Client Stories & Testimonials
– Measurable Performance Transformation –
Alex Salomon, MSD
Alex Salomon talks about her experiences of working with Growing Organisation and the impact the consultative sales programme had on her and her team.
Nick Sawyer & Rachel Mclennan, Sensient
Nick and Rachel at Sensient Technologies share some thoughts on their consultative sales programme and working with Growing Organisations.
Client Stories
MY PROMO VIDEO
My Promo Video is an Auckland-based small business set up by Freddie Müller and Rushabh Savla to provide bite-sized, affordable promotional videos for businesses to introduce their brand to the world. They aspire to tap into the passion businesses hold and capture that enthusiasm in video format. Their clients love their ability to tell stories and bring meaning to them.
This week, we caught up with Freddie and Rushabh to find out more about their journey …
What problems do you solve and what products or services do you sell?
At MPV we create bespoke videos for clients that are directed towards their target market with a specific message/ goal in mind. In order to generate leads you need people’s attention. Videos get viewers’ attention. We also offer online social media marketing services to maximise reach.
What do you love most about your business?
I love that with visual storytelling we have the ability to elevate any business brand, incorporating cinematic elements such as clever camera shots, neat music, and title graphics! We love realising something unique in every business and elevating that to the point that even the clients didn’t see it themselves at the start.
Who do you most love working with?
We love working with clients of all kinds, but really enjoy working with NGOs who take a more humanitarian approach.
What inspired you to start this business?
As a kid I understood the power of the visual story arts and my hope is that every story I tell for my commercial clients empowers their brand, convinces their clients, and sets them up as winners!
What are the 3 most effective things you’ve done to grow your business so far?
1. Having a brand established with social and website presence. You can’t sell a secret and if people can’t find you online and associate you with something that looks half decent, eyebrows are raised. Those first impressions do make a difference!
2. Having a Business Advisor has been one of THE best things I have done. Accountability in growing the business, setting me up with those initial practical tasks that bring growth, etc. have kept me going for years!
3. Having a business mind is important, at times you need to be shrewd and at other times you have to provide charity. It’s understanding the seasons and your capabilities at that moment. Ultimately, a business is providing goods or services for a set fee/exchange and to welcome growth is to have a business mind.
What’s been the hardest thing about creating, maintaining, or growing this business?
In a business where we’re constantly judged on what we create, it was hard at the start to have enough material in our portfolio to convince clients that we possessed the talent/skill. After a while, we found we had a niche for making effectual videos in particular genres and so now we do that well. It does, however, take years of honing your craft, finding what you do well, and purposefully recreating that success for future clients.
Tells us about your highest values in running a business?
Honesty, Communication & Excellence are the biggest ones. We want to provide video tools so that businesses grow. In order for us to this well we need to fully understand the marketing needs of our clients. Sometimes our clients need direction and to have their motivation for a video re-aligned, which might mean we put ourselves out of a job! But our job isn’t just to make an excellent looking video, but to make sure it’s effective, targets/eliminates their pain points. We find the best way to do that through video. You can’t be in the business of video communication and have poor communication with the clients you work with!
What’s the biggest business/entrepreneur lesson you’d like to share with other small business owners?
Believe in your product/service and your ability/skill to produce it. Do it with excellence and you will always be in demand!
Get in touch with Freddie and Rushabh at mypromovideo.co.nz or visit their Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram pages.
RED SPARK CREATIVE
Red Spark Creative is a ‘small yet powerful agency’ created by Angela and Ross Murray in the heart of Auckland. They have over 25 years of international experience and work with clients to develop unforgettable brands and marketing communications. They are described by their clients as attentive, committed and talented creative partners who understand brand concepts as well as the business side of things to deliver outstanding results.
This week, we caught up with Angela and Ross to find out more about their journey …
What problems do you solve and what products or services do you sell?
We work with clients at home in NZ and in the US, to build unforgettable brands and boost sales. We build long term partnerships to help our clients achieve their goals, grow their brands and maintain relevance and consistency in the ever changing landscape. Our services include branding, graphic design, digital design, advertising, print management, and more.
What do you love most about your business?
We love working with people. Really getting to know them and their business, goals, personality and passion. Once we truly understand their essence, we love helping them grow their business by designing beautiful, impactful and effective marketing materials.
Who do you most love working with?
We work with a variety of clients and businesses but we love working with people that have the same zest, enthusiasm and passion as we have. When our clients are excited about their products and services, that excitement is infectious and drives us and the design process towards something really spectacular! Big or small, professional or trade services, education, food, property or retirement communities – we’ve worked with people in all these industries and love each one for their passion and drive.
What inspired you to start this business?
We’re artistic, creative and love working with people. We had been working for big advertising and PR agencies around the world and felt they were overcharging for their services. Not necessarily out of greed but because it takes a lot of money to run a big machine of people in high rent offices. We wanted to offer that same exceptional level of talent to SME businesses at a reasonable price with outstanding customer service. We also wanted a work-life balance with quality time to enjoy family and friends. We feel we’ve achieved that and love our work and home life.
What are the 3 most effective things you’ve done to grow your business so far?
Systems – We were early adaptors of automated systems like WorkflowMax and Xero. This meant less time on admin and more time building client relationships, growing sales and creating beautiful and compelling brands to help our clients grow their businesses.
Freelance model – We had employees when we first started RedSpark but found that working with contractors to support us during our busy time and not having the overhead of employees during the quieter times is the most effective business model for us.
Networking – The most effective way for us to grow our business has been through networking. We belong to several networking groups and the trusted relationships we have built with the other group members have translated into increased sales, repeat business and on-going word of mouth referrals.
What’s been the hardest thing about creating, maintaining, or growing this business?
The hardest thing about keeping the business going has been pipeline and cashflow. Because we’re a small team and we work very closely with our clients, the pipeline can sometimes be neglected when working on large or many projects at once. To combat this, we try to allocate non-negotiable times for calling/visiting/communicating with prospects and clients to ensure new business is stimulated. Cashflow used to be a big issue with clients not paying on time. We now obtain a 50% deposit for projects and outsource a book-keeping/debt collection service to ensure invoices are monitored and paid in a timely manner.
Tell us about your highest values in running a business?
Our highest values in the business are the same as in our personal lives. We’re kind, respectful and honest with our clients. We deliver excellent creative work using an open and collaborative approach. And we enjoy mutual respect and appreciation with our clients.
What’s the biggest business/entrepreneur lesson you’d like to share with other small business owners?
Network, collaborate, and outsource!
Get in touch with Angela and Ross at www.redspark.co.nz or visit their Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram pages.
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Why Work with Us?
- Independence
We create and select the best tools and resources from a variety of sources to develop customised programmes to suit your needs.
- Collaboration
We appreciate you know more about your business than we do so we work with you to ensure we understand your specific needs and goals. Together we design an appropriate learning journey that is aligned with your strategy and of benefit to your whole organisation.
- Forward-thinking
We aim to prepare your organisation for the future by staying ahead with the latest research and thought leadership.
- Experience
While we have extensive experience working with international companies in many countries, we are locals with in-depth knowledge of the NZ business environment.
- Integrity
We pride ourselves on our genuine desire to improve the work (and personal) lives of people working in New Zealand and to help businesses grow successfully. If we believe we can’t provide an appropriate solution for you, we will tell you.
- Support
We never ‘just do training’. We measure and support as you and your people apply learning to real challenges in your business. We equip you with tools and resources for autonomous sustainable growth.
