2012-05-24 09:23:07 // Idealog
Finsia yesterday announced the launch of a new industry body – the Women in Financial Services Forum – in partnership with BNZ, to tackle gender equity in the industry.
2012-05-23 09:57:49 // Idealog
Auckland-based technology company Endace has grown revenue by 7.3 percent over the past year, although pre-tax profits and cash/equivalents are both down.
2012-05-22 13:54:54 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
Got a fantastic business idea? Want to turn your startup into a successful enterprise? Have a business with great growth potential?
2012-05-21 13:03:29 // StopPress Team
// The Idealog Blog
Companies are focusing less on primary corporate websites and New Zealand’s news and media websites are the most engaging.
2012-05-21 10:50:06 // Esther Goh
| 3 comments
Paperless receipts are one of the least evolved aspects of retail, and it's about time things changed, say the duo behind Paperkut.
2012-05-21 10:28:03 // Esther Goh
Fonterra has torn into Federated Farmers for "inaccurate" and "ill-informed" public comments about its Trading Among Farmers share trading scheme
2012-05-21 10:18:57 // Idealog
New Zealand tech firm Jade Software is opening an office in the Middle East to build on the success of its port management software Master Terminal.
2012-05-17 17:14:16 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
Collaboration is where it's at these days, and fledgling web app Loomio is betting on the trend picking up even more steam going forward.
2012-05-16 14:57:01 // Esther Goh
| 3 comments
Sky TV and TVNZ's joint venture, Igloo, has gotten the go-ahead from the Commerce Commission, and looks set to launch next month as planned – but a separate investigation is now underway into Sky's content contracts with ISPs.
2012-05-16 14:31:02 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
New Zealand has all the basics to help businesses thrive – the challenge is to step it up a notch.
2012-05-16 09:45:04 // Idealog
A year on from Shell's evolution into Z Energy (which was met with a mixed reception) the company says it's sitting pretty in the preferred brand stakes.
2012-05-15 10:31:02 // Esther Goh
Bosses won't be required to partake in multi-employer bargaining or (in a return to the original Employment Relations Act) have to conclude a collective agreement under a package of employment law measures approved by Cabinet yesterday.
2012-05-14 15:03:37 // Josh Martin
Auckland’s links to China were reinforced on Saturday with the signing of a statement of co-operation between the Beijing Investment Promotion Board (BIPB) and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).
2012-05-11 12:49:28 // Hazel Phillips
// Idealog #39: interact
After noticing the explosion of artisan food and our thirst for more and more goodies, Greig Buckley decided to give it an e-commerce twist.
2012-05-11 12:00:25 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Know of an outstanding entrepreneur deserving of recognition? Or think you have the chops to pass muster?
2012-05-09 14:29:43 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Todd Carmichael of La Colombe Torrefaction thinks the word 'passion' is overused and overrated. But as he told the PSFK conference, that doesn't mean your company is doomed to fail. His take on successful leadership? "I manage the company as if it were – and I was – a decent person."
2012-05-08 11:57:26 // Lance Wiggs
// Idealog #39: interact
| 1 comment
Lance Wiggs on making money as a startup, growing audiences and dealing with professional boredom.
2012-05-04 12:40:46 // Simon Pound
// Idealog #39: now
Online store host solution Dremus could be the next Vend-flavoured success story out of Aotearoa.
2012-05-04 09:51:01 // Idealog
It's one of our most iconic brands, and now more than 7,000 Kiwis have voted Air New Zealand the country's best employer for the second year running, rating highly in management, working environment, salary and benefits, training and interesting job content.
2012-05-03 09:41:05 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Theo Paphitis has lost count of all the businesses he’s invested in, and his criteria for picking companies to bet on has changed over the years, but he says ultimately success all comes down to the people factor. It doesn’t matter how great a business idea is – without a good person behind it, it won’t fly.
2012-04-30 10:00:49 // Ben Fahy
Cars, clothing and pharmacies are top of the customer satisfaction charts with utilities and banks hovering at the bottom, according to Roy Morgan.
2012-04-26 14:38:09 // Idealog
Microsoft New Zealand is offering Kiwi startups free cloud computing services through a new partnership with business incubators The Icehouse and Creative HQ as part of the BizSpark Plus programme.
2012-04-26 10:59:02 // Idealog
Small businesses say things are looking up and expect to lift investment and hire more staff in the coming year, according to the new Business Micro Scope report.
2012-04-26 09:15:05
Peter Thiel presents a divisive idea: that commercial competition undermines innovation and creativity, writes David Brooks in the New York Times.
2012-04-23 09:42:44 // Esther Goh
Avos Systems, a company led by led by YouTube cofounders Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, is setting up shop in New Zealand.
2012-04-20 15:43:46 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
Ever had one of those lightbulb moments – that split second where you're convinced your brainwave could make you a fortune?
2012-04-19 13:38:41 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Say you've spent decades in business, building up a reputation in your field and and some pretty solid experience. But stepping into the shoes of a CEO or similar is just not for you. Where to next?
2012-04-18 13:55:29
// Idealog #38: features
As a former general manager of Freeview and current chief financial officer of Image Centre Group, Steve Browning knows how to crunch any number that comes his way, and even a few that don't. Here's how to read your competition's financial statements.
2012-04-18 10:58:52 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
A gelato maker, antifungal skincare and sustainable casket manufacturer – these are just some of the many and varied finalists in this year's Wellington Gold Awards.
