Time to meet the judges
We’re championing our local businesses. They bring important services and goods to our communities, they create jobs and support local clubs and events.
Many have been challenged during the Covid Delta outbreak, and some could only operate partially or not at all. One thing we can do is give local businesses as much support as possible.
That is why we’ve been proud to work with 2degrees on the Shop Local campaign. It is about reminding us all of the need to shop locally and support local business. But it’s also about supporting business in a practical way.
This is the fourth time
2degrees has run Shop Local in New Zealand – a campaign that gives businesses the chance to win a very real helping hand with marketing and advertising packages on offer, each worth $20,000.
Shop Local began back in 2019, and has been run in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and the South Island. And now, Shop Local is back in Auckland, Wellington and the Marlborough regions.
This is the last week to enter the competition. All entrants have the chance to win $20,000 towards their marketing and advertising, and the expertise of the 2degrees team to help them deliver it.
Our judging panel will decide on four winning businesses, a fifth will be decided by a People’s Choice vote, to be run on Stuff’s
Prosper. 2degrees chief business officer Andrew Fairgray says they are behind Shop
Local because: ‘‘We know local businesses are at the heart of where we live and give our community its distinctive spirit.’’
Now it’s time to meet our Shop Local judges who will be deciding which businesses win our great prize.
ANDREW FAIRGRAY
is the chief business officer at 2degrees and holds a number of directorships.
Fairgray was previously the head of corporate at Vodafone and has held a range of executive roles in New Zealand and overseas. Before joining 2degrees, Fairgray ran his own business, so he has first-hand experience in the opportunities and challenges of business ownership. He is passionate about helping businesses succeed, and strongly advocates for the role technology plays in that.
He is proud to lead a team Fighting for Fair for Kiwi Business at 2degrees and to be a judge in the fourth Shop Local campaign.
RACHEL ADAMS
is the general manager of Manaaki, a social network and community for the small businesses of Aotearoa, founded during the 2020 Covid19 lockdown.
Over the past 10 years, Adams has worked with more than 1000 small business owners and start up entrepreneurs, spanning 50-plus industries in her roles at business hub Soda Inc. and now at Manaaki.
Adams is a super connector who loves to roll up her sleeves to help businesses at scale.
She sees her involvement in Shop Local as another way to support businesses with practical solutions and help them solve problems.
The 2degrees Shop Local campaign is about supporting local businesses.
We all need to do our part to make sure our vibrant businesses and communities survive and thrive. 2degrees is providing practical help by offering five $20,000 marketing and advertising packages to local businesses from:
■ Auckland (2 packages);
■ Wellington region;
■ Marlborough;
■ Plus one package to be decided by a People’s Choice vote, for businesses from any of these three regions. This is your last week to enter. Entries close on Monday, December 6. So if you’re a business owner in one of these regions, get going and apply at 2degrees.nz/ Shoplocal and let’s all get behind our local businesses.
ANDY SYMONS
is the chief revenue officer of Stuff, the country’s largest news media company. With experience at executive levels in financial services, telecommunications, software development, sales and consulting, and experience across markets in Asia, North America, Australia and Africa, Symons’ focus is on innovation and transformation.
Before joining Stuff he had executive positions at BNZ, NAB and PWC and served on Boards of Loyalty NZ (Fly Buys) and BNZ Insurance.
Symons is a firm advocate for New Zealand’s technology startup ecosystem, and an active investor in New Zealand startups.