The Pivot Pod

Welcome to The Pivot Pod, where we'll figure out together what's next for small business. Hosted by Frances Cook, with a new expert on each episode. Today it's how tech is poised to become a major force in the New Zealand business scene.

Tourism was a lifeblood in our economy for a long time. But with borders now closed for who knows how long, there are questions about if another major industry will step up to the plate.

My next guest argues yes, there’s already one waiting in the wings: tech.

Because while New Zealand may not think of themselves as a nation of coders, we’re already pretty close.

For the latest podcast I talked to Ryan Jennings, executive director of Buy New Zealand Made.

If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the pivot pod, where together we’ll figure out where to next for small business. Today it's how to tighten up your business to survive border closures.

Even if we’re all agreed keeping the borders closed is important for keeping us safe and healthy, there is an undeniable cost that comes with that.

New Zealand is a country that until now relied heavily on tourism and exports, both of which are impacted by border restrictions not just here but throughout the world.

So how can we work with what needs to happen, while reducing some of those downsides, and lining ourselves up for the recovery?

For the latest episode I was joined by Andrew Jamieson, from PWC.

If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Pivot Pod, where we'll figure out together what's next for small business. Hosted by Frances Cook, with a new expert on each episode. Today it's how to keep talking to your customers when every dollar is tight.

Many of the guests we’ve had so far have warned against cutting your marketing budget.

I can see their reasoning – in times of change, you need to keep talking to your customers about what you’re doing, and how they can buy from you.

But also every dollar has to be justified right now, and you definitely don’t want to be throwing good money after bad.

So to help us figure out the best marketing methods for you, I talked to Bruce Gourley from Stanley St

If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Pivot Pod, where we'll figure out together what's next for small business. Hosted by Frances Cook, with a new expert on each episode. Today it's identifying the ways your business can change to get through the "new normal".

We all know how businesses have struggled with the impacts of Covid-19 – the borders are still closed, international tourism stalled, and many of us are still wary of the close contact that retail or events can bring.

But what about the opportunities?

There is huge disruption happening right now, and rather than waiting for that to be over, and hoping for the old normal to come back, there are those who say it’s time to dive in and find the new areas that are opening up for businesses.

Vaughn Davis has put out a book filled with inspiring stories from people who’ve done just that.

If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Pivot Pod, where we'll figure out together what's next for small business. Hosted by Frances Cook, with a new expert on each episode. Today it's how you can use a link to health to boost your business.

While money is tight for many at the moment, some businesses have actually seen sales go up after Covid-19.

One of those is AgriSea, a New Zealand company that makes natural fertilisers from seaweed, whose sales have boomed since lockdown.

In the June 2020 quarter alone, they doubled the export revenue they’d had for the previous year.

As a country full of businesses making quality, natural products, there are lots of lessons here for the rest of us.

For the latest podcast I talked to Clare Bradley from AgriSea and Susan Kilsby, agriculture economist from ANZ.

If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Pivot Pod, where we'll figure out together what's next for small business. Hosted by Frances Cook, with a new expert on each episode. Today it's the best ways to start reaching customers online.

One piece of advice that’s dished out over and over again is that businesses should try to get around Covid-19 restrictions by embracing the digital, online world.

Now to be clear, I totally agree with this; but at the same time it’s not that simple.

It can be intimidating for those who haven’t done it before. Many are worried about getting it wrong, or spending lots of money at a time when every dollar counts.

So to help us figure this out, the latest podcast is with Blake Ramage, Creative Director at The Artistry Online.

If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Pivot Pod, where we'll figure out together what's next for small business. Hosted by Frances Cook, with a new expert on each episode. Today it's how even in "unprecedented times" we can learn from survivors of past crises.

We’re hearing a lot about how it’s unprecedented times right now.

And while it’s certainly true that a global pandemic, and a virus that keeps us in our homes, is highly unusual, a crisis for the business sector itself isn’t that unusual.

There are always lesson to be learned from what’s happened before, who succeeded through that, and how we can use that experience to help today.

For the latest Pivot Pod I talked to Laybuy co-founder Gary Rohloff.

If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Pivot Pod, where we'll figure out together what's next for small business. Hosted by Frances Cook, with a new expert on each episode. Today it's a business coach on why you shouldn't get lost in the weeds.

The world of business is often a tightrope, where you’re constantly looking for what will help your business keep its balance, while avoiding things that will knock you off course.

And while the rope is looking a little frayed lately, it is still true that there are parts of the economy doing well that you can lean into, and parts that you’ll want to steer clear of.

To help us figure out which is which today we're joined by Phil Holland, from Love Your Business, who has been coaching small businesses through exactly this dilemma.

If you have a question about this podcast, or question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Pivot Pod, where we'll figure out together what's next for small business. Hosted by Frances Cook, with a new expert on each episode. Today it's a tourism business that says the Covid-19 changes made their business better.

Tourism has had one of the roughest rides through Covid-19.

Every time it looks like they might catch a break, we end up going backwards again – with even the hopes for a bubble with Australia looking unlikely for now.

But one tourism company has responded creatively. Elements World once fully relied on tourists, first with surf tours, then expanding into campervan rentals.

Now they've tried out the courier business, and have opened up an automotive servicing workshop.

On The Pivot Pod, founder Felipe Rebolledo said he now wouldn't go back to the way the business was before.

If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Pivot Pod, where we'll figure out together what's next for small business. Hosted by Frances Cook, with a new expert on each episode. Today it's how ethics can go hand in hand with a profitable business.

When push comes to shove, ethical business practices are often seen as a nice to have.

It may be nice to do your bit for the world, but at the end of the day, the business has to survive.

But who says that ethical practices actually get in the way of doing the best business?

One New Zealand company says it doesn’t, and that even in the current tough times, their values are what’s actually helping them adapt.

One The Pivot Pod I talked to Chloe and Florence van Dyke from Chia Sisters.

We discussed how their business changed over lockdown, how the living wage and solar panels actually helped their business, and what they're hoping to try next.

If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookJournalist/ Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/ and Twitter here https://twitter.com/FrancesCook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.