thursday & Friday 13-14 October 2022, 9am -5pm both days

---

Digital Boost - Upskill for FREE

Digital Boost - FREE Training at The Business Hive

Need help to master the digital world for your business?

Thanks to our partners at Business South, we’ve got an opportunity locally to master digital for business. Yes, marketing online. Also, productivity tools and online accounting services.

What makes this a bit special is that we’re bringing the experts in on every level. We get full access to the whole Digital Boost (government programme) including hundreds of easy to understand videos, Q&A sessions and more… PLUS we’re bringing in local experts in their fields to answer all our questions in the room!

This is a fully supported, hands on practical programme including peer to peer learning. Each group consists of 15 people but if there’s enough demand, we might be able to have more than one group. Get in touch now if you’re interested or sign up here.

Criteria

You must:

• Be sole traders/self-employed or have between 1 to 20 employees,

• Not be an existing Digital Boost Educate user, or not a registered user prior to 1 April 2022,

• Be operating in a commercial environment,

• Be a privately‐owned business, Māori Trust or incorporation under the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 or similar organisation managing Māori assets under multiple ownership.

We can get through as a community

Our local economy needs you.

While Auckland (arguably) is at or near peak Omicron, we’re just getting under way.
Xero’s small business index for January 2022 fell below 97 points, after three months in a row above the 100s. Remembering that 100 on the index represents average performance, this signals an economic step change.

The downturn is largely due to slowing small business sales. Unsurprisingly hospitality and accommodation suffered the most (year-on-year growth rates slowing by 2.2% and 4.2% respectively) but even agriculture, forestry and fishing slowed (down 1.4%), and job growth was down 1.9%. This latest data doesn’t reveal the impact of January 23’s Red light as yet.

Overseas after their respective outbreaks of Omicron, Australia’s index fell to 86 and the UK’s to 85.

New Zealand’s economy has held better than most. As our Business South navigator, Rebecca Finlay, wrote last week, right now the biggest impediment to business and the local economy is lack of staff. We’re seeing that in Wellington this week as staff isolate and services struggle; supermarkets, primary healthcare, ferries, recycling, transport and restaurants.

Restaurant Association president Mike Egan said the Wellington community had rallied by getting healthy staff to plug staffing gaps in other restaurants. Surely that’s the kind of thing we can do here in the Waitaki.

At it’s most useful, rallying means knowing where we can help and understanding what resources are required. So Waitaki, getting connected has never been more important than now.

That means ask businesses how they are doing.

Ask businesses what you can best do to help.

Jump online to your groups town and country — ask questions, show your support.
If you can’t spend more money with them, can you review them to encourage others to spend there?

Do you know someone reliable who needs casual work? Can you connect them to a relevant business where usual staff are isolating?

Could you dust off some skills and offer to do a shift somewhere to help out? Could you volunteer somewhere to take the pressure off?

At The Business Hive, we’re in the business of connecting people — so call or come in.

We’re also home to Business South who are here to support all businesses, not just members, so talk to Rebecca Finlay (who’s doing a phenomenal job).

How we get through the next few weeks is the whole community’s business.

Ask yourself the question, ‘‘what can I do?’’

Negotiating the way in this Vuca world

It’s 2022, and more than a year since we bought a little old building in Oamaru.

You know the one.

Thames St, next to Poshtel.

The outside looks a bit like a bee hive (now) — boxy, yellow with black stripes. Handy that, because we are The Business Hive — and our logo sits at the very top.

Design-wise, that’s the inspired visual concept by local design company Design Federation.

Execution-wise, you’re seeing the consummate skills of Ace Painters and MJ Ireland Signs.

Why am I telling you this? It’s because the very image of our building illustrates a cornerstone of our business values — that smart, collective efforts outclass simple intention (in this case, paint the building).

We’re heading into a year where expert business predictions are a truly mixed bag. The whole world is facing increased volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (it’s termed a Vuca world).

We don’t have the immigrant labour force we’ve relied on.

We have ongoing supply chain disruptions.

We know that Millennials and Gen Z (adults under 38) are increasingly seeking purposeful work and flexibility (which could be underpinning the great resignation).

Here in the Waitaki, work is more concentrated in a few industries than in other parts of the country.

Our 2020 HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, where an index of zero represents economic activity evenly spread across all industries) was 144.2 compared with 47.5 nationally.

This matters because the more a region’s economic activity is limited by industry types, the more vulnerable it is to adverse effects (eg commodity price, scarcity or labour force issues).

This year will bring unprecedented opportunities to solve problems in both big and small businesses — and we do that best through smart, collective efforts.

