Tag Archives: Hawke’s Bay

Water supply business springs up in time for busy summer season

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OVID-19 might be the crisis that we will all remember 2020 for but locally, farmers will never forget the year due to one of our most severe droughts.

Water demand was at an all-time high as farmers in sun-parched rural areas tanked in our most precious natural resource.

Local businessman Shaun McPherson was forced to return to one of his old jobs, truck driving, while his commercial cleaning business Boulevard Services experienced a downturn due to offices and retail stores being forced shut for many weeks.

While driving a truck, Shaun had plenty of time to think about business opportunities that could come from COVID-19.

As he drove across the Hawke’s Bay hinterland that was bearing the brunt of the drought, he plotted his new business idea – getting water faster to those that live in remote areas such as farms and coastal property owners.

“You had to be asleep at the wheel if you weren’t hearing stories of water shortages and farmers struggling to get an immediate delivery of water at the height of the season. Water supply was also regarded as a critical service, so we saw the opportunity.”

The spotlight on access to quality water has increased over the last few years, especially since the water contamination of Havelock North’s drinking water supply in August 2016 as well as the need for better water storage provisions for the primary sector.

Shaun and business partner Peter Cadwallader did some due diligence about the opportunity of water supply provisions and have set up Hawke’s Bay Water in time for the busy 2020/21 summer season.

“Our market research found that there is major shortage of water carriers, with people waiting up to three weeks in summer for water.

“I previously come from a transport background as well, so I understand trucks, drivers, log books and things like that.”

The pair have purchased two tanker units capable of moving a total of 28,000 litres under a Ministry of Health approved drinking water safety plan, and plan to operate 24/7 during the busy summer months.

Long term, they see an opportunity to become a turnkey water management and service provider from ‘tank to tap’.

“The whole idea in the future is to provide the tanks, plumbing, filtering and the water as well as all the compliance and monitoring. We will assist people to identify their needs, and treatment types and methods, then source quotes and project manage the works. Finally, we will develop the drinking water safety plan, which includes monitoring service maintenance/replacements, and sampling regimes.

“We want to add some professionalism and a turnkey solution. We want to be able to advise our clients on what are the best filtration and UV systems, not just deliver a tank of water.”

Peter has lived on a farm for many years and has experienced the stress of wondering how long it would be before their water would run out during long hot summers.

“We captured rainwater in our 45,000-litre tank and when that ran out, we would pump water from a creek three kilometres away, and when the creek ran dry, we had to find another source.

“These days we can deliver a tank of water, which takes the pressure off local sources and resource consent water restrictions.”

Despite his other business interests, both Shaun and Peter will be clocking up the kilometres over summer delivering water.

They purchase water from council-owned water filling stations in Hastings, Napier and Central Hawke’s Bay and will deliver as far north has Mahia and to Dannevirke in the south.

“We’re a start-up business so we’ll be doing the deliveries ourselves. We do have some others that are interested in helping out but we’ll see how we get on.

“Our real point of difference will be that we are 24/7.”

www.hb-water.co.nz

0800 429 283 or 021 836 946

Zeelandt Brewery – connecting the old and new

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It doesn’t get much more Kiwi than this: a brewery run out of a large steel shed just off the Napier–Taupo highway. There’s even a Kingswood ute parked outside.

But on closer inspection, there’s also a strong European vibe at Zeelandt Brewery in Eskdale.

Zeelandt is the Dutch province New Zealand is named after and founder Chris Barber says he picked it as his beer brand to signify a brewing connection between the old world and the new that dates back hundreds of years.

Chris has brewing in his blood. His great- great-grandfather,JessePrestidge,starteda brewery in Hororata near Christchurch in the late 1880s.

Chris was never a home-brewer but stepped into the industry through a job at Cornwell’s St Austell Brewery in the UK in 2004, followed by a spell at Auckland’s Hallertau Brewery, and then more time in the United Kingdom completing a diploma in brewing technology.

Chris’s family bought land in the Esk Valley in 2007, which is now home to Petane Station, the wine label run by his brother Phil, as well as the craft brewery that opened in 2012.

