Insight September 2013

Insight

SEPTEMBER 2013

Niches and skill drive couple forward 4

Sponsoring for success 6

Are we clear yet?

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What does it mean to be a director?

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Control an entire fleet’s fuel costs with a little bit of plastic With a Ruralco Mobilcard, you can now get a great discount on fuel purchases, one convenient monthly bill and no account or transaction fees. Giving you even greater levels of control and flexibility across your entire fleet.

For more information about the Ruralco Mobilcard, or to organise fuel cards for your business please contact Ruralco on 0800 RURAL NZ (787 256)

0800 RURALNZ (787 256) www.ruralco.co.nz

Trusted co-ops working for farmers

Contents

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Niches and skill drive couple forward Behind Peter and Toni May’s incredible win

Sponsoring for success Ruralco’s Chris Bristol talks us through successful sponsorship

United Travel Winners of the 2013 Excellence in Marketing Award

Are we clear yet?

Garry Lund’s guide to being an effective leader

What does it mean to be a director?

Andrew Leete on putting your ‘director’s hat’ on

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Group CEO Comment

Mitre 10 Winners of this year’s Members’ Choice Award

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Enquiries

For editorial enquiries and letters, please contact the Marketing Department on: Tel: 0800 787 256, marketing@ruralco.co.nz For advertising enquiries, please contact the Marketing Department on: Tel: 0800 787 256, marketing@ruralco.co.nz

News at Ruralco

Trusted co-ops working for farmers

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Classifieds

www.ruralco.co.nz

Group CEO Comment Ruralco is now well into its third month of existence and the exciting joint venture card service is proving popular with a growing base of ATS and Ravensdown shareholders.

The card’s wide acceptance, ease of use, and value to both shareholders and suppliers means it is drawing even greater interest from businesses wanting to share in the opportunity to be suppliers.

That interest is seeing Ruralco Cardholders already happy to use their card well beyond their district, their region and even their island— transaction data indicates some shareholders are using their card as far afield as Auckland to purchase fuel.

It is encouraging to see their confidence in making the card their first payment option so far from home, and bodes well for its growth throughout the country, among both shareholders and suppliers.

Ruralco is recruiting more staff to develop all regions of the country and build its supplier base, across both the farm business and farmer lifestyle services the card aims to capture.

The focus for each region is to network Ruralco’s national supplier stakeholders, and draw in the local, district focused businesses who are such a critical part of our farmer shareholders’ business and family life.

Ruralco’s national strength and presence is being underscored and increased by regular additions of nation-wide suppliers including supermarket chains, telecommunication companies and fuel suppliers.

The 20,000 catchment of combined ATS and Ravensdown shareholder database provides a broader market than many local businesses may have at present. Linking this to advertising to card holders through the Ruralco “Real Farmer” magazine provides a targeted efficient means to cut through less targeted advertising media, reaching existing and potential customers around the country.

Partnership Services Representatives work closely with Ruralco Suppliers, providing a level of experience and information unrivalled by other card services.

Effectively account managers; they can help suppliers get the most out of the wealth of information and transaction data that Ruralco Card use generates.

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Ruralco Cardholders are already happy to use their card well beyond their district.

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This includes trend reports built up over time on card use, transaction amounts, sales responses to featured discounts, and even specific demographic and farm type data on purchasers’ behaviour.

This all helps suppliers build marketing plans with more effective, targeted spend in the budget.

Intending suppliers can set a discount or offer to Cardholders that Ruralco can benchmark against their particular sector, or Ruralco staff can recommend the type of offer that works better for a particular product sector, whether it is lifestyle or farming.

The ultimate aim is a “win-win” offer for both the supplier, and the Ruralco Cardholder.

Belonging to Ruralco is also bringing “back office” benefits to suppliers, helping them make their own operations become more streamlined and efficient.

This includes access to Ruralco accounts, allowing payment of inputs on one easy account. Discounts are available to supplier’s fuel and other services.

