Sarah Gibbs: Innovative approach gathers strength in these tough times

There's no ignoring it. Times are tough and likely to get worse before they improve. But at Trilogy we see this difficult economic climate as an opportunity for us, our business partners and New Zealand businesses to think outside the square, think smarter, be braver and do things differently.

That's why we've launched a campaign to R-PROOF (recession proof) offices throughout New Zealand and our other key markets Australia and the United Kingdom.

The campaign started internally. My business partner, Catherine de Groot, and I committed to not using the dreaded word 'recession' - the R-word - and our team at Trilogy embraced the idea. We all also resolved to think of new ways to conduct our business which is producing and selling natural skincare products. Our staff found this process so productive and fun that we decided to share our campaign with business partners in our key markets.

So we created an R-PROOF pack with some essential tools to inspire businesses to think positively and stand out from the crowd. The pack includes: top tips to R-PROOF your office; posters to motivate your team and personal computer wobblers to keep you on track. We've also suggested a penalty of $5 for those staff who slip up and say the R word - all proceeds to be spent on a staff treat!

So the campaign is fun, but it has some serious underlying messages which are: positive thinking breeds positive outcomes and now is not the time for retrenchment, it is the time for strategically thought-through, but not over-thought, action.

This thinking is reflected in many of our 'top tips' which include:

* We never mention the R word
* We ensure all glasses, coffee cups and water coolers are half full, not half empty
* We ban words such as 'downturn', 'discount' and 'cut back' and replace them with one word - opportunity
* We don't get ready, we get going
* We don't waste time and energy on emotions we spend it on solutions

New Zealand companies are well placed to take advantage of this kind of thinking. Many , like Trilogy, are small so we are nimble and can adapt our business practices to suit the times and the changing needs of our customers. Trilogy frequently introduces new products and new ways of communicating with customers as a direct result of feedback.

We also value the input of all our staff. I encourage Trilogy staff to share their ideas at weekly meetings and to take at least an hour a week of quiet thinking time away from their desk to think strategically about the company or particular Trilogy projects and products.

Since we launched the campaign in late March, more than 70 businesses throughout New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom have signed up. We have business partners ranging from department stores, health and pharmacy chains in New Zealand to Myer in Australia and Boots in the United Kingdom on board. And increasingly the campaign is capturing the imagination of a broad range of businesses throughout New Zealand that we haven't worked with, but which have heard about the campaign, like it and want to sign up.

* To R-PROOF your office contact hello@trilogyproducts.com. For information about Trilogy visit: www.trilogyproducts.com.

* Sarah Gibbs is co-founder and director of Trilogy advanced natural skincare.