Zeelandt (pronounced “Zay-land”) is focused on producing “true to style” European-style beers, although that’s not all it does.

“Most of our beers have that European influence,” Chris says, “although we do have an American pale ale, Long Range Bomber, and our seasonal fresh hop pale ale, Pulling Cones.”

While Zeelandt’s brews are available at a number of Hawke’s Bay outlets and also in the main centres, Chris says one of his current priorities is to increase distribution to help grow the business.

And while craft beer enthusiasts can currently pop in and buy the beers, he also has plans to turn the Esk Valley headquarters into more of a visitor destination featuring both Zeelandt beers and Petane Station wines.

“It would be great to go down the beer garden route so we can showcase our products at the brewery and hold a few more festivals or events to highlight our seasonal beers.”

Chris believes Hawke’s Bay has developed a strong craft beer scene over the past few years and he’s confident enthusiasm for local brews will continue to grow.

“We’ve had great support over the years from Hawke’s Bay’s best restaurants and bars,” he says.

“Craft beers are continuing to chip away at the mainstream market. We’ve got a good mix of breweries in Hawke’s Bay, each doing their own thing.

“That can only help the market and hopefully it continues to inspire the region’s restaurants and bars to sell more local beers rather than just going down the mainstream channels.”

www.zeelandt.co.nz

Business Hub turns 3

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The Hawke’s Bay Business Hub is maturing into a busy and vibrant resource that’s being well utilised by the local business community.

2018 marks the third birthday of Hawke’s Bay Business Hub. The Hub, as it’s more commonly known, is a key initiative of Business Hawke’s Bay, the business-led economic development agency with a region-wide focus, devoted to creating the right climate for businesses to thrive in the Bay.

Carolyn Neville, CEO of Business Hawke’s Bay says that the Business Hub is a focal point and fantastic resource for the region’s business community and delivers a collaborative environment focused on business success and growth.

“We’re seeing record use of Business Hub facilities from a range of businesses, social enterprises and individuals, and the ways in which we serve business is growing all the time.”

To make sure the business community knows what’s available, how to make use of Business Hub facilities and to illustrate the versatility of the venue, a photoshoot was recentlyheld.Theresultingimagesshowcase a modern, flexible facility, that can support a wide range of activities including a training session, product launch, workshop, board meeting, networking event or recruitment drive. The Business Hub can cater for small or larger groups of up to 60, and the all-inclusive room hire is surprisingly cost effective.

Hawke’s Bay Business Hub:

  • Light, bright and modern meeting and conference rooms
  • A range of room sizes and facilities, with modest daily rates
  • Free WiFi
  • DIY espresso coffee
  • Presentation/multimedia equipment available according to the room hire, and covered in the hire price
  • Commercial grade kitchen facilities
  • Conveniently located in Bridge Street, Ahuriri

Hawke’s Bay Business Hub’s resources and rooms are available to everyone, says Carolyn Neville.

“We welcome visitors and there’s an open invitation to the business community to drop by and see us.

“If you’re in Napier for business and have a gap between meetings, feel free to drop- in and experience the buzz of The Business Hub. It’s free, and you never know who you might meet. Grab a DIY espresso coffee (for a gold coin donation), tap into our WiFi, perch on a stool at our white board tables in the breakout area and watch our vibrant business community in action.”

Hands-on-help for business people to develop and grow their business

The Business Hub is much more than a collection of rooms and well-appointed spaces, says Carolyn Neville.

“It’s the place where Hawke’s Bay business people come to learn, share, connect, grow their skills and unleash their business potential.

“At the Hub, people can get hands-on-help to develop their skills, grow their business and

make the right connections. For example, the response to the Hub Connect 123 pilot programme and in particular, the business starter session (featured in February’s The Profit) has been outstanding.

“We are gearing up to do much more in 2018 to make sure we provide businesses and business people with the right kind of support, starting with Friday Coffee Talks.

“It’s is a brand-new initiative incorporating a welcome end-of-the-week caffeine hit as well as valuable business networks, business insight, and the support to power businesses forward.

