•
buy
•
accommodation
•
sell
•
information
•
jobs
•
th th Dec - 17 Dec 2014 2018 2711 Jan - 3rd thFeb
FIRST ON THE STREET
www.lwb.co.nz
No No 434 680
LAKES WEEKLY LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN BULLETIN
2 J IN O 10 SI BS D E
enquiries@lwb.co.nz
Why is Queenstown a great place to staff a company? When I moved my business to Queenstown in 2006, people told me it was a terrible idea and that I’d struggle to find good staff. “BS,” I said then, “It’ll be great.” Twelve years later, people are still saying the same thing and I’m still saying, “BS, Queenstown is still a great place to staff a business.” I had no staff when I moved here in 2006, I’ve got 65 here now and that’s growing every month. I have wonderful people doing exceptional work and I am incredibly grateful for them. But before we look to how to make Queenstown a great place to staff a business, let’s look at why some businesses are struggling. I think the ‘staffing crisis’ that some businesses are facing is a direct result of the relentless race to the bottom; trying to cater to the lowest common denominator and make things as cheap as possible. A huge cost for most businesses, particularly service businesses, is staff. In a race to the bottom, businesses must pay their staff the least they can get away with. If you’re paying people as little as possible, especially in a place with a high cost of living, they’re always going to be looking for a better option, and you’re forever going to be losing staff. So, what’s a better approach? It starts with your business model. If your business model relies on paying people as little as possible, you’re probably always going to have high turnover, especially in an expensive place like Queenstown. To create a business that moves from trying to be as cheap as possible, to adding enough value to charge more, takes a bit of thought, but it’s worthwhile because quality and cheap don’t go together. Quality allows you to pay good people what they’re worth, and that allows you to attract staff.
After a wee hiatus last year, Queenstown’s ‘Men’s Ballet’ group returned to take the stage at the Shotover Jet Christmas Cracker. Accompanied as always, by a Friday flash mob on Ballarat St where they stopped traffic and drew a crowd of hundreds. (Photo: Jodi Walters)
Then, it’s important to have a culture that retains your staff. I think culture comes down to four main things: • Purpose – being a business that does something that your people can feel good about • People – protecting your people by being careful who you add to the team • Processes – creating the best conditions for people to do their work • Environment – creating a place where people enjoy being, where they feel supported, and where they can progress The reason that you love Queenstown is the very same reason that it can be an exceptional place to staff your business. People love it here, and want to live here. Rather than taking advantage of this and paying people as little as possible, utilise it to retain exceptional people and pay them fairly. If we create businesses that add enough value that you can charge customers enough to pay your people well, then we create a thriving town. People will be better able to afford to live here, and businesses will be able to retain great people. It just requires a different perspective. Sam Hazledine Founder and Managing Director of MedRecruit
HAPPY HOUR DAILY FROM 9PM $10 LUNCH SPECIALS 12PM - 3PM DAILY
JUSTIN STENT 03 974 4671 | justin@targ.co.nz
PROPERTY LAW / FAMILY LAW / CONVEYANCING AND MORE
KITCHENS / BATHROOMS / STAIRS / TIMBER / EXTERIOR
RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL / INDUSTRIAL / GIBSTOPPING
0274 374 830 | nigel@molloyjoinery.nz
021 977 408 | olphertcontracting@xtra.co.nz
03 442 6120 | mail@thelawlounge.co.nz
PAINTERS
INSURANCE / INVESTMENT / HOME LOANS / KIWI SAVER
SPECIALISTS IN UK PENSION TRANSFERS & KIWI SAVER
MIKE TONKS 03 927 4691 | mike@rmafinancial.co.nz
Mark Baker +64 21 243 2141 | mark@diligentwealth.co.nz
SOLAR / LED LIGHTING / HEATPUMPS / RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL
03 409 2977 | sales@shotoverelectrix.co.nz
W E B D E S I G N / D E V E LO P M E N T · D I G I TA L M A R K E T I N G BRANDING · GRAPHIC DESIGN
03 428 2776 · HOLL A@RDSTUDIOS.CO.NZ WWW.RDSTUDIOS.CO.NZ