Merry Christmas
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
For many of you the work speeds up at this time of year but the redline team is going to take a short break. We will be back in 2012 with a new look. Keep an eye out.
We would like to take a moment to say thank you for your business and have a happy and safe festive season.
It’s that time of year again
Thursday, December 8, 2011
How the Copyright Amendment Act could affect you
Thursday, November 10, 2011
- Copyright owners detect an infringement and send the internet account holder’s IP (internet protocol) address to the relevant Internet Service Provider (ISP). This tells the ISP that someone is downloading material, such as films, videos or music, without paying for it through file-sharing.
- ISPs send detection notices to those customers telling them that a copyright owner has detected copyright infringement on the customer’s internet account.
- If there is a second infringement within 28 days to nine months after the initial infringement a warning notice is triggered.
- If there is a third infringement within 28 days to nine months after the second infringement, an enforcement notice is triggered. The copyright owner can then apply to the Copyright Tribunal for a penalty to be imposed on the account holder of up to $15,000. The copyright owner can also apply to the District Court for an order suspending the account holder’s internet account for up to 6 months.
- Internet account holders can challenge these notices, through their ISP, but the notices will stand unless withdrawn by the copyright owner.
Congratulations and good luck!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Good things come from Kiwi ingenuity
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
What's the biggest challenge you're facing at the moment?
Friday, September 23, 2011
Get creative with QR codes
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
- Barcodes were first used to label railroad cars…
- They didn’t become commercially successful until they were used to automate supermarket checkout systems…
- The very first scanning of a Universal Product Code or UPC (barcode) was on a packet of Wrigleys chewing gum over 35 years ago, in June 1974...
The digital space is here for all of us to use…
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
- Always put your customer first.
- Work out what your customers want and need from your site.
- Bear in mind that people read online content differently from print form. There's a knack to writing web copy. Make sure your site is written by someone with experience.
- Don't assume that everyone uses Internet Explorer 7 on a desktop PC. Your customers might be highly mobile, in which case you'll need to make sure your site works on a mobile or a tablet computer.
- You want people to come to your site so make sure search engines, like Google and Yahoo, can find your site. Ask your web developers about search engine optimisation (SEO).
Take your work with you…but keep your mail in one place
Monday, September 5, 2011
Check the availability of PO Boxes (and Private Bags) in your area and find out more at www.nzpost.co.nz/pobox.
“Good day at the c’office, darling?”
Monday, August 29, 2011
The workplace is becoming just like that old 1970s Martini slogan – ‘any time, any place, anywhere’. Technology has given us the means to work whenever and wherever we please.
So, it’s not surprising that many people are setting up office in the comfort of their favourite café.
- A café is a great meeting place.
- It’s less formal than the company boardroom.
- It’s ideal for professionals who don’t have space in their own office.
Just don’t take advantage of the café owners – here’s a short guide to c’office etiquette.
- Charge your laptop before you go to the c’office - use battery power so you don’t trail power leads lying along the café floor.
- Order something – preferably something to eat and drink.
- Work quietly - mute your laptop and whatever you do, don’t Skype.
- Be discreet - setting up a full blown power point presentation will unnerve fellow diners and annoy the café owner.
- Don’t rearrange the furniture - especially without permission.
- Say ‘thank you’ to the café staff - if you’ve been there for hours, it’s the least you can do.
Home working success for RO Design Jewellery
Monday, August 22, 2011
Online – essential for Discover Kids
Monday, August 15, 2011
- credibility,
- a personal touch,
- a sense of warmth, friendliness and honesty – essentials for many parents checking out childcare providers for their young children.
Where do you work?
Monday, August 8, 2011
- not having to pay rental costs and other overheads such as power bills, and
- typically, paying a percentage of sales or a minimum one-off fee.
Keep up with the changing face of the business world
Monday, August 1, 2011
The latest issue of redline magazine is out now
Monday, July 25, 2011
And in it we look at how technology is changing the face of business and allowing professionals to choose where they work – at home, from a pop up shop, anywhere in the world (using a laptop, iPad or tablet), or at a c’office.
Just like that old Martini ad, work is where ever you want it to be – anytime, any place, anywhere.
Plus, there are some great offers and giveaways. You could win*:
- An Apple iPhone 4 16GB
- Meatball Sundae by Seth Godin
- A $1000 Prezzy Card
- New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Handbook
* terms & conditions apply.