We look forward to keeping you up to date with the many developments and services we intend to develop to help your business, our shareholders’ and Ruralco grow together.

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Neal Shaw Group Chief Executive

INSIGHT // SEPTEMBER 2013

Niches and skill drive couple forward

It was humble beginnings back in the early 1980s when Peter started his small business in his parents’ garage, where the local motorbike shops supplied him with work on motorbike seats. It was only a short time before he outgrew that, and moved to Tinwald sharing premises with saddle maker Chris Morrison.

As business grew they upped and moved to a larger bungalow on Alford Forest Road.

By Richard Rennie

Today Toni laughs at recollections of Peter coming home, cold with wet feet from measuring and completing large truck tonneau covers in the pot holed yard.

“Over this time we were seeing the covers just get larger and larger, for both trucks and for hay bale covers.”

It was fortunate for them to be able to negotiate a land swap with Doug Hood Ltd enabling them to build a purpose designed premises capable of handling the expansion that followed.

Over this time, as well as recognising the need for more space they had also embarked on upgrading their technology regularly, having purchased equipment including a precision welder and a triad wedge welder.

Their ability to recognise the need to keep up technology investment is one that Toni believes has helped keep them ahead of the game and being competitive over the years whilst being capable of maintaining a “lean” approach to other overheads thanks to the productivity of their capital equipment investments.

…this year’s recipients for the inaugural Ruralco Supreme Supplier Award The shifts in Canterbury’s farming landscape have bought some big changes, and growth to the business of Ashburton couple Toni and Peter May in a challenging and competitive environment.

Their business, Peter May Ltd has become an established part of that landscape, providing high quality canvas, PVC and protective products for business and farmer clients throughout the South Island.

But along the way in their 33 year history the couple have also managed to carve out some unique niches for their skills that have enabled

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them to ride out the tough times, and soar ahead in the good.

That culminated in becoming this year’s recipients for the inaugural Ruralco Supreme Supplier Award, held recently in Ashburton.

That has further cemented a rewarding and mutually beneficial relationship as a valued supplier, first through ATS, now through the Ruralco network.

The business has distinguished itself by taking up some smart marketing techniques including regular rebranding and market assessments, but coupling that to a heart built on Peter’s skills, high standards and ability to provide exactly what his customers need.

Two years ago they expanded again, doubling in size and adding a side room on for their newly developed marquee business. This has been a major step from the conventional farm and business work, adding a touch of glamour to the premises, but also marking a clever niche the couple are working hard to build.

“Peter had made many marquees for clients, and there was a need there for large marquee hire, so we invested in a 12m by 30m, but soon discovered to do it properly, you really needed all the equipment and extras that go inside it,” says Toni.

INSIGHT // SEPTEMBER 2013

Those extras have extended to a vehicle to pull the marquee trailer, luxury rest rooms, and all cutlery, glassware and seating that may be required.

“It is very much a one stop shop now, and we are finding the business coming from some of our long time clients whose daughters may be getting married locally—we can do it all, right down to Peter and I being the bar staff on the night.”

Toni says the wedding market is a strong one, and appears to have taken off after the earthquake as people seek out venues beyond Christchurch for their special day.

Given how labour intensive their newly developed hospitality trade is, Toni says they are not focussing on volume and numbers of events, preferring to do a smaller number well. Their corporate marquee manufacturing business has also progressed well, and they give valued clients the opportunity to allow them to clean, dry and store the marquees.

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With an increasing number of card holders nationwide, it gives us great confidence to press on with what we are doing.

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“When their event is on we will travel to it and set it up ahead, the last thing anyone wants to do before or after an event is to be left with the company tent to fold up!”

Another rapidly developing niche where Peter’s skills are meeting an evolving market is for quality ute seat covers. With the car-like nature of most modern four wheel drives, farmers are keen to preserve their value, and the cloth trim most come fitted with is far from the best in muddy, wet farm conditions.

