The Alliott Seminar Series - ACHIEVING BUSINESS SUCCESS
Recession survival strategies
Business funding and grants
Take the risk management assessment test
Thank you for your referrals
The Alliott Group
Websites we love

THE ALLIOTT SEMINAR SERIES – ACHIEVING BUSINESS SUCCESS

At Alliott's we understand that our clients are wanting to thrive and survive in these uncertain economic times. 

As a result, we are delighted to announce the "Achieving Business Success" seminar series which will provide plenty of fantastic ideas and strategies to boost your business in this downturn.

Starting in October, the series will consist of three key presentations that Alliott’s believes are vital to your business’s wellbeing - 

What The 20 Characteristics of Efficient, Well Run Businesses Are
How to Manage Cash Flow in a Crisis
Effective Marketing to Grow Your Sales

These exclusive workshops will be professionally presented by experts and, by attending, you will gain valuable knowledge, insight and tips which can be easily applied to the benefit of your business.

Formal invitations to the series will be sent out in the near future - places are limited so register early to avoid missing out.

RECESSION SURVIVAL STRATEGIES

To understand how some businesses are able to increase growth and profitability during or after a recession the traits of 13 successful and internationally competitive companies were analysed.

These companies had been on the global Fortune 500 list for at least three previous recessions and included such organisations as IBM, Wal-Mart, the Coca-Cola Company and Toyota.

Seven key factors were identified as impacting on their ability to emerge strongly from recession and were common to all 13 companies:

1.            A focus on core business

Strong emphasis was placed on their core business to create opportunities and gain market share from competitors.

In other words, successful companies focussed on what they did best.

2.            Strategic divestment

Operating non-core business splits both focus and resources.

Non-core operations were divested to improve liquidity and allow core strategy to be concentrated on.

3.            Improved processes and efficiencies

Flexibility and the ability to take action quickly were key when executing such recession strategies as trimming costs, improving processes or solving problems.

4.            Increased advertising and marketing

Successful organisations spent more on advertising and marketing to increase their market share and take advantage of greater advertising reach during recessionary times.

Keeping their brand ‘top of mind’ with their consumers was key in maintaining sales.

5.            Research and development

R and D was undertaken to create new core products and services - it is believed that new product releases can have a greater impact in a downturn as consumers are looking for something new and competitors are slower to react.

6.            Contingency planning

It is never too late to prepare for a downturn.

Successful businesses quickly assemble a contingency plan to put in place strategies and tactics for dealing with adverse conditions.

7.            Acquisitions and strategic alliances

Business acquisitions and strategic alliances open access to new markets, products, technologies, customers and talent. In a recession there may be lower prices and less competition for acquisition targets.

New additions can help strengthen, re-focus and position companies for increased growth and profitability.

A decline in the economy increases risks but it also can provide opportunities to increase competitive advantage, profitability and growth by using well thought out strategies and tactics.

Alliott NZ has a wealth of expertise and knowledge and we are confident of providing effective advice and strategies which will increase your business’s resilience and success during these challenging economic conditions.

Contact Alliott's on 09 520 9200 to discuss this further.

BUSINESS FUNDING AND GRANTS

Many New Zealand businesses, especially new or growing ones, need extra investment from time to time.

If your business has potential, or you're developing a new product, expanding into new markets, carrying out research, or looking to employ extra staff, you may be eligible for financial help such as grants from Government or industry organisations.

Alliott’s has expertise in providing financial analysis to help secure funding and grants for your business.

Recently, two of our clients were the recipients of generous allowances to help their businesses grow - there may be similar opportunities available to you - please contact Vanessa Williams or Greg Millar at Alliott’s to discuss this further.

RISK MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS

In tough economic times minimising business and financial risk is a prudent idea.

At Alliott’s we have a risk management analysis programme which can help protect you against negative impacts.

To find out how you and your business rate for risk take this quick self assessment test.

If you have loans to one or more of your shareholders, have you registered the loans on the Personal Property Securities Register?	Yes	No
Do you have up to date employment contracts in line with the Employment Relationship Act for all your staff?	Yes	No
Are your Shareholder Current Accounts in credit (i.e. you are drawing less out of the business than the business earns so the business owes you money)? If you are in credit circle Yes, If you are in debit (you owe the business money), circle No.	Yes	No
Do you have all your growth or valuable business assets owned by a separate entity outside the business?	Yes	No
Could your business survive if you had a stroke and were not able to work in the business at all for 12 months?	Yes	No
Have you achieved a discount on your staff ACC levies by complying with all the OSH procedures?	Yes	No
Have you transferred your family home and other buy and hold investments into a trust to protect them from creditors in case the business went under?	Yes	No
Have you done a gifting statement in the last 12 months for your trust?	Yes	No
Do you have Terms of Trade with your customers that allow you to charge interest and debt collection costs?	Yes	No
Where a customer takes procession of valuable goods but has not yet paid for them, do you always register their interest on the Personal Property Securities Register?	Yes	No
If you are looking to exit your business in the next 5 years, do you have a successor or buyer lined up where you will be able to get the full capital value out the business in cash?	Yes	No
Do you have trustee meetings to accept you trust’s annual and record other minutes for the trust at least once a year?	Yes	No
If there was a fire or power surge in your business so all your computer data and records were lost, do you have a recovery plan in place to get all systems and business up and running within 24-48 hours?	Yes	No
If you have a business partner, do you have enough capital to buy him/her estate for their share of the business of your partner dies or can’t work in the business?	Yes	No

Answered No to less than 3 questions	Well done - you are successfully managing the risks in your business.
Answered No to 3-6 questions	There are some risks in your business which need to be addressed.
Answered No to 7-10 questions	The risks in your business are not being managed properly - this may be putting yourself and your business at risk.
Answered No to more than 10 questions	Your business is at extremely high risk and the shortfalls should be addressed as soon as possible.

If you answered NO to 3 or more questions contact Vanessa Williams or Greg Millar to discuss ways to minimise the risks in your business.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REFERRALS

One of the most effective ways to grow any business is via recommendations from satisfied clients and Alliott’s is appreciative of the many new clients we have received this way.

While we are busy we are always looking to grow our business and so welcome your continued referrals.

Thank you once again.

THE ALLIOTT GROUP

Last month we featured a small snippet about the Alliott Group - an international alliance of independent accounting, consulting and legal firms of which Alliott NZ is a proud member.

In fact, our own Lyall Brown, who has been part of Alliott NZ since 1973 and is now in a consulting role at the company, is currently Chairman of the Alliott Group Asia Pacific Executive and Advisory Committee and serves on the worldwide Alliott Group Board representing the Asia Pacific division.

Lyall is pleased to advise that the Alliott Group has just launched its new website - click here to view.

Alliott NZ can help with any international financial and business requirements you may have - contact us for more information.

WEBSITES WE LOVE

As well as our own fantastic website www.alliott.co.nz we love

www.theprenzelshop.co.nz	Award winning liqueurs and culinary products made in NZ
www.ted.com	Great minds using the power of ideas to change the world
www.tmz.com	Crazy celebrity gossip first broke news of Michael Jackson’s death

As forward thinking accountants and business advisors Alliott NZ is always looking for ways to maximise our clients wealth and success

Visit Our Website I Contact Us

ALLIOTT NZ   109 CARLTON GORE ROAD    NEWMARKET   AUCKLAND