I own two businesses that specialise in Audio and Visual products/technologies. One being a nationwide distribution company the other a retail operation (both based in Napier). We are looking for a business mentor that can help us take both companies through the next stage of growth.
Can any company / anyone on Fruitbowl recommend someone that they have had a GREAT experience with? or maybe there are business people here on Fruitbowl that can / or do offer this service.

For a great coffee, chat (and exciting challenge) I can be contacted on 8336925 or email jason @ krome .co .nz

Thank you,
Jason Lake

Attn! marketing pr’s Kate de Latour put a PR plan in action that included local and national media.

To see the TV3 item click on the link below.

http://ondemand.tv3.co.nz/Randells-Revolution/tabid/59/articleID/599/MCat/22/Default.aspx

And I asked her to tell us a bit about herself:

“We’ve been in the PR industry for years so our team are very experienced and “pretty damn good” – as our clients keep telling us. We are passionate about communications and have a wide portfolio of large and small clients, but are always interested in meeting new people and helping solve their PR challenges. I have recently relocated from Auckland to Napier, but still have a number of senior consultants based in Auckland. We are experts in PR and focus on delivering superior communication solutions and outstanding results for clients.

I must admit, when I first moved to the Bay I was a little apprehensive about how my existing clients, which includes; Hilton Hotels, skinfood, Lockwood, spaceships, Gourmet Garden, Nordic Naturals, and M2 magazine to name a few, would respond to me not being in Auckland. Thanks, however, to modern technology (especially skype!) the transition has been seamless. I get the best of both worlds: living and working in sunny Hawkes Bay, and the odd trip up to Auckland when needed.

So how can we help your business? With experience across international, national and local campaigns, we’ve gained a diverse range of skills over the years.

We provide businesses with strategic advice on their communication goals, objectives and design, and we implement campaigns that are effective. Our team are experts in creating high profile brand campaigns that persuade, motivate and influence consumer perception and behaviour.

We provide expertise in the following:

• News generation
• Key messaging / positioning
• Media liaison
• Copy writing – from news releases, newsletters to website’s and brochures
• Media famils
• Media monitoring and response
• Profile raising
• Commentary
• Media partnerships
• Competitions and subscriptions
• Media briefing
• Reputation management
• Events

Our strength not only lies with our great media contacts, but also with our ability to come up with relevant, creative concepts that engage audiences; whether it be through the media or direct with consumers. For example, a great recent project was handling M2 magazine’s (NZ leading men’s lifestyle magazine) PR for their M2 Best Awards. This came as a referral from the editor, who said he liked our style and loved our work.

Earlier this year we handled the PR for Bike On, and launched the ‘Bikes in the School’ initiative at St Mary’s School in Hastings. We managed to secure some great media coverage for this local initiative, including; Close up, TV3 news, Newstalk ZB, The Dominion Post and Hawke’s Bay Today.

We’d love to work with more businesses in the Bay so feel free to give me a call on 021 400 458 to chat about your needs; especially if you’d like to learn more about what PR entails and how it can help your company. If you have a moment, also check out our website, www.pr-ink.co.nz.

Go the Bay!”

Sarah is a great girl – def worth catching up with for a coffee.

That’s me on the left. My background is as a print and broadcast journalist, I have worked for networks like CNN, the BBC, Reuters, Associated Press and Al Jazeera in London and Los Angeles and have also worked on and off for TV3 for the past 14 years. I also do print writing for magazines and newspapers.

I am currently setting myself up as a freelance journalist based here and am wanting to reach out to any possible contacts who may have great story ideas from the region, I know there is plenty going on and plenty of great stories to tell.

My are of interest is broad, in my career so far I have covered everything from rugby to the stock markets, international film festivals and major court cases. I am hoping to cover a little bit of everything from here.

However I do have one particular area of interest, I am going to be joining Hawke’s Bay Today as a food writer (dabbling in wine). I will edit a weekly page for them which will appear in Saturday’s ‘48Hours’ section. It is still a bit of a work in progress but please if you hear of any new and interesting things going on in this industry, new cafes, ground breaking chefs, wonderful wines, unique products, eccentric people etc etc please let me know! I also plan to continue filing stories for 3News and writing for some national newspapers and magazines.

