INDEPENDENT NEWS

Next week’s Business Expo one-stop-shop for SMEs

Published: Fri 23 Apr 2004 05:15 PM
Friday 23 April 2004
For Immediate Release
Next week's Business Expo one-stop-shop for SMEs
Next week's Business Expo will give small to medium sized business owners a chance to tackle their "to do list' in one place - from mobile phones and e-security and to marketing and compliance.
The Business Expo, on from 29 April to 1 May at the Auckland Showgrounds, has been developed specifically for owners and operators of small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) as a one-stop-shop for all their business needs.
"Time is at a premium for small to medium sized business owners," says Sarah Trotman, a director of Spring Group Ltd and organiser of the Business Expo.
"The Business Expo will allow business owners to take care of practical issues, such as purchase a mobile phone or organise an electronic payroll process, as well as looking at business growth and support.
"They will also be able to attend free seminars on a range of new developments and access specialists from across the spectrum for advice on the best investments for their business, with all offerings tailored for small and medium sized businesses," says Trotman.
Boise Office Solutions, Telecom, NZ Couriers, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and the New Zealand Herald are all major sponsors and exhibitors.
Trotman says the swift commitment of sponsors and exhibitors proves the concept is long overdue.
Three halls of exhibitors will cover marketing, telecommunications, computers, finance, transport, office products, education, property, compliance and support sectors.
The Microsoft Speaker Series, a key feature of the expo, features three days of speakers with expert advice on key business areas relating specifically to SMEs.
Keynote speaker Troy Hazard is a specialist in marketing strategy and business development for SMEs and the former Director of International Marketing of the Young Entrepreneurs' Organisation (YEO). YEO is an international organisation for young entrepreneurs with businesses exceeding (US) $1 million in gross annual revenues and has more than 4,500 members in 20 countries.
Warwick Grey, Small Business Manager for Microsoft New Zealand, a major exhibitor, says the Expo is a great opportunity to be able to present complete IT solutions for SME business owners in a place where they can see the solutions in action.
"Surveys show 76 percent of small business owners have no way of managing contact with their customer, and many don't know where to start," says Grey.
Sarah Trotman, who has worked in small business development and economic development for the past five years and has herself been a business owner says the Business Expo is a three-day version of what her team is working to achieve permanently, through the development of a $28 million dollar dedicated business mall.
Trotman says Spring Group's business model is to bring together service and product retail outlets, meeting and hosting facilities for business owners and like-minded entrepreneurs, training and mentor programmes and access to trade associations and support agencies.
"There are currently over one thousand trade associations, large corporates, business consultants, education providers, government initiatives and various media initiatives targeting small business owners who are bogged down in meeting the day to day operational requirements of their business. A one-stop business mall will bring it all together in a way that is practical for business owners."
The opening of a permanent business mall may be up to two years off, but discussions with investors, property developers and potential tenants are all underway.
In the meantime business owners will have to be content checking out the Business Expo 2004 at the Auckland Showgrounds from Thursday 29 April - Saturday May 1, 2004 from 9am-6pm.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the gate or online at www.bizexpo.co.nz.
For more information, go to http://www.businessexpo.co.nz
THURSDAY 29 APRIL
10.00
SURVIVING AN IT DISASTER
Peter Felhofer, Compute Systems Ltd
- Identifying potential causes of failure
- Strategies for maintaining and minimizing risks
- Implementing an effective disaster recovery policy
10.30
SUCCESSION PLANNING
Dianne Ludwig, Gosling Chapman
- Understanding the different approaches to exiting businesses
- Examining the critical components of your business
- What buyers want to invest in
- What buyers will pay a premium for
11.00
SELLING PRODUCT ONLINE
Rebecca Stokes, e-Media Ltd
- Where to begin with e-commerce
- Is there a right product?
- Marketing your store online
- Protecting yourself from fraud
11.30
CONNECTING TO YOUR BUSINESS DATA WITH MOBILE DEVICES
Jay Templeton, Windows Platform Manager, Microsoft
Paull Wilson, Mobile Solutions Marketing Manager, Hewlett Packard
- Learn how to connect to your business data via a mobile device
- See how to close the loop with customers quicker
- Gain competitive advantage by responding faster
- Streamline business processes and automate routine tasks
12.00
TELECOM: UNIQUE ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER¡KBUT BETTER IS ALWAYS UNIQUE
Kevin Dawkins, Results
- Why "Better' is always "Unique'
- How to thrive on the "Lunatic Fringe' (the path to evolving your business)
- How to be a "High Impact Human' (practice 3 essential disciplines of all high achievers)
- The crucial choice all business owners have to make (preferably sooner rather than later)
12.30
LATEST TOOLS FOR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
Charlie Wood, Solutions Specialist, Microsoft
- Learn how to increase sales success
- See how an SME can deliver customer service levels of a much larger business
- Understand how to make informed, agile business decisions
- Accessible from Outlook or the Web, CRM has never been easier or more affordable
1.00
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: DR NICK MARSH
CONSUMER TRENDS AFFECTING SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES
Nick Marsh is an internationally recognised author, consultant, and speaker. He has recently published Strategic Foresight - The Power of Standing in the Future which presents a new approach to the engagement of all employees in strategy and new thinking. His previous books on management were Theory K- Key to Excellence, and All Star Company - People, Performance and Profit.
