• Good Vibrations 
• Our attitude and the attitude of our staff can be our competitive advantage.
  Article published in The channel (www.thechannel.co.nz)
  October 2009
• Watch out for Icebergs
• Do your customers survive in spite of you or thrive because of you?
• Article published in the Channel (www.thechannel.co.nz) November 2009
• Expertise Sought
• When and why you should consider outsourcing.
• Article published in IT Brief (www.itbrief.co.nz) December 2009
• Rule Overheads with an Iron Fist
• There are many opportunities in this economy for the switched on small to medium business enterprise on which to capitilise without increasing overheads. but how do you in your business address an opportunity / issue / problem, without incurring long-term additional cost burdens? Especially when it is not clear what the outcome or result will be of the topic in question.
• Newsletter
• Bogged down with Time-wasters?
• Do you have less and less time to spend on the parts of your business you enjoy doing? Do you even remember the spark, the talent, that drove you to set up your own business in the first place?
• Newsletter
• Kick start your own recovery
• The signs are that we’re finally on the way up. That being the case, are you in a position to grab the opportunity? Finding the time to get that project you’ve been thinking about all year up and running is difficult. OK we understand. But if you dont start to plan right now for the new year, then it won’t happen when you get back after those lazy, hazy summer days.
• Newsletter

Dave Wylie

Business Advisory Services

I work with a broad range of companies and industries providing management advice, acting as a mentor, carrying out projects and specific assignments. The industries include:

Software & IT, retail butchery, publishing, accounting, choreography & dance, language school, law, print & design, electrical contracting, property rental & services, architecture, building renovation, vehicle servicing, plastics, manufacturing & distribution, firewood, beauty products.

Software

I provided software solutions and advice to a large number of NZ companies over a 20 year period. The organisations were mainly manufacturing and distribution companies throughout the North and South islands and included some in Australia.

As country manager I was involved in management meetings throughout the Asia Pacific region and worked with other subsidiaries and associates in the region on training assignments.

Industrial

I spent 13 years working in a variety of management positions, mostly IT and Office Services related, for Ford Motor Company. My responsibilities included the provision and operation of computer operations for the Auckland and Hutt Valley sites, all office services (telephones, postal and reprographics). In my last position I was responsible for the sourcing, development, sale, implementation and support of software to the dealers throughout New Zealand.

FMCG

The early portion of my career was at Griffins where my first management role was in charge of the administration of a large distribution centre covering the bottom half of the North Island. The sales force operated largely on a fortnightly cycle with deliveries by the companies’ trucks within two days. All stock was received by rail directly into the warehouse. Later I was responsible for a multi shift computer department servicing the company’s national operations.

Community

Involvement in our community has always been important. Jeannette and I have been members of Our Lady Star of the Sea parish for more than 30 years and have worked for the development of better relationships through engaged and married couples.

Rotary has been a means to give something back to the community both locally and internationally through the many projects and causes supported by Rotary International. I am currently chairman of Step Up, a local program that challenges 28-45 year olds to “step up” to leadership roles in their companies, communities and families.

I have had a variety of other roles over the years including 5 years on the management advisory board of Mercy Hospital, as well as Howick Neighbourhood Watch, church, school and sports clubs. And I spent 5 years in the Territorial Army from 1967-72.

Family

Somehow amongst all of that Jeannette and I have raised a large family who now have their own careers and families and make us very proud.

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Brett Whyte

Advertising and Design Services

Owner & Creative Director of Whyte Communications, a boutique Advertising
and Design Consultancy based in Waitakere.

If you demand decades of agency experience, if you value being able to work direct with senior creative without being filtered through a salesman, talk to me. I listen, I involve and I solve problems.

Brand Building

The single most important strategy to stay relevant in a cluttered market place, is to develop a  respected brand and to stay true to it. Your brand stretches far beyond a   logo, it’s identifies you and your unique story. It is key to building loyalty and repeat custom.

I can work with you to develop, enhance and protect your brand with:
Brand Identity Creation, Development and Guardianship. Brand Advertising and Strategy. Brand Identity Manuals. Packaging Design. Commercial Signage Fitouts and Interior Design. Consumer and Trade Promotions.

Below the Line

With a wealth of experience in print design, pre-press and production I can assist you to get maximum exposure for your advertising dollar. With other BTL services like direct marketing, web and email at your fingertips you can make the most of your opportunities without a massive corporate budget.

FMCG Packaging, Point of Sale and Trade Presenters and Campaigns, Corporate Profiles, Corporate in-house communications, Corporate HR promotions and extensive Brand Campaigns.
Past and present clients include: Coca-Cola, Goodman Fielder, Mainland, Tegel, Marley, Life pharmacy Group, Bluebird Foods, Griffins, Nestle and Tasman Industries.