“Off the shelf versions never seem to fit properly, and we take the time to measure them for the best fit, and Peter will even fit them himself into the ute.”

Growing numbers of dairy farmers, and dairy farm staff in the region have ensured success of such products, along with quad bike seat covers.

Future secure with Ruralco partnership.

Winning the Supreme Supplier Award at the recent Ruralco Supplier Awards is a high point in the relationship Peter May Ltd has enjoyed with the card service over the years.

Peter and Toni May’s business has been a long time supplier through the card service, originally starting with the ATS Card back in 1998. Toni recalls how far the service has evolved since those early days, when the main incentive was a 10% discount offered to card holders.

“I remember having to convince our accountant the 10% discount was worth offering, and that it would not signal the end of profit as we had known it!”

The growth in the number of farms themselves has resulted in demand for plastic material products like irrigation hydrant flags and covers for dairy farm troughs to keep effluent out.

Fast forward 15 years to her most recent meeting with her Ruralco account manager, one she said “blew my socks off.” This was thanks to the level of quality information and advice the Ruralco transaction records could deliver to her and Peter about their customers’ expenditure patterns.

Toni believes their ability to spread their work across a range of products that occupy distinct niches has helped Peter May Limited, and Peter May the man, manage the peaks and troughs of business well over the years.

The presentation included a precise, well designed marketing plan based off the information from card purchases. It saved the busy couple from having to set aside time from the business to do one themselves.

“We found when we stopped relying upon one really large client company for business we actually did better, looking around at the opportunities presented to us here, and there are a lot.”

The couple are provided with detailed information on card holder expenditure, matched to customer profiles based on farm type and location, painting an accurate picture of their market.

INSIGHT // SEPTEMBER 2013

And it is a picture that was a different one from what Toni had envisaged.

“It turns out there is a higher number of dairy farmers who are our clients and customers.

They are hardworking, busy operators who come to us looking for good value, quality products to use on the farm, things like covers for motor bike seats and 4WD, or trough covers, rather than the “desire” type products we also sell.”

This knowledge has enabled them to re-tune their marketing and promotion work, without sacrificing valuable funds on programmes that may not achieve the same level of penetration to that particular market.

Toni admits being less than thrilled when she heard a suppliers meeting about the card service was happening.

“I thought, here we go, a merger is going to happen, and we have ATS as an exclusive which we were very happy with. I was rapt when Neal Shaw (Ruralco Group CEO) took that off the table right at the start of the meeting.”

They could immediately see the potential in the nationwide Ruralco card service, and it fits well with their plans for the business. They are intending to make some major capital investments shortly.

“With an increasing number of card holders nationwide, it gives us great confidence to press on with what we are doing.”

She is excited by the prospect of being able to combine Ruralco card technology with internet purchases nationally.

“We are now looking at New Zealand as our market place.”

To learn more about Ruralco visit: www.ruralco.co.nz

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Sponsoring for success

out a few rules. “Be clear about what you’re expecting back in return so that the person being sponsored knows what’s expected and neither party is disappointed. From a branding perspective, a commitment of three years is necessary because it takes that time to build the brand and the brand recognition.

Also don’t sponsor if your competitors are sponsoring. You cross one another out, effectively.”

By Bernard Carpinter

Why should businesses give money away to people or organisations who ask for sponsorship? Dealing with that question is becoming more of a problem for businesses as the demand for sponsorship dollars keeps increasing year by year.

“These days it’s really common for businesses to be inundated with sponsorship requests,” Ruralco General Manager Chris Bristol says.

“They can range from someone looking for something a business would almost give away to some fairly large requests—$500 plus, and

in the cases of large sponsorship you could be looking at $10,000 or $20,000 or even up to half a million.”

It’s not very business-like to just give money away, but Miss Bristol says there are valid reasons for businesses to get involved in sponsoring people, organisations or events as part of their marketing effort.