I am just starting to establish some contacts and networks here so please let me know if there is anyone you think I should be tapping into, the more information coming my way- the better!

Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

Belinda

Last week, Council approved the selection of four directors to the company board. They are independent directors Peter Snelling, David Mackersey and Rick Cranswick, and senior Council planner Mark Clews. Mr Snelling will chair the board.

“We couldn’t have wished for a better group of people to lead this new initiative,” Cr Lester says.

“This is a combination of development experience, commercial nous, planning skills and knowledge of what Council wants to achieve, together with a passion for Hastings and its people.”

“HDPL will initially focus on the development of Council’s surplus land to achieve desired urban outcomes. The commercial expertise of the directors will be used to manage risk and achieve positive financial results for ratepayers,” he says.

“The company’s first project will be to advance urban design improvements in Flaxmere and in particular facilitate the revitalisation of the Flaxmere town centre,” Cr Lester says.

In March, Council called for expressions of interest for local independent directors who had extensive experience and skills in development.

Councillor Lester says Council was overwhelmed with the strong interest in the positions from the business sector and was delighted with the response from many highly-qualified and experienced applicants.

All of these directors are outstanding business leaders in their respective fields with strong backgrounds in property development and commerce.

“The fact that this calibre of person has put their hand up is an endorsement of what the Council is trying to achieve, both with its urban planning and in bringing commercial expertise into our development process,” Cr Lester says.

Profiles of the directors are attached.

For more information:

Erin Harford

Communications Manager

(06) 871 5056

027 275 5205

Hastings District Property Limited Director Profiles

Let’s get behind Cranford

Well what a bombshell in the announcement of the temporary closure of beds at Cranford Hospice. The most loved facility in Hawkes Bay will no longer be the sanctuary for those leaving us and their loved ones. I am sorry, but there is no way that the Hospital can replicate this restful caring environment.
I have read the report and there are a lot of issues to be resolved. Many people will have various views on what is wrong here. The decision to temporarily close has not been taken lightly but all those involved have some responsibility.
I am proud of Cranford and I am greatly saddened by its current situation. It gets nearly 1 million dollars of donations each year from us. So let’s quickly fix it, restore the confidence, make the changes and move on. I am going to do all I can to make sure that this closure is indeed temporary. Six months cannot be allowed to become a year etc. So let’s all get behind supporting Cranford. At the moment it needs us.

See my Facebook page for further discussion…

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=164051568016&topic=15445

The addition of two highly experienced IT practitioners, Rohan Bowyer (Client Manager) and Paul Matthews (Senior Trusted Advisor), brings a great deal of capability to an already well-established Hawke’s Bay Codeblue team. Collectively Rohan and Paul have over 35 years of IT and management experience in both the New Zealand and offshore markets. Rohan has worked for leading businesses such as Deloitte, Thomson Reuters, TelstraClear, and Vodafone, whilst Paul boasts an equally impressive pedigree, having worked for Hyundai, Avis Group, Montana, ABN Amro and Datacom.

CodeBlue Hawkes Bay Managing Director Marcus Smith says with the addition of Rohan and Paul to the team we definitely have the winning formula for the Hawkes Bay. “Most Hawkes Bay organisations are still spending too much on IT, and proactive IT management for a fixed price has proved to be a major success for our clients. We continue to look forward to bringing substantial savings to local Hawkes Bay businesses.”

When the Smith family established their technology based service business nearly two decades ago the Hawke’s Bay technology landscape was quite a different one to that which exists today. Technology has certainly progressed rapidly over the last 20 years, especially through the advent of the online age, and we are bombarded with change on a regular basis.

The pace of change is accelerating and CodeBlue has grown into the Hawkes Bay market through successfully delivering ‘big company’ IT tools and expertise to small and medium sized businesses, cutting 40% off the total cost of running their PC’s and IT network. CodeBlue is unique in its ability to deliver highly sophisticated IT tools and services to local businesses with as few as five people, and up to several hundred. This lets small and medium sized firms cut their IT spend and achieve more stable, reliable computing.

Whilst the technology has advanced, the fundamentals remain for all businesses – great technology (matched with a great team) can provide a real competitive edge, but only if properly deployed, supported and consistently improved over time. For a lot of business owners, technology (IT) can be a frightening thing, often equated to a thing of voodoo or best handled by the (IT) witch doctors. CodeBlue works hard to demystify this, and will make sure our clients are getting true return out of their investment (and are investing hard earned dollars where they need to be).