That means understanding what the challenges are and making connections that will help us find the solutions.

The building that is The Business Hive is a striking visual reminder in the heart of our town — an example of businesses working together for something greater than the sum of its parts.

That’s our reason for being — to help businesses make those connections that will drive local economic growth.

It’s why we’ll be working with the Oamaru Business Collective and Business South, local businesses and those newly appearing with ambitious business ideas.

It’s about supporting a thriving business community for the benefit of us all.

We’re in it together, Waitaki.

Welcome 2022. This is the year to get involved.

Source: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/opinion/negotiating-the-way-in-this-vuca-world/

Time to get on with it in new normal

Well, last Monday’s announcement seems to have put the kibosh on a South Island with different-from-North-Island rules.

Air New Zealand announced that no jabs means no flying internationally, maybe not at all.

The Government announced no jabs means no entry to New Zealand for non-citizens starting November 1.

Vaccine passports are up for discussion.

Alert Level 3 has multiple settings.

It’s getting more “nuanced”, which means more to get our heads around – and we’ve been told more changes are coming.

Bottom line – restrictions here for a while.

Vaccinations are the new “elimination”.

Outside is safer than inside (because, transmission).

Masks are staying.

Yep, we kinda knew that too – it’s what’s been happening everywhere else.

So let’s get on with it.

In these parts, we’re problem solvers. Sure, there’s some bitching and whining (hey, even in the Waitaki we have a vocal few of that kind), but mostly we dust ourselves off and stump up with solutions.

Delta Level 2 means restrictions. Delta Level 1 likely will as well.

Masks.

Masks suck but people get used to them. Alex reminds me that he’s worn many masks, in many jobs, in all weathers, inside and outside. He’s a living example of well-adjusted mask-wearing from a pre-Covid world.

It snaps me back to the days of no seatbelts, habitual drink-driving and no helmets on skis – all things we learned about, got used to or got over.

We can do this.

Vaccinations.

Yep, I’ve got the jab twice.

I had cancer for a bit, made my treatment choices and am more than five years clear, but it still breaks my heart every time someone is diagnosed.

I know they could survive relatively unscathed, like me. I also know they might not. I know that fear. I don’t want it for anyone.

Covid could be far more common than cancer (which is one in every three) and more impactful.

Nuff said.

Outside.

Summer is coming. Where we live, it’s traditionally dry. Let’s use our natural advantages. Council’s waived the fees for street furniture. The weather is on our side. We have amazing outside spaces! Let’s get busy on it.

Yellow is the new black and Covid is the new normal.

We’ve got masks, vaccinations and outdoors up our sleeves. I’d love to hear your ideas.

Source: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/opinion/time-to-get-on-with-it-in-new-normal/

Facing our fears, working together

Alex and I popped down to The Business Hive this week, masked and dangerous, armed with the now familiar Covid-yellow insulation tape and (coincidentally) Covid-yellow tape measure (1m rule).

This time feels same but different.

Cleaning, yep. Measuring, yep. Rearranging furniture, yep.

Wondering if we’re doing it right? This time, not so much.

Worried about contagion in our building? This time, not at all.

No business owner wants to get Covid or worse, be responsible for its spread.

We all know that testing, wastewater testing and contact tracing is key.

We’ve learned how transmission can happen and how best to prevent it.

We know we don’t have Covid in the South Island right now. That doesn’t mean we should flout the rules, but we can let go of some of those last-time-we-got-the-tape-out fears.

The fears that we can’t so easily bypass are equally familiar.

Fears about how to meet 100% of outgoings with a fraction of earnings, fears about the mounting costs of compliance, and the biggest fear of all – what if an employer can’t look after their staff?

Every employer I’ve spoken with in the past few weeks has been focused on their team.

Some are doing OK, but others are choosing to put wages ahead of bills, hoping the proverbial tape holds over these (hopefully) short-term financial cracks.

Business owners know their people, they know those families, responsibilities and lives. They share in their teams’ joys and care about their disappointments.

The mere thought of letting down any of their people – it’s what makes for sleepless nights.

That’s why we must support local businesses – they are the bedrock of our community.

It’s why everyone (council, commercial and community) must work together so no families fall through that Covid-shaped hole.

I’m pleased to say collaboration is exactly what I am seeing.

Diverse groups are sharing information and working hard to help.

From penguin posters of solidarity (thanks to local graphic artist Scott Wilson) to multi-agency discussions, problems are being considered and solutions tested.

This place has rich history of great ideas, mobilising voices and putting in the hard work. We can live up to that legacy with open minds and listening ears.

If you need help, ask. If you can help, do. Bring your ideas to the table, get involved and let’s all do our part in what we know needs to be done.