First, she makes a distinction between two different types of sponsorship. The first is altruistic sponsorship, where the business supports a worthy cause without expecting anything much in return. Still, this type of sponsorship can benefit a business by enhancing its reputation in the community.

The second is using sponsorship as a tool to drive your business and expecting a return.

“But businesses today probably need to consider what they are trying to achieve if they are going to enter the sponsorship market,” Miss Bristol says. She provides the following definition for the modern business world: “Sponsorship is a business relationship between a provider of funds, resources or services and an individual, event or organisation which offers in return some rights and association that may be used for commercial advantage.”

In other words, businesses have the right to expect significant, measurable benefits for themselves when they sign sponsorship deals.

Benefits can be measured by, for example, exposure such as signage at an event or, most importantly, by increased business such as new customers attracted by the sponsorship.

Miss Bristol spells

It’s not enough just to hand over the cash or material if it’s sponsorship in kind. “For every hard dollar that you give in cash you will spend an additional one to three dollars supporting it, to maximise your opportunity of business,” she says. This could include signage at an event, staff attending an event, publications by the sponsoring company or advertisements in the local newspaper promoting both the sponsoring company and the event or organisation.

“Building relationships and partnerships is a key part of doing business.

”

Ideally sponsorship will be in the field where the business operates. “If you were a saddlery business you probably want to sponsor people within the equine industry because then you would get the return in support of the business,” Miss Bristol explains. She prefers sponsoring organisations or events rather than individuals, because with individuals it is harder to get a return on the investment.

Businesses should have a written policy on sponsorship and an application form that has to be filled in by anyone seeking sponsorship, she advises. Applications for large amounts of money would need extra details, including the expected return for the sponsor, plans for media coverage, and names of other businesses involved. At set intervals managers would evaluate the applications in terms of the policy and pick the winners.

Miss Bristol says it’s best to get staff members involved in the sponsorship, getting out and meeting people. After all, building relationships and partnerships is a key part of doing business.

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INSIGHT // SEPTEMBER 2013

Journey to marketing success

The company also sponsors the New Zealand Ploughing Association and its teams to the World Championships each year, another connection to the rural community.

By Bernard Carpinter

The United Travel team are great travellers themselves and are always on the lookout

Websites are a vital marketing tool these days and the United Travel Ashburton one is not only user-friendly but also notably down-toearth and practical.

“Ruralco Cardholders are great travellers.

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for interesting new destinations. They are organising trips to Cuba and the USA next year and Kevin has just made a research trip to Burma, a destination which is now opening up to the outside world.

“Ruralco Cardholders are great travellers,” Kevin says. “They like to get out and go places.

They go anywhere from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle, and everywhere in between.”

Successfully marketing to the Ruralco cardholder and getting out and about has attributed to United Travel Ashburton winning the Excellence in Marketing Award at last month’s Ruralco Supplier Awards. Working with Ruralco, previously ATS, and utilising their communication channels has brought a massive increase in business for the 100% Ashburton-owned operation.

“We always go to the ATS Instore days and South Island Agricultural Field Days,” co-owner and managing director Kevin Crequer says. “When you go to those field days you expect to see farm machinery and chemicals, etc; you don’t really expect to see a travel company there”.

“We want to do something a bit different. You can advertise for all you’re worth in the papers, the radio and other mainstream media but I think it’s more about being out there, being on the ground, and talking with people so they can put a face to the name. It’s a pretty big ask for us, we have to have people out of the office for two or three days on end, but it’s definitely worth it because you get to reconnect with people and they kind of expect us to be there now.”

United Travel Ashburton has also arranged a lot of deals with different suppliers in conjunction with Ruralco. “We have an exclusive contract with Singapore Airlines so for Ruralco Cardholders, we can guarantee a 10 percent discount” Kevin says.

INSIGHT // SEPTEMBER 2013

“Working in conjunction with our airline partners we’re able to offer giveaways exclusive to Ruralco cardholders. This year we gave away a free trip to Sydney at the ATS Instore days courtesy of Qantas.