“We’ll have a barista brewing up the flat whites as industry experts share their entrepreneurial journey, wisdom and lessons learnt along the way. The event format is a 45-60 minute interactive presentation followed by plenty of time for Q&A and networking over coffee.

“These sessions are suited for anyone thinking of starting a business, new to business or wanting to gain more

understanding to help grow their current business. Sessions will be relevant, practical and interesting. They’re great value for money and well worth the investment of time away from work. Every coffee talk will have practical take away learnings.

“And for those with a business problem, The Hub’s Ask an Expert session, also on selected Friday mornings, is free and the chance to get initial advice followed by a referral for specific, detailed support.”

Fridays at Hawke’s Bay Business Hub:

• Business insights with the Friday Coffee Talks guest speaker series covering a range of business relevant topics ranging from marketing, on-boarding for new employees and market validation ($15 Business Hub members, $20 standard). Check Business Hub website for dates.

• Specialist advice with Ask an Expert – a free drop in session over two hours on Friday mornings that includes experts such as lawyers, accountants, HR/health and safety, and Regional Business Partners. No appointment necessary. Check Business Hub website for dates and the expert line up for each session.

• On-site barista; gold coin koha for a coffee.

Carolyn Neville says that 2018 is gearing up to be a big year for Hawke’s Bay Business Hub.

“We’ll be launching even more new ways to support the business community, drive business growth and contribute to the regional economy. We’re passionate our region and helping it to grow.”

For more information: www.hbbusinesshub.co.nz/hubevents or drop in to 36 Bridge Street, Ahuriri.

Project a winner for business and charity

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It’s a fundraising mission with a difference: fitting out an aging 40-foot container to give it a new lease on life.

Repurposing the large, blue shipping container into a multipurpose, habitable and consented transportable building is a major task for the small team at Architecture & Interiors Ltd.

Once the months-long ‘Life Box’ project is complete, the container will be auctioned off by Bayleys Real Estate with the proceeds going to Look Good Feel Better (LGFB), a charity supporting people with cancer.

Architecture & Interiors’ managing director Melissa Burne says as well as supporting the charity, the project is an exercise in professional development for the Hawke’s Bay architectural firm and a way to build relationships with other industry professionals.

It would also help educate the public on the process involved and the true costs of completing such a container build project.

“With so many new builds and renovations on the go in Hawke’s Bay at the moment and with small living rising in popularity, we wanted to truly reflect the processes from consenting and compliance to working with many contractors and the council,” says Melissa.

“We are committed to best practice techniques and working with a shipping container has been a real eye opener for my staff and myself. It has been a fantastic team building exercise for us all.”

The company has set aside time every Friday to work on the project, which Melissa says has received incredible support from other businesses.

“A large number of suppliers and contractors have not hesitated in getting involved with us as we embark on this project.”

The team say they chose to partner with Look Good Feel Better because the effects of cancer are close to the hearts of many. LGFB Hawke’s Bay spokesperson Clare O’Higgins says the charity is excited to be involved in the project and really admires Melissa and her team for taking it on.

“As a charity we support those people going through cancer treatment to feel good about themselves again, and let’s face it, the container is getting a bit of a makeover as well, so this is a perfect fit,” Clare says.

Open days will be held at Architecture & Interiors’ Pakowhai Road base during the course of the construction to give the public opportunities to view progress on the container as the project proceeds.

Architecture & Interiors is documenting the project on a blog that can be found on the firm’s website: www.architectureandinteriors.co.nz.

Boxing clever: building a business out of a shipping container

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From coffee outlets to homes and offices, container buildings are springing up all over Hawke’s Bay. What’s driving this trend and what are the advantages of doing business out of a metal box?

It started in 2011 when Al Borrie opened ‘The Box’ – a modified shipping container transformed into a coffee outlet in Clive.

Another container café – Tamara and Pete Melville’s ‘Magnet’ – popped up on Napier’s Marine Parade in the summer of 2016/17.

