Business networking circle formed

Business owners, self-contractors and people who work remotely from home through-out east Kaipara now have another avenue of networking support available.

Two meetings were held in mid-August, one aimed at individuals involved in all things to do with property, the other for those involved in a wider genre of business, attracted a cross-section of retailers, artists, lifestyle property maintenance and business motivators to builders, tradespeople, real estate, painters and even Freeview installers.

Kaiwaka local and co-owner of Valley Vista Eco-Retreat, Beth Stone is the passionate organiser behind the groups and says the main goal is to provide support to one another.

“They’re not closed groups but ones you can frequent to do business with people you know, to share details and plan joint marketing strategies,” the former real estate agent says. “It’s about being able to ring someone for feedback or advice and celebrate when something awesome happens.”

Stone says that through discussion people can get ‘a better handle on the state of things’, a clearer view on what is happening in the market place.

“For example, a massage therapist might say they are treating a lot of stressed out builders in the past few months due to the increased building activity or a mortgage broker might report they’ve got a lot of pre-approvals for building plans, so builders get an idea that there may be a lot of work coming and real estate agents know there may be more properties available for sale,” she says. “Everything’s connected… it’s always a circle.”

Self-employed for fifteen years, Stone has always been interested in networking and felt inspired to bring people in business together after discovering how limited community knowledge was on some local businesses. After organising the successful Kaiwaka Business Expo held in early July, she decided to follow up with the networking groups.

“The idea just resonated with me. I like how, by linking in with others, we can help one another,” she says. “It's a great opportunity to connect and to take away the loneliness of working in a vacuum.”

A business and contacts list will be complied from the groups and a website is also planned. Meetings are held alternately in Maungaturoto, Kaiwaka and Mangawhai every three weeks and new members are ‘definitely welcome’ says Stone.

NOTE: Mangawhai also has a business networking group, Mangawhai Business Development Association [MBDA]. Membership for the new networking groups includes people in Maungaturoto and Kaiwaka as well as Mangawhai.

n For more information call Beth 0274 937 801 or email coastholidaypark@gmail.com