Last year it was a trip for two to Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

“We also organised exclusive farm tours to South Africa for Ruralco cardholders. The groups visited working farms and interacted with the owners. This included being hosted at their houses with barbecues and entertainment afterwards. They also went on game drives/cruises in Botswana and Zimbabwe, so it is a pretty unique sort of experience that we’ve got available.” Last year’s group was escorted by an Ashburton couple who originally came from South Africa and Zimbabwe. Using the Ruralco and local ATS marketing channels enabled us to market these tours direct to tour target audience.

“We have only been operating as United Travel Ashburton for two years. We’ve had quite a good growth for the whole business but we’ve had massive growth through the Ruralco partnership, which could be attributed to the fact that we’re out there selling ourselves.”

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Are we clear yet?

By Garry Lund

I’m sure we would all agree that leading people and teams can be incredibly rewarding, but at the same time your staff can create frustration and stress.

Theories on leadership are everywhere and if you ‘Google it’, you will end up with millions of solutions. It is indeed the holy grail of business writing.

Three questions therefore to answer around clarity: 1. Are your team clear about the direction of the business and what that means for them personally in the future?

2. Are your team clear about what you stand for and what is not tolerated from a behaviour point of view?

3. Are your team clear about what is expected of them from a work output task perspective?

I ultimately believe leadership is about creating movement in an organisation and a ‘no’ answer to any of those questions will potentially create a block to improved performance.

If the answer to each of those questions is yes but you still have issues then the next piece of the puzzle emerges, which is about managing performance which we will consider in the next issue.

I would encourage all of you from small to large businesses to consider the clarity questions. Not all of you will have formal documents or procedures in place, but that will certainly not prevent you from having the right conversations.

While I would prefer to see written accountabilities and expectations so that both parties can formally agree, the simple conversation certainly helps. It also helps with your children!

Are we clear yet?

It’s a constant and relentless process that is a cornerstone of good leadership.

I’m very much from the practical school where theory only has relevance if it is grounded in the real world. I hope in this article to give you some insight into leading people and getting the most out of your precious Human Resource.

Here are some quotes we are all familiar with:

‘I just wish they would do more.’

‘I’m tired of having to do their work for them.’

‘I can’t believe they still don’t get that report to me on time.’

I have three basic responses to these three quotes:

‘Have you asked them?’

‘Have you told them?’

‘Do they have the deadline?’

There are many things that motivate people but one of the most effective, practical and simple things to do is to set very clear expectations about what you want from your staff.

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I can hear people saying, ‘but my team have job descriptions.’ The reality of a job description is that while they are useful as a starting point, they can quickly become redundant and often bear no resemblance to what the person actually does when the daily, weekly and monthly pressures take over. Check your own if you have one!

Then consider the trickle-down effect that happens quickly when role clarity is blurred.

Is this vision known and understood?

Here are two other quotes to help complete the clarity picture:

‘I just wish they would behave in keeping with our business.’

‘I can’t believe my team are not as excited as I am about our future vision.’

The two natural responses:

‘Have you told them what behaviour is expected?’

‘Is this vision known and understood?’

Garry Lund INSIGHT // SEPTEMBER 2013

Looking for a gift basket for a special occasion?

ATS can make gift baskets to suit your needs—choose the contents or the price and we will make it for you!

Morning tea shout, social event, or just stocking up your supplies?

ATS has everything you need— delicious pre-made frozen meals, bulk beverages, toilet paper, detergents and much more!

Could your team do with a fresh new look?

ATS has a large number of uniform options to have your team looking great.

For more information call Sarah Pankhurst on 0800 BUY ATS (289 287) or come and see Sarah at ATS Ashburton today.

Come into your local ATS store today to see the great range of product we have available for you at our amazing everyday low prices

What does it mean to be a director?

