Fruitbowl - Fresh Ideas from Hawke's Bay

Jacqui Jones

Website: http://www.E2theMax.biz

Profile: Owner/developer of E2theMax and the E2theMax Challenge (the 'E' stands for effective). Background includes 14 years in corporates (Kodak's first digital imaging specialist, head of production at Ogilvy & Mather and Colenso) focused on profitable implementation of new technology, particularly in the graphics/printing industries. In early days had qualified in COBOL programming and studied design at Prahran TAFE (Melbourne). 1995 decided I needed to qualify in Marketing to get out of the back end of business. Did post grad Dip Bus at Auckland Uni 1996-1999 with marketing and new ventures papers. Middle of first year came face to face with the stats of small business failure and was shocked. Quit the big job with the big salary and set about working with owner operators. 1996 set up 1st business Art That Works, digital design and print studio. Super successful, ready to franchise in 1999. Stepdaughter head injured in a car accident March 6th and my world changed. Sold the business (it's still going strong), invested the money in getting Shanann back on her feet. 2001 set up NZ's first vet specialist compounding pharmacy with Canadian trained pharmacist. Within 1st year we were working with over 100 of NZ's then 400 vet practices. My role was to set the pharmacy up while Monterrey took a 3 month trip to Canada. Also wrote all the software, created the marketing material and handled admin. Spent a week at Sydney Uni doing a compounding course - very interesting (I wasn't allowed to compound for real of course, just wanted to know how it was done). We brought several new technologies to New Zealand and moved into compounding customised prescription medicines for humans in the second year. In 2003 sold my shareholding to another pharmacist. Optimus Healthcare still going strong. 2003 became one of NZ's first internationally qualified coaches. Great training. Hugely useful in my own business and personal development. 2004 moved to Hawke's Bay to set up InfoRed Security in Taradale for its Auckland owner. 20 month project (10 months planning in Auckland, 10 months implementation here). Since 2005 I've been committed to Hawke's Bay. Very involved in regional and community service until late last year and, since early 2007 have been developing E2theMax (effective to the max) first as an online expo (award-winning for online innovation Nov. 2007) and then with the E2theMax Challenge. I believe a strong team is the only way to develop the vigilance and robustness, trust and load-sharing that a thriving business needs. E2theMax exists to ensure that every owner can build such a team. We start by introducing owners to some key principles, and then it’s all about real world experience. They see how to get the best from supplier relationships in a proven program, the Challenge. And, two businesses that apply to participate in the Challenge, each receive a 12-week, $60,000 boost free. Over 2 years with the Challenge, we have engaged with and boosted over 300 businesses that have applied or participated in Challenge related events. With a group of over 100 businesses, we have put just under $500,000 in hands-on expertise into 4 businesses already, with a further $150,000 in expertise being contributed to 2 more businesses Sept-Nov 2009. The results have been very positive. E2theMax has now been welcomed in Wellington and the Challenge is likely to run in 4 regions in 2010.

Recent Posts by Jacqui Jones:

• E2theMax Business Makeover Challenge 2010 – who will represent Hawke’s Bay?