Small Business: German connections

Thomas Wessling and Bjorn Ledwig, owners of Ecowindows.

This week, Small Business editor Caitlyn Sykes talks to business owners about German connections.

Raglan might seem an unlikely location from which a couple of Germans would choose to start a business together. But for Thomas Wessling and Bjorn Ledwig - the directors of window firm Ecowindows - it made perfect sense.

Ledwig has been based for almost 20 years in the coastal town, where he was running the local Raglan Joinery; he and Wessling first met while Wessling was in his former role as marketing manager of Ledwig's main hardware supplier in Germany.

"My family and I had travelled through New Zealand quite a lot, and my wife and I even got married in Christchurch in 2000, but we'd never been to Raglan before. We eventually came here in 2010, and once we saw it we fell in love with it," explains Wessling.

"Bjorn had been doing more traditional joinery, but we decided there was an opportunity for a business that focused on using a very energy efficient German system. I had access to the hardware through my former company and my network of other suppliers in Germany, and Bjorn brought his knowledge of making windows. That's how we joined together to start Ecowindows in 2011."

Monique Surges is CEO of the New Zealand German Business Association and says there are some common factors among German entrepreneurs who successfully set up businesses here.

"Generally they've been here on holiday - there are 78,000 German tourists coming here annually now - and while here they've realised New Zealand is more than just beautiful landscapes; they see some potential to explore a possible niche in the market," says Surges.

"They're generally experts in their particular field in Germany and and have global experience in that market, and they're taking that knowledge into a niche market here in New Zealand."

Isabel Pasch, who is originally from Berlin, is an owner of Bread and Butter Bakery and Cafe, which has wholesale operations as well as three retail bakeries and cafes in Ponsonby, Grey Lynn and Milford. After running her own small bakery in Auckland for a couple of years she joined forces with local business partners to set up Bread and Butter.

"I realised that if I wanted to expand I needed structures, systems and guidance. My business partners have a long background in hospitality and a deep understanding of the scene here, which I didn't have coming from overseas, so partnering with them has been essential for me to grow the business so quickly," she says.

"Unless you have enough money to spend a good amount of time understanding the local market before starting your business, then I'd recommend partnering with the right experts who can help you find and grow your market."

Coming up in Small Business: Winter is a time for lots of colds and other ills, and absences can have a big effect in small teams. What are some of the issues small business owners struggle with related to staff absenteeism, and what are some positive things they've done to keep people healthy at work? If you've got a story to share, drop me a note: nzhsmallbusiness@gmail.com