By Andrew Leete

If you are a business owner there is a good chance that you will own and operate your business through a company. You are also likely to be a director of that company, a role that has certain duties and obligations relating to the management of the company.

These duties and obligations have come into sharp focus recently. Since the collapse of a number of finance companies and the global financial crisis, the news headlines have been littered with details of directors being found liable for breaching their duties and obligations. Such directors have included high profile New Zealanders who have been found wanting in respect of their obligations to shareholders and creditors of the company of which they were a director.

The legal duties and obligations of a director apply equally to directors of all companies.

The law does not distinguish between a director of a small family owned and operated

business and a director of a large company with multiple stakeholders.

All directors must fulfil key duties set out in the Companies Act 1993. These duties include the duty to act in good faith and what the director believes to be the best interests of the company—this requires directors to act honestly and with a proper motive.

The risk of personal liability for directors comes into sharp focus when the company is not performing well. Should the company go into liquidation, the liquidator will often closely examine the actions of directors leading up to the company going into liquidation to satisfy itself that the directors have acted appropriately. If the directors are found to have allowed the company to continue trading in circumstances where it was clearly insolvent, then the directors could be personally liable to the company’s creditors for allowing the company to trade recklessly.

Recent cases before the Courts have emphasised that every director needs to be proactive and

take positive steps to adhere to the duties and obligations that apply to him or her as a director. Every director should understand the company’s business and its financial statements. It is not sufficient for a director to assume that another director will fulfil this role because the other director has an accounting or financial background.

In the case of a family owned and operated business, it will often be the case that some or all of the directors are shareholders. They may also work as employees in the business.

Good directors add real value to a company In these circumstances, each director needs to ensure that the “director hat” is on when he or she is making decisions in his or her capacity as a director. Their decisions cannot be influenced by virtue of their shareholding or employment in the company.

Depending on the activities your company undertakes, you may have additional obligations outside of those applying to directors on a day to day basis. For example, directors have specific responsibilities when a company is raising funds from prospective or existing shareholders. The provisions of the Securities Act 1978 may apply, which could require the company to prepare a compliant prospectus and investment statement.

Good directors add real value to a company and people should not be discouraged from being a director simply because of the recent high profile court cases and media attention.

However, directors do need to be aware of their duties and responsibilities and take active steps to ensure that they comply with them.

Andrew Leete, Director Goodman Tavendale Reid The content of this article is of a brief and general nature and is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon for that purpose. You should seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters dealt with in this article.

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INSIGHT // SEPTEMBER 2013

Making a mega impression

By Annie Studholme

its fellow suppliers, instead putting it down to a combination of things, from its ongoing focus on customer service, to excellent staff product knowledge and an ability to offer everyday low prices across an ever-increasing array of products.

As a result of Mitre 10’s national customercentred service programme roll-out, he says it has invested a great deal of time and money into staff training through the new E-learning modules available, giving staff much improved access to basic training. New staff are put through a one-month induction programme, but it doesn’t end there. On-going training is on offer for all staff and over the past 12 months it has certainly started to pay dividends.

“The end result is that they are very welltrained in the basics of retail and customer service, but perhaps the biggest thing is that they genuinely love working with people and gain great satisfaction from helping solve

are very “We excited about

winning the Members’ Choice Award.

”

Mitre 10 Mega Ashburton is the recipient of this year’s coveted Members’ Choice Award presented at the recent Ruralco Supplier Awards.

“We are very excited about winning the Members’ Choice Award, and quite proud of our achievement, not to mention being grateful to members for voting for us. It has been a huge team effort and it’s great to receive that kind of acknowledgement,” says managing director Simon Lye. “We knew we had a good relationship with our Ruralco members and this award reiterates that—they are a big part of our business. We see this as a prestigious award and to win it confirms we must be doing something right.”

Now in its third year, the Ruralco Supplier Awards publicly recognise outstanding Ruralco Suppliers and the valuable contribution they make to Ruralco and its members, while celebrating business growth and development, marketing, customer service and new businesses.