2012-04-16 12:12:03 // Damian Bennett
// The Idealog Blog
We've got a long way to go in New Zealand when it comes to managing B2B customer relationships.
2012-04-16 09:32:04 // Idealog
New Zealand businesses with an eye to going global found the volatile dollar and lack of experience to be their main hurdles in 2011.
2012-04-11 16:39:07 // Idealog
Thanks to Pie Funds and existing institutional investor Milford Asset Management, Ecoya has snapped up an additional $2 million in funds.
2012-04-11 16:11:11 // Jack Yan
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
We’re still hampered by politicians who cannot see past their own national boundaries or, at best, look at competing solely with a neighbouring nation.
2012-04-10 14:14:28 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
New Zealand’s most innovative energy-saving and renewable energy projects have been revealed, and they include an ambitious scheme to insulate the entire township of Foxton; the largest coal to wood pellet conversion in the southern hemisphere; a truck running on landfill biogas; a family-run hydro electricity scheme built on an old Otago gold mine cut; and a bank which reduced electricity use by 23 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent.
2012-04-05 13:52:34 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
Creative collective Draw Inc claimed the top prize at last week's Innes 48-hour startup competition.
2012-04-05 09:32:59 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
IDEO's Tim Brown could be considered the 'father' of design thinking. Rethinking design, however, was his key message at this year's Better by Design CEO summit.
2012-04-03 14:37:42 // Simon Pound
// Idealog #38: now
| 1 comment
Dion Nash, founder of the just-launched skincare company Triumph & Disaster, tells Simon Pound how metrosexuality translates to a hot new brand.
2012-04-03 11:32:14 // Esther Goh
A building of epic proportions is now underway at Christchurch's high-tech business hub, which will get $1.8 million of government funding over the next three years.
2012-04-03 09:29:23 // Jil O'Brien
// The Idealog Blog
| 4 comments
How to manage the conflicting needs of family and business? Take a serious look at the way you work and where you're spending your time.
2012-04-02 16:37:10 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
'Conscious capitalism' is a term frequently bandied about these days, but it seems outdoor apparel brand Patagonia really is walking the walk.
2012-04-02 11:19:35 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Kiwi business Manuka Doctor has nabbed a finalists' spot in the annual Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) UK Beauty Awards for its purified bee venom products.
2012-03-30 15:57:42 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Looking to amp up the exporting side of your business? Think good and hard before moving forward.
2012-03-30 15:00:07 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
With some nimble tactics, NZ Merino has repositioned itself and created entirely new 'blue ocean' markets.
2012-03-28 16:35:28 // Mike Atkinson
// The Idealog Blog
Tomorrow is important, today is urgent – and like many matters that are important but not urgent, there is a way to get them done: create a process.
2012-03-27 22:59:10 // Idealog
Turning a profit despite the GFC, breaking new markets, creating new technologies - it's all part of the hunt to find the best of the best in bioscience, and this year the mantle of NZBIO's Company of the Year was bestowed on Douglas Pharmaceuticals.
2012-03-27 14:00:30 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
At Acrux's Melbourne office, the company's share price hangs in the lobby. It is updated every day, with a reminder that tomorrow's price is up to staff to determine.
2012-03-27 13:51:12
// The Idealog Blog
New Zealand is truly blessed with talent when it comes to our agribusiness. Here are our picks for our top 40 farming stars.
2012-03-26 23:30:38 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Exports make up about a third of our economy and they’re continuing to grow that slice of the pie. We’re moving up the value chain slowly, says NZTE chief executive Peter Chrisp – but overall, the picture is static, and that’s a huge concern.
2012-03-26 13:27:50 // Stacey Riordan
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
When you're new to writing business plans, start by focusing on the scientific side – and don't cut corners.
2012-03-26 10:35:46 // Idealog
| 1 comment
Jade Software's newest international business – Wynyard Group – is out to help public agencies fight crime and corruption and threats.
2012-03-23 16:36:02 // Esther Goh
More than three-quarters of New Zealand businesses take part in corporate giving but less than half keep track of their community initiatives.
2012-03-23 09:23:49 // Idealog
Multiple companies from Cambridge, Palmerston North and Dunedin joined well over 30 finalists from the three main centres in this year's Hi-Tech Awards in what trust chairman Wayne Norrie is calling a true spread of New Zealand's high-technology industries.
2012-03-22 21:41:59 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Kiwi tech companies will be first in line to benefit from Facebook investor Peter Thiel and the NZVIF teaming up to form a $40 million New Zealand-based venture capital fund.
2012-03-21 22:00:51 // Idealog
| 1 comment
Orion Health – described by judges as an IT “megastar” – was the supreme winner at tonight's New Zealand International Business Awards.
2012-03-21 14:54:24 // Idealog
Baggage handling technology company and finalist in the New Zealand International Business awards, BCS Group, opened a new regional office in Malaysia’s MSC high tech corridor.
2012-03-21 13:14:54 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Our new section, Business Plan, launches today as a practical toolbox for business people packed with case studies, how-tos, and expert advice for growing your business.
2012-03-19 16:57:24 // Matt Bellingham
// The Idealog Blog
Anything that saves our small and medium business some money and allows them to focus on growing their business is a good thing.
2012-03-19 16:04:09 // Idealog
Cookie Time Limited has been voted best New Zealand-owned business by the Grocery Retailers' Association and taken out gold for best small business for the fourth year running.