Then last year Melissa and Ant Campbell opened their Red Bridge Coffee container shop just off Waimarama Road in the Tuki Tuki Valley. Its popularity prompted them to replicate the concept with a second container outlet that’s recently begun trading on Pakowhai Road, Hastings.

Meanwhile, a growing number of Bay residents are choosing to live or work out of the modified steel boxes and container suppliers and building industry professionals say they’re dealing with a growing number of inquiries from potential box-dwellers.

So, what’s the attraction from a business perspective?

Melissa Campbell says when she and Ant were initially looking to set up their Red Bridge venture, they wanted to do something with a bit more flexibility than a traditional coffee cart.

A 20-foot container offered more room, both for the layout of the kitchen and so that customers could stand and sit inside. It also meant an awning could easily be attached, expanding the available cover from the sun and rain.

Melissa says before buying the new container, she did a lot of research and due diligence, including searching Pinterest for container build design and fit-out ideas.

The resulting build wasn’t cheap compared to other options but has delivered a structure

that’s fit for purpose and is also easily relocatable, if they ever decide to move.

She says anyone thinking about undertaking a container build needs to ensure they consider all the costs involved – including aspects such as electrical supply and plumbing – to ensure a realistic budget is put together.

It’s also important to have detailed conversations with your builders to ensure they have the correct vision of what you’re looking to achieve, says Melissa.

Melissa’s advice is echoed by Brian Wynne, national sales manager for ContainerCo, a nationwide container depot operator and container hire and sales business.

Brian says ContainerCo has seen strong growth in the container modification side of its business as interest in container builds continues to grow.

He says a container can be turned into a cost-effective business building but, like Melissa, he advises anyone with a container build idea to prepare a comprehensive budget.

While the initial cost of buying a container may seem cheap, people are often surprised by the high cost of making the required modifications, he says.

If you have the trade skills necessary to do the fit-out work yourself, it can be a very cost-effective building option, Brian says.

“Whereas if you have to get people in to do the work for you, it can get expensive.”

Business people scoping out a possible container project also need to include in their budget costs such as electricity and water. Will you use generator power or mains on your site, and what will be the respective costs of either running the generator or installing an electricity supply? How much water will your business require each day, and where will you source it from?

Every council has different requirements for consenting container builds, Brian says, so it’s important to go to them with architectural drawings and as much information as possible to streamline the consenting process.

“If you have everything ready and you’ve thought about the process they’re more inclined to help you and pass it through.”

Landscape architect Willie Murphy of Pollen Workshop is into his third year working out of a 20-foot high cube container beside his Te Awanga home.

Pollen’s design philosophy is centred around the creation of simple, highly functional spaces and Willie says having an “up-cycled” repurposed shipping container as his office is “a beautiful reflection of this attitude”.

With ranchsliders running most of the length of one long side of the office, there is plenty of natural airflow to keep the office cool through the hot Hawke’s Bay summer.

Temperature control is also helped by the addition of a timber and coloursteel roof and timber slats on the outer walls to stop the metal frame of the container absorbing too much heat.

Brian says considerations around temperature control need to be top of mind with any container build because the interior of a closed, uninsulated container can hit 50 degrees in the hot sun. That said, there are various ways of cooling, insulating and achieving airflow, which need to be factored into the budget as part of the build.

Lighting is another key consideration and again there are a number of options, including installing a false ceiling with LED downlights.

“The more natural light you have the less it feels like you’re sitting in a container,” Brian says.

Melissa says when she and Ant decided to open their second Red Bridge Coffee café at Pakowhai Road, they were able to implement some design improvements as a result of what they had learned from the first container build.

That process was aided by engaging Hastings firm OTTO Engineering, which specialises in designing and manufacturing container builds.

OTTO Engineering managing director Matt Heeringa says making the most of the limited space available is a rewarding challenge when working on a container project.

“Some clients know exactly what they want while others give us very little in the way of a brief, so we have a lot of design freedom, which can be nice.”

As an engineer who has always loved working with steel and also enjoys the challenges of combining it with wood and other materials, Matt says he is excited by the current trend towards container builds, which has captured the public’s imagination.

For business owners, the novelty of a container conversion can even help attract customers, he says.

