In a rapidly changing digital landscape, Deesha Bhatia, COO and Co-founder of Adclics, reflects on her journey from biomedical science to entrepreneurship in the world of digital marketing. With a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Science and a Master’s in Audiology, Bhatia’s transition to the digital marketing sphere may seem unusual—but it was precisely her diverse background that led to the creation of Adclics, an AI-driven marketing platform designed to simplify digital marketing for businesses of all sizes.

Adclics was born out of necessity. After co-founding an e-commerce skincare brand, Bhatia faced the challenges of competing in a crowded online space against established brands with physical stores. The experience highlighted the importance of effective brand imaging, messaging, and digital marketing strategies. “One of the biggest challenges was building trust and engagement with customers. I quickly realised how crucial it was to understand the intricacies of digital marketing—from SEO to A/B testing and everything in between,” said Bhatia.

Despite having no formal background in marketing, Bhatia dove headfirst into the world of digital marketing. Through trial and error, countless hours of learning, she gained invaluable knowledge on SEO, SaaS, ROI, and CRM. She also recognised that many small and mid-sized businesses were facing the same struggles she encountered. This insight led to the creation of Adclics, a solution that simplifies marketing processes using AI automation and data-driven insights.

“Digital marketing can be overwhelming, especially for those who don’t have a background in it,” Bhatia explained. “Adclics was designed to make marketing accessible and manageable, even for entrepreneurs without a marketing degree. By leveraging AI and data, businesses can make smarter decisions, save time, and see real results.”

Adclics aims to revolutionise the way businesses approach digital marketing. By focusing on user-friendly tools and intelligent automation, the platform helps entrepreneurs and businesses effectively manage their online marketing campaigns. From automating tasks to providing actionable insights, Adclics empowers businesses to achieve their marketing goals with ease.

Bhatia and her business partner’s journey continues to evolve, and they plan to share more insights on digital marketing challenges and the story behind Adclics in upcoming blog posts and content. “Exciting things are on the horizon, and we can’t wait to share them with our community,” Bhatia said.

Media Release 25 February 2025.

MIL OSI

Latest business insolvency data has revealed the highest single-quarter figure since 2016, but an increasing number of Kiwi business owners are exploring alternatives to liquidation for survival.

The BWA Insolvency Quarterly Market Report has revealed insolvencies rose by 23% in Q2 2024 compared to Q1, and 36% compared to the same period last year. With 700 insolvencies reported between April and June – the highest single-quarter figure since 2016— the data underscores the ongoing economic challenges faced by New Zealand businesses.

Insolvencies in New Zealand by Quarter, including liquidations, receiverships and VAs.

Most sectors are experiencing increased business failures, with food and beverage, construction, and property and real estate services being particularly hard hit, the report reveals. The construction sector saw a 22% year-on-year increase, rising from 133 to 162 insolvencies. Property and real estate surged by 50%, from 62 to 93 cases, and food and beverage experienced an 85% increase from 27 to 50 insolvencies.

“While we anticipated a rise in insolvencies, the scale of the increase has been significant,” BWA Insolvency principal Bryan Williams says.

“Of immediate concern is the fallout that hits employees. When companies go down, employees lose their jobs, and with the current economic squeeze there are not enough places available for all job seekers.

“There will be many empty pay packets and demand will suffer as a result. Empty cafés and a worldwide abundance of wine are evidence of moderated consumer spending.”

Other influences on the economy include global politics: “We have the potential for stable governance in the United States towards the end of the year, which could impact the war effort in Ukraine and, in turn, decrease importing inflation.

“With the Reserve Bank’s recent interest rate reduction, there is some hope for economic improvement. However, there is much in the pipeline that needs to work its way out and it is doubtful that better cashflows will come soon enough to correct current insolvencies.

“It is inevitable that insolvencies will be higher than normal for the next six to nine months.”

Despite the outlook, there is a growing awareness and adoption of Voluntary Administration (VA), offering businesses an alternative to liquidation or receivership.

In the second quarter of 2024, there were 28 VAs, 5% of total insolvencies, compared to Q2 2022 were there were just five VAs for the period.

“The rise in the adoption of Voluntary Administration reflects increased awareness among business owners of their options when facing financial difficulties. We continue to field enquiry for this model as a way of helping businesses navigate through troubled times,” Williams explains.

Sector highlights – Q2 2023 vs Q2 2024
Construction: Up by 22% year-on-year from 133 to 162 insolvencies
Property &
Real Estate: Increased by 50% year-on-year, from 62 to 93 insolvencies
Food & Beverage: Increased by 85% from 27 to 50 insolvencies
Tourism: Slight decrease, from 9 to 8 insolvencies, down by 11%
Retail: Minimal decrease, from 39 to 36 insolvencies, down by 8%

Receiverships have seen a 62% increase year-on-year, from 26 to 42 cases in Q2 2024, indicating a more rigid stance on outstanding debt by creditors.

“Secured creditors are less willing to wait when they see signs of debtor trouble,” he adds.

Williams believes there is reason for cautious optimism. “We expect the upward trend in insolvencies to plateau later in the year as discretionary spending increases and economic conditions stabilise.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel and recovery will be driven by consumers spending less at the same time as producing more. Reduced interest rates will flow more revenue into the economy, aiding recovery.”

Read the Quarterly Market Report here.

Media Release on 24 October 2024

Media Contact
BWA Insolvency
Managing Director and Insol Fellow, Bryan Williams
bryan@bwainsolvency.co.nz

MIL OSI

Dynabook ANZ, the laptop experts, today announced the launch of the Portégé X40-M, the latest addition to the range, designed to meet the needs of businesses of today.

The Portégé X40-M promises to deliver unparalleled performance, effortless connectivity and a significant boost in productivity.

Angela Walker, General Manager of Dynabook ANZ, commented on the launch: “The Portégé X40-M represents a significant leap forward in laptop technology. Dynabook is constantly raising the bar to deliver devices that combine high performance with advanced connectivity and security. This great new addition to our product lineup exemplifies that we will continue to bring innovative solutions that enhance our customers’ productivity, support their dynamic work environments and are AI ready.”

Premium Performance

The Portégé X40-M is engineered to unleash speed and efficiency. Powered by the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra processors featuring a Neural Processing Unit and Intel® Arc™ graphics, this laptop provides an exceptional computing experience. With advanced AI capabilities, users can automate, streamline and optimise their tasks effortlessly. Expect amazing performance and extended battery life, making the Portégé X40-M the perfect companion for your working day.

Stay Connected Anywhere

Staying connected is crucial in today’s fast paced world. The Portégé X40-M ensures you are always in touch with its advanced Wi-Fi 6E technology and a full range of ports including HDMI, Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-C, USB Type-A and a microSD card slot. Whether you are at the office, at home, or on the go, you’ll have every connection you need right at your fingertips.