Codeblue provides fixed price proactive monitoring for clients all over New Zealand, and challenges the traditional “break-fix” model, where you call once things have turned pear-shaped and IT companies profit from your down-time. CodeBlue effectively shares the risk with their clients, and helps to smooth out business cash flow, whilst making sure systems are operating as they should be.

Match proud local ownership, national & international reach, robust service delivery and a passion for the Bay, and you have a truly winning combination, here to help businesses see in the new wave of IT…

Released by Marcus Smith – CodeBlue Hawkes Bay.
For more information please contact Marcus on 021 520566 email marcus.smith@codeblue.co.nz

Piece Ltd started in Auckland in 2000 but Fiona and husband Aaron couldn’t resist the pull of Hawke’s Bay and so returned to live and work here four and a half years ago.

Fiona has been successfully distributing the fabric to designers architects and retailers throughout NZ during this time.  Now it is time to make way for new collections so this is your chance to buy some of this wonderful fabric directly from the importer at seriously discounted prices!!”

This Friday from 11.30am, Saturday from 10am at the Havelock North Community Centre, next door to the Public Library.

With the former All Back captain’s help, MAC’s premier side is hoping to turn around a dismal couple of seasons in which they haven’t recorded a win.

Go Taine! Go MAC!

Read more here: http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/sport/news/rugby-randell-laces-up-but-where-will-he-play/3912341/

The just launched www.wight.co.nz sells a range of carefully selected edgy and bold New Zealand and international labels, including Cybèle, Maurie and Eve, The Cassette Society and POP! Eyes.  The selections are complemented by the jewellery line House of Harlow, designed by Hollywood A-lister Nichole Richie.

The online fashion store is the fulfilment of a dream for its 24-year-old owner, Brodie Morgan, who says the store is for true fashion addicts.

“It’s fashion for people who aren’t afraid of fashion.  They like clothing that’s a bit different, a bit quirky, but they know that they can still wear it.”

Brodie brings a wealth of fashion buying knowledge and a business brain to the venture.  After completing a Bachelor of Commerce at Victoria University, she managed the Kate Sylvester store in Wellington, and then further honed her international buying skills with Stable, a multi-brand clothing retailer carrying labels such as Marc by Marc Jacobs, Nudie and Cheap Monday.

“I always knew from being involved in the Young Enterprise scheme at school that I wanted to be in business, but I’ve always loved fashion too, so to be able to combine the two is a dream come true,” says Brodie who, despite her fashion eye, wasn’t ever tempted to be a designer.

“Buying was always my favourite part of the job and I’m so glad I’ve had that behind-the-scenes experience as well as working on the retail side.  It’s all been invaluable for establishing my own online store.”

Brodie says wight.co.nz is bringing designer labels to those living outside the main cities in New Zealand and internationally, and those who love to shop online for their fashion for convenience or just because it’s fun.  “On-line shopping is only going to get bigger and better.”

She believes that the point of difference of wight.co.nz is her keen fashion eye and the valuable additional information for customers.

“There’s a lot of extra information – from trends and how to wear an item, to measurements and washing instructions.  Of course that’s combined with the highest levels of customer service, so that my customers can have complete confidence shopping online.”

The store name acknowledges Brodie’s Dad, Chris Morgan who she says has been a huge help to her in setting up the business.  “Wight is part of his middle name.  And I love the colour white – my wardrobe’s full of it!”

She says it’s difficult to describe her typical customer.  “They’re confident of their personal style, whatever their age, and like to express that through their fashion choices.”

“My Mum lives in the Middle East, and struggles to find clothes she likes.  Like me, she thinks New Zealand and Australian fashion has a lot more personality, so I think there will be a number of women her age who appreciate easily being able to buy cutting edge fashion, no matter where they live.”

“The Cybèle and POP! Eyes labels will probably appeal more to that market and other labels will cater to younger buyers, with more being added as I learn more about my customers and what they’re looking for.

“I’ll be closely monitoring how the different labels perform, what items sell and the feedback I receive.  Then it’s down to me.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Brodie Morgan
Phone +64 27 319 3051
Mobile 027 319 3051
www.wight.co.nz