Mentoring helps Warkworth’s small businesses succeed

Business Mentors New Zealand, a not-for-profit mentoring service, is offering Warkworth businesses an extra edge when it comes to growth and success. 

As Auckland’s growing population spreads North, businesses in the region are well placed to capitalise – so long as they are prepared for the increased demands of a larger customer base.  
 
Local business owners, Joel and Suzannah Hemus, started Mahurangi Joinery in 2014. They recognised that with the housing boom in the area there was an opportunity to fill a gap in the market with the products Mahurangi Joinery is able to produce.

While they were excited by their new purchase, they soon started to feel the impact of being small business owners. 

“There is certainly demand for our product. However, we knew that our focus needed to be just as much on efficiency in production and not solely about gaining customers.
It was easy to feel isolated. Trying to juggle staff, paperwork and being as efficient as possible proved overwhelming at the best of times,” Suzannah says. 

With more than 30 years finance experience, including in her current role as a business manager at Westpac, Bev was able to share her expertise and support with the couple.  

Suzannah and Joel needed someone with experience to offer both an outside perspective and well-informed advice. They approached Business Mentors New Zealand which paired them with local volunteer mentor, Bev Giles. 

With more than 30 years finance experience, including in her current role as a business manager at Westpac, Bev was able to share her expertise and support with the couple.  

“Bev helped us look at the bigger picture. She supported us in putting together a plan to buy new machinery and aided us in focusing on growth and efficiency within the business to utilise the available opportunities,” said Suzannah.

So far Business Mentors New Zealand, which has been around since 1991, has helped over 70,000 businesses nationally. It’s a non-for-profit organisation which pairs businesses with local volunteer mentors to help them overcome challenges and achieve their goals. 
For a one-off admin fee of $225 plus GST, Suzannah and Joel received six months of confidential one-to-one advice and support. 

“Mahurangi Joinery has great growth potential and I’m glad to have helped Suzannah and Joel apply that. Mentoring is an important business tool and I urge business owners to take advantage of the resources offered by Business Mentors,” said Bev. 

“We’re now able to look at recruiting more staff and forming a strong team. We’re definitely excited about the future of Mahurangi Joinery,” adds Suzannah. 

Photo: Joel and Suzannah Hemus.