Why is it that so many celebrities claim to have been ugly teenagers? For some of us, those ugly teenage years are as good as it gets and it’s the same for many New Zealand businesses. It’s sad to see so many struggling in that ugly duckling stage despite being innovative, working excruciatingly hard and doing the best job.

What is it that holds them back from becoming business superstars?  We think it’s got a lot to do with Scrooge McKiwi syndrome.  Scrooge McKiwi is our pet name for those time stealing customers who’re so intently focused on saving every little cent that they fail to see the hidden costs of cost cutting.  You know the ones – they drive your prices down so low that you end up working for less than minumum wage or making a loss. What these penny pinchers aren’t smart enough to realise is that: (more…)