“It’s something with a different character. People are quite interested in having a look inside a container café because it’s a diversion away from what they were originally manufactured for, so it’s quite cool and interesting.”

Tumu Timbers – nailing its market

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Pallets and bins may look simple to build but for one of New Zealand‘s largest manufacturers, Tumu Timbers, there’s a level of sophistication that’s getting the best from what others would regard as the off-cuts.

Tumu Timbers, based in Irongate Maraekakaho, has been supplying a range of pallets, bins, wooden packaging and timber products to a wide range of industries since the early 80s. The business – part of the TUMU Group of companies, some of which are neighbours – is set out across the nine-hectare site.

In the early days the construction process was manual – from the grading of timber through to hammering the pallets together – yet today the constantly growing facility uses computer software, digital grading scanners, automated assembly lines and a trial is about to get underway involving robotics.

Jobs are safe however; although technology is helping increase productivity, staff numbers have grown over the past eight years from 80 to 150.

Tumu Timbers general manager James Truman and operations manager Andrew Cranswick can easily reel off the statistics but as impressive as they are, they’re also focussed on ensuring the 150 staff and their families are part of its success.

In terms of productivity and reliance on the core material – pinus radiata – Andrew easily rattles off the impressive numbers.

He says about 10 truck and trailer units transport timber to site every day. “Or if we laid timber end to end, it would stretch the distance from here to Australia seven times a year, that’s 40 to 50 kilometres of timber a day,” he says.

In finished product, Tumu Timbers builds approximately 800,000 pallets and between 50,000 to 100,000 bins each year. Of the 800,000 pallets (which are used mostly for the apple, kiwifruit and industrial sectors), 75 percent are exported across the world. If pallets produced were stacked on top of each other they would reach the heady heights of Mount Everest every four to five weeks.

The mix of technology and manual labour pumps out about 5,000 units across two shifts, totalling 22 hours of operation a day.

So how many nails are used in the process? Enough to build around 20,000 houses a year, or in actual nail numbers, 75 million!

Yet for all the numbers, James hopes that the business is not just well regarded for its business success but as an employer of choice.

“The business has increased production significantly for the growing demand for bins and pallets, especially within the horticulture sector, and automation has helped this but not at the expense of losing staff, in fact the opposite has occurred.

“We embarked on a series of automation instalments eight years ago. During that time, a lot of people perceived automation would replace jobs but instead we’ve gone from 50 staff to 150 staff.

“Automation has enabled us to do things better and grow. We have increased volume and are now servicing more customers. We’ve just realigned staff in the process for better utilisation.”

As sectors such as horticulture have grown so has the demand for pallets and bins. But a log of timber is cut for many uses, from building houses through to industrial uses, such as bins and pallets.

As the construction industry is also booming, the demands on timber are stretched. Tumu Timbers sources timber from more than eight sawmills, including sister company Kiwi Lumber.

“Our sheer volume means we need to rely on a range of mills such as Pan Pac, Red Stag, Tenon and Kiwi Lumber. Availability is becoming an issue with a lot of logs being exported. Historically it has been cyclical; previously we would have been able to buy timber for the seasonal demand but now you need to commit all year round.”

As demand increases for timber, the bit in the middle (what Tumu Timbers uses) is under more pressure from the building sector.

This pressure has led to the introduction of new grading technology and computer software to get more out of the raw material.

“We used to manually grade timber with people marking out defects with a crayon based on their visual assessment of a knot.

“Now with computer software and digital grading using cameras and lasers, we can utilise more of the timber and reduce waste while not over spec’ing things.

“A human can probably mark three to four grades on a board of timber while a scanner can instantly identify hundreds of defects and work out which ones can still be used to meet the product specification.”

James says that with technology becoming ever present in the facility, there is more of a focus on upskilling staff.

“We are upskilling staff all the time and looking to recruit, which like many other businesses is sometimes difficult.

“Potential job candidates probably look at us and think we only have people cutting timber using manual docking saws but we’ve got a skilled workforce. We’ve got tradespeople, qualified engineers and timber machinists and we offer apprenticeships and strong career pathways – both within the business and the wider group of businesses.

