News Archive

Palmfeild Motors are tops
27 November 2010

Winning the Professional Service Award at the 2010 Westpac Manawatu Business Awards took a team effort, says Palmfeild Motors dealer principal Rob Ryan.

This is the first year that Palmfeild Motors has entered the awards. Rob describes the process of entering the awards as involved, but says that, once the decision was made, staff were keen to commit themselves.

"We were really lucky. All the staff got behind the application process. It was a real team effort to get the work done."

Several factors were behind the decision to enter the awards, Rob says. At a Chamber of Commerce after-5 business function earlier in the year, feedback on the Palmfeild Motors new purpose-built premises on Tremaine Avenue was extremely positive.

"People commented on what awesome facilities and staff we had. To hear neutral people make those comments was great."

This feedback, combined with Palmfeild Motors' winning of a Mazda award for excellence in service earlier in the year, indicated the company was performing well.

"The Mazda award recognised that our dealership is basically No 1 in New Zealand in service. "So when the awards were launched at CB Norwood Distributors, the timing was right for Palmfeild Motors to take the step and enter."

Going through the application process gave the company the opportunity to evaluate its performance in various areas. "It was a good refresher course. We could identify the areas that we were doing well in, and also areas where there were opportunities to fine tune things."

Rob acknowledges that this year has been a tougher year in the motor industry than the previous one. "But that just means we have to look at our systems and processes and work harder and smarter. But excellent service is always our No 1 priority."

Palmfeild Motors, a Mazda and Subaru dealership, was established in 1998 under the umbrella of the Robertson Motor Group. The business moved to its new site two years ago.

Looking to the future, Rob says it's business as usual. "As always, we will be striving to offer excellent service to all our customers."

Tasting sweet success
27 November 2010

It was third time lucky for Oleene Wells, owner of Munchkins, when she won the People Investors Award at last week's 2010 Westpac Manawatu Business Awards.

Munchkins was a finalist in 2005, and entered again in 2008. But the company had to wait until 2010 to taste success.

Oleene believes it's the company's recruitment policy, its interviewing techniques and its ongoing training programmes that brought success this year. Because of the nature of the retail industry, staff turnover can be high. To reduce this, Oleene has instigated a group interview system.

"I like to see how [interviewees] react in a group situation. In retailing, it's important that people get along with others. I do talk to the interviewees one on one. But when talking about the job, I talk to them in a group."

Oleene finds her young staff members stay, on average, two to three years. "That's probably quite good for retail. But I like to encourage staff to improve themselves, and usually staff leave because they want to travel or study."

Munchkins has a staff of four full- timers and four part-timers who work between the Broadway Avenue store and The Plaza kiosk.

Oleene says getting feedback from the business awards judges is invaluable. "Often as a business owner, you don't take the time to analyse your business because you are too busy doing the day-to-day work."

The other benefit was meeting other business owners at the awards night. "It endorsed [the theory] that the way you treat your customers and staff is the most important aspect of owning a business.

Oleene and husband Malcolm entered the confectionery retail business when they bought an established business in The Plaza 20 years ago. Then, 12 years ago, they set up Munchkins.

Earlier this year, they opened the kiosk in The Plaza. The Munchkins store is a destination store that loyal customers visit for gifts, while the kiosk attracts more impulse buyers who fancy a treat.

Munchkins' specialist item is fudge, which is made on the premises and comes in 20 different flavours. The store also stocks a range of 80 hand- made chocolates.

Winning partnership
27 November 2010

There was a double celebration for Kevin Bills Photography at the 2010 Westpac Manawatu Business Awards last week.

Kevin took out the Best Micro Business Business Award, and his sole staff member, Sarah Dong, won the individual award for the best point of contact for customers.

Kevin Bills Photography was a first- time entrant in the awards, and found the experience invaluable. "At the end of the process, you have an amazing business plan that you can update regularly and see where you are up to. You have a powerful business tool."

Kevin says he was thrilled just to be a finalist. "To win the award just blew me away, and for Sarah to win as well was amazing. I'm thrilled for her."

Customer service has always been a priority for Kevin and Sarah. "We have always ensured that we are easy to get hold of and that nothing is a problem."

Kevin has developed the business over 12 years, while concentrating on building up a solid base of clients.

"What is different about us is that we have really built up our commercial clients, taking a lot of photographs of products for advertising or websites, " Kevin says.

He set up his studio on Tremaine Avenue eight years ago and has invested heavily in setting up the perfect studio and equiping it with top-of-the-range photographic gear.

Five years ago, Kevin learned that Sarah, who studied photography at UCOL, was heading north to establish her own photography business, so he offered her a job. It's a partnership that works well.

Kevin takes the photographs and Sarah processes them, although she has her own clients and steps in to take photographs for Kevin's clients when necessary.