He was born in England and worked in America, Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. and has since consulted widely in NZ and latterly Australia. He has been a business academic and was the Director of the Auckland MBA programme at Auckland University. He has been totally devoted to writing and consulting over the past 15 years and has worked in projects across a diverse portfolio of business sectors including Health, New Media, Food, Advertising, Energy, Sport, and Pharmaceuticals.
His work in Government projects has included Federal, State, Regional, and also City government. The emphasis has been on Strategic Planning, Health systems, Policy Review, Research and Development Policies, Scenarios, and Sustainable Development.
He was a principal in the government team which designed and delivered the Foresight Project of NZ which spawned 150 sector foresight projects across all sectors and has reshaped national thinking about economic development in New Zealand.
Dr Nick Marsh specialises in:
1. Strategic Foresight - the power of standing in the future
2. Consumer Foresight - seeking to discover what future consumers and citizens will want
2.00
HOW TO SAVE 10% OFF YOUR OFFICE STATIONERY BILL
Scott Russ, Boise Office Solutions
- Working smarter not harder
- Quick time saving tips
- Buying the right products
2.30
GROW YOUR BUSINESS
Mike Wiggins, Icon Business Solutions
- 5 ways to get customers to spend more
- 5 ways to drive repeat business
- 5 ways to increase your customer base
3.00
NZ COURIERS: GUARANTEEING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION 100% OF THE TIME Stuart Jeffcoat, Mobius Research and Strategy
- Understanding you business from the outside in
- Quick and dirty is OK
- Listening is not a one off activity - becoming a learning
organisation
3.30
HOW ONLINE REAL TIME BANKING CAN HELP MANAGE YOUR CASHFLOW
Paul Brown, ASB Bank
- Fastnet Office, internet banking for business
- Save time...immediate access to account information wherever, whenever
- Save money¡Kreduced bank fees for multiple accounts
- Protect money¡Ktimely access to account information with ability to provide restricted access to staff
4.00
ARE YOU CONTRIBUTING TO AUCKLAND'S BUSINESS VITALITY?
Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie, Auckland Chamber of Commerce
- b-heard
- b-connected
- b-ahead
- b-global
- b-fit
FRIDAY 30 APRIL
10.00
THE ICEHOUSE BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAMMES
Jo Patterson, The ICEHOUSE
- What is a business accelerator?
- How has the ICEHOUSE helped over 120 owner managers achieve 31% average growth in net profit and 24% average growth in turnover?
- What are threshold issues to growth and how can you overcome yours?
10.30
GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH EMA
Keith Bick, Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA)
- Succeeding in the kiwi workplace
- Networking
- Skills for growth
- thrivetv.com
11.00
GROWING YOUR BUISNESS - SERVICES FOR SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE)
Key services available from NZTE including:
- Training programmes
- Grant programmes
- Investment and raising capital
11.30
UNDERSTANDING PROFITABILITY
Gerald Delany, Advantage Business Solutions
- Understanding profitability
- Working the ratios
- Knowing your market
- Exploiting your niche
- Monitoring results
- Keeping up with change
12.00
GET MORE TIME BACK IN YOUR DAY WITH MICROSOFT OUTLOOK 2003
Warwick Grey, Small Business Manager, Microsoft
- Managing your in-box more effectively
- Getting more secure and understanding spam filtering
- Rules for managing in coming emails
- Building more effective customer relationships
12.30
AUT: NAVIGATING YOUR WAY AROUND THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ACT Kathryn Beck, Haigh Lyon
- Simplifying employment relations
- Interpreting and applying the Holiday Act
- Preventing misunderstanding and problems with compliance
1.00
INTERNATIONAL GUEST SPEAKER: TROY HAZARD
KEY NOTE: HOW TO GET THE EDGE IN MARKETING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
The founder of nine businesses over the last fifteen years and current director and shareholder of four companies, Troy has presented marketing strategy techniques to hundreds of groups in 13 countries and is the author of the book "How to get the Edge in Marketing Your Small Business".
This international marketing consultant is a former international board member of the Young Entrepreneurs Organisation, (YEO). Members must be under the age of 40 and be a founder, co-founder, owner or controlling shareholder of a business with gross annual revenues exceeding (US) $1 million.