“One area we have been struggling with is management trainees – ie. future managers – they are hard to find. It’s sometimes hard to convey to someone young about a future career but we have opportunities that can grow into leadership roles.

“The view we’ve got is that TUMU Group is big enough for fantastic career opportunities. You can come in at the factory floor and work your way up; and if you outgrow this business, there’s the other businesses within the group – so if there’s a road block within the business that they are in there’s usually an opportunity elsewhere.”

James says a core business objective is to promote the business as a great place to work.

“That’s about offering a range of things to create a desire to work here. We’ve always been very capable on the safety side having invested a lot of money in safety improvements, but over the past two years, we have focussed on well-being of staff and whanau.”

A well-being committee has been established and the company provides a range of programmes to improve general health including medical checks and mole maps through to encouraging diet and fitness.

“We are currently going through a life- changing challenge. We have 20 staff who are undertaking a programme of fitness activities in our association with the Giants boxing academy in Hastings.

“We also provide free fruit and healthy lunch options and we’ve had some great results not just in staff participants but also their families.”

It looks like Tumu Timbers is fit for purpose and will continue to grow in line with the industries it serves.

www.tumutimbers.co.nz

A brewpub where you’re spoilt for choice

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Much has changed in the world of beer appreciation over the three decades Jeremy Bayliss has been running pubs in Hawke’s Bay.

He recalls that in the early 1990s, when he was managing Napier’s Criterion Hotel, beer drinkers weren’t exactly spoilt for choice. So it was a big deal, for example, when Steinlager launched a second label and punters suddenly had the option of a Steiny Green or a Steiny Blue.

Fast forward to today’s very different beer scene. Jeremy is the proprietor of the Westshore Beach Inn, Napier’s only ‘brewpub’ where beer is made on-site and 30 varieties are available on tap alone.

The Westshore Beach Inn is home to the Napier Brewing Co, a joint venture between Jeremy and Paul Anderson, founder of Indian restaurant Indigo.

Jeremy began a push to offer drinkers the ultimate in choice about seven years ago when he stocked the Westshore’s fridges with about 200 different craft beers. But in the past few years the focus has shifted to the fresher option of a regularly-changing range of tap beers, including – but not limited to – those produced on-site.

“It was just a natural progression for the business. It was about delivering an experience to our customers and giving them a reason to come here,” he says.

One thing the focus on craft beer wasn’t, he says, was any kind of reflection of his personal skills or interest in brewing.

Jeremy says he has never been a home brewer, failed School Certificate science and “I can’t match two chemicals together, I can’t cook.”

Jeremy says he remains convinced the brewpub model is the way of the future.

“Family-focused, child-friendly brewpubs are more about family than beer. They’re an environment where people can relax and converse, with a great offering of food and beer – that’s what pubs stopped being.”

About 45 to 50 percent of the Westshore Beach Inn’s beer sales are now craft product.

“We don’t make more money from the beer we brew here but we think we’re more successful because we’re presenting to the public something that’s interesting and varies all the time. It’s not that the beer is cheaper – it’s not, it’s more expensive. We can’t brew on-site here cheaper than mainstream beers because of economies of scale,” he says.

“On that basis, for most brewers, if they costed their time, brewing is a labour of love. But not everything’s about money.”

Jeremy believes Hawke’s Bay is well served by its range of craft brewers and hospitality venues selling their products, along with other quality beers.

“There’s a good local community of brewers in Hawke’s Bay. I think we all realise the market is there to be grown. Rather than battling with one another, it’s far better to grow the market and for everybody to rise with the rising tide.”

For those reason’s Napier Brewing Co has always employed a brewer. The role was first undertaken by Damian Birchman of Crazy Bay Beer, then by Matt Searle of Sneaky Brewing. Last year John Bradbury, previously of Eskdale’s Zeelandt Brewery, took up the job.

Jeremy says the three brewers have each brought their own style and personality to the role, producing a wide range of beers, “which is part of the fun”.