Great local experiences get customers talking
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Well you are not alone as 80% of us Kiwis on average tell another 9 people about those experiences. (‘Feedback – an opportunity, not a threat’ by Debbie Mayo-Smith).
Earlier this month our new service Localist launched their television campaign for Auckland – my personal favourite being the ‘Localist Butcher Ad’ (make sure you check out Localist’s YouTube channel if you haven’t seen them already). The adverts highlight the power of creating an opportunity for your customers to rave about you online, especially to those who live on your doorstep!
The service is a combination of local books available at your local PostShop, a website, and a mobile application. Website and mobile users are able to write reviews on local products and services, and swap tips and advice with others. It’s all about sharing local knowledge and information.
Localist has launched in Auckland first, and there is no cost to register your business contact details. You can list your business for free online, upgrade to a business page, or call 0800 030 030 to discuss other advertising options such as the local books.
Happy customers are the best advertisements
Monday, July 11, 2011
Recently I was reading the findings of a survey 'Consumers Trust Real Friends and Virtual Strangers the Most' completed by research giant Nielson. They concluded that consumers trust the recommendations of friends or opinions posted online before traditional forms of advertising.
- Concentrate on meeting your customers’ needs – It is important as a business to understand what your customers expect from your product or service. One way to stay a head of the competition is to look for opportunities to surpass these expectations.
- Send a personal thank you card - We recently covered in a previous post the power of a thank you card, as they can help to build long-lasting customer relationships beyond just a transaction.
- Acknowledge and reward your referrers – Make a point of acknowledging any referrers, especially online. A start would be running an online search on any mentions of your products or services, and responding with a comment if there is the opportunity. You could consider rewarding referrers with an exclusive discount or gift.
Take 5 minutes today to think about how you could ‘fuel the conversation’ – don’t forget to pass on any ideas or experiences of your own in a comment below.
Necessity is the mother of invention – especially in Christchurch
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
I was delighted when Wendy Hooper of assess4success contacted us here at redline with the story of how she has had to change her business focus.
Here is what Wendy said:
“For the past 8 years my business has predominantly been NZQA Unit Standard Assessment for Team Leaders in the customer service industry. After the February earthquake the needs of my clients has changed dramatically -their focus has moved to core business operations and staff welfare and so, I realised, I needed to change too.
Christchurch people and businesses are totally focused on getting back on their feet – financially and emotionally - but for most of us the rules have changed. Some of us have lost loved ones, our homes, our jobs, our places to work, money, our routines – not to mention what we have seen, heard and felt.
I thought long and hard about what my clients need right now and asked them what they wanted and needed. The findings were clear, the Team Leaders need more support at the moment to manage all the organisational changes and meet the emotional needs of each team member.
I hatched a plan - I designed a one-on-one coaching process for Team Leaders – one that integrates into any organisation’s business plan and yet is flexible and personalised enough to meet the varied needs of each Team Leader and has specific outcomes and results so everyone sees a tangible development of skills.
Using a coach from outside of the organisation means the information is fresh and objective and the coaching sessions actually happen – they don't get put aside for other pressing work commitments.
Results so far are fantastic. The Team Leaders are feeling supported and have a really clear and practical focus which is rubbing off on their team members – giving their work environment that positive, go-ahead feel.
YAY! Push back Christchurch – we will have to make changes but we can stand tall and move forward.”
You can read more about Wendy and what she does on her website assess4success.co.nz – including her new Trauma Resilience workshops for team leaders.
And I also have to applaud Ballentyne’s in Christchurch – offering their customers shopping trips to Timaru whilst their flagship store is being rebuilt. They obviously have a great understanding of their customers and the need for retail therapy even in difficult times – you can read more about their story 'All aboard for the Big B'.
It’s really inspiring to see these stories coming through – our thoughts remain with everyone in Christchurch as you all continue to work through this very difficult time.
Redline magazine competition winners
Monday, June 27, 2011
It’s redspecial time again
Monday, June 20, 2011
The power of the Thank You card
Thursday, June 9, 2011
We recently ran a blog about Holly Cartmell from ‘So You’ hairdressing who sends hand-written appointment reminders and vouchers to her clients.