2012-03-19 15:14:04 // Idealog
Think commercial Auckland tourist destination, think Kelly Tarlton’s. But it's about to get a serious sprucing up – to the tune of $5.5 million – after Merlin Entertainments acquired Kelly Tarlton’s in 2011.
2012-03-19 13:14:57 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
T-shirts have become an artform, a canvas for wit and quips, and there’s nobody better at showing off uniquely Kiwi phraseology on a shirt than Christchurch-based Global Culture.
2012-03-15 16:39:16 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Renalldoors has just dropped $1.5 million on a state-of-the-art manufacturing gizmo, the first in New Zealand, and plans to tap into a growing market for timber, following trends in Europe, particularly as the Christchurch rebuild gains momentum.
2012-03-15 15:59:30 // Idealog
As businesses struggle to manage the proliferation of consumer devices invading the workspace, bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies are being viewed as one solution. But staff aren't so hot on the idea.
2012-03-15 14:32:46 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Tom Peters is a former military engineer turned business guru, consultant and management speaker. Yesterday he spoke to the Food & Grocery Council about ways to do business better. Here are a few gems from his presentation.
2012-03-15 13:55:54 // Idealog
Manufacturing activity enjoyed a sizeable lift in activity for February, according to the latest BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index, reaching a high not seen since April 2010.
2012-03-15 12:25:12 // Esther Goh
The latest in a raft of government reforms will see the establishment of a single, dedicated, business-facing department, or super ministry, to be known as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
2012-03-12 16:51:29 // Idealog
Retailers are continuing to mislead consumers about their legal rights by promoting extended warranties, a Consumer NZ mystery shopping survey has found.
2012-03-12 09:22:33 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
When he isn’t overseeing teams conducting dissections in the lab, you just might find Dr Joe McDermott onstage giving a talk alongside the likes of Bill Clinton.
2012-03-12 09:13:48 // Simon Pound
// Idealog #38: features
| 2 comments
It's a classic Kiwi story of little guy made good. And after being pitted against dairy giant Fonterra over perceived product similarities, the two blokes behind brand Nice Blocks are hanging off the back end of a tiger.
2012-03-09 14:09:38 // Esther Goh
It's all go this month at Auckland-based Sonar6, where they're finalising a US$14 million deal with a Californian buyer.
2012-03-09 09:19:42 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Powershop has had a cracker of a debut run since exploding onto the scene in 2009. Can it maintain its momentum?
2012-03-09 09:00:01 // Idealog
| 1 comment
Melbourne Business School is offering partial scholarships to applicants affected by the Christchurch earthquakes.
2012-03-07 11:06:43 // Idealog
New Zealand marine electronics specialist Electronic Navigation Ltd and SatComms Australia have entered into a joint venture, forming SatComms NZ.
2012-03-07 10:57:04 // Idealog
Windflow Technologies will supply turbines to the Americas as part of a deal with Texas-based General Dynamics Satcom Technologies.
2012-03-06 15:02:37 // Jil O'Brien
// The Idealog Blog
| 8 comments
All over the country, new mums are shunning an early return to their corporate roots in favour of developing their entrepreneurial dreams.
2012-03-06 14:54:55 // Idealog
Angel are investing smaller amounts in each deal as they focus on supporting existing companies rather than investing in new businesses, according to the latest Young Company Finance Index.
2012-03-06 13:54:02 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Corny, yes, but with New Zealand at the top of the list as the best country to start a business in, we'll take it.
2012-03-05 09:47:46 // Idealog
Christchurch can't get enough of IT workers, with high demand for permanent staff over contractors underpinning employer confidence, according to the latest Absolute IT Employer Intentions Survey.
2012-03-02 13:13:08 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
| 11 comments
Auckland-based digital media agency Skull and Bones is breaking new ground with a new venture – its own fashion label.
2012-02-29 13:43:22 // Paul Adams
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
New Zealand is at a public research crossroad: push it into the real world or continue to write off vast amounts.
2012-02-28 15:02:05 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
Three-quarters of New Zealand businesses have up to 100MB of unused mobile data per connection left at the end of each month, and over half have up to an hour left of unused voice minutes.
2012-02-28 12:22:33 // Esther Goh
Getting Cantabrians to rediscover their city and kickstart business growth is all part of a new marketing push launched this week.
2012-02-28 10:15:34 // Idealog
| 1 comment
The print bell is tolling at Yellow Pages Group, which has announced it will lay off around 20 percent of its staff.
2012-02-28 09:43:09 // Idealog
| 1 comment
2012 is off to a good start with senior finance professionals sharing increased optimism in the market – although that's not translating into hiring intentions.
2012-02-27 17:07:03 // Stacey Riordan
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
When it comes to evaluating potential investment opportunities, it all comes down to the three Ts.
2012-02-27 15:31:45 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
A fresh new Kiwi startup is out to help the local food movement by taking admin hassles out of the equation so farmers can spend more time growing their tomatoes and less time sorting out receipts.
2012-02-27 10:43:04 // Idealog
| 2 comments
The web may have brought about an upheaval in the retail environment but bricks and mortar shops still have a place in our hearts.
2012-02-24 10:33:00 // Idealog
| 1 comment
Telecom has reported a net profit after tax of just over $1 billion for the six months to December 31, its first financial result since the demerger of Chorus.
2012-02-24 10:17:13 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
Air New Zealand will be slashing hundreds of jobs after a "disappointing" 71 percent decline in six-month earnings.