Source: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/opinion/facing-our-fears-working-together/

Cautious sense of relief, optimism from businesses

A quick nosey through business reports and predictions tells me that New Zealand small businesses are doing pretty well in the global shape of things.

Xero’s new Small Business Index showed the small business sector was performing better than average for the second month in a row across all four measures – sales, jobs, wages and the time it takes to be paid.

Looking more closely at the numbers, it’s good news, but we’re not there yet.

Small-business sales increased by 14.3% compared with last year, but we have to remember that we went into lockdown in the last week of March 2020.

Jobs numbers increased 3.7% year on the year, with the exception of hospitality which experienced a 7.8% decrease.

Small-business wages (average hourly earnings) were up 3.2% year on the year but the 2019 average monthly increase was 3.8%.

Time to be paid has decreased to 21.2 days which is good for small-business cashflow, but more than double the 10 days prompt payment goal that the Government self-imposed in June 2020 and widely recommended.

In chatting with local business owners, I’m hearing a sense of cautious relief and optimism. Many businesses have been doing at least as well as their owners had hoped and, in some cases, better than ever.

A key element locally is that those who are doing online sales are seeing uptake across the board. So, yes, we are shopping online as well as buying local, but some of our local small businesses are taking advantage of that trend by selling into other local, national and international markets.

At The Business Hive, we’re seeing a steady increase in the number of businesses getting in touch for contacts and connections – including newcomer businesses.

We’re seeing outstanding collaboration between traditionally competitive business, including in our own building project.

We’ve also noticed an increase in partnered-business promotions, where local businesses are working together to cross promote their products and/or services.

Right now, local businesses are also being asked for their input for the Waitaki District Council’s long-term, destination management and spatial plans. Make time to look ahead – your input now could help shore up many longer term benefits for our region.

Keep being engaged.

Follow the Oamaru Business Collective if you haven’t already.

Winter is coming and opportunities will keep coming too. Let’s get on and make the most of them.

• Cara Tipping Smith is a director of The Business Hive and the Oamaru Business Collective chairwoman.

Source: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/opinion/cautious-sense-of-relief-optimism-from-businesses/

New Members Portal

We're delighted to introduce you to our new online space management and booking system - and yes, that means your life just got easier. You get more control, 24/7, and it's awesome.

Why are we doing this?

This means that all your bookings are in your hands. You can book, alter and cancel your bookings online, 24/7. You will now instantly be able to see what is and isn't available - in real time.

It also means you don't need a credit card to secure your booking for a space! That's been a nuisance for some clients who wished to manage their own bookings (our old system required manual override at our end, or a credit card to secure any bookable space).

Convenient and simple invoicing

If you are on a monthly (or annual) membership with us - you will get one monthly invoice that includes everything for that month. As the Welsh say, "tidy".

If you are not on a membership plan - you will be invoiced once you've completed your booking online.

Payment changes to be aware of

Most of our customers prefer to pay via internet banking (direct deposit / bank transfer) and we've heard your feedback on that. This new system allows everyone to manage their own bookings instantly and pay their invoices in the way that suits them best.

You can still pay by credit card directly from our invoice with a transaction fee of 2.9%. We use Stripe to process credit card payments and they charge us 2.9% plus NZ$0.30 per transaction. We're swallowing the NZ$0.30 on your behalf but if you want to avoid the fee altogether - just pay us by direct deposit (bank transfer). Sweet.

How to access the new Members Portal?

Jump into the new system using the button below. You will have the choice of different membership types including the Free Online Portal Access or signing up as a non-member.

You can even download the app from your usual store - it's called RnDConnect.

We'd love your feedback so let us what you think.

Relocated Business Hive triple the size

Just before The Business Hive opened in 2018, co-director Cara Tipping Smith made a speech saying “whatever we open with on day one will be different in three years’ time”.

Never has a truer word been spoken.

The co-working space in Oamaru’s Ribble St is on the move to Thames St – and it is tripling in size.

Ms Tipping-Smith and co-director Alex Regtien said it was important to “blend and fit in” with the needs of the people who were using The Business Hive and meet a growing demand.

The exterior of 120 Thames St has had a new lick of paint, and extensive work is under way to develop the two-storey interior. Everything was on track for a June opening, Mr Regtien said.

Conversations about a move started after last year’s lockdown, when social distancing at the Ribble St building was difficult, due to its shape and size, and they wanted to be more visible in Oamaru.

“We kind of went, we either go and costs too much money’ or we go work better’,” Ms Tipping Smith said.

