Get your business started
Tauranga’s festival of innovation, Groundswell, is planning a brand new business start-up workshop in Waihi Beach.
The festival, starting on August 27 to September 2 features a series of workshops for young entrepreneurs in a range of industries — from textile, horticulture and design to sustainable innovations around the Bay of Plenty.
One of the workshops, Kick-start your business, is at Waihi Beach Hotel next Tuesday, August 28.
Festival organisers wanted to promote the region and partnered with Waihi Beach and Katikati residents Carl Menary and Jamie Bell to include the town in their programme.
Both of them will mentor the local workshop along with five other experts in respective industries.
Product and industrial designer at Robotics Plus by day, Carl is also design director at Minnow, his wife’s business, from his Bowentown home.
He says the three-hour workshop will focus on the fundamentals of business.
“It will be a small and interactive workshop limited to 25 applicants for people who are serious about starting a new business. Mentors will give advice on digital marketing, software development, investment technology, applied science and more,” he says.
Moving from Christchurch three years ago, Carl says Waihi Beach is a good place for entrepreneurship.
In July 2017, he launched a local group, Waihi Beach Creatives Meetup to help networking and exchanging with other creative minds on business ideas.
In just a year, the group gathered around 50 people surrounding Waihi Beach, Katikati and further afield.
“We even have people from Tauranga who have joined us as this meet-up appeals to a broad market.
“The majority are interested in business advice because when you want to start a business, it is hard to be expert in all the aspects of it. We talk about engaging customers on social media [digital marketing], helping promoting a product, finding the right market,” he says.
Carl says Waihi Beach has a good range of self-employed people working remotely.
“Self-employed myself [at Minnow] and as I used to work remotely for Robotic Plus in Christchurch for the last two years, I felt the meet up will be a good way to meet other locals in the same situation to break the isolation and collaborate on ideas,” he says.
The Waihi Beach workshop is a one-off opportunity for young entrepreneurs to get started on a business plan.
“We all have some skills that will help entrepreneurs shape their idea, understand their market, find support and focus on what’s important to ensure the best chance of success,” he says.
■ Tickets are on sale ($30/person) online at Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/kick-startyour-business-workshop-tickets-47410321548