Superior Memory

When it comes to performance, the Portégé X40-M does not disappoint. It features onboard memory (RAM) configurable up to an impressive 64GB. This allows users to handle demanding applications and multitask with ease, ensuring smooth and efficient operation even under heavy workloads. Whether you are running complex software or managing large datasets, the Portégé X40-M’s generous memory ensures you stay productive and efficient throughout your working day.

Sleek and Stylish

The Portégé X40-M is designed with a sleek and durable aluminium chassis, offering elegance and robustness. This lightweight yet sturdy construction ensures this laptop can withstand the rigours of daily use while looking incredibly stylish. The premium build quality makes it an ideal choice for professionals who need a reliable and sophisticated device.

Longer Lasting Battery Life

The Portégé X40-M’s AI-optimised 60Wh battery ensures you stay productive for longer periods. With the innovative Sleep & Charge technology, you can even charge your USB devices while the laptop is off, ensuring you’re always ready for your next task.

Ready for Anywhere

Built for today’s work environment, the Portégé X40-M features a 5MP AI-enhanced webcam, dual microphones and an audio system with DTS processing. These features provide clear, productive video conferencing, making remote collaboration seamless and efficient.

Visually Appealing

Experience crisp, clear visuals with the new 14” WUXGA display featuring a 16:10 aspect ratio. The optional touch display offers a more vertical workspace, enhancing multitasking and productivity. Whether you are working on detailed documents or multimedia content, the Portégé X40-M provides a visually stunning experience.

Advanced Security

Security is a top priority for Dynabook. The Portégé X40-M is a Windows 11 Secured-core PC (vPro models), integrating robust hardware and software defenses. These laptops protect against sophisticated cyber threats with specialised hardware protection and firmware safeguards, ensuring unparalleled security from boot up, keeping your critical data safe.
 
Copilot Ready and Empowered

Meet Microsoft Copilot¹, your AI assistant accessible via a dedicated key on the Portégé X40-M. Pressing the Copilot key¹ streamlines tasks such as launching apps and adjusting system settings through voice or text commands, enhancing your efficiency and device navigation.

Pricing and Availability

Pricing: Starting from $1730 RRP Inc. GST.

Availability: The Portege X40-M will be available at the end of August 2024.

For more information about the Portege X40-M and other products in the range, please visit Dynabook’s website.

Note to Editors: High-resolution images of the Dynabook Portege X40-M are available upon request.

¹ Microsoft Copilot Feature availability varies by market for the devices which have the Copilot in Windows icon, see aka.ms/WindowsAIFeatures

To learn more about the new Portege X40-M laptops from Dynabook, please contact your authorised Dynabook reseller, or visit anz.dynabook.com.

Visit our website for the latest product details and specifications. Connect with us on our social media channels: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

# # #

About Dynabook ANZ Pty Limited.
Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Dynabook ANZ Pty Limited, provides a diverse portfolio of B2B laptop computers. Dynabook designs, engineers, and manufactures its products in its own-operated facilities to ensure quality and reliability. Dynabook ANZ is an independent operating company wholly owned by Dynabook, Inc., of Japan, a wholly owned company of Sharp Corporation. For more information on Dynabook ANZ, visit https://anz.dynabook.com/.

© 2024 Dynabook ANZ Pty. Limited, Dynabook is a trademark of Dynabook Inc. All other products, services, and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective owners. Information including without limitation product prices, specifications, availability, content of services, and contact information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.

Media Release on 15 August 2024

Media Contact
Annette Horst, Dynabook ANZ
ahorst@anz.dynabook.com
+61414996852
https://anz.dynabook.com

MIL OSI

Approaching the holiday season, Wayne Cooney is aiming to assist tradespeople facing insurance renewals in December or January. With a two-month window available, now is the opportune moment to secure a free quote tailored to your specific needs. Don’t miss out on the chance to receive the exceptional service and personalized quote you’ve been seeking.

Seizing the Opportunity:
Wayne Cooney has been a trusted insurance advisor for countless tradies during the festive season, and he is eager to extend his support to even more professionals. Why pass up on an offer that could make a significant difference in safeguarding your business? Why not make your life a little more stress-free?

Overcoming Hesitation:
While the holiday rush can be overwhelming, Wayne Cooney understands the importance of this opportunity. He encourages tradespeople not to let a busy schedule or hesitation deter them from experiencing the exceptional service he provides. Take a moment to explore the glowing reviews from satisfied clients who have benefited from Wayne’s expertise.

Dedication to Client Needs:
Rest assured, Wayne Cooney acknowledges the demands of a busy schedule. Even amidst his own commitments, he prioritizes allocating the necessary time to ‘nail down’ the right coverage for every client who reaches out to him.

Time is of the essence, and the window of opportunity is narrowing. Tradespeople should not let procrastination or a hectic schedule impede them from obtaining the insurance coverage their businesses deserve. Reach out to Wayne Cooney today and start the new year with confidence and peace of mind. As your dedicated Go-To-Adviser, Wayne Cooney is ready to assist you in getting your coverage sorted!

Do you need to take a look at your insurance coverage? Give Wayne Cooney your go-to insurance broker a call for a free quote or review today!

www.waynecooneyinsurancebroker.co.nz

Media Release 7 November 2023.

MIL OSI

MAD Media, a prominent player in New Plymouth’s business landscape, has long been committed to giving back to the community through social giving. Their extensive list of initiatives showcases a genuine dedication to making a positive impact in the region. One of their most prominent sponsorships leading up to Christmas is the beloved “Christmas in the Bowl” an event that brings joy to the hearts of many on December 17th.

“Christmas in the Bowl” is a festive celebration that brings the community together to embrace the holiday spirit. This annual event, sponsored by MAD Media, features live music, food stalls, and an enchanting atmosphere for families to enjoy. It has become a tradition that residents look forward to every year.

In recent months, MAD Media has supported a range of initiatives, demonstrating their commitment to both charity and community development. Taranaki Hospice, a vital organization providing end-of-life care, received assistance from MAD Media. This support ensures that individuals and their families receive the care and compassion they need during challenging times.

MAD Media also backed New Zealand Blood’s efforts, highlighting the importance of blood donations in saving lives. They contributed to Conductive Taranaki, a program helping people with disabilities achieve their full potential. Their support extended to Highlands Intermediate School, NP Roller Sports Club, SPCA, We Love Dogs Charitable Trust, and Project Play, all of which play essential roles in enhancing the local community’s well-being.

MAD Media’s impact goes beyond traditional charities; they’ve supported individual athletes, like Monique Wieruszowski, a young talent striving to set a world swim record. Additionally, they’ve sponsored events like Sam Rapira’s Hybrid Fight Night, showing a commitment to promoting local talent and entertainment.

