 Fashion Benchmarks
(New Zealand) - Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ) and WHK are working on a benchmarking exercise with the aim of providing members with an insight into their company's performance based on industry standards, intially from a financial analysis aspect. All information provided by companies would be remain completely confidential. Here are some basic charts that demonstrate the comparative data that could be made available - (April, 2010) ... read more>>
 Employees Vs. Contractors
(New Zealand) - The distinction between an employee and an independent contractor will be a fundamental issue if an employment dispute or IRD investigation occurs. Therefore, it is crucial to have an understanding of the differences between an employee and an independent contractor. The tax, student loan, accident compensation and employment legislation apply differently to the two groups of people - BY SUZANNE PRATT - (April, 2010) ... read more>>
ACC – Are You Paying Too Much?
(New Zealand) - Are you even covered? I recently invited the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) to our offices to learn more about the products and services they offer. Our goal was to be better informed as financial advisors, so we can help our clients to a greater degree when dealing with their ACC liabilities - BY SUZANNE PRATT - (April, 2010)... read more>>
 New Year, New Resolutions - Are You Serious?
(New Zealand) - Setting a target is not a difficult process. So why don't we do it? Many people are simply afraid of the outcome, that they are setting themselves up for failure - and we all know that sinking feeling. But isn't it better to know in advance if something is not going to work and that you need to change your strategy, rather than learning things aren't working further down the track and potentially losing everything? - BY CATRIONA KNAPP - (Jan, 2010) ... read more>>
 10 Helpful Tips for 2010
(New Zealand) - Here are 10 business tips to help you prepare for a successful 2010 ... 1. Create Enthusiasm for 2010: Relook at your vision for the business and how it aligns with your core values and goals for the new year. Remember your goals are used to capture and ensure the support of and enthusiasm of your stakeholders - your staff, business partners, suppliers, customers, family, friends and your bank manager! - BY IAN SKELTON - (Jan, 2010) ... read more>>
 Enterprise Training for Creative Businesses
(New Zealand) - With the end of the year fast approaching, why not look at improving your business skills by enrolling in a fully funded Enterprise Training course. In addition to a range of half-day workshops aimed at creative businesses, WHK is currently seeking 10 up-and-coming fashion designers to participate in its Fashion: High Impact programme in February 2010 - (Jan, 2010) ... read more>>
 WHK Business Growth: Business Clubs 2010
(New Zealand) - WHK Business Growth are seeking expressions of interest from FINZ members to participate in their 2010 Business Clubs. The Business Clubs will address the strategic issues that have a big impact on overall profitability and business sustainability, in a peer-to-peer group of like minded individuals. Supported and facilitated by a WHK adviser, you will collectively solve problems and find a pathway through the challenges ahead - (Jan, 2010) ... read more>>
 WHK Business Growth Live!
(New Zealand) - The new WHK Business Growth website is now live. The vibrant new look and feel highlights our full service offering and demonstrates our commitment to delivering you quality business growth solutions. Bring on your impact players – visit www.whkbusinessgrowth.com and sign up to the newsletter before February 28, 2010, and be in the draw to win a ProfitOptimiser package valued at NZ$1750+gst - (Jan, 2010) ... read more>>
 Maximising Social Media?
(New Zealand) - The fashion industry is catching onto the phenomena of using social media for brand building. At Air New Zealand Fashion Week this year, we saw celebrity bloggers in the front row and more-and-more of our designers use their Facebook pages and Twitter to communicate with their fan base. Some of our coolest brands (including NomD, Stolen Girlfriends and Cybele) created short films to communicate the stories behind their collections. And, the list goes on - BY DIANNE LUDWIG - (Dec, 2009) ... read more>>
 Business Efficiency
(New Zealand) - A lot of cost reduction strategies remove resources from a business and may deprive the business of valuable processes. You get the cost reduction but bottom line you may not be ahead. A thorough review of systems and processes to examine expected outcomes and actual results will guide you to where improvements can be made with maximum effect. If you keep doing the same thing you will get the same result, but if you keep doing the right thing and do it using less resource then you get a better result - BY MARTIN RICHARDSON - (Dec, 2009) ... read more>>
WHK Business Growth Live!