Awarded to the supplier receiving the highest number of nominations from Ruralco members, the Members’ Choice Award recognises exceptional customer service, value for money and a willingness to go beyond the call of duty.

In winning, Mitre 10 Mega Ashburton joins an illustrious group of local businesses singled INSIGHT // SEPTEMBER 2013

out by members, following in the footsteps of previous winners Todds of Ashburton and Neumanns Tyre Services.

Mitre 10 Mega Ashburton has had a lengthy association with ATS, and now Ruralco, and the wider Mid-Canterbury community for more than 125 years. Initially known as W.H Collins & Co, Richard Lye (Simon’s father) purchased the business in the 1970s with another partner before buying it outright in the 1980s.

Later it joined the Mitre 10 co-operative which, thanks to New Zealand’s love affair with DIY, has grown to become the country’s largest home improvement retailer, builders’ merchant and garden retailer over the past four decades.

In 2006, Mitre 10 Ashburton was transformed into one of 35 Mitre 10 Mega stores nationally, signalling a new phase in its history. Although seen as a huge step, it is one that continues to bring about real benefits for customers without sacrificing its sense of community, says Simon.

Mitre 10 Mega is currently on target to break through the $1 billion mark in revenue for the 2014 financial year. “The sheer volume of Mitre 10’s combined buying power continues to help drive prices down. We are in a rural town, but generally speaking, customers here are getting the same big benefits as anyone elsewhere, while still being a locally owned business.”

problems for clients. They are also passionate about the different areas of the shop they work in, and customers benefit from that.”

Central to that success is a preparedness to listen to customers, adds Simon.

When positive feedback from customers is received, the business makes a point of celebrating it with the whole Mitre 10 Mega Ashburton team and has also introduced a way of acknowledging long-serving staff members.

He says a high proportion of its staff have worked at the store for more than five years, with Brian Glassey the longest-serving staff member at an impressive 46 years of service.

He sees the new Ruralco initiative as a positive step, allowing members to use their cards in its partner stores in Oamaru and Timaru also, which will further strengthen the growth of Mitre 10 Mega.

Simon is unable to single-out one reason for Mitre 10 Mega Ashburton’s edge over

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News at Ruralco RURALCO SUPPLIER MOVERS AND SHAKERS Wrights Drycleaners—Consistently top of the Industry Wrights Drycleaners has been operating in Ashburton for 65 years and it goes from strength to strength. The business has been owned by Neroli and Stuart Cross for the past 10 years and is well known as a serious contender for industry awards. They were runner-up in 2008 for the Supreme Apparelmaster Franchise Award and took the top award in 2011 and again this year.

New World’s 50th birthday New World celebrates its 50th birthday. Your local New World is 100% Kiwi owned and operated. Local operators Judy & Tony Sheppard purchased New World Ashburton in June 2008.

60 years in business for G J Blacklows & Co Locally owned and operated family business, G J Blacklow & Co is proud to be celebrating the 60th birthday of the business this year. The owners, Peter Blacklow and his sister Sue Blacklow are the Tradezone Store for the Ashburton Region.

Ballingers Hunting & Fishing on TV Show Cameron Moore from Ballingers Hunting & Fishing and Dean Officer from Ashburton Hunting & Fishing, featured on a recent episode of Hunting Aoteoroa on Maori Television. The show featured them hunting at Highpeak Station, near Terrace Downs.

new suppliers 100% ELLERYS www.100percent.co.nz

Timaru Tel 03 688-5550

10% discount off retail prices

West Coast

Greymouth 111 Mackay Street, Greymouth Tel: 03 768 5029 greymouth@ellerys.co.nz

Greymouth Tel 03 768 0914

Hokitika 11 Weld Street, Hokitika Tel: 03 755 8086 hokitika@ellerys.co.nz Westport 163 Palmerston Street, Westport Tel: 03 789 7349 westport@ellerys.co.nz BNT Branches www.bntnz.co.nz Canterbury