As the key sponsor for NABBA Bodybuilding Nationals 2023, MAD provided extensive advertising in the lead-up to the event. As part of their commitment to helping organisations such as NABBA, the team at MAD provided professional competition photos & video to the athletes and community at no cost.

MAD Media does not only support the Taranaki community, they also work closely for charities and other not-for-profits in Whanganui and Hamilton. The newest community to benefit from MAD’s generosity will be the township of Taupo, where MAD is going live with the newest board at the start of December 2023.

MAD Media’s dedication to the community is an example of how businesses can make a meaningful impact beyond their core operations. Through their sponsorship of “Christmas in the Bowl” and support of various initiatives, they’re spreading joy and improving lives in the region, embodying the true spirit of community engagement and social giving.

www.mediapa.co.nz

Media Release 7 November 2023.

MIL OSI

New Zealand startup Wise Move has been on a mission to revolutionise the local moving industry – and they’re succeeding. The transport and logistics sector is one of the toughest to crack, but the innovative online platform has managed to make moving a breeze for thousands of Kiwis.

Since launching in 2017, Wise Move has processed over 150,000 successful delivery requests and more than 600,000 quotes have been submitted, making it one of the most active new online platforms in New Zealand for both clients and service providers.

People are loving the intuitive interface that effortlessly connects users to local movers- creating fairer pricing, transparency, and new opportunities for local independent carriers to thrive in a highly competitive market. What’s more, people have used Wise Move for everything from moving pets to moving boats and pianos – not just the usual furniture and household items.

To date, more than 500 movers have already gone through the extensive vetting process to join the Wise Move network of carriers, and over 100,000 users have registered to use the platform.

The Wise Move platform is designed to make it easy for clients to get quotes from multiple local moving companies, compare prices and reviews, and book their move all in one place – meaning more people than ever before are getting their moving quotes online, even those who would have once opted for a DIY move.

The result has been a more efficient, cost-effective and customer-friendly moving experience that is disrupting the status quo in New Zealand, creating new jobs and helping people get the best possible deal.

Prices have on average been up to 35% cheaper than traditional quotes, some even as much as 75%. This is because movers have been incentivised to offer better quotes by optimising routes or by filling backloads or offering shared loads.

This means that businesses have actually made more money than they traditionally would have. And, at the same time this new way of doing business is making trips more efficient and eco-friendly. It’s no wonder Wise Move is one of New Zealand’s most popular online startups at the moment.

“Wise Move saved my business. I have more clients, better exposure and I can easily optimise my routes to include backload deliveries and shared loads. At this stage, I can’t imagine working without them” – Wise Move Approved Mover.

After registering and being approved to submit quotes on Wise Move, movers immediately benefit from increased exposure and a steady stream of new clients. Carriers, no matter how big or small, benefit from the dedicated marketing and increased online presence – something many New Zealand movers never had.

In some ways, Wise Move has become the new word-of-mouth recommendation for moving companies. Every time someone leaves a review, you know it’s from a completed delivery. Those are real experiences and there is no way to fake them.

That’s also why the startup has gained a reputation as a trusted online platform in the moving industry. It has already been featured in many of the major publications such as The New Zealand Herald, Stuff.co.nz, and NewsHub.

While Wise Move was founded with the goal of making moving easier and more affordable for everyone, their achievements are a testament that the right solutions will benefit everyone.

“It’s been an incredible year for Wise Move. We’re thrilled to have helped so many people move, and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow and improve our service in the years to come.” – CEO and Founder Gedi.

True to being a startup, Wise Move has made it its mission to not only solve the issues in the moving industry but also to do its part in saving the environment. As part of the 1% For The Planet initiative, Wise Move donates a portion of their annual sales directly to local grassroots environmental nonprofits.

Wise Move has quickly made a name for itself as the go-to platform for finding quality, affordable moving services. With strong year-on-year growth and adoption, it has an open road ahead of it.

Media Release on 26 October 2022

Media Contact
Gedi, Wise Move
support@wisemove.co.nz
https://www.wisemove.co.nz/

MIL OSI

NZ Jobs Search will match jobs in New Zealand to potential candidates overseas who have the necessary in-demand skills. They will focus on vacancies in the trade, industrial skills and healthcare sectors, all of which are facing severe labour shortages.

“New Zealand has just opened its borders to workers from around the globe. The immigration system is quite complex and there are new visas available so getting the right advice is vital for both employers and candidates,” says NZ Jobs Search founder, Darryl Montgomery.

“The team at NZ Jobs Search can handle all the details. We have more than two decades of experience in the recruitment industry, and through our partnership with New Zealand’s leading immigration law firm can provide accurate visa advice for prospective workers in the New Zealand jobs market.

“We help candidates eliminate uncertainty and risk, making a move to New Zealand smoother and less stressful, and helping employers fill their vacancies.”

The NZ Jobs Search team is not just offering listed jobs from key employers in specific industries; they also tap into the hidden job market by going to market on behalf of an offshore candidate to find an employer and job offer that matches their skills.

“We started NZ Jobs Search to leverage the huge amount of experience recruitment specialist, Debbie Rhodes and I have with employers and immigration law,” says Darryl.

“We’re looking forward to partnering with New Zealand businesses to recruit skilled migrant workers and contributing to the talent and skills in the NZ labour market.”

Media Release on 23 August 2022

Media Contact
Darryl Montgomery, NZ Jobs Search
Email: darryl@nzjobssearch.com
Phone: 021 331 124 
Website: https://www.nzjobssearch.com/

MIL OSI

In November 2021 Platform 1 conducted a market survey titled: Attitudes To Entering Business Ownership Following Covid 19.

Data from this survey of potential future business acquirers shows that despite the pandemic, there is still not enough scalable businesses available. Over 65% of all respondents mentioned that they were finding it hard to find a scalable business with growth opportunities. This increased to 77% when measured only against those exclusively looking for a business. They also mentioned that many of the businesses available were too small.

When questioned on whether the pandemic was impacting their decision to buy into a business, only 38% said it had made them reconsider.

When asked whether buying into a business gradually would interest them more than an outright purchase, 65% said yes, while 32% said both options would suit them. The remaining 3% said no or not applicable.

Platform 1 Director Mike Warmington said “One of the more common questions we get from people looking at opportunities, is that scalable businesses are in short supply. People leaving a successful corporate career are wanting to apply their skills to innovate and grow a business, often using technology as an enabler. They are not looking to simply replace their salary.”