Troy will teach you
- How to maximize returns by building better relationships
- Attract new business through existing relationships
- Get your team behind your marketing plan
2.00
AUT: PARTNERING WITH HUMAN RESOURCES
Angela Butt, AUT
- Human Resource strengths
- Practicalities of employment law and industrial relations
- Good face to face communication practice
2.30
KEY NOTE : CONNECTING WITH CUSTOMERS AND MANAGING CUSTOMER COMMUNICATIONS
Debbie Mayo-Smith, Successful Internet Strategies
Warwick Grey, Small Business Manager, Microsoft
Most SMEs think that marketing, business development and managing customer relationships is hard, time consuming and costly. In fact it's often the most overlooked part of a small business so don't miss this great workshop that will cover:
- Superb tips and tricks for working with the customer information you already have
- Easy, clever and in-expensive marketing ideas.
- A marketing campaign from start to finish - using your MS Office Software
- Top Tips for D-I-Y (do it yourself) communication design
- What's new, easy and effective in managing your customer information
- Saving costs when printing with colour
3.30
HOW TO SAVE 10% OFF YOUR OFFICE STATIONERY BILL
Scott Russ, Boise Office Solutions
- Working smarter not harder
- Quick time saving tips
- Buying the right products
4.00
AGREEING THE PLAN AND IMPLEMENTING IT
Brigadier Tim Brewer, New Zealand Defence Force
- 21st Century military operations
- Planning in a fast moving high tech environment
- Producing the plan: intent, mission and task analysis
- Implementing the plan: communication, coordination, follow up
SATURDAY 1 MAY
10.00
A NEW CHANNEL TO ACCESS HARD TO REACH MARKETS
Tony Mitchell, WordDial.com
- Market segmentation like never before - area, specialized area of business and contact requirements
- Real time response mechanisms that allow your business to change the messages as the market and your strategy changes
10.30
GETTING THE BEST SOFTWARE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Grant Hall e://volution e-Business Ltd
- How to choose software that will suit your business
- Learn what questions to ask that vendors usually won't bring up
- The tricks of customisation vs configuration
11.00
SO YOU'RE A START UP? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CREATE WEALTH?
Prof Howard Frederick, Unitec
- How to get money from your Auntie
- How to shake off failure
- Networking and sales for success
11.30
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR PROFITS BY OVER 60% WITHIN 12 MONTHS
David Schischka, Action International NZ
- Writing more effective advertisements that sell
- Using leverage to do more with less
- Having a business and not a job
12.00
TELECOM: UNIQUE ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER¡KBUT BETTER IS ALWAYS UNIQUE
Kevin Dawkins, Results
- Why "Better' is always "Unique'
- How to thrive on the "Lunatic Fringe' (the path to evolving your business)
- How to be a "High Impact Human' (practice 3 essential disciplines of all high achievers)
- The crucial choice all business owners have to make (preferably sooner rather than later)
12.30
BETTER BUSINESS MARKETING
Greg Reynolds, Better Business Marketing
- Increase your number of customers
- Increase frequency of purchase and price per customer
- Anchor your customer base through loyalty programmes
- Grading customers
1.00
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: ALASTAIR FERGUSON
CHANGE, PERCEPTION, AND SUCCESS
This New Zealand entrepreneur grew his company from a $100K turnover to a $900K turnover in two years, wrote a best selling book on success in New Zealand and underwent a massive personal growth change when faced with a terminal illness of one of his children.
Alastair Ferguson shares his journey and insights from his learnings along the way.
Join him as he covers:
- What is success and how is it measured?
- How do you overcome challenges and adversity?
- How well do Kiwis celebrate success?
- What does it take for people to realise their dreams and have the motivation to change?
- Dealing with change and defining success in a personal and business environment
2.00
NZ COURIERS: HOW TO HAVE TIME TO ENJOY YOUR BUSINESS
Ralph Stock, Zealmark
- Taking time to enjoy your business
- Are you managing the business or is the business managing you?
- Strategic planning that puts you in control of your business
- Marketing and organising your business to create the desired lifestyle
2.30
BUSINESS PLANNING
Colin Bass, BusinessLAB Ltd
- The different types of planning required in business
- Where to find business planning templates online
- Suggested framework for a simplified business planning approach
3.00
EFTPOS FOR RETAILERS AND SMALL BUSINESS
John Tait, Provenco Group Ltd
- Update on value of chip enabled technology
- Impact on loyalty programmes and gift cards
- Fraud reduction
3.30
BUSINESS INCUBATION FOR RAPID GROWTH,
Jonathan Kirkpatrick, AUT Tech Park
- Mentoring, business planning, market research, product development and access to government grants
- Identification and protection of intellectual property
- Access to professional services
- Investment readiness and access to Angel networks and VCs
4.00
HOME BUSINESS IN NEW ZEALAND
Heather Douglas, Home Business New Zealand
- Two thirds of NZ entrepreneurs operate from home
- Hands on advice for ordinary businesses
- Networks to access

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