Law firm Lowndes Associates received a mention in the Herald on Sunday, 01 May, regarding the ‘Secrets of the Silicon Valley’ seminars that will be held in New Zealand later this month.

Lowndes Associates is working in conjunction with David Smith, the founder of the Silicon Valley Business School, to conduct a number of seminars which aim to unlock the secrets of the Silicon Valley for New Zealand businesses.

Smith believes that high-tech Kiwi firms aiming to make it big in the United States often don’t understand the ‘basic rules’, but is confident that his ‘Seven Silicon Secrets’ are the key to helping New Zealand businesses enter the US market successfully.

To read the full article and find out more about the Silicon Valley seminar details click here.

Morale-boosting author Stephen Lundin discusses his famous “Fish” philosophy in an interview with the Herald on Sunday’s Andre Hueber.

The Knowledge Gym proudly presents Stephen Lundin, co-author of the best-selling Fish!.  Lundin is in New Zealand this week to conduct a number of seminars and spread his fish philosophy to business managers all over the country.

Inspired by the lively and motivated work environment observed at the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle, the Fish philosophy uses a set of simple and practical tools to create a more positive, energetic and happy work atmosphere for managers and their employees. Essentially, the Fish philosophy focuses on having a good time, “Freedom is the most motivating thing you can provide in the workplace”.   

Click here to read the full article or find out more about The Knowledge Gym

Kerri Jackson was in the process of planning a milestone birthday for her and a group of friends when we approached her about Waiheke Island Resort.

She was immediately taken in by the pictures of the resort and its location on the island. Kerri decided that Waiheke Island Resort would be the perfect venue for her and her group to kick off the birthday celebrations.

The resort also offered a night of accommodation at an affiliated group’s holiday house, including transfers and first hand recommendations of the best gastro and scenic adventures Waiheke has to offer.

Kerri wrote an article about her experience following her weekend away at Waiheke, which featured in the January 30^th 2011 edition of Herald on Sunday Detours.

For more information, visit: www.waihekeresort.co.nz

December 19 – Young and Shand directors Ben Young and Duncan Shand appeared in the Herald on Sunday after speaking with journalist Maria Slade about their latest research survey results and tapping into the potential of digital marketing.

Young and Shand surveyed 150 chief executives and marketing managers in an effort to find out how committed New Zealand organizations are to digital marketing.

Among the results 66% of respondents said they were committed, with top firms planning to spend on website design, social media, online video and email marketing.

Facebook is one of Shand’s top picks for 2011 and is predicted to become even more popular with the advent of Facebooks Plates.

Young and Shand understand the mechanics and impact of Facebook inside out, they delivered a successful Facebook campaign for the SPCA and gained 25,000 fans within three weeks, a fifth of whom were interactive users.

In an interview featured on Stoppress.co.nz, 18 January,  Ben Young further disucssed the results of the Young and Shand Digital Marketing Survey.   Young explained the “motivation behind the survey is to try and get a feel for digital as a whole in New Zealand”. 

Young and Shand’s survey received some encouraging results and showed that 96 percent of businesses understood the importance of digital marketing, compared with the US (in a CMO Council and Accenture Suvery) where  only 78 percent of respondents agreed with the statement “digital channels are important to their organisation”.

Click here to view the Herald on Sunday article and here for the Stoppress.co.nz feature.  Visit Young and Shand online at http://www.youngshand.com/ or http://blog.youngshand.com/

Maria Slade investigated this story for The Herald on Sunday. The article quotes Jim Bibby, Jurgen Fitting, Jason Vlaar and Auckland University franchising expert Gehan Gunasekara.

German chainsaw manufacturer Stihl is using New Zealand as a test market for its concept of a nationwide chain of franchised power tool retailers, called STIHL SHOP™

The latest three store openings in Hawera, Masterton and Cambridge takes the group to a total of 56 stores nationwide (generating $80 million in annual revenues) – within reach of its goal of 65 stores by 2011.

Before 2002 the outdoor power equipment market was merely embryonic. This changed when STIHL decided to develop a retail chain of locally owned stores under its own brand; called STIHL SHOP™. The outcome for STIHL after years of groundwork is improved store branding and infrastructure, investment into human capital through training, a focus on customer service and top position in the now highly competitive retail category.

Click here to see the print story republished online at www.nzherald.co.nz

The Switch Business principals have been busy at it again, this weekend featured in the Herald on Sunday; Buyers Face A Lengthy Wait by Maria Slade they discuss the growing number of waiting business buyers.

The Switch Business Men; Paul Devcich and David Newport

Co-owner Paul Devcich says they have people “biting their arms off” trying to get information on new businesses placed on the market. 

There is a demand from genuine buyers right now, but owners may have been advised to sit tight until profits returned to levels of previous years and consider selling later.  

However, might be a different situation in few years if all businesses owners held on there would eventually be a glut.  “If someone if looking in this market now, they can do the transaction” says Switch co-owner David Newport.