Ensuring great creative

The best ad budgets can’t make bad ideas sell. Understanding your offer and hooking your  consumer with original and relevant creative will. If you have a great product offer, I can develop the creative edge that will get it noticed.

Resources

Whyte Communications has the resources to provide a complete service.

Concept, Design, Implementation, Strategy, Marketing, Copywriting, Photography, Project Management, Print Management. Product Packaging and Display Design. Art Direction, Consumer Competitions and Promotions. Illustration from Technical to Whimsy. Way too many others to list. Partnered with Experience On Tap you have a wealth of  expertise at your fingertips to leverage better practises, outcomes and profits.

Community

As an award winning stage actor I find myself drawn to comedy roles in local theatre productions again. I have a passion for designing and building sets and doing whatever it takes to bring the best possible show to the audience. It’s the same passion I bring to each project I undertake in business or in recreation. There’s no point if you aren’t prepared to give it your best.

I’m currently Vice President of LROCA one of New Zealand’s largest  off-road vehicle recreation clubs. Through my tenure and with the help of some excellent people from all walks of life,  I have helped our membership develop a keen sense of guardianship for the  great outdoors. LROCA now regularly provides volunteer teems and logistics to assist Park Management Stakeholders in native replanting days and in lowering the footprint of vehicle recreation activity whilst maintaining access for all New Zealanders.

Ours is a country of great opportunity. I look forward to assisting in the development of yours.

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Paul McCoy

Key competences include;

• Developing Marketing Strategies. - Research, Planning, Targeting Promotion, Advertising, Pricing, Branding, Negotiating agency agreements ( purchase or supply) both local & international
• Business Planning. - New business start-up, Strategic planning, Mission statements, Goal setting, Action plans, Budgeting, Forecasting, Swot analysis, Benchmarking, Growth Strategies.
• People management. - HR planning, Identification and development for leadership. Recruitment, Motivation, Time management, Administration streamlining, Performance appraisals, Incentive program development, Work-life balance, Planning for retirement.

Career highlights have included.

• The management of a small engineering company
• Sales and sales management of materials handling products for a national company
• Marketing management of an industrial product group for a national company.
• The development of the largest forklift rental company in New Zealand
• Company expansion through acquisition of competitors
• 17 years as Chief executive of the national company AB Equipment Ltd incorporating Forklift Rental Systems Ltd.
• The development of a successful Photography Company (new company) operated for 7 years before being sold.

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Paul Dalton

Paul Dalton has more than 20 years of management, training and project management experience in New Zealand and Europe. He now specialises in business mentoring and consulting with experience in franchising. He uses a customer-centric management model to work with clients to fulfill their business’s potential. His focus is on implementing effective and efficient systems and processes, empowering staff by creating an appropriate work culture and maximising profit margins.

His skills include:

• A sound understanding of what makes a business successful
• Optimisation of existing business models
• Change management and succession planning
• Creation and implementation of system documentation
• Profit & loss and budget documentation implementation and reporting
• The implementation of franchising models
• An understanding of franchise relationships
• Franchisee and staff selection
• Establishing multiple-stakeholder projects and balancing the diverse objectives to achieve optimal results
• Culture change both in company outlook and customer/staff relationships
• Crisis management
• Marketing through social media and non-traditional streams
• Dealing effectively and efficiently with regulatory authorities in Europe and New Zealand
• A drive to complete goals and objectives

Paul’s most recent long-term project was for the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market where he implemented and oversaw its initial year of operation. His work history also includes managing a wide range of large and small-scale hospitality outlets of up to 5000 capacity. Before moving into consultancy, he was responsible for establishing approximately 50 new franchisees in Coffee Guy franchises across New Zealand.

Paul has a proven track record of success and increasing profit margins. He brings order and financial sense to your organisation, while maintaining the essence and character that make it unique. He isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves to help you fulfill your business’s potential.

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Robert Ian Mouncey

Rob has a wide breadth of experience in management and governance roles in the Paper, Plastic, Packaging and Building Industries both in New Zealand and overseas.

Rob’s career advanced through various management positions in the Technical, Production, Logistics and Marketing functions to eventual General Management, Chief Executive and Vice President Roles located both in New Zealand and the USA.

He is principal of his own consulting company and has acted in governance, consulting and mentoring roles for a number of companies in the, plastics, transport, timber, digital imaging and printing industries. He is currently a Director of the OTS Group and the ASB Showgrounds.

Rob has served on industry bodies including Past President of Plastics New Zealand, elected board member of the Employers & Manufacturers Association and a member of the Auckland Regional Economic Development Implementation Leaders Group prior to its transfer to the ARC.

As part of his voluntary activities he is Chairman of the Pathways to Employment Trust a vocational facilitation programme for school students and is a member of the Rotary Club of Howick. He is a past President of the club and acts as Chairman of the newly formed Community Capital Trust

Rob is married, has 3 adult children and lives in Bucklands Beach.