2012-02-23 14:33:52 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
Powershop last night picked up its prize as the top Kiwi contender in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific index.
2012-02-23 09:35:56 // Esther Goh
The third annual list of the world’s most innovative technology companies has been released and LanzaTech is proudly flying the Kiwi flag on there.
2012-02-20 10:21:21 // Idealog
Cookie Time has come up against a Chinese company in a fight to preserve its logo but the dispute could take years to settle.
2012-02-17 10:31:34 // Esther Goh
Wellington's Go Vocab, a language learning business that's barely a year old, has taken out the inaugural BNZ Startup Alley competition at Webstock.
2012-02-16 17:16:42 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
Prime minister John Key and Air New Zealand head Rob Fyfe are among the judges of a new business award scheme launched this week.
2012-02-16 17:06:06 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
New Zealand’s top green businesses will be brought together in one place with the launch of online directory NZ-CEN.
2012-02-16 14:50:22 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Angel investment groups, it seems, still think women are only suited to being Charlie's Angels.
2012-02-14 17:14:15 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
Motivational speaker Philip Hesketh reckons there are only two elements to corporate and personal success: the killer question and the Columbo moment.
2012-02-13 10:20:06 // Idealog
| 1 comment
More than a third of local CEOs are not involved in key IT projects and many CIOs are being denied strategic involvement, an IDC study has found.
2012-02-10 10:14:30 // Esther Goh
| 2 comments
Businessman and national flag campaigner Lloyd Morrison has passed away in Seattle after a battle with leukaemia, aged 54.
2012-02-09 13:09:54 // Peter Kerr
// The Idealog Blog
Steven Joyce has the opportunity to spout a new mantra on behalf of all New Zealanders – have a go, and another after that.
2012-02-08 10:43:15 // Esther Goh
Director fees are on the up but still tracking below pre-recession levels – and boards are still failing in the female representation stakes.
2012-02-07 09:33:52 // Idealog
Tauranga-based Heilala Vanilla has its eye on stepping up exporting efforts after signing an investment deal with the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund and Enterprise Angels BOP.
2012-02-03 15:04:08 // Idealog
Focusing on the US is paying off for New Zealand software business Biomatters, which is reporting a 50 percent increase in sales revenue for 2011.
2012-02-03 13:53:24 // David MacGregor
// Idealog #37: workshop
| 2 comments
Marketing has become about selling stuff – dull, me-too stuff – with cute ads. User experience is the new way.
2012-02-03 09:49:28 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
Exports are the key to building national wealth, the Ministry of Economic Development has told incoming minister Steven Joyce.
2012-02-03 09:32:32 // Idealog
Cloud-based accounting firm Xero has bought software developer Max Solutions in full, acquiring the 84 percent that it didn't already own.
2012-02-02 17:10:02 // Idealog
Horizon Research Limited has taken the ShapeNZ research service off the hands of the Sustainable Business Council (SBC).
2012-02-02 12:31:55 // Esther Goh
Facebook has set the ball rolling on its hotly-anticipated IPO – the company has filed its preliminary prospectus and as rumoured, is seeking to raise US$5 billion.
2012-02-02 10:42:41 // Idealog
Christchurch's Fabrum Solutions has scored a three-month, $350,000 contract to supply parts to US-based machinery manufacturer Vermeer for a drilling product designed in Timaru.
2012-02-02 09:25:56 // Idealog
Chrisco, which has been criticised for targeting vulnerable customers and overcharging for goods, was fined $175,000 yesterday for misleading and people over their rights to cancellation and charging fees of up to $800.
2012-02-01 16:24:26 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
There's a new site on the daily deal block, with Flossie.com rising from the ashes to help the hair and beauty industry fill in downtime.
2012-02-01 10:08:50 // Idealog
Rob Fyfe may not know what lies ahead of him beyond December, but says Virgin head Sir Richard Branson hasn't offered him a job.
2012-02-01 09:45:19 // Esther Goh
| 5 comments
Retailer Dick Smith is facing the closure of up to 100 stores across New Zealand and Australia after its 2011 profits halved from the previous year.
2012-01-31 13:36:48 // Sarah Robson
// Idealog #37: now
One sunscreen's the same as the next, right? Not for these two brands, which are cashing in on our fear of the burn.
2012-01-31 13:23:22 // Idealog
Pacific Edge is looking to open its first US franchise to market bladder cancer detection test, Cxbladder(R), by the end of the year.
2012-01-27 15:00:52 // Design Daily Team
// The Idealog Blog
Nowhere captures the pace of global market change quite like China, where consumers and their expectations are a case study in rapid cultural shifts and their effect on design and brand communications.
2012-01-26 09:37:50 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
Men on the lookout for a good tux rejoice, for Rembrandt is finally opening its first own-brand store in New Zealand.
2012-01-25 09:52:02 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Startup Weekend chief executive Marc Nager talks innovation, bootstrapping and community-building.
2012-01-25 09:30:16 // Idealog
There are two weeks left for exporters to get in on the action and register for a trade mission to southeast Asia this March.
2012-01-24 13:28:17 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
Research in Motion co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie have resigned from the company following months of investor pressure.
2012-01-24 11:10:10 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
Experts agree the Asia Pacific region can expect continual growth in private equity, according to the Ernst & Young 2012 Private Equity Outlook report.
2012-01-24 09:33:24 // Idealog
Businesses are planning to focus on customer satisfaction and growth in new markets in 2012, according to the latest MYOB Business Monitor.