“We’ve had a leaning towards American pale ales and done a really good job with those. With John we’re branching out a little bit more. He’s done more work with more malty and English-style beers while still maintaining the APAs.”

www.westshorebeachinn.co.nz

On the right Axis for growth

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A Hawke’s Bay business that plays a big role in putting other businesses up in bright shining lights, prefers to keep a low profile.

Axis might not be well known within the Hawke’s Bay scene in general but they are the ‘go to’ business for sign writers nationwide through to boat manufacturers and everything in between.

So, what do Axis directors Russell Thorogood and Leon Pryce and their team of 13 actually produce?

Essentially Axis can take a flat sheet of alloy, plywood or plastic (or anything) and with a CNC router or CNC laser create 3D building signage, shop fittings, engraved award trophies or componentry for the building and engineering sectors. In fact, they can pretty much do anything with a flat sheet of material!

“We can do anything from door plates to all sorts of signage, boats along with props for the film industry. We can do individual letters or numbers as small as six millimetres through to boat panels as large as six metres,” says Russell.

In the early days when they were on the hunt for work, they got the opportunity to profile cut and manufacture the rear end of an Americas Cup yacht with an interactive grinder that was used as part of a promotional campaign for the America’s Cup in the early 2000s.

Another early break was supplying all the signage for the redeveloped Waikato Stadium in Hamilton in 2002.

The business first set up in what Russell says was “pretty much a shoe box” in Duchess Crescent in 2001 and has grown and moved several times to now be in a purpose-built facility in the Irongate industrial zone.

“We started out in a room that was 20 m2 and now we’ve got this fantastic facility that is about the size of eight basketball courts, with room to expand.”

Axis was previously in an industrial park alongside Furnware in Omahu Road – a facility that they needed to expand twice.

“I remember when we first moved in and we had 600 m2 and I thought we would never fill it; but five years later, we doubled our space and now we’ve moved again,” Leon says.

Russell and Leon identified early the type of business they wanted to create and who they would target. They didn’t want to deal with the end user but instead wanted to be a supplier or intermediary to an overall business sector.

They initially targeted sign writers nationwide, with Russell getting in a car and driving the length and width of the country showing what they were capable of.

Some of the clients secured in those early days remain with them today as well as many others that email daily designs that they want to be brought to life using a vast range of raw materials.

“We’ve also been involved in the development of unique products that someone has invented. They will come to us with an idea, we’ll do a prototype, tweak it and depending on its success, we’ll continue to supply.”

Axis has been a supplier to one of the world’s largest technology companies for many years. Russell says they built a strong relationship with Vectek Electronics (which was bought by ABB) early on supplying labels that went on electronic equipment to now, manufacturing and supplying many parts that go into ABB equipment.

“Our focus has always been on quality and service and that’s helped us compete well against other CNC businesses.

“Our aim is to quote, produce and deliver to, say, an Auckland customer faster than if they had someone like us just down the road.”

Axis now employs 13 staff and has heavily invested in technology and software. The business has four CNC routers and two CNC lasers.

The one-hectare Irongate Road site is powered by solar energy, with one of the largest double-sided solar commercial installs in New Zealand. Solar generates enough electricity to operate the complex throughout the day and then some.

“While we were in the early stages of building this facility, I visited some buildings in Australia and we could see the cost and environmental benefits immediately. Solar is the future.”

The next route for the business looks exciting. Leon and Russell, with involvement from the team, are always looking to drive the business into the future.

www.getroutered.com

Collective wisdom, bottom line success – The Alternative Board

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Many small and medium businesses (SMEs) in Hawke’s Bay are set to benefit from a globally successful business development model that is based on collaboration of those sitting around a boardroom table.

The Alternative Board – www. thealternativeboard.co.nz, has been brought to the Bay by two well-known local businessmen Wayne Baird and Russell Jaggard. It draws on their wide range of business skills, the experience the business owners participating as board members bring; and the collective wisdom of thousands of businesses from all over the globe.

Wayne says it was only by chance that he stumbled across The Alternative Board when he saw the opportunity online.