Ashburton Tel 03 307 6192 Fax 03 307 6235 bnt7701@btnz.co.nz Christchurch

Burnside Tel 03 366 5089 Sydenham Tel 03 379 0640 Hornby Tel 03 344 0145 Rangiora Tel 03 310 6159

RURALCO CALENDAR September 1 Father’s Day September 4 August Invoices due by 4pm* September 23 South Canterbury Anniversary September 29 Daylight Savings begins October 3 September Invoices due by 4pm* October 28 Labour Day November 1–2 Ashburton A&P Show November 4 Marlborough Anniversary November 5 October Invoices due by 4pm* November 13–15 Canterbury A&P Show November 15 Canterbury Anniversary *If you use EDI you can send your statements weekly if you wish rather than the bulk at the end of the month.

OXFORD MOTOR COMPANY 157 High Street, Oxford Tel: 03 312 4007 oxfordmtr1@clear.net.nz 5% discount on labour STIHL SHOP TIMARU 115 Hilton Highway, Timaru Tel: 03 6866 857 Timaru@stihlshop.co.nz 6% discount on Stihl Saws and capital products THE FEED SHACK 44 Newham Street, Rangiora Tel: 03 313 3016 www.thefeedshack.co.nz 2.5% discount on stock food 5% discount on accessories TIMARU UPHOLSTERY CENTRE 10 William Street, Timaru Tel: 03 6880 637 timaruupholstrey@xtra.co.nz Check out the website for updates on new suppliers and branches as we sign them up!

CONTACT DETAILS Want to advertise in this publication? Contact your account manager to discuss marketing your business in Insight

Nancye Pitt Partnership Services Manager Tel 03 307 5182 nancye.pitt@ruralco.co.nz

Jason McKenzie Partnership Services Representative Tel 03 307 5178 jason.mckenzie@ruralco.co.nz

Did you know that the Ruralco Card replaces your ATS Card?

Emma Geddes-Schikker

Cut up your ATS Card and make the move to your Ruralco Card today

Angela Watson

Your ATS Card will be deactivated at the end of the month

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Partnership Services Representative Tel: 03 307 5167 emma.schikker@ruralco.co.nz

Partnership Services Representative Tel: 03 307 5121 angela.watson@ruralco.co.nz

INSIGHT // SEPTEMBER 2013

Classifieds AIRPORT SERVICES

AUTOMOTIVE

COMPUTING

CLEANING

Ashburton’s leading computer company.

144 Moore St Ashburton Ph: 03 308 5077 Fax: 03 308 3401 Email: info@comsol.net.nz

www.comsol.net.nz CLEANING

Pre Inspection & Regular Cleaning contracts Dairy Housing Domestic Housing Industrial Commercial We clean to a standard,not a price PO Box 133 Ashburton

Tel: 03 307 2656 info@ashburtoncleaning.co.nz

HUMAN RESOURCES

FLORIST

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning New Ruralco Stain Supplie r Treatment Carpet & Fabric Protection Flood Restoration Call today for a friendly local qualified technician Ray & Kathy De’Ath 40 Cambridge Street Ashburton Ph: 03 308 3676 Fax: 03 308 1686 Mob: 027 670 0691 ashburton@jae.co.nz

FURNITURE MOVERS

Bring colour into the world Celebrate any special occassion with a beautiful and colourful flower arrangement from Allenton Florist.

P | F | E | W |

03 308 3342 03 308 3035 flowers@allentonflorist.co.nz www.allentonflorist.co.nz 85 Harrison St, Ashburton

OFFICE SUPPLIES

PEST CONTROL

It’s an ideal time to control

CLUSTER FLIES

SPIDERBAN

0800 556 778 308 0051 www.spiderban.co.nz INSIGHT // SEPTEMBER 2013

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