“We noticed in our initial workshops that many small Kiwi business owners don’t fully understand how to use digital tools. That’s why we want to bring them to the rest of New Zealand,” said Panoho. “We had a variety of businesses turning up, including start-ups or side hustles, well-established businesses looking to expand, and companies who have had a difficult time since Covid that are now trying to pivot.” The regional ambassadors will be tasked with delivering the workshops in their region and becoming the go-to digital experts in their communities. Training will be provided on how to deliver a workshop using content developed by digital experts.
Christchurch potter Chris Johnson and wife Julie have made a savvy business move following Covid-19 struggles.
A Canterbury family business reliant on tourists has shifted its focus to ease the pandemic burn. Christchurch potter Chris Johnson saw sales of his pots dry up after Covid-19 stopped cruise ships – and passengers – coming to Akaroa. But with the help of his wife Julie and their teenage child Charlie, he has broadened his range to include ceramic pendants and earrings. The week-long process to make the pendants has been a learning curve. Johnson had to adapt his techniques and equipment to mould, glaze and fire batches of 150 pendants in his kiln. Julie has had a crash course in setting up an online business. And Charlie designed and made the packaging.
Many women are starting their own small businesses after a wave of Covid-19-related redundancies, according to Chooice NZ founder Sarah Colcord.
Sarah Colcord founded New Zealand s largest Facebook Group, Chooice and co-founded its e-commerce partner Chooice.co.nz.
Photo: Jessie Chiang
More than 5000 new businesses registered with the companies office in 2020, the only rise in the number of companies in New Zealand in the past five years.
The novel coronavirus has changed how many people work and live, with side-hustles often transformed into a main income source - a trend that is tipped to grow.
Small businesses have long been the backbone of New Zealand. There are 546,732 small enterprises in Aotearoa - making up over 97 percent of all companies.
Sarah Colcord founded New Zealand s largest Facebook Group, Chooice (formerly NZ Made Products), and co-founded its e-commerce partner Chooice.co.nz. She noticed a sharp rise in the number of businesses appearing online since the global pandemic as consumers made a conscious effort to support local. “There was a record number of businesses being registered in 2020 and I suspect it will be the same thing in 2021,” Colcord said. Her platform soared in popularity during lockdown, with small businesses choosing to advertise on her Facebook page.
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Poi Creation earrings. Covid-19 caused 10,000 female redundancies and that was being reflected in the number of women-led new businesses, Colcord said.