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Dr. Terry Shannon Ph.D.  B.E. (Chem.) (Hons)

• Business & Industrial Process Improvement
• Supply Chain Optimisation
• Strategic & Tactical Operational Planning

Overview

Terry specialises in providing Business and Business Process development together with Supply Chain optimisation consulting services. Terry has worked for and advised a range of New Zealand companies, from large to small over the past 30 years.  Terry’s range of experience extends across;

• business evaluation / assessments
• business process improvement in a wide range of environments, to achieve increased productivity and quality,
• process development at innovative New Zealand companies,
• management and improving Production Planning and Scheduling systems focussed on Customer service,
• designing and implementing Decision Support routines and
• improving business performance utilizing Enterprise Resource Planning or Supply Chain software to effect efficient and optimised practises.

These experiences have been gained in a range of industry types, covering process and discrete manufacturing, involving commodity to high added value products, as well as in Commercial and Governmental environments.

Terry’s key attributes are;

• Well developed analytical skills for analysing and resolving complex process and administration problems;
• A well developed understanding of production and business environments and being good at determining the critical aspects ;
• Able to develop simple but effective insights that are able to be communicated easily.
• Well versed in the areas of Enterprise Resource
• Planning, Supply Chain Optimisation, Procurement and organisational structures;
• Knowledgeable of business process development and utilisation;
• Able to develop and communicate comprehensive information technology insights in user terms;
• Excellent communication skills; and
• A constant focus on creating benefits for the client.

Background

• 5 years as a Director of Spire Consulting
• 3 years as Consultant with RDT Pacific / Infinity Solutions
• 6 years as a Consultant  with Ptah Enterprises and Global Solutions
• 10 years as a Manager with McKechnie Metals Ltd
• 11 years as a Research Engineer and Manager at New Zealand Steel

Specific Project Areas

• Business Process Productivity and Quality Improvement
• Industrial Process Improvement
• Supply Chain Optimisation
• Strategic and Tactical Operational Planning
• Current Situation Reviews including Improvement Identification and Benefits analysis
• Project definition,  justification and management

Key Assignments

Business Analysis & Business Process Development

• Spiral Drillers Limited
• NZ Food Safety Authority – Dairy Group
• Auckland & Christchurch International Airports
• Farmers Mutual Group
• Counties Power
• Dairy Meats Ltd
• Manukau City Council – Building Maintenance  Group
• Christchurch City Council
• Massey University & Canterbury University
• Environment Canterbury
• McKechnie Metals Ltd

Implementation of Supply Chain Optimisation Systems

• Wesfarmers CSBP, Perth, WA.
• Australian Wheat Board

Review and Development of Operational Information Strategies

• Integrated Foods Ltd
• NZ Steel – Corporate & Rolling Mills

Development and Implementation of On-Line Quotation application

• Steelpipe New Zealand Ltd

Implementation of Integrated Management Information applications

• Greenlea Premier Meats Ltd
• Bernard Mathews NZ Ltd
• Labserv, a division of Biolab Scientific
• Lingard Labels
• Magus Electronics
• Newmans Quality Foods Ltd
• USG Interiors
• McKechnie Metals Ltd

Business Management Information Systems Definition & Procurement

• New Zealand Sports Turf Institute
• Tasman Tanning
• Fruehauf Trailers Ltd
• McKechnie Metals Ltd
• HEB Ltd

Improvement in Operational Planning and development of Scheduling

• Wright Healthcare Ltd
• NZ Steel Ltd – Rolling Mills

Improvement of Operational Processes and Control Systems

• NZ Steel Ltd – Iron-making and Steel-making Plants
• McKechnie Metals Ltd

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John Packham

Family:
Married with four children and six grandchildren.

Interests:
Family, sport - watching and participation, keeping fit, member of St Marks Parish and Society of St. Vincent de Paul, South Auckland Council.

Current role:
Chartered Accountant - Sole practitioner past 12 years employing 3 other staff members in practice

Previous Roles:
Financial Controller, Chief Financial Officer for a variety of companies both in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Also a brief time in personal financial planning.

Areas of Expertise:
Helping clients who are struggling with the raft of business issues and problems improve their business achievements by assisting with business ideas, business structures, financial controls, simplifying accounting processes, claiming the correct level of deductions for taxation purposes and by the client knowing that they have a reliable person to call when they have business or financial matters bothering them.
I relate well to people in all walks of life by following our values of providing client satisfaction as the first prerequisite.