2012-01-23 10:19:31 // Esther Goh
Optimizer HQ has become the company with the second-youngest chief executive to be listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange behind Puma’s Jochen Zeitz.
2012-01-23 10:00:52 // Esther Goh
The Waikato Innovation Park is on the hunt for companies that want to research and develop new spray-dried food products.
2012-01-20 13:54:40 // Bryan Walker
// The Idealog Blog
| 5 comments
The task of turning governments worldwide away from fossil fuel exploration and extraction seems herculean. But we have no alternative than to keep at it
2012-01-19 10:28:42 // Esther Goh
A contract to increase methanol production in Taranaki is being touted as bringing billions of extra revenue into the country over the next decade.
2012-01-18 12:07:12 // Idealog
Kiwibank is buying Gareth Morgan Investments, the funds management company owned by high-profile commentator and economist Gareth Morgan.
2012-01-17 17:06:33 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Many New Zealand franchisees are disappointed with their business experience due to conflict with franchisers, a Massey University study has found.
2012-01-17 10:30:31 // Sustain Team
// The Idealog Blog
Sustainable business action is at the heart of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's publication Business solutions to enable energy access for all.
2012-01-16 11:42:29 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
The 27 finalists in the New Zealand International Business Awards have been announced, and they run the gamut from health to software development to magnet manufacturing.
2012-01-16 10:18:02 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
Maui Capital, a New Zealand private equity group, has bought a majority stake in Australasian fruit and produce company Freshmax.
2012-01-16 09:35:50 // Kate Beecroft
// Idealog #37: now
1-Night, Dash Tickets, and Ticket Direct are giving the complacent entertainment giants a serve.
2012-01-13 10:24:06 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
As the Ports of Auckland standoff drags on, the Productivity Commission is recommending partial privatisation of council air and sea port assets.
2012-01-12 12:29:29 // Idealog
| 8 comments
St Lukes is about to get a whole lot bigger with the mega-mall set to double available floor space and be re-zoned as a town centre.
2012-01-11 14:13:53 // Siobhan Leathley
Christchurch may not be able to catch a break of late, but there's a new, if small, Red Cross grant to help earthquake-affected businesses get back on their feet.
2012-01-11 11:15:35 // Ruby Porter
As a country, we’re big on animals. From our reputation as a farming nation to our love of the humble household pet, animal welfare is big on the agenda for most Kiwis and now we have the company to match.
2012-01-10 15:07:03 // Siobhan Leathley
Icebreaker, the New Zealand company behind the merino wool movement, today revealed plans to open its second store in New York City.
2012-01-10 11:19:09 // Siobhan Leathley
New Zealand has some of the best filmmakers, rugby players and seafood in the world, and now according to Air Transport World, we've also got one of the best airlines.
2012-01-10 10:59:45 // Idealog
Retailers around New Zealand are about to get access to unprecedented amounts of bulk gift and homeware products at clearance prices.
2012-01-09 10:56:38 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
Arran Boote, director of accounting firm William Buck, has picked up a Success Story Award from the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) for his work in developing trade relations between New Zealand and Hong Kong.
2012-01-09 10:05:23 // Idealog
| 1 comment
LanzaTech has acquired a US biofuel plant in a foreclosure sale as part of a government-approved liquidation.
2011-12-21 12:39:01 // Siobhan Leathley
UK Trade and Investments (UKTI) has confirmed Icehouse chief executive Andrew Hamilton is joining the GO UK judging panel.
2011-12-20 10:34:33 // Mike Booker
// The Idealog Blog
| 4 comments
The ‘merger’ is a public show of a marriage of equals, but usually it’s no such thing – the Business Roundtable and New Zealand Institute are like chalk and cheese.
2011-12-19 13:25:02 // Siobhan Leathley
Auckland usually holds its own in global lifestyle surveys, but according to fDi magazine, New Zealand's biggest city also scores well when it comes to business.
2011-12-19 10:51:52 // Ben Kepes
// The Idealog Blog
| 5 comments
For every crash and burn, it’ll be the Ma and Pa business that saves this country’s bacon.
2011-12-16 10:08:51 // Idealog
| 1 comment
After a hard-fought race, FaceMe has been crowned the winner of the BNZ Presents: The Virgin Business Challenge, after being judged best by some of New Zealand’s top entrepreneurial and business minds.
2011-12-16 09:59:13 // Idealog
Ex-Fonterra chief executive Andrew Ferrier is joining the board of New Zealand's largest privately-owned software exporter.
2011-12-15 09:21:33 // Siobhan Leathley
| 2 comments
Tauranga's newest bid to step up economic development comes in the form of a campaign showcasing some of the region's most successful and innovative companies.
2011-12-13 11:39:33 // Siobhan Leathley
Independent Liquor says more than 100 bars and restaurants have signed up to its new tap beer option, indicating the industry's thirst for choice.
2011-12-13 09:03:38 // Esther Goh
The government must give the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund room to grow if it is to survive, says the head of the national venture capital association.
2011-12-12 15:19:06 // Paul Davies
// The Idealog Blog
Despite what naysayers might suggest, recent legislation that prepares the way for New Zealand to accede to the Madrid Protocol is good news.
2011-12-09 10:20:45 // Siobhan Leathley
| 2 comments
A new mentoring programme linking women with senior directors of large company boards launched this week in a drive to boost the number of women in business leadership roles.
