Gut instinct stands boss in good stead

Hamish Whyte

Hawke's Bay Today is running a series of questions and answers from leading business people over the holiday period. Today's subject is school furniture and furnishing company Furnware CEO Hamish Whyte.

Where did it all start for you?

It all started for me when I was a trainee supermarket manager at Woolworths in Wellington - collecting trolleys in the carpark on a wet and windy Wellington day, because the boss had said "if there are no trolleys, no one will go shopping!"

I worked in every department of that supermarket to completely understand all aspects of managing the store - a great way to earn the respect of your colleagues, and I highly recommend it to everyone.

What is the best advice you ever received?

The best advice I have received and still live by is to "trust your gut feeling". If you feel you're not yet in a position to make a decision - then sleep on it.

What was a major breakthrough?

The Furnware business was built around a relationship with the Ministry of Education, and individual relationships with the principals of schools here in New Zealand. One of our major breakthroughs came when we realised the principal wasn't our customer. In reality, our true customers were the students. This revelation changed our whole way of thinking. We started spending a lot of time in classroom because that's where our products are used - it's a live, working test laboratory for us!

What goals have you for your business or yourself for 2016?

Furnware has a very ambitious strategy for 2016. We will completely transform ourselves on to a digital platform. We will go to our networks and strengthen our relationships using interactive technology. Our goal is to accelerate our global reach through these amazing relationships across 24 countries and beyond.

Ultimately we will bring our customers closer to us.

What needs to change in Hawke's Bay for better growth?

I feel that we need to build on our councils' commitment to collaboration and promote Hawke's Bay as an outstanding place to live, work and have fun. We need our entire region to be extremely proud of our successes and all we have to offer.