By 
I am constantly amazed and annoyed when I hear of Hawke's Bay businesses contracting companies out-of-region to do work for them when there are competant and experienced local businesses that can do the work.
Reading Hamish's article reminded me of once such annoyance:
"We also have the various reincarnations of HB Inc / Venture Hawke’s Bay that have endeavoured to address this, though so long as we have separate governance and rate regimes, so to will we have self-serving initiatives that aren’t always in the best interests of the greater region."
Indeed!
Is it true that Venture Hawke's Bay has taken their web work out-of-region?
Their current website says their mission is:
‘To competitively market Hawke’s Bay as the best region to visit, live, work and invest in"
So wouldn't it be ironic if they aren't using local companies to help them to achieve that mission?
I emailed [VHB*] last week to ask to talk to the person who is in charge of the Venture Hawke's Bay web strategy and am still waiting for a reply...
* Editors note: This entry was changed on 18 September. My apologies to VHB. We have a light moderation policy but in these early days of Fruitbowl we are just finding our legs and this is something that I felt particularly passionate about.
12:39, 16.09.2009
I have to agree with this – not just limited to ICT sector though, as we have some tremendous in-region capability across the board, and the organisations and local bodies set-up to support and grow our region source supplier & partner relationships out of region, often without even looking locally (grrr).
12:49, 16.09.2009
Exactly!! While I shared one particular example, this ‘phenomenon’ is definitely not unique to ICT – it happens across the board. But why???
15:01, 16.09.2009
Venture HB did tender this project to HB based web developers. It’s really disappointing that this work was not awarded to a Bay company. With the like of Mogul etc – we have all the talent here on thier doorstep. Talent that at any stage can be in their office on a whim not a flight!
An organisation like Venture HB has to be totally transparent when it comes to engaging with suppliers and should use a tender process. I am not sure that this is the case with the new lads on the block.
I am sure we have a much more vested interest in the region and we’re much more passionate that an outta towner.
09:33, 19.09.2009
Words – are far more fatal than guns! Fruitbowl should not feel it necessary to make apologies or have to edit commentry (even in it’s early stages). We should be able to speak and express ourselves and our views – we are not naming and shaming and nothing should be taken personally – we all need to be bigger than that! You certainly don’t get any special on Bay Buzz.
Fruitbowl should have the backing and support from everyone participating to let us all speak our minds – as long as we make every effort to be factual. Everyone has the right to respond, clarify, and be challenged. good on Barbara for taking part with George – this is what it’s all about.
16:22, 21.09.2009
I’ve just participated in a HDC business confidence survey. The questions were based on what I thought the local economy would be like in the next 12 months, what the council did to assist our business, what local issues have impacted on our business eg the last drought etc.
It’s great that these types of survey’s are done. It was quick and easy to particpate. It was interesting though that the survey was done by an out of town research company. It got me thinking that there must be a reason for an outta towner firm doing it – perhaps they are the experts…perhaps they wanted more objectiveness or perhaps it’s a national contract…what do you think?
16:34, 21.09.2009
Shall we have a survey about surveys?? A meta-survey!!
16:40, 21.09.2009
mmm – perhaps we could create a quick snap shot survey (state of the bay) of a specific topic once a month – which could then be turned into a media release for the local media. We just did one ourselves on the Hastings branding and it gave a really good insight into what people think about Hastings.
An example could be just what’s on this site at the mo – where people are comparing internet speeds.
16:53, 21.09.2009
I think that’s a great idea. For example, it would be a great way to find out why HB businesses go out of region for work. If the HDC used the out of town research company bc they are the ‘experts’ or there aren’t HB businesses that offer that service – then they are good and obvious reasons. But if there are other reasons, it would be really valuable to know – then we may be able to address this issue.
14:00, 23.09.2009
Here at 3R we bend over backwards to keep our work in the Bay but it doesn’t always work all the time for a variety of reasons. I am frequently amazed at our poor business development skills and lack of attention to the needs of the client/ customer. What we find is that firms that come from the bigger places tend to have to work harder for their customers so their attention to detail is much more focused. That just means they sell themselves better, not that they would neccessarily do a better job. So we buy local when we are confident that the business understands our needs, not because it is based here in the Bay!
16:23, 23.09.2009
I’m loving the content on Fruitbowl already, a great place to give an honest opinion about stuff and get others thoughts. My policy in the 17 years I have been a business owner is to shop locally and I am committed to that philosophy. As a Franchisor everything is bought locally by our franchsiess – cars, insurance, furniture, computers, phones, printing and shipped to their location e.g CHCH, Auckland. Any conferences my businesses have organised have always been held in HB so it’s pretty simple and easy to do if you have the will there is certainly a way! It’s a pleasure to see local businesses that have grown along with my businesses and there are a number I have continued to deal with since 1992 – most of them actually. It’s unacceptable to me that business owners / councils can cop out by saying ‘it’ can’t be done it HB translate that to we haven’t looked? Bruce may have a point with his statement about ‘firms that come from bigger places tend to work harder’ although I’m certainly not convinced about that. My philosphy is that our company does the best for our immediate team members, our fellow business owners, our friends, family, children and the wider community by spending our money locally, everyone benefits.
12:05, 24.09.2009
Well said Adrienne. The talent is here but more importantly the passion is here as well. The dealings we have with our local suppliers is that that you’re not seen as a number – you are a fellow local business with a vested interest in the overall big picture.
Those from the bigger pond do have to work harder – there overheads are higher. I’ve worked in that environment and can now apply those learnings back here and that’s the same for many of us – we’ve been away learned more about our trade and now apply it here.
What we all need to make sure is that we continually learn and evolve through knowledge sharing and that’s what something like fruitbowl can offer.
13:28, 25.09.2009
Continuing on the local theme and we can do everything here – is there anyone out there who can fix the acoustics at the Opera Plaza. The venue is amazing but I get the vibe that people are getting ‘over’ the sound issues and I think the HOT Pink entertainer will be telling the world how rude we all were but we really weren’t we just couldn’t hear…..so can someone let someone know – the Manager at the Opera House I guess… who the wizard is who can fix the sound at the Plaza ….we might have to do some more fundraising but not to much of an issue!!
20:10, 07.10.2009
Bruce – I have been mulling your comment over and it sounds like you feel that many HB businesses are lacking in sales training and sales systems and processes. That is great feedback, those are the kind of comments we need to better understand this problem, so I have asked our Sales Trainer – Brett Burgess http://www.salesimpactgroup.co.nz/ to write an article about how important sales systems are to our businesses.