Business Mentors New Zealand

Owning and running our own business can be hugely rewarding, but at times is a lonely and frightening experience. You have to deliver your product or service, build relationships with customers and suppliers, recruit, train and manage staff, keep up with compliance, technology, marketing, brand development and what the competition is up to, develop new ideas and handle financial challenges – and all when the economic environment is tough.
So where do you turn for help?

The good news is that  Business Mentors New Zealand exists to help small businesses get better at what they do and how they do it. The mentors are independent, successful businesspeople who share their wisdom and experience and offer independent advice to businesses – as volunteers. Businesses pay a small joining fee, but otherwise there is no charge for the service.

Your mentor may not be a specialist in your business area, but they are good at seeing the bigger picture, listening, questioning, analysing and identifying the key issues that you need to tackle. A mentor is someone with whom you can bounce ideas around or discuss difficult issues and give you honest and robust feedback.

Whatever your business and whatever your business issues, having a mentor on board could make the difference between your business stagnating and moving to the next level.

Here what Business Mentors New Zealand's clients have to say...

After eight years of ownership, Deane and Roger were feeling frustrated with their Browns Bay Palmers Garden Centre franchise. Lynn their mentor helped the couple with establishing points of difference for their business, to help them stand out from their competition.

“One of the initiatives that we have introduced since Lynn came on board has been planting some community allotments at the back of the store,’ says Deane. ‘We have teamed up with the Salvation Army to teach local families how to grow their own food. Only last week we had five families out there planting winter vegetables.”

“The guidance I’ve received has been absolutely invaluable. My mentor helped me put together a structured business and marketing plan and start making informed decisions about taking the company forward.

"Having a critical eye from the outside has been fantastic. My approach has been to be as open as possible and to learn as much as I can. I don’t understand people that don’t have a mentor. It grants you a priceless opportunity to network and upskill.”
(Training Company, Auckland)

“My mentor has been a great find. He has really helped me pin-point the critical areas that I need to focus on. It is also great to have someone to bounce ideas off.

"The encouragement and extra boost of knowledge I get from him is helping me run the business better than ever before and I am extremely excited about the future.”

(Human Resources Professional, Auckland)

“Business Mentors is a fantastic facility that every small business should make use of. I was very grateful for the abundance of practical advice that my mentor gave me. He taught me all about export processes, about freight, and what pitfalls I needed to look out for.”

(Skincare Developer/Manufacturer, Wairarapa)

“We were thrilled to be paired up with our mentor, a successful businessman and marketing specialist. Within no time at all, the team were generating some impressive marketing ideas for customer growth and retention.”

(Tyre Dealership, Rotorua)

• This information is provided by Business Mentors New Zealand:
  
  www.businessmentors.org.nz