The open rate on opportunity emails to the Platform 1 potential acquirer database has increased from 33% to 40% from June to October 2021. Click through rates have nearly tripled, reinforcing the strong interest from prospective business owners in looking for “skin in the game”. It could well be the perfect time for owners to exit while the talent pool of entrepreneurs is available.

At the same time there has been a noticeable lift in interest from business owners looking at exit strategies. Many baby boomer owners are simply over this environment and “Covid Fatigue” has set in. Platform 1’s newly engaged client numbers have more than doubled in the second half of 2021, compared to the first half of the year, despite lockdowns.

Mike Warmington stated “Some owners were ready last year and delayed their plans for a perceived better time. It’s now nineteen months later and there is a realisation that they need to get on with it so they have come back to us. “

While there has been talk for ten years or more of the tsunami of business owners looking to exit, we still have not seen the rush. The reasons to wait are decreasing and we expect the current elevated activity in the business exit space to dramatically increase in 2022.

Media contact for more information:
Mike Warmington – Director, Platform 1 NZ Ltd
(T) +64 211874873
(E) mikewarmington@platform1.co.nz
(W) www.platform1.co.nz

About Platform 1

Platform 1 are the market leaders in Business Owner Transition and work with private business owners requiring succession. They specialise in finding people with capability and capital who gradually transition into a business, buying the owner out over time. This can be a partial or full buyout. They work with businesses within the $2M to $20M turnover region across New Zealand.

MIL OSI

New at Halo this week is a single origin, special aged Nepalese Everest Vintage 2018. These coffee beans are an incredibly rare and complex coffee from the single most northerly coffee plantation on the globe.

Top graded USDA organic certified beans are carefully aged in special storage conditions for 3 years before being uniquely crafted by our roasters to bring you a deep, full bodied coffee with rich spice undertones. Think about aging a red wine, the acidity lowers, and the flavours mature.

Aside from its pedigree as a Speciality Grade coffee, the Nepalese Everest Vintage 2018 is farmed on a USDA organic plot, managed ethically by one family and their team, and packaged in our pioneering fully home compostable boxed packaging.

The beans are packaged in a box made using recycled card, then wrapped in our special home compostable layer. We did away with the plastic valves too!

All coffee bags, even biodegradable ones, have a plastic valve in so customers can smell the coffee and any excess co2 can be released. We got rid of the valve and worked instead on packing our coffee at the right time so that any co2 from the roasting process is already released.

Amanda Jackson, owner of The Eco Coffee Store t/a Halo Coffee NZ, said:

“It’s really exciting releasing these rare beans here in New Zealand, even more so knowing that our farmers are paid directly and everything about the packaging is home compostable and earth friendly.

I started The Eco Coffee Store with an aim to learn more about zero waste, to find zero waste coffee options and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill/recycling plants, through Halo I’ve found this and more, initially with the World’s first fully home compostable capsules and packaging, and now with whole beans. Even without the bag valve the beans smell amazing!

In the future we will be able to have flights of different vintages, but 2018 is our first premium whole bean release.”

Runnersworld recently rated Halo as the best compostable coffee pod of 2021, saying: “If you like a quick, short coffee before you head off on your run, Halo’s compostable capsules are ideal. The coffee tastes like nutty chocolate, and has an impressively velvety texture. But best of all, the pods will break down in under a month.”

Nils Leonard, co-founder of Halo said: “The brands that consumers want now care about craft, about beauty, about perfection. But the brands that consumers truly love, care about all of these things without forsaking the World around them.”

The new premium whole beans are available directly from Halo NZ https://nz.halo.coffee/products/nepalese-everest-2018

Amanda Jackson t/a Halo Coffee NZ is a fully registered member of the Specialty Coffee Association and is a registered NZ Business, The Eco Coffee Store, NZBN 9429047709614, based on Auckland’s North Shore.

Media Release on 22 October 2021

Media Contact
Amanda Jackson, Halo Coffee NZ
Email: amanda@halo.coffee
Phone: 021 242 1594
Website: https://nz.halo.coffee
Video: https://youtu.be/evM5BOJM764

MIL OSI

As the New Zealand government rolls out fast rural broadband across the country, many small towns are finding this expanding digital highway is presenting them with new opportunities.

Since the early 2000s, remote working has grown by leaps and bounds. By 2018, new American companies that solely recruited remote workers and had no physical headquarters had grown by more than 44 percent. While these are USA figures, they do suggest a global trend. The fact is that by the end of 2019, more than half of all companies worldwide were allowing some kind of remote working, and more and more individuals were enjoying a new flexibility in their work life.

Of course, not everybody who enjoys this flexibility wants to travel, although many do. Nor do all remote workers want to stay in a big city. In fact, many people are now moving away from large urban areas which they perceive to be less friendly towards remote work.

A new kind of work environment
At the beginning of the 20th century, hundreds of actors and actresses were employed by the huge movie studios, a way of working that would change over the next hundred years to the model we now take for granted – where individual freelancers audition for roles instead of being employed by studios or producers. In the same way the first half of the half of the 21st century sees more and more people rejecting the traditional model of working for one company full-time. Now many have chosen to work remotely, often for multiple companies and for increased potential income. The upshot is that many people can now live where they want while continuing to earn a decent living. In short, the nature of work has been shifting from a full-time salaried environment to a “gig economy” where an individual might work on several initiatives simultaneously instead of being employed by just one company.

For small towns this has been good news. Even before the current pandemic, people had been moving from bigger cities to smaller towns where life was less stressful. In the USA it was happening on a grand scale, such as when large companies moved from Silicon Valley to less populated areas (such as Tesla moving to Texas). Good internet connectivity means that for many “digital nomads,” remote work has become a viable option. “Living locally and working globally” has never looked so good, and for once small towns are reaping the benefits.

As the global trend of working remotely has accelerated, small towns have discovered opportunities to set themselves up as desirable destinations for those wanting to work this way, whether as a part of their “slow travel” lifestyle or as a home base. Although few towns have factored such trends into their infrastructure development, or considered them significant in their forward planning, people who work remotely could stimulate growth as much as improved roads do.

Thanks to the internet, businesses in townships can overcome the constraints of small local markets. They can also access human resources to develop their businesses where this used to be a challenge because of a lack of local talent. Remote working also becomes more desirable as companies rethink their expensive office leases in large urban areas.

Tips for the best transition
People who want to make the transition to remote working need to be aware of a few fish hooks. First, while it is a good first step, just arranging for your current (what used to be an office) job to become remote may not be the best option in the longer term. This is because bosses who are used to office management practice may not know how to oversee remote workers as well as those who are present in the office. They may be unsure how to integrate them with the office workforce, and they may even overlook them for promotion.