The Thames St building – which previously housed Waitaki Financial Services and Real Classic Rock radio station – ”had a lot going for it”, Mr Regtien said.

Its size meant The Business Hive could offer more services and facilities, such as private office spaces and meeting rooms, and more hot desking, which had reached capacity for at Ribble St. It would also have a dedicated training room, and a treatment room for people in the health space.

As much as The Business Hive provided flexible, affordable office space for freelancers, the self-employed and start-up companies, it was about more than just the walls. The real beauty was bringing a variety of people together and letting their ideas collide, she said.

Despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Regtien and Ms Tipping Smith were optimistic about Oamaru’s future – and the future of co-working spaces.

Even as technology continued to improve, and more organisations had successfully introduced working from home after lockdown, The Business Hive had only continued to get busier.

“Because I actually think it’s the social stuff that makes people keep wanting to come. The convenience of it is all well and good, but just that one person walks to get a coffee and then people go actually me too’ and it’s broken your day up a little bit and you still get your work done,” she said.

“It’s just a great way of getting the best of both worlds.”

Oamaru architect Virginia Barlow had designed the new space, Design Federation was looking after the interiors and David Ovens was managing the project.

“It’s all local – it’s all local people,” Ms Tipping Smith said.

“You name it, I feel like we’re touching everybody.”

Mr Regtien and Ms Tipping Smith moved to Oamaru four years ago. Mr Regtien was working for Downer when Ms Tipping Smith pitched the idea of The Business Hive to him.

“I’d worked in co-working spaces in the UK, because I was a copywriter, and when I landed here, there just wasn’t any business support,” she said.

“There wasn’t anywhere to go. I didn’t know how to meet other freelancers. My work, my clients were in Auckland, if they were in New Zealand, and there were a few overseas.

“I got involved in community stuff, because I needed to find my own friends. Alex was making friends at work, but who wants to be the cling-on girlfriend?

“So that’s actually where it all started.”

It was exciting to see how the business had grown over the past three years, and they “can’t wait” to move into the new Thames St building.

Source: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/community/relocated-business-hive-triple-the-size/

Make more ‘good old ordinary’ connections

A year ago, we were in lockdown.

I can’t remember whether we had just ordered a box of River-T wine or had just finished drinking it? Whichever – thank you River-T!

Since then, I’ve lost count (and it’s not the wine’s fault . . . it could be the wine’s fault) of the number of business support initiatives I’ve seen.

There’s been a lot going on.

There’s been long-standing subsidised resources like Regional Business Partners Network and Mentors NZ.

There’s been new funding support like wage subsidies, Covid-19 relief funds and flexi-wage programmes (employee and self-employment).

There’s been inspired (and inspiring) new initiatives like Manaaki, Digital Boost and Small Business Day NZ and a multitude of Facebook groups sharing and promoting products and services with outstanding results. Yes, on digital, and if we’re not participating – we are losing out!

CPA Australia tells us that over 11 years of surveying, NZ small businesses have consistently lagged in the Asia-Pacific region for investment in innovation and participation in the digital economy.

Most recently, a quarter of all NZ businesses surveyed made no major changes as a result of the pandemic and only 9.3% reported an increase in focus on online sales!

That’s NZ as a whole.

Last year, Waitaki received about 2% of the Covid-19 Advisory Support funding for Otago. We have about 10% of Otago’s businesses.

That was a fully funded, targeted support programme for any business affected by Covid-19. Most of the funding went to Queenstown Lakes (57%) and Dunedin (26%).

Most of us didn’t apply or applied too late. Missed out.

Right now, support is out there for whatever challenges a business may face; mental, financial, interpersonal, logistics, health & safety, staffing, foreign exchange, sustainability, start-up funding, sales skills, supplier sourcing, marketing . . . It’s all on offer – paid for, subsidised and free!

So how do we find out? How do we know which of it is good?

We ask around.

That means turning up to some business events. It means joining some of those groups. Not just to sell our stuff (so 1990) but to chew the fat, make connections and be in the loop.

How did I find out about River-T doing wine deliveries during lockdown?

Yep, connections.

Not the elite kind. Just the good old ordinary, catch up and share kind. Then I bought it online.

It’s that simple and it’s time to join in.

• Cara Tipping Smith is a director of The Business Hive and the chairwoman of the Oamaru Business Collective

Source: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/opinion/make-more-good-old-ordinary-connections/

New Business Collective leader

The Oamaru Business Collective has a new leader.

Design Federation creative director Annabel Berry has stepped down from her role as chairwoman, and has been replaced by The Business Hive director Cara Tipping Smith.

