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Is Business Excellence Possible in Regional New Zealand?

Outside of the three main New Zealand city centres of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, is it possible to achieve business excellence and compete professionally at a national or international level?

This seems to be a question that is sitting on the mind of many New Zealanders as the cost of living increases and traffic issues grip our major New Zealand cities. Business success in regional New Zealand is possible and we believe Woods Agency is a great example of a business with vision, insight, forward planning and grit.

“We wanted to produce world class work with work-life balance. The desire was to create our own future and that of the region for our children’s future”. Melissa Woods

Earlier this year Reuben Woods co-founder of Woods Agency was approached by the Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ) to judge at Australasia’s largest annual showcase of design excellence, the Best Design Awards in Auckland, New Zealand. Reuben was the only graphics judge from regional New Zealand, judging alongside leading design experts from the larger cities of New Zealand and Australia.

The awards, organised by Designers Institute of New Zealand span a broad set of disciplines including graphic, interactive, moving image, spatial and product design. Reuben previously served on the board of the Designers Institute of New Zealand from 2008-2010. WOODS Agency founded 14 years ago in coastal Tauranga is now the most awarded and recognised independent regional brand agency in New Zealand.

The selection of Reuben to judge at the prestigious awards is part of an evolution of years of hard work and the recognition that there are a growing number of leading business professionals choosing to operate world-class companies away from the main city centres, especially in the Bay of Plenty.

Part of the reason Reuben and co-founder-wife Melissa chose to set up in the Bay of Plenty back in 2004 was the desire to create their own future. After working internationally and living in various cities they prioritised the importance of producing world-class work with work-life balance. After analysing the coastline of New Zealand and the towns associated, they chose Mount Maunganui on the east coast of the North Island.

“Economic confidence in the Bay of Plenty is above the national average for New Zealand and in 2017, the GDP increased by 9.0 percent, the highest of all the regional economies”. 1

This is reflective of the growth WOODS Agency is experiencing year on year and their expanding team of 15 operating out of their Mount Maunganui studio. Surprisingly Woods Agency was the largest New Zealand company judging the graphics category at the awards, second to Co-Partnership from Sydney, Australia.

“Woods Agency is experiencing year on year growth and is strategically positioned within the golden triangle of Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland”. Reuben Woods

Companies within the region enjoy direct access to Australasia’s largest and most efficient port, extensive rail and transport networks and a variety of business development initiatives. Woods work across a wide variety of business sectors in a growing number of national and global export markets. They are passionate about making regional design-led businesses world famous through strategy, creative and design.

“The total contribution of design to the New Zealand economy was approximately $10.1 billion in the year to March 2016, which equated to 4.2 percent of the GDP”. 2

These figures explain the growth Woods Agency is experiencing and why they are in demand, they take businesses out of the woods and into the world. If you would like to learn more about operating a business in regional New Zealand, partnering with Woods Agency or just want to chat over tea/coffee/kombucha contact Reuben or phone +647 575 5588

Learn more about the WOODS Agency team, Reuben and Melissa or visit www.woodsagency.nz and the company culture.

    Best Awards winners will be announced on Monday, August 6th and the Best Design Awards Ceremony will be held in Auckland, New Zealand at the Viaduct Events Centre on Saturday, 22nd September 2018. Visit www.bestawards.co.nz for more information on the awards and winners.

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