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John Isaac

•    Dispute Resolver
•    Negotiator & Advocate
•    Business Broker

I provide these services via two Businesses:

1.   Mediation & Arbitration Ltd

Via this business, I assist clients to resolve a wide variety of disputes in the following broad areas:

• Commercial - business, employment, shareholder, leases, rent reviews, insurance claims
• Contractual - relating to the supply of any goods & services
• Matrimonial - division of assets, especially where businesses are involved
• Business & property sales - agreement breaches, commissions
• Civil - between private individuals & also other parties, including ACC claims

I act as a Mediator, Arbitrator & also as a general facilitator and negotiator.

2.    Business Sales Ltd

Via this business, I assist clients with all aspects of the purchase and sale of businesses from pre purchase advice, valuations, marketing, all negotiations to preparation of draft sale & purchase agreements. Over 21 years I sold in excess of 100 SME’s (small to medium enterprises) and during this period was an expert witness in court in relation to business valuations on a number of occasions.

Career Summary/Professional Association

• I originally qualified as a Chartered Accountant, and am currently a Licenced Real Estate Agent and worked for large and small Chartered Accountancy firms and for a variety of businesses in both New Zealand and England. In summary:
• chartered and commercial accountancy(14 years)
• finance broking( 4 years)
• The real estate industry ( 21 years )-business sales and acquisitions
• Dispute Resolution 2008 onwards

I am on the REINZ disputes panel (assisting those in the real estate industry to resolve disputes before they escalate and need to reach the REAA (Real Estate Agents Authority) or courts.

I have been involved in:

• Successfully negotiating with a wide variety of parties
• Acting as a business valuation expert witness in mediations/arbitrations and in Court.
• A variety of dispute resolutions including: matrimonial, private & commercial mediation, arbitration.
• Writing articles on dispute resolution methods for the NZ Institute of Chartered Accountants , Real Estate Institute of NZ & various industry magazines
• Giving speeches on alternative dispute resolution methods
• Studying at Massey University in Dispute Resolution.

Personal

Happily married with 2 adult children.
Interests: Family, Golf, Fishing & reading
I have been involved in the community firstly, as a previous member of the Newmarket Rotary club for 12 years (where I was a Director of several committees at both Club and District level) and secondly in coaching children’s cricket.

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I’ve known and had business dealings with Dave Wylie for nearly 30 years. Initially it was Dave fronting a large IT corporation providing large Enterprise Solutions. Latterly it has been with Dave as a consultant and friend as McBoss.net started up an Open Source Enterprise IT company.

Dave is blessed with a genuine concern for your business to succeed and will often be active amongst colleagues and connections of his own on our behalf. Aside from considerable business acumen Dave is definitely “old school” in his values and the way he approaches his business dealings with you. Moral, engaging, thoughtful and interested in your business I would have no hesitation in recommending Dave and his consulting Group to anyone looking for a boost in setting their new path or developing an existing business.

Peter Milsom
McBoss.

Website: www.mcboss.net

Foundation Business Software is a specialist software development house. We used Dave Wylie’s services for a 12-15 month period following our formation in late 2006 and found his coaching to be of consistently high value and relevance.

In addition to the considerable commercial experience Dave brings to his role, he is also a gentleman of great personal integrity and wisdom and has at times been able to offer wise counsel beyond the limits of our commercial relationship. I would have no hesitation in recommended his services to any potential client.

Matthew Roscoe
Foundation Business Software Ltd
Web: http://www.fbsl.co.nz

I have known Dave Wylie for four years and have employed his services as a business coach for a period of eighteen months during that time.
Dave and I began working together after meeting at a business seminar and we have maintained a business relationship at various levels ever since.

When we first started working together my business had been successful but extremely reliant on my hands-on input and required me to personally be on site for excessive amounts of time. Being a seven day a week retail operation employing 20 plus staff this became very tiring and at times unrewarding.

The first thing Dave did was to quickly analyse the business and determine that I was working far too much in the business rather than on the business.

We looked at all aspects of the business and decided where we actually wanted to be and then set some goals and formulated a plan for how to achieve them.

The two main goals were to increase profitability and decrease my time spent at work.

Working alongside Dave and using his knowledge, experience and analytical perspective of the business operations we set about putting in place systems and policies which enabled us too quickly and accurately measure business performance and highlight areas for improvement.

This included:

• time management analysis for myself and staff
• upskilling of staff,
• surveying and talking to customers and providing them with feedback,
• exploring new sales opportunities for the business,
• implementing systems to measure key performance indicators and how to interpret the results.

In all cases the results of these things undoubtedly provided me with a better understanding of the business and my role in it and ultimately improved the business.
As someone with no formal business training I have been able to use my relationship with Dave to educate myself and learn some valuable skills, while at the same time achieving improved business results and a more desirable personal and family life.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Dave and consider him to be a friend and business partner.
I have no hesitation in recommending him to any prospective client and I would be only too happy to discuss my experiences further should that be requested.

Dave Walsh
Franchisee, Mad Butcher, Takanini.
www.madbutcher.co.nz