It was after the feedback they received from entering the Nelson Tasman Chamber Business Awards in 2009 that owners Noel and Sharyn Tait from Cooper Webley realised some changes needed to be made in their business.

Beginning of 2010 they decided it was time to sit down and have a serious hard look at their business. It very quickly became clear that there has been some misconception on their behalf as to where the business was going and how it was tracking overall. One thing was certain - it was time to get some good business advice.

Says Noel, "We were after some strategic and sound business management advice, that would help us change the business around to give us a maximum return on investment and effort."

They knew that they were good at what they do, had the right staff but was lacking the direction on how to increase their return on investment. After exploring a number of different avenues they decided to get WHK involved.

The first phase was to take a step back, break down the business and determine what they were doing well and what was not working or could be done better. Following from this they set some clear goals for the business and actions on what needed to be done to achieve these.

"WHK not only helped me being accountable but ensured we were staying on track by attending regular monthly meetings. They helped us realise the benefit of pursuing and concentrating our energies on the right opportunities and having a true focus."

John Rollston, Principal at WHK has been actively involved in the last 12 months as a business mentor and sounding board to assist in the above.

The outcome has been significant. With a major turn around in not only the company's return and profitability but overall direction.

"The true value has been in knowing what to concentrate on, and what not to waste our time and effort on. Also, being able to improve how we do things instead of just investing in more marketing campaigns and ignoring what really needed to be done made a big difference.

Other contributors to the success of this outcome was WHK's ability to match the right personalities with us. Being on the same wave length really helped with the overall process. So was having a prior agreement of what they were planning to do, which meant you knew what you were getting and there was no surprises at the end of the day."

When asked why Noel would recommend WHK to others the answer is simple: ‘It is value for money. Dealing with someone that already knows your business and doesn't have to learn the dynamics is always an advantage'.

One piece of advice they would like to share with other businesses is "to focus and do the things you are good at and get the experts to deal with the rest. If you are going to invest in advice make sure you act on it, it is only then that it becomes beneficial."

Cooper Webley

Cooper Webley is one of Nelson's longest established (1964) kitchen and joinery manufacturers specialising in creatively designed kitchens. Their designs are a combination of functionality and unique provocative style.

As well as kitchens, they also specialise in wardrobes, bathrooms and laundries, joinery, cabinets, cupboards and pantries, vanities, space savers, modular units and cabinet renovations of all types. They have also developed their own range of Acoustic Panels called "Hush Panels".

For more information visit www.cooperwebley.co.nz