It seems that Holly is bang on trend here – check out this article from shopify.com about a customer’s experience with Brooke Brothers in the US and how much a hand written thank you note has made his whole experience worth talking about (you’ll have to ignore the misspelling of stationery!!!). It’s this sort of recommendation that you just can’t pay for and the sort of thing that makes you stand out from your competition.
Why don’t you try it and see if it makes a difference to your business? It doesn’t have to be hard – just give it a go for a week - have a bunch of cards and a box of stamps in your drawer and send one out to each customer who buys from you – you don’t have to write much as you can see from the shopify example, but you can be sure it will make a big impression.
There are lots of great cool stationery stores here in NZ – check out dearlittledot.com and presse.co.nz for starters. And once you’re in the swing of it, why not go one step further and get your own personalised stamps designed – see what you can do here.
If this is something you’re already doing we’d love to see examples, and to hear about the feedback you get from your customers.
We’re rapt that you enjoy redline…
Monday, May 30, 2011
- “It’s a good positive publication, something we need more of”
- “Love the competitions and giveaways”
- “Enjoy reading the stories about new small businesses and how there are people out there succeeding”
- “Easy to read, easy to digest”
- “It’s great, informative and to the point”
- “Great little mag, very informative”
- “Informative and easy to read”
- “Excellent information and well presented”
- “Full of useful and up to date information”
- “A must-read for all people in business”
And remember, we’re always on the look out for new case studies. If something exciting is going on in your business – let us know!
*terms and conditions apply.
Calling all online traders
Monday, May 23, 2011
Have you checked out our dedicated page to buying and selling online yet? Take a look and tell us what you think and we’ll put you into the draw to win* a $1000 Prezzy Card.
*Terms and Conditions apply
redspecial – 15% off RRP of selected ParcelPost Tracked Prepaid Tickets, one week only.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Don’t deliberate – just do it
Monday, May 9, 2011
GrabOne launched in an economic downturn, they were sure it was going to work – and never imagined it would be such an overnight success.
Being positive is all part and parcel of running a business…
Monday, May 2, 2011
“I have always had loads of energy and enthusiasm. I also have a sunny disposition. I knew I could use all this to develop a really successful business,” she says.
Holly regularly checks in with her visions of how the business should be. She says this keeps her on track as a business woman and also gives her the chance to make changes and avoid any pitfalls.
One of the best things that Holly did was employ an industry-specific business coach.
'So You' now has a client base that is growing year-on-year. Holly puts this down to the fact that the salon makes its customers feel like Kings and Queens from the moment they walk through the door.
“Every week we send out beautifully hand-written, personally addressed postcards reminding our customers that their appointments are approaching. If we haven’t heard from a customer for a while, we send out a letter, together with a voucher for a treatment we think they’ll like.”
'So You' also sends out thank you cards, especially where a customer has recommended the salon to someone else.
“And, it works,” according to Holly. “By spending time writing to our customers, we get to build up a relationship with them, get to know them better and so get to keep them for a long time.”
Do you have a 'go-for-it' attitude?
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Being positive at work will pay off
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Research shows that people with a positive mental attitude are more likely to reach their goals in life and in business than those who are caught up in a negative thought pattern.
So, a rough night, a false start and a furrowed brow as you walk into the office in the morning won't do you or your colleagues any good. You, and those around you, will feel much better and enjoy work more if you leave personal issues at the door.
Remember, attitudes are infectious. We are naturally drawn to those that are up-beat and happy and instinct tells us to shy away from people with grumpy auras.
Attitudes create atmospheres and the best, most efficient, atmosphere for success is a positive one.
Having the right attitude can:
Help your team work better together - your attitude will determine how people react to you and operate around you. Your vibe will either pull everyone together or send them scurrying in all directions.
Keep your staff motivated - if you're in charge, your staff will follow your lead. Set the tone. Be up-beat. Say 'good morning'. Praise good work. Say 'thank you'.
Keep your customers happy and your business thriving - your customers will respond to you in the same way that you treat them. If you show that you care, they'll keep coming back.
Enhance your work efficiency - everyone works better when they feel good, a happy worker is a good worker.
Boost your energy levels - if you feel down, your body will be down. Put your shoulders back, keep your head up and smile. Can you feel the difference now?
Reduce your stress - we can all handle stress a little better if we can get our heads around what's going on and work out a plan.
Help your chances of promotion - being positive will give you the confidence to aim high, and it'll impress others.
