Longevity hallmark of well-run businesses

Russell Bell PHOTO/FILE

It was Martin Luther King Jnr who said: "Like many people, I would like to live a long life; longevity has its place." Indeed, longevity has its place when it comes to business as much as it does for us personally.

Longevity is as much a commentary of success as it is about the tenacity and drive of the owners of the business. Throughout my career, I have dealt with many businesses that have been around for a very long time. Coca-Cola and Goodman Fielder come readily to mind, and there are others more local. Indeed, those with local longevity are also important to consider.

On Tuesday night, I was privileged to be part of the 10-year celebrations of a local business, Paua.

Specialising in early childhood education, this business was the brainchild of Raewyn Overton-Stuart and her husband Tony Stuart. It was a spark of inspiration and vision hatched in humble circumstances, which is now a national service provider creating value in the market in segments as diverse as baby-sitting to printing.

In the case of Paua, achieving the 10-year milestone was no fluke because at the heart of everything they do is quality and value. This is supported by a foundation of outreach and Christian values, which has resonated through its ability to recruit high-quality teachers and touch parents and children. The result is a brand that is real, tangible and seen as a key market player.

Unlike some businesses which reach a milestone in decline or treading water, Paua is a business growing and increasing its footprint. This was evident in seeing the regions represented by staff attending Tuesday night's events. Paua have always performed ahead of the curve in these recessionary times, thanks in great respect to the vision of Raewyn and the prudent fiscal management of Tony. In leadership teams, balance is essential and I believe this is a key contributor to their success.

I expect that in 10 more years' time Paua will celebrate another milestone, but will need a bigger venue than Cooks Gardens Event Centre to stage the event. A few months back, I presented to their team on how to strategically manage growth and it was timely, as even in a few short months this business has employed more staff and expanded its reach.

It was also great to see other local businesses that have travelled with Paua along the journey. Success creates success - and even more so when you see the strong relationships that have developed and embedded over the years.

I have many special clients and Paua is right up there. What they have in common is leaders who manage change effectively but are also open to new approaches and want to be best at what they do. In many cases, we only see the success and not the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes in the ensuing years. Raewyn, Tony and the team have worked exceptionally hard to create their dream and Paua's strength and brand is now bearing fruit.

So congratulations to Raewyn, Tony and the team. This is a fantastic achievement and one we all should celebrate.

Russell Bell's Zenith Solutions is a specialist Wanganui business advice and consultancy practice - 021 244 2421.