From this perspective there are three clusters of companies in this new world:
1. Those that allow remote work
2. Those that prefer remote work
3. Those that only recruit remotely
You may start in the first cluster because you know these kinds of companies best, and it may be the first step in your transition to a remote working career. But in the long term, people who opt to work remotely in such companies may miss out on salary increases as well as promotion opportunities, mainly because of the “out of sight, out of mind” dynamic.
You may want to progress via the second cluster to the third cluster, because there you have all the benefits of remote work and none of the drawbacks.
Then why not just start with the third cluster? Ideally that would be best, but it’s a competitive market to break into, and they often have sophisticated recruitment processes (remember, they can choose from the best globally, being unconstrained by geography). So, getting into this cluster may take some footwork and focused career development.

The gig economy
So far, the argument still looks much like finding a job. It doesn’t take into account alternatives such as the “gig economy,” the growth and maturing of online freelancing, or the starting of online businesses.

Individuals who want to build a life where their work is not defined by “job requirements” have many opportunities to do so, but they will need a complete mind-shift. First, they must decide how they want to live and then they must create a working life that makes such a life possible.

There is another kind of remote working that was taking off even before the current pandemic, but has become even more popular in recent months. Recently, working and earning online has provided a highly secure work environment. In fact, those who were already working online have felt the impact of the pandemic the least, because they had already taken ownership of their future work life and were not overly dependent on any one organisation. The pandemic just made this growing work environment more visible and showcased its benefits. In reality it has been growing at an accelerated pace for the past two decades.

We are living in exciting times when opportunities to live and work in the way we want are becoming normal. No longer a pipe dream, living one’s best life is possible for everybody, thanks to (online) remote work.
The New Zealand Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship offers a free webinar on the online remote working environment. Among other things it discusses how to establish yourself safely as an online earner, whether you are starting your own online business, becoming an online freelancer, or beginning your remote working journey.

Media Release on 5 March 2021

Media Contact
Mariana van der Walt, New Zealand Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship
Email: remotenz@smalltownfutures.com
Phone: 027 423 7345
Website: https://smalltownfutures.com/remoteworkwebinar

MIL OSI

Since the early 2000s remote working has exploded globally. So much so that by the end of 2019 fewer than 50% of companies worldwide did not allow remote working of some kind. This opened the door for individuals to increasingly own and shape their own work life and have the flexibility and freedom they wanted.

Transformation of the work environment
Just like the movie industry was transformed from a model where actors and actresses were employed by movie studios in the early 20th century to what it is today, so the same is happening with “work life” at the beginning of the 21st century. More and more people turn away from the traditional model of working in a full-time salaried environment to the more secure and often better-paying “remote work” environment where they do not rely on one company or organisation for their income.

Benefits for small towns
This is good news for smaller towns. It means that people can choose to live where they want while continuing their work life. Even before the current pandemic there was a growing movement away from large cities to working in small town environments as a result. This has become bigger than just a youthful “digital nomad” environment. It has become a normal work-life option. In fact, by 2018 the annual growth in new companies that solely recruit remote workers and have no physical headquarters because everybody works remotely, was more than 44% (USA figures, but indicative of a global trend)!

Not everybody wanting to have the freedom and flexibility of working remotely wants to travel, although many do. Not everybody who prefers to work remotely wants to stay in the cities. In fact, there is a trend of people moving away from what used to be the main attraction – large urban areas. Somehow, in many cases, those environments are less “remote work friendly.”

Digital highway
As the New Zealand government rolls out “fast rural broadband” across the country, the towns that suddenly find themselves part of the “digital highway” have opportunities they never had before. People living and working in those towns have exciting new horizons they can explore. But few towns make the newly found possibility a part of the local infrastructure development or a significant part of future growth plans. Yet, it will stimulate growth in the same way as a new or improved road.

“Live local and work global” has never quite offered as much value as it does now, and for once small towns are in line to benefit most.

As the global trend of working remotely accelerates, small towns have unique opportunities to set themselves up as desired destinations for those who are working remotely, whether as a part of their “slow travel” lifestyle while they work remotely, or as a permanent destination. We see it already on a bigger scale, where large companies move away from Silicon Valley to less populated areas (like Tesla moving to Texas). But it is a pervasive trend globally for all sizes of companies, especially those who rely on good internet connectivity.

Here is the point: Every small town can position themselves to be part of this digital highway and use that as a local growth strategy. There are ways to make your town a preferred destination for those that travel on the digital highway daily. “Live local and work global” has never quite offered as much value as it does now, and for once small towns are in line to benefit most.

Benefits for businesses and individuals
This also provides new opportunities for businesses in small towns. Not only can they overcome the constraints of small local markets, they can also have access to scarce talent to develop their businesses in areas they struggled to do in the past due to lack of available talent.
The biggest opportunity is for individuals transforming their lives using the intersection of good internet access in small towns and the growing trend in remote working that has a strong element of moving away from large urban centres. There are also other benefits that accelerate this and create a perfect environment to own and shape a work life future that you could only have dreamed of before.

Growing trends
There are just so many strong and growing trends that intersect, that it is almost mind boggling:
1. Better internet connectivity in small towns
2. Remote working becomes mainstream and even the preferred way to work
3. More and more companies are fully “remote” and others are rethinking having expensive office space in larger urban areas
4. The nature of work is increasingly shifting from a full time salaried environment to a “gig economy” where the individual owns and shapes their own future and works on multiple initiatives simultaneously instead of working for only one company (just like the movie industry shifted from an employment to an agency model in the first half of the 20th century)

Tips for the best transition
People who want to make this transition need to take note of a few things. The most important thing is that, while it is a good first step, just arranging for your current (what used to be an office) job to become “remote” is possibly the worst longer term option.
The biggest reason is that managers of those are used to “office management practice.” They do not know how to manage remote workers as well as those present in the office, how to integrate them with the office workforce, and how to not overlook them for promotion!

From this perspective there are three clusters of companies in this new world:
1. Those that allow remote work
2. Those that prefer remote work
3. Those that only recruit remotely

You may start in the first cluster, because those are the kind of companies you know best, and it may be the first step in your transition to a remote working career. But studies show that in the long term people who opt to work remotely in these kinds of companies miss out on salary increases as well as promotion opportunities, mainly because of an “out of sight, out of mind” dynamic where managers and operations are not optimised for remote working.

The pandemic made this growing work environment more visible.
You want to progress via the second cluster to the third cluster, because there you have all the benefits of remote work and none of the drawbacks. Why not just start with the third cluster? Ideally that would be best, but it is a very competitive market to get into and they often have very sophisticated recruitment processes (remember that they can choose from the best globally, they are not constrained geographically). So it often takes some footwork and focused career development to get into this cluster.

The gig economy
The argument thus far still looks pretty much like “finding a job.” It does not take into account the “gig economy,” the growth and maturing of online freelancing or starting online digital businesses as an alternative to “having a job.”