2011-12-08 09:14:14 // Idealog
Ten finalists have been announced in the BNZ Presents: The Virgin Business Challenge, a competition to find New Zealand’s best start-up talent.
2011-12-07 09:14:35 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
It’s been a tough year for Christchurch-based Smail & Co, but rounding off 2011 with $250,000 of free business software is a good way to go out.
2011-12-06 10:57:45 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
Cerebos says it won’t lift its $2.50-a-share offer for Comvita and that the valuation range given by an independent adviser is not justified.
2011-12-02 09:24:12 // Idealog
| 1 comment
New Zealand businesses have proved they can hold their own internationally, with 37 Kiwi firms making the cut in the annual Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific index.
2011-12-01 16:16:13 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
Fletcher Building and Michael Hill International have been identified as having the best and the worst websites respectively in regard to communication with investors.
2011-12-01 15:09:04 // Sarah Robson
// The Idealog Blog
| 4 comments
Graham Carter, a Kiwi-born entrepreneur, has spent the last 10 years in North America – turning good ideas into commercial businesses and founding three successful companies along the way. But now he’s back in the country as the CEO of carboNZero.
2011-12-01 09:02:52 // Sustain Team
| 6 comments
Members of the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development have voted to form a new Sustainable Business Council (SBC) in association with BusinessNZ to promote sustainable business and policies.
2011-11-30 10:16:44 // Idealog
| 1 comment
New Zealand has jumped up the global economic crime rankings for reported fraud, with cybercrime emerging as the latest threat to businesses.
2011-11-29 12:09:53 // Idealog
When Sir Richard Branson put out a challenge to New Zealand businesses last month, they responded in force. A total of 263, in fact, which have now been whittled down to 15 finalists.
2011-11-21 10:28:25 // Kelvin Taylor
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
We live in a world where design and branding is playing an increasingly vital role in helping us differentiate one service or product from another.
2011-11-11 09:29:19 // Idealog
The Chamber of Commerce is calling for the incoming government to rethink its approach to exports, joining forces with the private sector to campaign to sell more to the rest of the world.
2011-11-10 10:17:07 // Idealog
Blowing out all previous records, online electricity retailer Powershop has claimed the top spot on this year’s Deloitte Fast 50 with a massive 5280 percent growth, the highest-ever in the index’s 11-year history.
2011-11-09 11:29:03 // Idealog
Deals worth as much as $150 million are already in the pipeline for some Auckland businesses following the Rugby World Cup.
2011-11-03 10:39:32 // Michael Elwood-Smith
// The Idealog Blog
The best teams are lovingly nurturing, brutally honest (or honestly brutal) and devastatingly effective together.
2011-11-02 14:20:31 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
An NZ-first survey to measure IT improvement on an annual basis launches today, courtesy of the Getting IT Right Initiative and IDC.
2011-11-01 15:21:25 // Dave Allison
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Why your nugget of brilliance needs to be shunted into the light of day and beaten to a pulp by everyone you know.
2011-10-25 11:21:16 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Get the basics right, invest in development, and never compromise on quality. That was the take-home message at the Thrive International conference on Friday, with John Buchanan from the International Chamber of Commerce urging companies to invest in innovation in order to grow revenue.
2011-10-19 11:00:07 // Aaron Wallace
// The Idealog Blog
“There just wasn’t enough time.” Who would have guessed that this classic quote from Marlon Brando in the Godfather trilogy would be echoing through many boardrooms today?
2011-10-19 10:08:13 // Esther Goh
| 3 comments
New Zealand businesses lack the skills to make the most of Asia’s rapid growth, according to a new report.
2011-10-17 17:27:04 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
Businesses looking to get a foothold into the UK and Europe have a new avenue of support in the form of Go UK, a business plan competition open to New Zealand businesses.
2011-10-14 09:22:32 // Idealog
The government will crack down on company registration and directors under a new bill tabled by commerce minister Simon Power, intended to stamp out foreigners using New Zealand as a haven to carry out criminal business activity.
2011-10-12 10:38:17
Not only is New Zealand one of the best countries in the world in which to start a business, it's also enjoying some of the lowest insolvency rates around.
2011-10-11 15:22:20 // Idealog
Small to medium-sized Canterbury businesses have a new avenue of support – the Vodafone Foundation and the Canterbury Business Recovery Trust have announced a joint venture to help quake-affected businesses grow.
2011-10-11 13:48:26 // Idealog
| 2 comments
Waikato business incubator SODA has joined forces with NZTE to increase the number of high growth startups in the region.
2011-10-05 11:26:16 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
Coca-Cola leads Interbrand’s 2011 Best Global Brands report for the 12th consecutive year – but it's Apple, whose brand value increased 58 percent, that is the top riser of the year.
2011-10-04 13:49:05 // Sustain Team
// The Idealog Blog
Having paid homage to businesses in the North last month, the latest round of Sustainable Business Network Awards heaped accolades on businesses in the Central and South of the country, with cycling and childhood education businesses among the winners.
2011-09-22 13:23:19 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
Applications for MSI's internships programme, which pays companies to take on interns for R&D purposes, close next week.
2011-09-19 12:06:49 // Idealog
Employers will have to provide information about workers' pay to show whether their male and female staff are receiving equal rates, if Labour has its way.
2011-09-19 10:29:15 // Esther Goh
| 2 comments
Research has revealed a major disconnect between what devices Kiwi employees say they use for work purposes and what employers think staff are, in fact, using.