Of her success at the awards, Sarah says she's still slightly shell-shocked. She says she's grateful to their clients for their support and to Kevin for the opportunity he has given her.

Working hard to make it ezi
20 November 2010

What started as a small women's clothing mail order business on Rangitikei St in 1978 has grown to become one of the region's success stories.

The two men behind EziBuy, brothers Peter and Gerard Gillespie, had their years of hard work recognised at last night's Manawatu Business Awards. Jimmy Ellingham looks at how EziBuy grew.

In EziBuy's early days, Peter and Gerard Gillespie would pore through lower North Island phone books searching for workplaces full of females to send their clothing catalogues to. And in the best traditions of 1980s tupperware evenings, EziBuy had party plan agents through New Zealand running EziBuy nights.

Jump forward three decades and EziBuy has become one of the larger group trades throughout Australasia, with three distinct brands: EziBuy, corporate clothing company Profile, and retailer Max Fashions. About 700 people are employed across the group.

Profile, acquired in 2006, supplies uniforms to firms such as ASB, BP, New Zealand Post and Burger King. But the EziBuy brand remains associated with Manawatu.

"It was an idea that took off, " Peter says. "I think we know our market well. We had the right product and we tried to put our customers first. Loyal staff play a role in keeping things ticking along too."

"It's lasted because we were passionate and we were innovative, " Gerard says. Being a catalogue-based business also allowed EziBuy to reach parts of New Zealand without chain stores. And until recently, there wasn't the plethora of women's clothing shops in shopping malls.

"There was an opportunity that we grabbed, " he says. Women are still buying clothes and homeware from EziBuy. The brothers attribute this to the convenience of online and mail-order shopping.

The firm makes about 2 million deliveries, mails out 20m catalogues and takes 500,000 internet orders every year.

Glossy mail-order magazines have replaced the black and white sheets of papers that used to advertise EziBuy's women's clothing range.

The firm gets behind Manawatu causes too, including the Turbos, Centrepoint Theatre, cricket and cancer fundraiser, The Relay for Life. But the Gillespies say they're happy to keep their profile low.

"Peter's a bit more outgoing than me. We come from Christchurch. We come from a hard-working family, " Gerard says. "We had to work hard. Our priorities aren't having to have profile. Our priorities are looking after our staff and families. That's just the way we are."

He'd rather be at the cricket or playing golf then a social function, while Peter keeps himself busy through interests in horse racing. Both have close links to the Marist sports club, and in the 1980s, another Marist cricket man, Matt Toynbee, joined the brothers.

During the formative years, Peter, with his background in retail, ran that side of the business. "My role was to run the business and work across all the areas. Matt's role was the marketing side."

In those busy days, the three would meet every day for a half- hour lunch to chat about work. During the 1980s, EziBuy moved across town to John F Kennedy Dr, where its main retail store and distribution centre remain.

In 2006, a new distribution centre, the size of nine rugby fields and boasting 2.5 kilometres of conveyer belt, opened off Railway Rd.

Another person who had input into the early business was John Robinson, who worked with Peter to set EziBuy up. Then Peter got Gerard involved, calling him into the business shortly after his honeymoon and OE with wife Viv.

"We arrived in a rental van with our wedding presents . . . We had nothing really, " Gerard says.

Peter has no regrets about pulling his younger brother to the city. "I've got to say [it] was the best move I ever made. Gerard's a lot more competitive then me."

Peter moved to Palmerston North in 1976, and one of his four shops in the city was a screen-printed T-shirt business. Customers would often ask why he didn't open in Levin or Dannevirke or other towns, he says. But rent, wages and other overheads can make this less than profitable.

"That's where I got the idea of a catalogue, " he says. So EziBuy was born.

Now most of the group's business is from Australia - a country which even The Warehouse couldn't crack. "A lot of New Zealand retailers went into Australia and didn't do very well. We started very small, " Gerard says.

An "innovative but conservative" attitude allowed the firm's presence to develop. Operations there took off from 2002, when EziBuy bought the database and branding of Myer Direct.

These days, Peter and Gerard now don't play an active role in EziBuy's day-to-day operations. Head office moved to Auckland three years ago, but they remain in Palmerston North.

"I value my association with Palmerston North. I play golf here once a week. I play tennis here once a week. We've got good friends here, " Peter says.

Public acknowledgment at last night's Manawatu Business Awards made both brothers feel proud.

"It's recognition not just of Peter and me. It's recognition of our families making sacrifices and it's a reflection of the staff, " Gerard says.

Peter hopes 30 years in business has brought respect.

"I'd hate to think it changed our outlook or our personalities in terms of our success, " he says. "You don't have to represent yourself to any one else but your family and your own self. There's no point in trying to make out you're something you're not."

Getting down to business
22 November 2010

Time after time, the WMC Technology team took the stage at Friday night's Westpac Manawatu Business Awards, winning the New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Innovation in the Manawatu category, ACC Workplace Safety and the coveted Westpac Manawatu Supreme Business Award.