This is the next exciting layer of opportunities available now to individuals to build a life where their work is not defined by a “job” or “job requirements.” Rather, they decide how they want to live and then create a working life that make that life possible. A complete mind-shift.

The most secure work environment
There is one more aspect about remote working that has exploded even before the current pandemic, but much more so since – working and earning online. Recently it became the most secure work environment. In fact, those who already worked online felt the impact of the pandemic the least! Because they have already taken ownership of their future work life and do not over-depend on any one company or organisation.

However, the pandemic just made this growing work environment more visible and showcased its benefits. In reality it has grown at an accelerated pace for almost two decades already.

How to become part of the future of work
What does all of this mean? It means we live in exciting times where opportunity to live and work the way you want is becoming mainstream. Living your dream life is no longer a pipe dream, it is a distinct possibility for everybody, courtesy of (online) remote work. It also means that as this possibility became visible recently, it has become a very competitive environment. But there is a way to get into this exciting remote working world that is not risky and overcomes the competitive nature and high failure rate.

That is what we discuss in the free online webinar about remote work. Our focus is on the online remote working environment. If you want to be part of this new work environment that is without a doubt a major part of the “future of work,” then don’t miss out! Attend the webinar and learn how to get the benefits of an online remote working life for yourself, how to establish yourself as an “online earner,” be it starting your own online business, becoming an online freelancer, or starting your remote working journey so that you can end up working for the third cluster of companies recruiting remotely.

Media Release on 1 March 2021

Media Contact
Mariana van der Walt, New Zealand Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship
Email: remotenz@smalltownfutures.com
Phone: 027 423 7345
Website: https://smalltownfutures.com/remoteworkwebinar
Video: https://youtu.be/Ywryoan-z98

MIL OSI

(PR.co.nz)

In recognition of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Workbridge recognises special employers who have gone above and beyond to show their commitment to creating a more inclusive workplace.

For the last X years, Workbridge has acknowledged employers who have gone above and beyond to show their commitment and dedication to creating a more inclusive workplace. The awards are presented to recipients annually on the 3rd of December which represents International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It is an opportunity for us as an organisation to celebrate the successful partnerships we have made with our employers and to celebrate the work they have done to make their businesses more inclusive.
Workbridge would like to thank all of the employers who have shown their support and commitment to a more inclusive workplace this year, in particular recipients who were selected for this years Above and Beyond Employer Awards. This year’s recipients were:
• Colonial House Motel (Northland)
• T8 Traffic Control (Northland)
• Spotlight Whangarei (Northland)
• South Pacific Meats Ltd (Invercargill)
• Enliven Resthaven Village (Southland)
• Care on Call (Hawkes Bay)
• Clean Team (Hawkes Bay)
• Napier Salvation Army Store (Hawkes Bay)
• Gisborne Volunteer Centre (Hawkes Bay)
• Alliance Group (Stoke)
• Starbright Cleaning (Blenheim)
• Tyres & More (Nelson)
• Spotless – Bruce McGregor (Nelson)
• AbFab Cleaning (Nelson)
• Talleys (Motueka)
• The Wood (Nelson)
• Sevenpenny Café (Greymouth)
• Bidfood (Greymouth)
• OCS Limited Whanganui
• Kaitake Golf Club Incorporated (Taranaki)
• OCS Limited New Plymouth
• Taranaki By-Products Ltd (Taranaki)
• Taranaki Property Services Ltd (Taranaki)
• Action Personnel (Palmerston North)
• NZ Post, Mail Service Centre (Palmerston North)
• Carter House Lifecare & Village (Te Puke)
• OCS Limited (Tauranga)
• Bake Shack (Mount Maunganui)
• Starex (Tauranga)
• Southern Woods Nursery Limited (Christchurch)
• Oak Tree Devanning (Christchurch)
• Trents Nursery (Christchurch)
• Paramount Cleaning (Timaru)
• Ritchies (Timaru)
• SkyCity Hamilton
• United Cleaning Services (Hamilton)
• Salvation Army New Lynn (Auckland)
• British Isle Inn (Auckland)
• Waitemata District Health Board (Auckland)

There are more than 160,000 disabled people living in New Zealand who want to work. Workbridge has a pool of jobseekers who are ready to start now. If you’d like to know more about the services Workbridge can provide your business freephone 0508 858 858 between 8.30am-6.30pm, Monday to Friday or email info@workbridge.co.nz. For all other ways to get in touch visit our website.

Media Release 27 December 2020.

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(PR.co.nz) The Maker2u community, which is now over 470 makers, have put together a hamper of their unique Kiwi made products to thank Prime Minister Ardern and her family for the hard work and sacrifices she has made during 2020.

To show their appreciation, the community of small food, drinks and health and beauty entrepreneurs decided to pull together a range of their finest products.

“Jacinda has had an incredibly demanding year as Prime Minister and we hope that this hamper of beautiful artisan made products from all around New Zealand will help her and her family have a very enjoyable and well deserved Christmas break.” Says Suzy Hutton, founder of Maker2u.

“As soon as we suggested the idea of sending Jacinda a hamper, we were flooded with support from makers who are hugely appreciative of the work she has done. Our community are keen to show her our gratitude and also to share with her the incredible range of high quality artisan consumer products being made in every region of New Zealand. Many of whom are steadily growing into the large employers of the future.”

The hamper contains all sorts of unique Kiwi goodies for Jacinda to enjoy, including Christmas pies, wines, chilli lemonade, vegan organic pumpkin seed crackers, cold pressed flax seed oils, artisan gin, organic coffee, bone broth, organic kombucha, handmade soaps and lip balms, organic honey, organic mustards, jams, organic mueslis, mead, cider and even some free range Canterbury Eggs.

The products are all made with love and passion by Kiwi artisan business owners.

“The hamper will arrive with Jacinda on Christmas eve,’ says Suzy. “It has been a huge privilege putting together this gift of so many of New Zealand’s most delicious products. Particularly as they are made by a group of wonderful Kiwi entrepreneurs who create so many employment opportunities for others in their community. We thought this was a very fitting gift for a Prime Minister who has done so much for the nation this year.”

Media Release 27 December 2020.

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New Zealand Flies Into The Stratosphere Development has started on a solar-powered, unmanned aircraft that can fly in the stratosphere continuously for months at a time. The zero-emission aircraft will carry a suite of imagery equipment that will be game-changing for many industries, vastly improving intelligence for applications such as precision agriculture, disaster management and environmental monitoring.