“Russell and I had been working as business coaches since last July but we were constantly having to invent new resources across the business spectrum. I saw The Alternative Board online and I was instantly interested.

“It’s an alternative way to look at taking a business to the next level. There’s a wealth of tools and resources as well as coaching, but the unique factor is that we are bringing business owners together – to help each other succeed,” Wayne says.

The Alternative Board was launched 28 years ago by US entrepreneur Allen Fishman and Wayne and Russell got the opportunity to meet him on two occasions while they learned more about the organisation during a visit to its headquarters in Denver.

“Allen is now in his 80s but he is an incredibly inspirational person, who is passionate about seeing other business owners succeed.”

Aucklander Stephen James brought the concept to New Zealand in 2012 and it is now established in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington and Christchurch.

Russell and Wayne have secured the territories of Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, Taupo and Wairarapa. The plan is to establish Hawke’s Bay over 2018 and then look at Taupo as the next area.

“There’s over 9000 businesses across our area and we can see that the boards that are created have the potential to add significant income and jobs to many businesses as well as boost each region’s GDP,” Russell says.

The Alternative Board brings together six to eight non-competing business owners as a board with those owners meeting monthly to give advice and provide solutions for each other’s business.

Wayne says there is always a different focus at each meeting with board members presenting an issue or an opportunity which is then explored collectively.

Wayne and Russell’s role is to facilitate and make sure the meetings flow and that time in the hot seat is evenly shared so that all participating business owners get guidance and support.

“We make sure that everyone is well prepared for the meeting, ready to update others on actions taken from the previous meetings, and having a clear idea of what they would like to be discussed with the Board.

“There’s a high level of confidentiality in a trusting environment. We look at it as a combination of shared wisdom and being accountable to our peers,” Russell says.

After each board meeting Wayne and Russell meet individually with the business owners to assist in implementing the actions arising from the board meeting or on other projects that have been identified.

The duo have access to a wide range of The Alternative Board proprietary tools and resources that cover the business spectrum – from human resources materials to marketing and sales through to financial resources.

So what credentials do Wayne and Russell offer in supporting the growth of other businesses?

Wayne has worked across a wide range of businesses, from small start- ups to a corporate environment. His business acumen has been honed in manufacturing, engineering, utilities, IT and telecommunication businesses.

“I’ve owned businesses and have worked in a range of other businesses both locally and nationally. I’ve experienced and seen most of the issues that are likely to arise in a business.”

Russell spent 21 years in the accounting profession and most recently was the CFO for a national ICT business. He is buoyed by the introductory launch event held in mid-April in Napier, as well as the positive responses he and Wayne have received from visiting local businesses.

“It’s been well received. The concept is very different to traditional business growth concepts and most see the value in coming together to accelerate the growth of each other’s business.

To find out more go to: www.thealternativeboard.co.nz/ alternative-board-hawkesbay/ or see dates below for sample board meetings.

 

Celebrating Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Excellence

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The 2018 Napier Port Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Awards has this year recognised the outstanding contribution of seven past, present and future leaders in their field.

The 2018 winners are:

Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year – David Danks

Pan Pac Hawke’s Bay Farm Forester of the Year –  Charlie and Michelle Bogard

Hastings District Council Primary Sector Industry Leader of the Year – John Buck

Bayleys Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Professional of the Year – John Cannon

BWR Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Innovation Award –  StockX

Lawson Robinson Hawke’s Bay A & P Scholarship – Marcus Yule

Laurie Dowling Memorial Award – Sam Robinson

Hosted by the Hawke’s Bay A & P Society at the Hawke’s Bay Showgrounds, over 400 people celebrated the biggest night on the region’s primary sector calendar.

The society’s president Simon Collin says championing and celebrating primary sector excellence has reached a new level for the region.

“These awards celebrate our past, present and future leaders. They are working incredibly hard, they are all dedicated to their different sectors and they are all making a real difference in helping make our region successful.

“Hawke’s Bay’s has a proud history as a primary sector engine house from its rugged hinterland to the rich productive plains of the lowlands.  We have seen innovative producers harness these resources to place the region as one of the most significant food producing regions of New Zealand.”