(New Zealand) - The new WHK Business Growth website is now live. The vibrant new look and feel highlights our full service offering and demonstrates our commitment to delivering you quality business growth solutions. Bring on your impact players – visit www.whkbusinessgrowth.com and sign up to the newsletter before February 28, 2010, and be in the draw to win a ProfitOptimiser package valued at NZ$1750 + gst - (Dec, 2009) ... read more>>
 Thinking Skinny: The Right Way to Reduce Your Costs
(New Zealand) - Whether it’s to free up cashflow, increase margins or to be the idyllic 'lean business', many business owners have become increasingly focused on cost cutting. Unfortunately it is not as simple as applying a “one size fits” all approach, it’s about planning, knowing what can be cut and what drives value in your business. Every cost behaves differently and each one will affect your bottom line in a unique way - BY MARTIN RICHARDSON - (June, 2009) ... read more>>
 Effective People Management in Turbulent Times
(New Zealand) - In the current economic climate where many businesses may need to downsize, it’s even more important to focus on managing people effectively and maintaining high morale amongst your workforce so that they deliver the best results possible. Creating a high performing, engaged workforce can give your business a powerful competitive advantage - BY CAROLE BATES - (June, 2009) ... read more>>
 Funding the Future
(New Zealand) - The business landscape has changed considerably in the past six months, bringing with it many new challenges. Challenges, however, are often cleverly disguised opportunities, but raising sufficient finance to leverage these opportunities isn't as easy as it once was. Here's a guide of things to consider when you're looking to raise finance - (May, 2009) ... read more>>
 Where Money Comes From, Where it Goes, and How to Get it Back
(New Zealand) - For the 2009 income tax year it is possible to claim a tax credit for 15 percent of your research and development expenditure (R&D). This was previously capitalised and no deduction was allowable. In order to qualify for the R&D allowable deductions, the following criteria must be met - (May, 2009) ... read more>>
 Business Planning
(New Zealand) - “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail." The process of business planning is about creating an action plan or road map for a business to survive and prosper. There needs to be clearly defined, measureable outcomes with a person assigned responsibility for each task in the action plan - (March, 2009) ... read more>>
 Research & Development Tax Credits
(New Zealand) - For the 2009 income tax year it is possible to claim a tax credit for 15 percent of your research and development expenditure (R&D). This was previously capitalised and no deduction was allowable. In order to qualify for the R&D allowable deductions, the following criteria must be met - (March, 2009) ... read more>>
 Survival Tactics: A Framework for Getting Paid
(New Zealand) - Having a robust credit strategy may be the difference between success or failure for many as we head further into the recession. Your credit strategy is your business’ overall attitude to credit; who you will give credit to and what your credit terms will be. Generally speaking, recessionary times often demand tighter credit collection to maintain cashflow, whereas in boom times we can afford to be a little more lenient - (February, 2009) ... read more>>
 New Financial Year Fast Approaching
(New Zealand) - While a new financial year conjures up thoughts of exciting new business opportunities, the mere thought of having to revisit the busy year just past can be a bit daunting for many business owners. To help with the year end process the following is a guide of the main areas to consider - (February, 2009) ... read more>>
 Your Economic Survival Guide
(New Zealand) - The Economic Survival Kit has been prepared to assist your business in weathering the current economic slowdown. The survival kit includes three sections - (1) Know your business, (2) Adopt business strategies to manage your business, (3) Know your industry and local business environment - (January, 2009) ... read more>>
 Claiming Expenses: A Guide for Small Businesses
(New Zealand) - Starting out in business can be a daunting and overwhelming experience. Especially when it comes to working out what you can and can’t claim as deductions for income tax purposes. We set out below some basic rules allowed by New Zealand’s Income Tax Law and associated guidelines, and how some of the most common forms of expenditure should be treated - (January, 2009) ... read more>>
 Managing Your Wealth In The Current Economic Climate
(New Zealand) - The chaos and collapses in world financial markets has caused suffering for all investors, with arguably those most affected being people about to retire that are reliant on investment incomes to supplement their national superannuation. A common reaction in a financial crisis is to panic and abandon the share market, flooding banks and piggy banks with cash. The best advice we can give you is don’t panic, rather review your investment mix, cash flow position and spending - (December, 2008) ... read more>>
Fashion Biz Start
(New Zealand) - Run over three days, this programme is designed to give participants a documented step-by-step guide to enable them to successfully start a business in the fashion industry and continue to operate that business effectively whilst avoiding common pitfalls - (December, 2008) ... read more>>
Enterprise Training Summer School
(New Zealand) - Use some downtime over the summer period to take advantage of Enterprise Training. The opportunity will be to up skill new management staff or perhaps you may want to quick re-fresher course. One-on-one coaching is available after these workshops and the programme is 100% funded by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise. Workshops include - Effective Email and Web Marketing; Prospecting and Closing the Deal; Effective Goal Setting and Business Planning; and, Effective Budgeting and Cashflow Planning - (December, 2008) ... read more>>