Help you achieve the results you want - the sky's the limit. Go for it!
If you've a tip to share about how being positive at work helps you and your business, we'd love to hear from you. Tell us via the comment box below. And remember, sending in your comments means you'll go into the draw to win* a $1000 Prezzy Card!
Money isn’t everything…
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
- Get yourself in the right frame of mind – a positive mental attitude will help you achieve your goals.
- Be confident – money and accounts can be complex but there’s no unsolvable mystery here. Put your finances on the table - gather together all your information so you can go through it easily.
- Talk it through - involve your business partner, talk to your accountant or employ a business mentor or coach.
- Review your goals - check in regularly with how you are doing.
- Measure where you are at against where you want to be.
Look out for the new issue of redline magazine
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
It’s packed with business tips and advice all centred around how being up-beat and positive can help you succeed in business – and in life. In a snapshot, we take a look at:
- How financial confidence can shape your future.
- How being positive at work will pay off.
- The power of having a 'go for it' attitude.
- $200 worth of GrabOne credit
- A $1000 Prezzy Card
- A Kobo WiFi e-Reader
- Attitude, Aptitude, Altitude – Choose Your ‘Tude by Robyn Simpson
We’d love to hear your comments about redline. Remember, sending in feedback could win you a $1000 Prezzy Card – and you’ll go into the draw every time you submit a comment.
If you’d like to receive regular copies, or you want an extra one for your office, it’s easy to subscribe and it’s FREE.
Plan for growth
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Aspiring to grow is a natural part of being business minded. So, dream big. Set your sights high, but realise your business goals in a sensible, considered and practical way. Identify where you’re at. If you don’t know where you are in business, you won’t know where you’re going. One of your first jobs is to assess where your company is at.
Have a growth plan: If you’re going to grow your business you have to have a plan. This will provide a firm foundation upon which you can start to build your company. It will also help you manage your growth.
Get your house in order: If you need to boost your resources - whether it’s better cash flow, extra staff, safer systems or more sophisticated phone and internet capabilities - it’s best to do it before you find yourself in the middle of a business growth spurt.
Use all the help you can: You don’t have to make any uninformed decisions - even if you’re a sole trader. Remember, you are not on your own. Talk to the experts. Contact the business advisers. Google whatever it is you’re trying to do. Use social networking sites. Just make sure you use all the resources that are available.
Do you have any tips for others planning for growth - maybe something that worked really well, or something you wish you'd done differently? Share your experience here.
The nuts and bolts of business growth
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Steve says here’s how you can avoid the common pitfalls:
- Be realistic – validate your market as much as possible.
- Keep your eyes open – look out for opportunities and explore them thoroughly before you take the plunge.
- Have a plan – this will prepare you for what’s to come. Remember that old adage ‘fail to plan; plan to fail’.
- Stick to it – stay on the track you’ve mapped out; don’t veer off in a different direction unless you’ve made a very conscious decision to do so.
- Create some headspace – a growing company can be all-consuming. Try to create a bit of head space for yourself so you can work on managing your business, rather than making the cogs turn.
- Have a little foresight – think about what you might before your company grows…better systems, extra staff?
Check out these great Apps
Monday, March 14, 2011
- Tracking API (Application Programming Interface) to display the delivery status of your customer’s parcels within your own application. This means that you can update your customers via email or they can log straight onto your website to track their purchases.
- Parcel Rate Finder Google Gadget to find parcel rates for sending within New Zealand. This Google gadget will help you estimate the cost of posting domestic parcels. You can add it to iGoogle or embed it into your own web page or even GMail.
- Our iPhone App to track both international and domestic New Zealand Post and Courier parcels from your iPhone. It’s free to download and after you've checked the status once your tracking number is stored so you can easily check back again, and again.
- Send a Card iPhone App to send high quality, personalised greeting cards to your customers, family and friends around the world. Perfect if you’re on the move and have left that thank you note to the last minute. You can use your own photos for a more personal touch.
- Twitterbot to keep up-to-date with changes to the status of mailed items. All you need to do is follow @nzposttracking on Twitter. Then send a direct message with your tracking numbers – for example ‘status JB123456789NZ’ – for the latest information.