After only five years in business, WMC now employs six full-time staff, exports globally and umbrellas two trading divisions: Wheresmycows farm mapping and Precision Irrigation.

Director, George Ricketts, was "stoked" with winning the awards, describing the night as "just awesome" for the company and business in the Manawatu.

Frogparking won the Norwood Best Emerging Business Award, FMG Insurance took out the Property Brokers Spirit of the Manawatu category, Kevin Bills Photography was awarded the title of Powerco Micro Business, Munchkins received the Ministry of Social Development People Investors Award, Palmfeild Motors took out the Morrison Creed Professional Service category and EziBuy was honoured with the Manawatu Standard Lifetime Service Award.

Individual Chamber of Commerce Awards were presented to Colin Farrington of wind farm company Vestas, Sarah Dong of Kevin Bills Photography and Julie Barnes of Centrepoint Theatre.

MC Dai Henwood's comedy contributed to the electric atmosphere and kept the evening flowing, while the Feilding High School Ukulele Orchestra impressed with renditions that included ACDC's Thunderstruck and Toto's Africa.

The soulful sounds of Laura Evans and her guitar were appreciated as guests tucked into a delicious meal, Miss Manawatu, Jasmine Robinson, added a bit of sparkle to proceedings and Andeejay of Radio Control kept the party going into the night.

Congratulations to all of 2010's Westpac Manawatu Business Award winners and a huge thank you to those who came along to support excellent business in our region.

Entries have closed!
30 September 2010

Entries for the Westpac Manawatu Business Awards have now closed. Congratulations to all the businesses that were nominated, and also to those that took up the challenge of completing the entry form - we have already received feedback from businesses who felt the process of completing the entry form was beneficial alone. Our judges will certainly be busy over the next month! Don't forget to read the biographies of our three judges by clicking here.

Nominations are rolling in for the individual Chamber Awards. You can still nominate an individual staff member, manager or contact person up until the 22nd of October by visiting our website. Why not celebrate the efforts of those who go beyond the call of duty or deliver exceptional service? Click here to nominate.

If you were nominated for a business award, and you would like to add the Westpac Manawatu Business Awards logo onto your website, please contact stacey@manawatubusinessawards.com

Tickets for the awards night will be on sale from the 1st October. Contact nikki@visionmanawatu.org.nz to secure your seat at what will be the business event of the year! Our celebrity MC, and entertainment will be announced on our website soon.

Planning excellence - application workshops
1 September 2010

When Vision Manawatu approached Third Bearing Consultant, Lyn McCurdy, to run the 2010 Westpac Manawatu Business Awards application workshops, she was only too happy to oblige. 


Lyn has worked with Vision Manawatu in coordinating the awards previously and, as a former judge of the Whanganui awards, has valuable insight into the judging process to share with this year's applicants. 
 


She describes the business awards as an excellent exercise in understanding a business' key strengths. 


"It's about identifying your business' points of difference and gaining valuable feedback. What other people perceive as your business' strengths may not always fit with your perceptions", she said. 
 


Lyn encourages applicants to attend an application workshop to gain a clearer understanding of the entry process.

During the workshop one of this year's judges will provide applicants with information about judging criteria.

Lyn will also prompt applicants to consider the dual benefits of entering as both an opportunity to achieve recognition for business excellence and a business planning exercise.

Application workshops will be held from 12-2pm at Vision Manawatu on:

• Wednesday 8th September
• Thursday 9th September

Applicants need only attend one of these workshops and can register their interest in attending by emailing stacey@manawatubusinessawards.com

Launching into the 2010 Business Awards
13 August 2010

CB Norwood got things cracking with a fabulous launch at their Tremaine Avenue showrooms, August 12, marking the opening of nominations for the 2010 Westpac Manawatu Business Awards.

Jessica Sutton from the Manawatu Standard was there.

Click here to read more.

All atwitter in the lead up to awards
13 August 2010

A little birdie told us you'd like more Business Awards news, views and information. Follow us on Twitter to receive all the latest info as it becomes available.

Click here to follow us on Twitter.

Nominations are now open
12 August 2010

Know of an outstanding Manawatu business? Why not nominate them for the 2010 Westpac Manawatu Business Awards?

Click here to nominate now.

You're invited to the launch
4 August 2010

2009 Supreme Award Winners, CB Norwood, are hosting the launch of the 2010 Westpac Manawatu Business Awards and you are invited.

The evening of the 12th August is shaping up to be a fabulous night for sponsors, previous winners and those of you interested in entering this year's awards. But hurry, there are only 40 spaces left!

Discover why the business awards are great for Manawatu businesses, learn what's involved in entering, understand the categories and be in to win a spot prize or two.

Click here to learn more.