Kick Start programme helps cottage-industry

Business savvy: The council-sponsored Kick Start programme helped Zora's Rainbow proprietors Zora and Aaron Brunet plan for the long term of their business.

From City Scene, published on 20 July, 2008

When Ani and Aaron Brunet joined his mother Zora's toy business, Zora's Rainbow, they wanted to explore options for up-scaling the business. So the pair signed up for a Kick Start workshop. The Brunets say the council-sponsored seminar run by The Icehouse, a non-profit business growth centre based in Parnell, proved invaluable in helping develop their business sense.

"The Kick Start workshop presented all the aspects that help make a successful small business, from funding, marketing and branding to intellectual property and cash flow modelling," Ms Brunet says.

"It taught us new skills and how to create a business model that now, one year later, has helped us plan for the long term, minimise risks and make more informed decisions."

The Brunets investigated various business models, including outsourcing of production to a fair trade workshop in Sri Lanka. One of their products is now designed in New Zealand and produced in Sri Lanka. In the end, they decided to continue producing most of the toys here and focus on growing the direct sales arm of the business.

The Kick Start programme is open to anyone looking to start a business or improve the profitability of an existing business.

Topics range from developing business plans, growth planning, brand building, marketing, intellectual property, and increasing profit through better financial understanding. The next seminar will be on 14 August.