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industry - Business Growth

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Experts213
Questions964

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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LEADERSHIP

 Hi there, My husband and I have owned our business for close to 10 years and built it from scratch to a now successful and known brand. We employ 8 people currently. It took a long time and many hours of work to build it up and it is only in the last few years we’ve been able to reap the rewards. It’s been a tough year mentally and we are at a point where we want to throw the towel in. Not because of Covid or financial stresses, the business is doing well at the moment,  but because we are sick of dealing with the day to day dramas of staff and managing people which takes away from the reason we do what we do and the reason behind why we started this business. We’ve also been thinking lately about what is our end goal, what is our exit plan and where to next, can we expand, if so how, do we sell? To who? Close down? What about our lease?  We don’t really want to just throw away 10 years worth of hard work for nothing…But it is getting to the point where this is draining and we feel like we have no real direction. What are our options and who can we go to for advice with this sort of thing? I feel we need a mentor to advise and help guide us on what the next step should be. Would love to know your thoughts. Thanks in advance. An over worked family. 

Question submitted by @anonymous 29/10/2020 @ 10:03 pm
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CREATIVE SERVICES

Hi there,We are a collaborative design business just starting up, called Ember-Ruby Design service. We are in need of some advice, as we need to purchase ArchiCAD 2021 to start our first job that we have been contracted, (we had the earlier version of this software but it is no longer compatible) This software is expensive an upfront cost of $10,700 and because we haven’t traded before we don’t know how we would be able to get a loan or grant to help us. Any advice would be very appreciative as we really don’t want to turn this job down. Kindest regards, Calit 

Question submitted by @anonymous 29/10/2020 @ 7:33 pm
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DIGITAL & ONLINE MARKETING

I need help with increasing traffic through my online store on my website. sasharougemiel.comI would like to add to more products but if there is  no interest on what I’ve already put up, then I’m unsure if I should proceed further. I would be also interested to find out if I would qualify for any grants as I’d like to design more products. 

Question submitted by @sasharougemiel 29/10/2020 @ 12:57 pm
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FUNDING & FINANCE

Business insurance – who are the best brokers to speak with

Question submitted by @anonymous 28/10/2020 @ 5:12 pm
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START-UPS

Kia ora, Me and my friends are looking to start a youth facilitation organisation to contract out our services with a youth perspective and we just need to establish our organisation. Administratively we need to define and design our model. Engage for initial support financially and to then begin reaching out to our networks for work  

Question submitted by @anonymous 28/10/2020 @ 1:20 pm
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START-UPS

Kia Ora,My name is Louis Gordon. I am a 23 year old Masters student from the beautiful Bay of Plenty.I’m building a seaweed business that aims to deliver across a quadruple bottom line (culture, economic, environment, and society) whilst restoring the Mauri of our oceans – and I would really appreciate some help.Like most Kiwis, I have a strong affinity for our beautiful Moana (oceans and beaches) – spending much of my time in, on and around the water. Recently I decided I want to give back to it, as it has given me so much. As I looked into what I could do, I realised just how serious the threat to our oceans is…. From loss of biodiversity, to overfishing, to acidification, to effluent run off, the list of threats formidable. The more I looked the more of a problem I saw, and the more determined I became to start an initiative to help.What if we could make NZ Carbon Neutral through seaweed carbon sequestration?What if we could create more high-value products to support our economy, and subsequently create jobs, quality jobs, for hundreds if not thousands of people?What if the research was already there, but we just aren’t doing it yet? I am currently studying a Masters of Technological Futures through Tech Futures Lab, and am using my studies to address this problem – and answer these questions.The primary aim of my project is; To explore regenerative approaches to aquaculture in New Zealand, validating the need and corresponding opportunities as to how the apply across cultural, economic, environmental and societal aspects.And the question I’m looking to answer is; How might seaweed aquaculture be enabled to make a significant contribution to our economy while positively addressing climate change?Now here’s where I am stuck.I’m not sure how I go about getting water space to test my hypothesis, and prove that seaweed is viable, desirable and feasible. Is there any chance you could help?I’m trying my best and would be extremely grateful for any pointers for any aspects of the project!I truely believe that this project has the potential to deliver real value to our country across cultural economic, environmental and societal aspects. As guardians of the land and the sea, we need to start taking the things seriously so that we, our kids, and their kids, can go pippi dancing at low tide in whangamata, or catch a fish thats ‘this big I swear!!’. Thank you,Louis Gordon