 Starting A Business: Choosing The Right Legal Structure
(New Zealand) - Have you made the right choice? To begin business in the world of fashion, you need to make a decision regarding the type of structure under which you intend to run your business. Your decision might be influenced by a number of factors, including your size, tax implications and perceived risk. But, which one is right for you? We look at the different types of business structures available. BY MARTIN RICHARDSON - (November, 2008) ... read more>>
 What To Expect From A Tax Audit
(New Zealand) - For most taxpayers the words ‘tax audit’ immediately stir up feelings of anxiety and dread. Nevertheless, the procedure encompassed by these two words is an ever-present reality in business today. BY ANDREW SAYERS - (November, 2008) ... read more>>
 The
Endeavour Programme
(New Zealand) - Experience and learn what
successful New Zealand corporations are doing to develop their senior executive
talent. This two-day programme, from September 30 to October 1, 2008, will teach
participants methods for working smarter. It will demonstrate exactly how
successful entrepreneurs and leading business people think, how they set goals,
tackle obstacles and increase profitability through personal effectiveness - (September, 2008) ... read more>>
 Bad
Debts: 12 Tips For Getting Paid
(New Zealand) - Effective credit collection is
always important, but it's especially important in a downturn in order for your
business to remain solvent and to minimise bad debts. Take a few minutes to
assess your current systems and approach. BY LOIS WILSON - (September, 2008) ... read more>>
 Time
to look at your terms of trade
(New Zealand) - Business owners often rely on
their terms of trade as a mechanism for protection when they sell their goods to
customers on credit. Unfortunately, terms of trade are often too ambiguous and
don't adequately provide security over items sold, personal guarantees and
collection costs. When did you last update your terms of trade? How often do you
refer to your terms of trade? Do your terms of trade refer to retention of title
(or ownership of goods) until payment is made? It may come as a surprise to you,
but this term provides little to no legal support when seeking recourse for
non-payment of goods. Can you enforce your terms of trade? BY
MIKE ATKINSON - (August, 2008) ...
read more>>
Secrets
to Surviving a Downturn
(New Zealand) - Believe it or not, there are
actually opportunities for smart businesses to continue to make significant
profits and even to grow. The fundamental business equation has never been more
important. Profit = Revenue - Cost. Business owners must be absolutely clear on
the margins they are making and absolutely focused on their customer’s wants,
needs and pains. Many of today’s business owners have never been at the helm
during a prolonged downturn. So what you can do to weather the storm?
BY MARTIN RICHARDSON - (August, 2008) ...
read more>>
 China-New
Zealand: Making the Most of the Free Trade Agreement
(New Zealand) - Signed, sealed,
delivered... the Free Trade Agreement with China is here bringing with it both
challenges and opportunities for New Zealand companies. Opinion is divided on
the costs and benefits to New Zealand business, in particular to manufacturing,
but it has been signed and change is afoot. The next step is to address the
challenges and take advantage of the opportunities - (July, 2008) ...
read more>>
Do
You Know Your Margins?
(New Zealand) - Do you feel as though
your margins are dictated by the whims of the market? While you may be content
to take what you can get at a market-driven price; do you have a clear
understanding of your margins and how they're contributing to your bottom line
and performance? - (July, 2008) ...
read more>>
Want Results?: Planning, Implementation & Measurement Will Ensure Success
(New Zealand) - It's very easy to get
caught up in the day-to-day running of your business and neglect both planning
and measurement, which can often result in lowering your profits and loosing out
to the competition. Proactive scheduling of 'blue skies' thinking and planning
time is important. It may feel unproductive at first, but is time well spent - (June, 2008) ...
read more>>
What If?: Predicting The Impact Of Alternative Strategies
(New Zealand) - Do you know the impact of
alternative strategies on your business? Can you increase prices, reduce the
costs of your goods and trim back overheads? What is the effect on
profitability, cash-flow and the value of your business if you adopt each
strategy? - (June, 2008) ...
read more>>
 Closing Deals and Winning Business
(New Zealand) - New Zealand is well known as a nation of innovators. However, this number-8 wire attribute is not always a plus when it comes to pitching for business and closing deals. It certainly helps to have a great product, but a great start is all it is. You've got to understand how to sell your product or service. - (April, 2008) ... read more>>
R&D Tax Credit: How will it affect you?
(New Zealand) - In May 2007, the government introduced a proposal for research and development tax credits. This has widely been seen as the government's primary incentive to grow and enhance the R&D conducted in New Zealand. One of its secondary objectives is to increase our competitiveness internationally - (April, 2008) ... read more>>
 WHK Gosling Chapman
WHK Gosling Chapman is delighted to announce its continued sponsorship of Fashion Industry of New Zealand (FINZ). “After 24 years of providing strategic planning and accounting services to the fashion industry, continuing our sponsorship of FINZ was more than just an easy choice - it was a natural one," says WHK Gosling Chapman, business improvement principal, Martin Richardson.
"At WHK Gosling Chapman, our tailored business approach focuses on more than just your accounts. It's about understanding your business and helping you to succeed".
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