2011-09-13 11:04:12 // Esther Goh
The Financial Markets Authority has published its enforcement policy outlining how it plans to operate as a financial services watchdog.
2011-09-13 10:26:47 // Esther Goh
Impending legislation that will enable organisations to register a trademark in multiple countries with a single application is a double edged sword for New Zealand companies, according to one patent law expert.
2011-08-29 09:27:01 // Idealog
Nearly half of Kiwi business owners are working to reach a lifestyle goal and believe they can maintain an appropriate work-life balance, a new MYOB Business Monitor report suggests.
2011-08-25 10:14:27 // Idealog
New Zealand businesses have a positive attitude both towards expanding internationally and the support they get from government agencies to do it, says a Victoria University professor.
2011-08-24 10:57:55 // Esther Goh
The volatile dollar is playing havoc with the New Zealand wine industry, say growers, but the sector is battling through tough economic times.
2011-08-24 10:15:08 // Idealog
GST on international business deals is hurting New Zealand's ability to compete on the global market, according to the government, which is seeking feedback on options for addressing the issue.
2011-08-22 11:57:03 // Idealog
Australian-based Super Retail Group, which operates Supercheap Auto in New Zealand, is expanding further into the Kiwi market with the launch of FCO Fishing Camping Outdoors.
2011-08-15 10:49:05 // Esther Goh
Criticise executive salaries all you like: company directors are enjoying higher pay because they face ever-increasing levels of accountability, says one consultancy.
2011-08-15 09:58:49 // Idealog
A new tool will help "breathe new life" into hospitality businesses by enabling them to measure their performance against industry standards.
2011-08-11 10:10:00 // Andrea Rush
// The Idealog Blog
| 3 comments
New research puts the Maori economic base at $36.9 billion and Maori as the world's third most entrepreneurial indigenous people.
2011-08-08 10:33:45 // Esther Goh
New Zealand's banking system is in a solid position despite the global economic turmoil, but the road to recovery will be a long one, experts say.
2011-08-03 10:11:55 // Idealog
| 1 comment
New Zealand companies need to start winning more government contracts in order to boost the economy by millions – but a focus on price above all else is negatively affecting results.
2011-08-02 09:55:53 // Lance Wiggs
// Idealog #34: interact
New idea or old idea better? How to expand your overseas presence? And what's the deal with rebranding?
2011-07-27 09:50:19 // Esther Goh
A Masterton man’s plan to sell his patented steel-mesh safety goggles worldwide has been awarded a $60,000 prize package to further expand his business.
2011-07-26 09:50:31 // Idealog
Business Mentors New Zealand says many SMEs are in distress and is seeing older companies seeking help for the first time.
2011-07-22 12:25:14 // Esther Goh
Companies' financial statements should be slashed in order to focus on what's important, according to a working group.
2011-07-18 10:00:35 // Vanessa Ellingham
For all the touted economic benefits of hosting the Rugby World Cup, franchisors don't actually expect the event to have a positive impact on their businesses.
2011-07-12 11:29:30 // Idealog
Nestle, the world’s largest food company, has officially nabbed a £1 billion stronghold in the world’s second-largest economy.
2011-07-12 09:20:23 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
US business consultant, speaker and author John Hagel has plenty of opinions on the state of the company, our changing corporate world and today's modern workforce.
2011-07-05 12:49:36 // Idealog
Inventors can look forward to a faster, cheaper and more streamlined trans-Tasman patent process in the very near future.
2011-07-05 11:11:01 // Idealog
Figures show a marked recovery in the Canterbury economy but modest growth elsewhere, according to the NZIER's Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion released this morning.
2011-07-04 15:01:00 // Vanessa Ellingham & Vincent Heeringa
| 1 comment
Kiwi juice company Charlie's says accepting a foreign takeover was “inevitable”, but there won't be any redundancies or closures. And for shareholders who bought into the company in 2005, this week's deal with Japanese drink giant Asahi represents a 340 percent total return. Good - but is it good enough?
2011-06-23 12:00:00 // Infonews
// The Idealog Blog
Got a strategic business plan with objectives and metrics in place? It's a need, not a nice-to-have, and Fieldays was as good a place as any to spread the message.
2011-06-21 17:05:58 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
BNZ and NZTE have announced a new funding venture to assist SMEs in completing the Icehouse's programme for owner-managers.
2010-11-19 11:39:08 // Celsias Team
// The Idealog Blog
He’s extremely captivating and can summarise in 10 minutes what might take some one hour to articulate. We caught up with renowned and influential Canadian scientist, environmentalist, educator and broadcaster David Suzuki on his recent visit to New Zealand, to discuss the prospects of a sustainable global future.
Right now, says Suzuki, we’re heading towards a brick wall at 100 miles per hour. But we don’t know enough about how nature operates to say it’s too late or that we’ve passed too many tipping points. But the situation is dire.
He says that while the majority of high level business executives believe climate change is real and caused by humans, the business community is held captive the game they have to play.
And don’t look to the markets either. He tells us why putting the onus on markets to offer solutions is a “load of bullshit”.
2010-10-28 14:57:56 // Design Daily Team
// The Idealog Blog
This year's NZTE CEO Summit is all about design integration—one of the most significant transformational tools in global business. Companies that embed design create new opportunities, new markets and new value. The summit will explore the theory and practice of design integration, learning from global exemplars, and Design Daily will be there pass on all the inside knowledge and tools from the summit. Stay tuned...
