Taupo DeBretts Scoops Award
Klixo client, Taupo DeBretts Thermal Resort, have scooped up the inaugural 'Smart Business' awards at this years' HAPNZ conference.
The award, sponsored by Jasons Travel Network, recognises businesses finding innovative solutions to identified business challenges.
Entrants were asked to identify concerns, obstacles and opportunities within their business and outline what they had done to overcome these. Taupo DeBretts’ challenge was centered around re-branding and optimizing their marketing, using the internet.
Taupo DeBretts Thermal Resort Manager, Barry Kirkland, said they were proud to be recipients of what they considered a prestigious award.
“This award recognises the hard work from everyone in our team who are committed to leading the way in a worldwide market. We are a business known for setting examples in the industry and this award is further proof of that".
Mr. Kirkland said that by working with his own team of innovative partners, he was able to explore new ways instead of relying on the standard methods previously used.
"The way of the future is to use the growth of the Internet to specifically target our market. We call it 'doing business at the speed of thought'", Mr Kirkland said.
- Read about Klixo and Taupo DeBretts
- Visit www.taupodebretts.com
- Visit www.taupohotsprings.com
- Visit www.debrettsresort.co.nz
Klixo Triple-A Award Winners
Klixo were presented with the Triple-A award in the "Service Business" category at a ceremony in Whakatane on Saturday night. The Triple-A awards are organised and run by Whakatane's Economic Development Board and are presented for exceptional customer service.
We are delighted by the win as we are a small company in our third year of operation, yet we were competing with much larger companies than ours. We were also humbled to learn that one of our customers had nominated us for the award. Customer service is at the core of our business so this was a huge compliment to us.
At the ceremony Daniel thanked our customers who support us so much, and our staff who go the extra mile.
public address
The wireless hotspot at Ground Zero Cafe gets a mention in Russell Brown's Public Address blog.
Whakatane Goes Wireless
Media Release - Dated 28th of September 2005
A completely free internet service for Whakatane café goers is now available at Ground Zero.
Whakatane business Ground Zero Café today launched a “wireless hotspot” in their popular main street café so that customers can enjoy fast internet access with their coffee. A wireless hotspot allows owners of laptop computers (with wireless capability) to surf the net and check their email while they are in the café.
While wireless hotspots in cafes are nothing new, what makes the Ground Zero Café Wireless Hotspot unique is that the service is completely free to customers; other café hotspots require customers to pay a fee for accessing the internet.
Café owners Rachel, Joel and Ian Byrne established the hotspot to add value to their already popular café service. “Our café has always been popular with business people and we thought that having wireless in the cafe would add value to our existing service. We were hesitant initially to invest in the new technology as we are completely un-internet savvy, but we hope that the hotspot will prove itself as an exciting new dimension for the cafe. The cost of setting up and operating the hotspot is less than most advertising campaigns, and we believe that our customers will enjoy being able to use the net in the café.” - Rachel Byrne.
The hotspot is a joint venture between the café and Whakatane based web site management company Klixo Limited. The manager of Klixo, Daniel Larsen, believes that the free public hotspot is the first of its kind in New Zealand. “All of the hotspot operators that we know of are currently charging for their services. I haven’t been able to find any other free public hotspots in New Zealand.”
He says that the economic value of providing a free service can be difficult to understand. “The economic thinking behind a free wireless hotspot is that the real profit from the hotspot comes from attracting new customers and having them return to the business regularly. In the long term this is more valuable to the business than any revenue that could be generated from directly charging for the service.”
“The complementary services of coffee and internet attract a professional clientele that is valuable to the operators of the café; professional clients drink more lattes and eat more lunches, often bringing clients with them.”
Total Health Centre Manager Nigel Wilson agrees. “To be able to sit in my favourite café, with all of the comforts that it provides, and great coffee of course, and to be able to surf the net and keep in touch with the office via email is amazing. It’s a no-brainer as to why I continue to come back to Ground Zero again and again.”
Daniel Larsen says the hotspot will hopefully be the first of many for Whakatane. “Ground Zero is a trial for this model and if it is successful then I hope to get the support of other local businesses to eventually roll free wireless out to the entire high street. I believe that this will put Whakatane on the map as a destination for young internet savvy professionals.”
More comments and information:
For Ground Zero Café: Rachel Byrne – 027 501 1876
For Klixo Limited: Daniel Larsen – 07 307-2660
A Young Internet Savvy Professional:
Nigel Wilson, Total Health Centre - 07 308-8267
Ground Zero Café
The Strand, Whakatane
More about the Free Public Hotspots philosophy:
http://www.publicip.net/about/phree.php