Question submitted by @louis 28/10/2020 @ 5:19 am
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INTERNATIONAL

Kia ora Manaaki TeamI have a NZ Company and want to set up a distribution centre in Gold Coast Queensland Australia.  Can I establish this DC under my NZ Company or do I need to set up a Australian Company.  I have my sister that resides there and will operate the DC.  We would have ingredients exported to Australia to make up the product line for sale in Australia.Thank you

Question submitted by @gmharris62 27/10/2020 @ 4:42 pm
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BUSINESS GROWTH

Hi,I have hit a roadblock.I’m losing interest and the frustration is making me wonder if it’s time to call it a day.The business is residential cleaning.I know I can bring in the work! I have trouble hiring ladies that want to work, then there is the contracting issue and $ paid.  I’m limited in what I can pay because I can only charge out so much to the client in order to be competitive.

Question submitted by @anonymous 27/10/2020 @ 1:21 pm
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FUNDING & FINANCE

Kia ora. Would love some advice on how to structure my payment system to contractors. My business is all online. A portion of my business will be bringing in facilitators who I’ll be hiring to do the work. The work is created by the facilitator but ownership belongs to the business. Rather than giving them an hourly rate, I want to share the profits of the product they create for my business (75-25 %roughly) so they only get 75% of profit at the end of every month.My question is, what’s the best way to structurethis in terms of payments, taxes, accountability to IRD  etc. also I’m very new to business. Is there anything I  should be thinking about when paying people thank you 

Question submitted by @anonymous 27/10/2020 @ 6:07 am
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BUSINESS GROWTH

I am keen to grow my new business maraestay.co.nz and would welcome some post launch strategies, I am employing 2 people due to start next week. I am based in Gisborne and we are a Maori owned business – we received funding from TPK in 2019 to complete a business case. 

Question submitted by @anonymous 26/10/2020 @ 7:18 am
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FUNDING & FINANCE

We are a transport company, contracting to Fulton Hogan Ltd.  The BNZ gave us a temporary overdraft, which runs out today, due to the last lockdown our revenue was cut and now we are short of capital to cover our expenses for the month. The BNZ will not extend our overdraft, even though we are working more hours.  We need help to cover our expenses, as well as look at taking on a driver to increase our monthly income.  Can you please advise where we can go for this?Thanks.

Question submitted by @susan-solomon 23/10/2020 @ 11:56 am
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SALES

Kia ora! I’m Adam from Solid Oral Care we make effective and sustainable toothpaste in Titahi Bay, Porirua. We have recently registered for gst and have employed our first person (a covid redundancy). Looking for sales advice/guidance (both on and offline) and female founder networks. Thanks in advance!!!

Question submitted by @adammcconnochie 23/10/2020 @ 11:56 am
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FUNDING & FINANCE

When business is still pretty fresh and there is no guaranteed income …just hope… How do I start paying myself? In a previous”business” I never paid myself but this time around I’m turning a profit and want to start paying myself something even if just small. Just want to make sure I’m doing that by the book.It won’t be a salary as such as turnover is not super high /consistent yet.Do I start on a commission based model maybe?For context : I’m a Sustainable Stylist and offer personal wardrobe styling services, personal shopping services and I resell preloved clothing ( both on consignment from Clients and items I’ve sourced secondhand)

Question submitted by @anonymous 23/10/2020 @ 6:49 am
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BRAND & MARKETING

We started a business almost 3 years ago now, and have seen consistent growth, year on year. Our business is seasonal though, so we are looking at two things:1. Increased awareness, sales and distribution in NZ2. Exporting to Northern Hemisphere countriesRegarding these two points:1. We don’t feel that we have got our online strategy entirely right – is there someone able to help us with this? We need help with achieving point 1… mainly in terms of marketing…2. We really need guidance on how to go about exporting. We have been in touch with NZTE but it is very slow in responding, and we are itching to get moving… Any advice/support here would be fantastic.

Question submitted by @anonymous 22/10/2020 @ 1:32 pm
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