Christchurch-based company, Kea Aerospace, is building the largest unmanned aircraft ever built in the Southern Hemisphere, with a wingspan of 32-metres. The three electric motors will be powered by hundreds of solar cells to collect enough energy from the sun each day to enable it to fly continuously for months. It will fly at 65,000 ft (20 kilometres) in the stratosphere, an altitude twice as high as commercial passenger jets, where there is a relatively calm sweet spot above the jet streams and turbulent weather to enable smooth, sustained flight.

It is currently prohibitively expensive to get regularly updated, high-resolution data that covers large areas. The “Kea Atmos” will fly 20x closer to the Earth than satellites and enables the camera payload to acquire a much higher image quality, without the expense of operating in space.

Kea Aerospace’s CEO, Mark Rocket says, “Our solar-powered, zero-emission fleet of aircraft will be the perfect solution for smarter decision-making for businesses and organisations around the planet. We will acquire and analyse high quality aerial imagery data, to provide business intelligence direct to customers.”

Current space-based and airborne earth observation solutions have acute limitations. There is a large data intelligence gap that can’t be met by satellites, manned aircraft or drones. Only a small percentage of New Zealand’s land and waterways are aerially surveyed each year.

Kea Aerospace has been accepted into the New Zealand Airspace Integration Trials, a programme to establish New Zealand as location of choice for the safe development, testing and market validation of advanced unmanned aircraft. Dr Peter Crabtree, General Manager of Science, Innovation and International at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, says: “The launch of the Kea Atmos is exciting for Kea Aerospace and for New Zealand. This project has the potential to revolutionise Earth imagery, providing access to higher quality data at a more affordable price point. We are pleased to have companies like Kea Aerospace join the Airspace Integration Trials Programme as we work towards our goal of realising the full potential for innovation within New Zealand’s regulatory regimes.”

11am on Wednesday, November 18th at Level 1, Spark Square, 2 Cathedral Square, Christchurch, the Kea Atmos program will be announced by Kea Aerospace. Planned speakers attending the event will be Hon. Dr Megan Woods and the Mayor of Christchurch.

Media Release on 19 November 2020

Media Contacts
Mark Rocket, CEO of Kea Aerospace (www.keaaerospace.com). Internet and aerospace entrepreneur. The seed investor and Co-Director of Rocket Lab from 2007 to 2011. President of Aerospace Christchurch (www.christchurch.space).
Email: mark@keaaerospace.com
Phone: 021 675050

MIL OSI

(PR.co.nz)  The week will include a range of launches, announcements and highlights, including:

• A social media campaign to promote women’s recognition of their power and what that means to them.

• The launch of Co.OfWomen Patron’s Fund to champion high-potential women for whom money may be a barrier.

• The annual induction ceremony for three remarkable women into the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs on October 21st .

Co.OfWomen initiated Female Power Week as an annual event in 2020 to celebrate the unique and innate power women hold. “Female power manifests itself through compassionate, ambitious, strategic, and strong women” says Co.OfWomen founder and CEO Tara Lorigan.

Tara explained “Power is commonly associated with strength. In turn, power is linked to physical prowess or financial might, and often utilised as a positive descriptor for men.”

“Female Power Week seeks to unlock a collective conversation that celebrates the greatness of women, normalise women embracing their own brand of power, and champion the brilliant world-changing things women do when they harness it.”

Co.OfWomen recognises the possibility for the diminished sense of power women may be experiencing in the wake of the pandemic. The most recent report from Stats NZ shows 10,000 women make up the 11,000 people who became unemployed after the initial COVID-19 lockdown.

“The disproportionate representation of women in the job loss and underutilisation statistics asserts the relevancy and necessity for Female Power Week. Now more than ever, the power of women must be acknowledged and celebrated by people across the board” said Tara Loriagn.

Co.OfWomen suggest that to support Female Power Week, people can:

– Amplify other women: Give credit to your female co-workers, celebrate powerful women in your life, highlight the power traits of women
– Teach girls their worth: Have conversations with the girls and young women about their place, worth and role in society to dismantle harmful gender stereotypes in our next generation
– Commit to a cause: Pick a gender equality issue you are passionate about and harness your power to make a difference to the world.

To find out more about Female Power Week, visit https://coofwomen.biz/female-power, taralorigan.com, and Co.OfWomen’s social media channels @Co.OfWomen on Instagram and LinkedIn and Companyofwomen on Facebook.

Media Release 28 October 2020.

MIL OSI

(PR.co.nz)

Cecilia Robinson, Marisa Fong, and Hinewehi Mohi, MNZM, have been welcomed into the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs, instigated in 2012 by leading female business organisation, Co.OfWomen, at the annual ceremony.

Entrepreneur and founder of Co.OfWomen, Tara Lorigan, says “the Hall of Fame celebrates the significant business achievements and generosity of the country’s most successful entrepreneurs and creates explicit, diverse examples encouraging women working on their own success.”

“Commercial drive matched with a desire to make a difference features strongly in female success, and this year’s inductees are prominent examples. Our country and economy are all the better for their endeavours” said Tara.

The women inducted were selected in an open nomination process launched by Co.OfWomen during Women Entrepreneurs Week, held in the March each year.

Chosen for induction by a panel of their peers, including Sharon Hunter, Ranjna Patel, Sophie Gilmour, Sarah Paykel and Dr Lee Mathias, these women were selected for their significant achievements in business, impact on their industries, support for other women and for their philanthropic activities.

Female-owned businesses make up more than 35% of New Zealand business, according to Statistics New Zealand, and the number of women opting for business ownership over employment continues to grow.

Co.OfWomen believes that the number of female-owned businesses continues to grow because of the attrition from the corporate world, where many women find the limitations of employment inhibit the necessary flexibility to be supportive of family life.

Media Release 28 October 2020.

MIL OSI

(PR.co.nz)  The global pandemic has posed many challenges for New Zealand retailers who have had to adapt to a new way of doing business. Many shoppers have reduced their spending to essential items-only, like food and medicine, presenting an opportunity to be capitalised on for retailers who sell these items.

Overnight COVID-19 disrupted the payment behaviour of consumers…

Shoppers predominantly look for fast, convenient and safe service – how they can get in and out of stores as fast as possible, and with as little contact with others as possible.

The biggest trend we’ve seen is the adoption of contactless payment, especially tap and go. In fact, 75% of Kiwis claim they find contactless payment more convenient than other payment methods. COVID-19 has only increased the uptake of contactless given the risk of the virus spreading through surfaces. Now, retailers that DON’T offer tap and go risk losing shoppers to retailers that do.

“Now more than ever, payment has become a critical part of the shopper experience, and offering a FAST, CONVENIENT and SAFE payment experience is part of the consumer decision-making process when deciding where to shop,” said Dave Spicer, CEO of Activata Ltd.