2010-10-14 14:11:10 // Design Daily Team
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Strong and effective design was a prominent theme at last night’s NZ International Business Awards, which recognise new approaches that businesses are taking to achieve international success. And it was smart design that resulted in Pumpkin Patch collecting the Judges' Supreme Award.
2010-09-03 15:05:26
// Idealog #29: export
Discover the success of Future Products Group (FPG), a Napier-based, $30- million, design-led manufacturer of food display units—you know, the cabinets you probably never noticed because you’re too busy looking at the sandwiches and pies inside.
2010-09-03 15:05:26 // Dwight Whitney
// Idealog #29: export
Think of your exporting journey decisionmaking as something akin to investment portfolio theory. Your goal is to balance risk and reward— or more specifically, opportunity and your chance of success. Make exports a part of your business plan and identify key target markets before jumping in.
2010-09-03 15:05:26
// Idealog #29: export
It was the similarity between the DNA of dogs and wolves that inspired Geoff Bowers to create a new kind of dog food.
2010-09-03 15:05:26
// Idealog #29: export
Seneca Textiles managing director Dennis Bygrave calls them ‘mother-in-law calls’. As in, when your mother-in-law is on the phone it generally isn’t a social call—something is up and you’d best be paying attention.
2010-09-03 15:05:26
// Idealog #29: export
| 1 comment
Any company with a healthy balance sheet in such sickly economic times must have a secret tonic.
2010-07-20 10:09:07 // Design Daily Team
// The Idealog Blog
Aaron Carson doesn’t like rugby, and he’s the first to admit it. But he knows the tsunami of attention that will be generated with next years Rugby World Cup can't be ignored. With that in mind, he asks leading industry players Kevin Bowler, Phil O'Reilly, Leon Grice and Michael Barnett what it all means for New Zealand business, even perhaps, your business.
2010-07-01 12:50:26 // Vincent Heeringa
// Idealog #28: plus
Creating trust ought to be the leading task of designers right now—trust in products, trust in people and trust in the idea that change is for the better
2010-03-18 10:02:02 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #26: guide
“Art is never finished, only abandoned.” An exit strategy should be part of any business plan worth its salt. Plus what you’re really selling and the sale of the century.
2010-03-17 12:02:14 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #26: guide
Kiwi businesses have too often been timid, flightless creatures. Plus the risk and our export checklist.
2010-03-15 10:43:30 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #26: guide
When James Madelin developed and marketed new photographic equipment, BNZ was behind him all the way
2010-03-15 10:31:47 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #26: guide
“People think that the biggest hurdle is getting investors. It isn’t. It is getting customers.”
2010-03-10 11:27:03 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #26: guide
If you are relying on trust, it’s because you haven’t done the right paperwork. Plus IP help on the cheap.
2010-03-08 10:32:51 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #26: guide
You’ll need more money—much more. And a watertight business plan is the best way to get investors onside. Plus meet an angel.
2009-12-17 10:38:00 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #25: guide
It’s just possible your wonderful idea will make you rich. It’s almost certain that it will make you poor first. If you want a quiet life with a steady income, where you always know where the next pay cheque is coming from, commercialising ideas is probably not for you. If you are ready to risk it, talk to an accountant. You’ll need a sound business plan and financial structures that are robust enough to cope with tight times—or rapid success. And there are some important tax and liability issues that can be devastating if overlooked.
2009-12-16 11:06:00 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #25: guide
The point at which people really get excited about an idea is when they can reach out and touch it, kick its tyres and take it for a spin. This is also a very exciting point for the innovator. Once you have created your prototype, there is every chance you may discover new markets and applications for you innovation as people get hold of it and interact with it in unexpected ways. If things go really well, this may also be your first opportunity to show something concrete to potential partners, investors and customers, to whet their appetites and pry open their wallets.
2009-12-14 12:19:19 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #25: guide
Every business likes its customers, but not every business can define them—who they are, what they buy, what they read, what they watch, how much money they spend and where. But be warned: doing your research and refining that strategic business plan could take anywhere from weeks to months
2009-12-11 11:09:23 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #25: guide
Why is a low-end Lexus more sought after than a top-of-the-line Toyota, given they are made by the same people? Why do you feel all international and summery when you drink Sol and staunch when you drink Lion Red? It’s because everybody judges a book by its cover.
2009-12-10 13:04:51 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #25: guide
The dog ate my intellectual property protection. If you find yourself snapping a self-portrait while holding up some sketchy diagrams and today’s paper or posting notes to yourself by registered mail in an effort to prove that your original inspirational ideas are indeed yours, you need help.
2009-12-09 09:43:45 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #25: guide
Your business plan is a vital part of structuring the early development of your business, and will act as a dashboard to manage your starship Enterprise once she’s operational. Remember you are planning to make the jump to light speed at some point, so plot a sensible course. Here's how to go about strategic planning, and a template for crafting a winning business plan.
2009-12-08 14:09:12 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #25: guide
The first thing to get clear in your mind about the innovation and ideation process is that it is a process, and one you should consciously control.
2009-12-08 14:08:35 // Andy Kenworthy
// Idealog #25: guide
This guide helps New Zealanders turn their ideas into world-beating products, businesses and brands. Whether you’ve got an idea of your own, you’re working on other people’s ideas or you’d simply like your company to be more innovative, you’ll find essential answers in these pages