Thinking of Christchurch
Thursday, March 3, 2011
John Key summed it up when he said that ‘New Zealand is facing its worst ever tragedy’ and for so many of our redline readers this will have been the worst couple of weeks in memory. Our redline team would like to express our best wishes to everyone who has been impacted by the Christchurch earthquake and aftershocks, our thoughts are with you.
Amongst the stories in the media there has been evidence of some uplifting acts of kindness, ordinary people displaying great Kiwi spirit. Often people don’t know how to help in this kind of situation so if you need some direction we can point you to our website. New Zealand Post has joined forces with New Zealand Red Cross to accept cash donations at PostShop and Kiwibank stores or online for natural disasters that strike here and in the Pacific.
The redline team would like to hear from our Christchurch readers if you are able, to know that you are ok. Also, we’d like to hear from businesses that are helping our Christchurch friends. So please comment on this article and post your initiatives so others can offer their support.
It’s with regret that at this time I also have to tell you that the March issue will be my last issue as Editor. It’s an amazing issue that I’m immensely proud of but I do wish I could have delivered it at a more happy time for our readers. Events such as the earthquake make you think of family and I had already decided to take time out to spend more time with mine. I’ve loved developing redline and hearing from you. I can only encourage you to keep commenting and talking to the team, I can hand on heart tell you that the team is listening and eager to create solutions to make life easier for your business – so use them.
Once again, the redline team would like to let our readers know that we are thinking of them. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Redline magazine competition winners
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Congratulations to our issue 10 competition winners, we hope you enjoy your prize!
Don't worry if you didn't win, we have some great competitions coming up in issue 11 of redline magazine and you can enter here at redline online.
Issue 11 is due out at the end of March so if you would like a copy in the post simply subscribe.
Good luck!
Do you want to be in to win? Hurry.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
If you want to be on the other end of that news next week you’ll have to hurry because our redline magazine competitions close tomorrow.
After you have checked out the competition details below, comment on this article and tell us what competitions we could run in the future that would help your business. We have a copy of I Love you More Than My Dog – Five Decisions That Drive Extreme Customer Loyalty in Good Times and Bad by Jeanne Bliss to offer to the first four readers to comment (terms and conditions apply).
Comment on our redline online articles and you’ll go into the draw. In fact, you’ll be entered every time you comment (whether it’s on a particular topic or giving feedback about the magazine or the redline website). The more you talk to us, the more chances you get to win!
Yes, they are back! Polaroid cameras have arrived in the 21st Century. And these completely revamped instant cameras are proving a hit. We’ve got one to give away. Simply fill out the competition form for your chance to win.
Talk to Steve O’Connor and the team at Creative HQ about how you can turn your business dreams into reality. Enter your details and you could win this invaluable chance to learn from the experts how to grow your business.The Little Big Things that Matter by Tom Peters is fresh, fun and enlightening. And you could win one for yourself.
Tell us how creative your business has been with a recent direct mail campaign and you’ll go into the draw to win a FREE campaign (up to 500 mail items) using our neat online tool MailBase. Simply, send us a sample of your campaign – along with any results you have.
If you win, send off your item using one of our bags and tell us what you think of the service. Simply enter your details to win one of five packs of 10 ParcelPost Tracked Postage Included Bags (worth $60.00 RRP).
Terms and conditions apply. Competitions close 11 February 2011.Celebrating the Kiwi way
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The New Zealander of the Year Awards acknowledge New Zealanders from all walks of life. It's an opportunity for Kiwis to be recognised for their inspiring contributions that have made a real difference to New Zealand. Nominations may reflect individual, organisational or community group displays of hard work, commitment and/or achievement. It's about distinguishing true displays of Kiwi spirit, national pride and role model behaviour.
In our New Year post we told you that our March issue of redline magazine focuses on positive thinking in business, but we also talk about the importance of recognising achievements. So we'd like to invite you to recognise your New Zealander of the year here. It may be someone you nominated for the Awards, someone you work with or a person you don't even know, but someone who has inspired you in some way.
We'd like to congratulate this year's winners of the Awards: Professor Sir Paul Callaghan, Alison Neil and the Gibberton Community Association. Also, the Kiwibank Local Heroes award winner Billy Graham. Finally, a big congrats to 17 year old Jamie Fenton who won the Young New Zealander of the Year award.
Remember, by commenting you could win a $1000 Prezzy Card* - and you'll go into the draw every time you submit a comment.
*Terms and conditions apply. Competition closes 11 February 2011.