“As a result of the global pandemic, we’ve seen hundreds of convenience stores take on contactless payment so as to provide a safe, fast, contactless, and increasingly local retail engagement with their customers.”

Not only have these retailers found their shop foot traffic has increased, but they are attracting NEW shopper types who RETURN time and again, simply by improving the convenience of shopping at their store.

“Typically, shoppers choose convenience stores over supermarkets when they are doing small ‘top up’ shops of essential items, and want to be in and out of the store as fast and as conveniently as possible,” said Nilesh Kumar Shah, owner of Quick Bites Convenience Store in Central Auckland.

“What we’ve found since introducing tap and go is that we’re able to serve more customers faster, giving them a more convenient shopping experience, and making them more likely to return.”

The big advantage of contactless payment methods like tap and go is fast moving queues, increasing the number of customers served, especially at peak times and with less resource, resulting in increased revenues for these stores.

“Based on what we’ve seen over the last three to four-months, it’s fair to say
contactless payment is no longer a nice-to-have but a necessity to meet shopper needs. While COVID-19 accelerated this, contactless payment is here to stay and failing to adapt is a missed opportunity for retailers to capitalise upon,” Spicer summarised.

If you’ve been putting off getting contactless payment in your store, the best time to act was yesterday—today this is essential.

Activata has over 15-years experience providing personalised payment experiences for retailers across New Zealand. Activata experts design exceptional payment experiences, and assists with every step of the payment process from shopper experience, queue busting and contactless payment, to eftpos terminals and equipment, and much more.

Contact Activata on 0800 960 00 or visit the website activata.co.nz.

Media Release 20 July 2020.

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On the back of strong government support for rail services, TPG is getting ready to provide property advisory services to KiwiRail in the Auckland region. TPG’s 180-strong team across 13 nationwide offices will be involved in the acquisition of land and property interests for these large-scale infrastructure projects.

TPG boasts a long-standing relationship with KiwiRail, having been involved in rail projects for over 15 years. They remain committed to the sustained growth and development of the Auckland region and will have 62 LINZ accredited personnel to assist, including 12 consultants with full Rail Accreditation to the NZRC Restructuring Act 1990.

According to TPG’s National Commercial Manager Sam Cottier, this KiwiRail project will reduce rail freight congestion and passenger commute time, and also benefits communities by taking trucks off the road, reducing carbon emissions and improving road safety.

“A project such as this is critical to both the daily function and the ongoing growth and development of the city.”

This latest KiwiRail project is not the first project of national significance that TPG has been involved in from design and concept through to the acquisition of land.

“We have been involved in many of New Zealand’s major infrastructure projects, having successfully delivered over $1,000,000,000 of property transactions since our inception in 1999,” Sam says.

If you would like to know more about The Property Group Limited or their services, visit propertygroup.co.nz, use the contact form, phone 04 470 6105, or email enquiries@propertygroup.co.nz.

About The Property Group Limited
The Property Group Limited (TPG) is New Zealand’s largest independent specialist property consultancy, with 13 offices nationwide. They are proud to offer end-to-end property, planning, and development advice to enable clients to make decisions that add value to their business. From the north to the south, TPG has a variety of experts who are dedicated to providing the full property package.

Media Release 10 June 2020 by The Property Group (TPG)

Media Contact
Sam Cottier, The Property Group (TPG)
Email: enquiries@propertygroup.co.nz
Phone: 04 470 6105
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPVct5vZoAE

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“We saw a 35% jump in order volume during Alert level 4 & 3 with tobacco e-liquid and beginner pod kits being the largest contributor to these sales. Our data tells us that many smokers are transitioning to vaping at a time when money is tight,” says Jo Einarsson, Director of Caktus Vape – one of New Zealand’s largest online vape retailers.

The rising costs of cigarettes in New Zealand has seen the vape industry take-off, Caktus Vape being an online-only retailer can offer customers a quick & easy buying process and prices online that are hard to beat in stores.

“Our business has always been geared to online first, during the lock-down we were able to reach a wider customer base seeking vape products online as traditional brick & mortar stores were not able to open,” he says.

Mr Einarsson says one of the key parts to getting online e-commerce right is fast dispatch and just as fast delivery.

“We were able to maintain our same day dispatch and even with the expected delays, the majority of our customers saw a delivery in 1-3 Business Days. Covid-19 has demonstrated how important our courier network is. During the lockdown, our business and customers relied on the services New Zealand Post provides,”

Funding of $130 million from Budget 2020 will allow New Zealand Post to maintain service levels as it positions itself for the future. E-commerce will be a huge factor in their success as online sales continue to grow post-lock-down.

Caktus Vape continues to see steady sales moving into Alert Level 2, “We pride ourselves on providing easily accessible information on our website for anyone new to vaping” says Jo Einarsson.

NZ caktusvape.co.nz
AU caktusvape.com

Media Release on 15 May 2020

Media Contact
Steven Gibbs, Caktus Vape
Email: admin@vaportrade.co.nz
Phone: 02041001298
Website: https://caktusvape.co.nz/

MIL OSI

Kore Projects announces more features for its new Kore Track and Trace APP.

Kore Projects wants New Zealand to be Covid-19 free AND we need New Zealand Business back to work now.

Thousands of businesses are now going to have their customers book time and tables and appointments to meet the Level Two Covid-19 requirements. That booking will be part of Covid-19 tracking and tracing.

Kore Projects’ enhanced Kore Track and Trace APP now includes a booking feature and is ideal for real estate agents, restaurants, bars, clubs, coffee shops, hairdressers and many other businesses.

The Kore Track and Trace APP is extremely easy to install and very easy to use. The Kore Track and Trace APP even takes advantage of QR Codes.

Businesses will be able to licence the Kore Track and Trace APP for their clients for a small monthly fee. But the good news is that, for three months, while we are all getting back to business, Kore Projects will offer the Kore Track and Trace APP for free – a saving of $1,200,000 for Kiwi businesses.

Kore Projects had already developed specialized remote computer APPs as a response to the enormous demands of the post-earthquake Christchurch building redevelopment. “It was both necessary and obvious that we could and should add the Kore Track and Trace APP to our Covid-19 package” said Stan Lieder, CEO

Kore Projects lead the world with the Kore Track and Trace APP for the post Covid-19 world.

Stan Lieder, CEO of Kore Projects, says ‘We are pleased to be using our experience and expertise so NZ can get back to work quickly and safely”

For more information, contact:
Stan Lieder
CEO
Kore Projects
0800 025 673
info@koreprojects.com

http://www.korect.co.nz/

ENDS

Media Release on 15 May 2020

Media Contact
Stan Lieder, CEO – Kore Projects
Phone: 0800 025 673
Email: info@koreprojects.com
Website: http://www.korect.co.nz/

MIL OSI