Summer Herald
Leading questions Kiwi business people discuss the year just gone and what will impact them in 2019. Motion Sickness cofounder Sam Stuchbury talks about climate change and the impact of Facebook and Google
It’s a really exciting time for us and I feel 2019 is already shaping up to have some great projects in the pipeline with some amazing brands. We had our best year to date last year and the business is growing, so I am hoping to continue chipping away at that in the new year. Our approach to business is to focus on creating really amazing creative work for our clients that works for them — and the rest seems to kinda look after itself. It’s simplifying it but it’s kind of true, and it’s how we’ll take on 2019. I am also hoping to get more opportunities to work with big New Zealand and overseas brands on campaigns, and to continue to build our name in the campaign strategy, content production, and social media space. I think this year we really carved a niche for ourselves in the content production and social media space. We want to lead this space nationally and internationally, and I think we are on our way now. I think specialising in this area has really allowed us to craft our work. It took us a while to find our niche, and I think now we can really run with it in 2019. The last year of business has been great, I think the diverse range of clients we’ve worked with has been what’s made it so unique for me. The agency and client relationship will continue to change. With many businesses looking to work with multiple partners alongside internal teams, approaches within the industry need to adjust. Also bigger players like Google and Facebook are looking for ways to have direct relationships with brands. The reality is though, I don’t think there is any substitute for really good creativity and strategy that actually works. I am passionate about nature and the outdoors and would love to see the Government help make practical changes to our country’s policies to shift the needle on climate change. If we are world leaders in protecting the environment, it’s not only good for our slice of paradise but also good for brand New Zealand. In the long run, if we are leaders in climate change, reducing plastics, looking after our oceans, preserving our native environment etc it’s going to strengthen and solidify the New Zealand brand on an international stage — and that brand is something we charge a premium on. As a business we try to break for at least two weeks over Christmas, even if we are super busy. I love to escape the city and head to Northland, camping in our Feldon Shelter roof tent. It can be hard for me to relax, but I find leaving my phone in the glovebox helps me switch off.