Ms Tipping Smith knew she had big shoes to fill, taking over from Mrs Berry who founded the group in 2019, but said she was excited about the challenges ahead.

She had been involved with the Oamaru Business Collective from the start – “way back when it was just an idea Annabel had”.

“I think we all knew we needed a collective group to accurately represent local businesses, but it took Annabel to bring us together to make it happen,” she said.

She was “incredibly grateful” Mrs Berry would remain on the committee, continuing to help give local businesses a voice and increase their visibility in the community.

The committee had decided to rotate the chair role each year, to give board members the opportunity to drive a different focus.

“We decided that we would share the load,” Ms Tipping Smith said.

Last year, the Oamaru Business Collective became an incorporated society, with a paid annual subscription.

There was a variety of businesses signed up – from health practitioners to the trades. While their individual needs varied, there were commonalities, as the majority were small businesses, she said.

The collective holds regular social gatherings, hosted by different businesses.

“That’s been really interesting seeing people actually connect, not network,” Ms Tipping Smith said.

“Actually have a conversation with someone else in business, and it’s amazing just how powerful those connections are.”

The committee also met regularly, and would continue to organise events, such as Shoptober, and advocate on behalf of businesses.

Post-lockdown, the feeling among Oamaru businesses was mixed.

“I think it’s fair to say everybody’s got some kind of hardship,” Ms Tipping Smith said.

“There’s a lot of positivity, there’s a lot of ‘it’s not as bad as we thought it would be’, there’s some commentary around ‘we haven’t seen the worst of it yet’.”

A drop in spend in Otago and Southland was “still really hitting” – especially small businesses.

“That’s kids school fees, or the new van – it’s actually real money to them.”

At present, the council’s destination management and spatial plans were what the committee was most focused on.

While the destination management plan had a tourism focus, there was also potential to attract people to move to the Waitaki district, Ms Tipping Smith said.

“Of course, our tourists are limited – but actually, the people coming through could also wind up being newcomers. They could be the people who go, ‘this place is cool, we want to start a business here’, or ‘we want to employ people here’, or, actually, ‘we could run our business from here’.”

Ms Tipping Smith was passionate about making business ownership and management an attractive, “real” career choice.

“We are looking at what’s happening in other regions and going if we want to attract people?’.”

The Oamaru Business Collective committee is made up of Ms Tipping Smith, Mrs Berry, Cathy Maaka, Dawn Brown, Jeremy Holding, Rachael Keen, and Simon Berry.

Source: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/community/new-business-collective-leader/

Question is: who’s the source of the story?

Let’s talk about talk.

When I was a child, my dad would often tell a story about how he got his first import licence.

Apparently, back in the day, you had to apply for one. He did. He was an up-and-coming young man with experience, contacts overseas and a good reputation.

He was declined.

He tried again.

He was declined.

He was a bit annoyed. For my dad, “a bit annoyed” meant bit, teeth and (usually) major traction.

The story went, he bought a licence off some government crony (his words, not mine) for a s***-tonne of money.

Since the licence had been issued to someone else, it wasn’t much use to him .. at least, on the surface of things.

Somehow, Dad managed to get an audience with someone in the high-ups (contacts, yeah?).

Once again, he asked for a licence and was declined. Then, (and this is the juicy bit) he pulled out his freshly purchased licence and put it in front of “Mr High-Up-Very-Important”.

“What’s that?”

“A licence.”

“That’s not legal.”

“True,” Dad said. “Shall we talk about how I managed to buy it?”

According to Dad, “Mr High-Up-Very-Important” went off and issued him a licence on the spot.

Dad would finish the story laughing, and say, “never stop asking questions”.

And so, I do – ask questions, that is.

All’s fair in love and business – right?

Or not.

The winner writes the story. Or more to the point, the speaker claims the win.

Crony – this muppet paid me a s***-tonne for a useless licence.

“Mr High-Up-Very-Important” – scandal averted for the cost of a licence this guy’ll have to make work.

Who’s right?

Whoever is telling the story.

Never let the truth get in the way of a bit of defamation, right? Damn the consequences (loss of job, government scandal, imprisonment, serious mental distress).

So next time someone leans in to give you a casual character assassination of someone else in this town – look at your source.

Ask yourself, what’s in it for them? Who looks good in this story? Who started the Oamarumour in the first place?

Fortunately, my story is now too old to do any damage. All the players are dead. I miss my dad. Dodgy import licence aside, he was a damn good human who loved to tell a good story.

Aren’t we all?

Just what stories are we telling?

• Cara Tipping Smith is a director of The Business Hive

Source: https://www.oamarumail.co.nz/opinion/question-is-whos-the-source-of-the-story/