Business Mentors in the News
Small business owners feel lonely, says Business Mentors NZ chief executive
Many owners underestimate how much work goes into running their own small firm, research finds. Being a small business owner is a lonely position to be in says the new chief executive of Business Mentors New Zealand. Source: NZ Herald August 2018 Article here.
NZ Business Magazine (August 2018 Edition) - Mamma Knows Best
Donna McCormack’s relationship with Business Mentors New Zealand could be described as a mentoring partnership made in ice cream heaven. Together they already have branding and distribution licked. Well done to the two Wellington Mentors involved in this project, Tami Louisson and Dave Freeman, for doing such a great job.
Source: NZ Business Magazine August 2018 Article here
Beyond the Woolshed with a Business Mentor
A small business with great products but a not so great location wanted some new ideas to help them raise their profile, and found them with a business mentor. Read more from the
Venture Taranaki site.
Making the change: the accidental lawyer
Dee Morgan “never, ever dreamed of being a lawyer”, but after going to university for the first time in her 40s – albeit to study something else – she’s now running her own law firm.
Read more
Source: Yudu May 2018
How to start a business: Kiwi business owner's advice for getting the ball rolling
Are you contemplating putting that awesome business idea into action this year but too scared to take the leap of faith?
Getting started is often the hardest part, according to Kiwi small business owners.
Source: New Zealand Herald 7th January 2018 Read more
Mentor restores smile on farmer's face
Kawakawa Bay farm operator James Mclean cannot praise Business Mentors New Zealand enough for changing his "tunnel vision" and financial landscape.
Read more.
Putting social media training on your Christmas list
A paper recently released by Business Mentors New Zealand that showed that a large proportion of small to media sized businesses in New Zealand didn't know how to take advantage of digital media. Source: Stuff 12 December 2017
With the new tax year about to start on April 1, many businesses will be wondering how to make more money
Te Urewera honey to the world
In six years Manawa Honey has grown from 50 to 900 hives across 9000 hectares.
After she approached Business Mentors NZ, the not-for-profit organisation matched her with volunteer business mentor Wallace Roome. The working relationship between herself and mentor was mutually rewarding for both parties ..
Read more.
This story originally appeared in Gisborne Herald March 2017
Great mistakes I've made: Russell Freeman
Russell Freeman - a volunteer mentor for Business Mentors New Zealand - was the first retailer to sell Lotto in New Zealand. He now owns The Costume Company in Wellington. He shares a teachable moment from early in his career.
Read more
This story originally appeared in NZ Retail magazine issue 747 December 2016 / January 2017
‘Tiny houses’ make big impact
Finding solutions to the housing unaffordability crisis has inspired a
Whangarei builder to embark on a new style of building.
In 2016, Business Mentors New Zealand celebrates its 25 year anniversary of providing support and advice to small medium businesses across the country.
“It’s a culture of assistance,” says Dr Grahame Craig, Chairman of Board of Trustees, BMNZ, explaining that it’s a Kiwi characteristic that goes back to our country roots and smaller communities. “Farmers helped farmers. People helped each other to get support, to overcome isolation, to find solutions.”
Read more.
Mentor assists award-winning Tauranga lighting designer
Tauranga designer Mat Macmillan has won a bronze award in the lighting category of this year's Designers Institute of NZ Best Design Awards for his iO Lighting Drum Pendant designs. Mr Macmillan recently gained through the
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce a business mentor, which he said had been a massive help.
Mentoring helps build farmers' skills to comply with new enviromental rules
Marlborough woman's hot sauce could be picked up by Foodstuffs supermarkets
Somalian woman in Blenheim is on the verge of breaking into national supermarkets, with her traditional spicy halal sauce with the
help of Business Mentors
Small Business: What made a 60 Minutes reporter make kit for dogs
Crafting a successful business from Wellington's Underground Market
Silver jubilee for invaluable mentor service
In all good business communities there are the hidden gems – the quiet, lowprofile
people who just get on and help others. In Christchurch and nationwide, these qualities
can be found at Business Mentors New Zealand.
Read the article.
Victorian perfumes a hit with cruise ship tourists in Wellington.
Fragrifert Parfumeur owner Francesco van Eerd, who is based in the Wellington Skyline, is doubling the size of his premises after becoming a hit with cruise ship tourists.
Click here to read the recent Stuff.co.nz article.
Thinking beyond the box
Angela Sefton has merged a passion for art and photography with a love of vintage art.
With help from a business mentor, she’s taking her gallery to the world. Angela’s business, Black Box Art Studio & Gallery, comprises a gallery – in both physical and online formats, as well as art creation and a selection of original restored vintage New Zealand art and collectables under the Fantail Collection brand.
Click here to
read more
Start by Reversing Your Thinking
One of the best ways to really get creative and therefore entrepreneurial – is to practise reverse thinking. There is nothing quite like turning something on its head to see another point of view!
This is the approach that Business Mentor, Paul Petersen, frequently introduces to start-up businesses he works with as a volunteer mentor for Business Mentors New Zealand.
Read more n the Auckland Chamber of Commerce website.