February 16, 2025 • 31 mins
They're two Wellington business behemoths; one delivering food, the other offering sexual wellness products.
But now unlikely partners Delivereasy and Adult Toy Megastore have joined forces to deliver sex toys to Wellington customers in under an hour - a campaign to promote both businesses.
Delivereasy co-founder Tim Robinson and Adult Toy Megastore owner-operator Nicola Relph, both proud Wellingtonians, joined Nick Mills to discuss their partnership, how to take on massive multinationals, and how the economic slump has affected their businesses.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Sed b.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Mondays Mean Business. It's the business panel on Wellington Mornings
with Quidovic Property Management, a better rental experience for all.
Visit Quinovic dot co dot ins head.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Let's get done, let's get downs you monnight mon characters.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Joining us for the business panel this week is Delivery Easy.
Deliver Easy co founder Tim Robinson. I should get your
name right, Tim, shouldn't?
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I know?
Speaker 5 (00:41):
Well?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I mean I think it's a fantastic organization and I've
had some dealings with you guys, and you're an amazing
Wellington company.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
And adult Tory Megastorg owner operator Nikola Ralph Morning Nicholas.
How are you?
Speaker 5 (00:54):
I'm great?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
How can you be great?
Speaker 5 (00:57):
It's the weather in Wellington the last seven days has
made me.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Great, it has it has. I mean I watched before
I went to bed last night. I looked out the
window and saw the sky and I just looked around
on it. Oh my god, how good.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
The lack of wind amazing.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah. I wanted a bit of wind last night because
it was so damn hot trying to get to sleep,
so I was waiting for a little bit of wind
to keep me, to keep me cold, but it never happened.
How did you guys sleep last night?
Speaker 5 (01:23):
Like a baby?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
It was my daughter's first night in a bed, so
not that well no, but I mean the heat, the
heat was terrible as well.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I want to just briefly talk about the partnership that
you guys have sort of entered into this arrangement. Partnership. Now,
when I first read it, I thought to myself, this
is pretty cool. Isn't it be able to ring up
order a whole lot of things from a mega adult
shop and get them delivered within an hour? I mean
(01:53):
there must be some people saying some really weird things
to you. Come on, tell me what tim you got
told when you first when people's you started talking about saying, oh,
we're going to deliver, well, I want to say sex
toys bat sounds right, doesn't it?
Speaker 5 (02:07):
Sexual wellness products toys?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Well, I mean when the pitch first came across, so
we got a pitch for it from Jewels in the
next team, and you get a lot of code air
pictures across the years, but this one sort of definitely
stuck out.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Page two.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
They had a fantastic billboard mocked up with hungary or horny.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
We've got your covered. You see that.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
It sort of pricksy ears pretty quickly. So yeah, we
thought there'd be something just you know, interesting to do.
And I think sexual wellness has probably got a bit
of taboo that maybe it shouldn't have, so we're caing
to get into the space and.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, you reckon it's still there? Do you reckon that
that taboo is still there? I think that we've gone
past that, haven't. We'll come to you in a minute,
because I know you're going to say everything's about positivity
with you, so you'll say it. But I mean, as
as a bloke.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I think that's we've got in the right direction. It's
probably still got a lot of way to go, but yeah,
I think it was. We liked it because we think it's, what,
you know, a great thing to be doing, a cool
partnership with a cool Wellington business. So it made a
lot of sense and anything where you can do to
kind of push it along term is actually we think
win win.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Now, Nikola, you your business is well established, your well respected.
You're probably one of the biggest adult stores in Australasia
and delivering is your product. You don't go knock on
your door and wander a round. I'll have one of
those and one of those or two of those. So
what who came up with this idea and what made
you do it?
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Well, we know that delivery is important for people. Accessibility
to these products is really important, and we were one
of the first adopters of the Express Evening services. So
currently you can order today and receive tonight, which is
a pretty good offering.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Through the deal that was through New Zealand Post Okay.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
And we knew that people were taking up that service,
so we were like, okay, what extension can we do
from there? How quickly could we actually get it in
the consumer's hands. So that's when we were like, okay,
the only thing we can do next is partner with
a direct two door fast service and deliver easy. Being
willing to based was absolutely no brainer for us.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So I'm going to get to the bottom of this
so in the nicest possible way. So if I had
a date or I've had some plans, Yes, I'm getting
a bit awkward here. Have I had some plans tonight
and I think I might need a little bit of help,
but I want to be sort of a little bit different.
Could I go online? Yes, order some something from your
(04:32):
some assistance.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Yes. So deliver Easy has arrange there's just under one
hundred products.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Oh so it's only it's limited.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
Yeah, and we have made bespoke packs, so you could
get a.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Come on, tell me make me less like.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
A date night pack. Okay, Right, so you have someone
special coming over tonight and you're like, actually, I want
to make this amazing. You can then jump onto deliver Easy,
order a date Night pack and get it delivered to
your home between nine am and eleven thirty or midnight
in thirty to forty minutes.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Can I ask what's in that pack?
Speaker 5 (05:04):
Absolutely? So. Packs are slightly different, and so say a
date night pack might have a little vibrator for her,
a ring for him. It might have massage oil, might
have a little tickler in it, those sorts of things.
So it's around romance and it's around sexual wellness and
making it fun.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
And how much more expensive is it for me to
buy that if I want to get it in an hour?
Speaker 5 (05:28):
Not very so. The good news is we've got the
spoke packs that you can't actually buy elsewhere on Delivery Easy,
and the pricing we've matched. So the good thing is
there's a little bit of cost in delivering it, just
like there is normally, But in terms of the pricing,
it's awesome. The pricing's great.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
When I saw the promo for it, you said, of this,
if your next door neighbor's got a Delivery Easy and
it's vibrating around, don't get too worried. Tell me you
haven't had that problem. Have you haven't been dropping stuff
off to people's.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Good mate, I've got some good technology that make sure
that your order goes to the right house. So we
TVs tracks are drivers can not get to the wrong house,
which is yeah, pretty important in the space like this.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
And discretion is also really important. So these bags are
all closed off. The driver doesn't actually know the contents
that they're picking up either. So I know when you
when you buy a curry, the driver will know it's
you know, well.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
He knows that's something from that from an adult shop,
though doesn't he doesn't know he's not picking up a
curry from your adult shop.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Well.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
The thing is, at the moment, we're using different supply areas.
So for example, they don't come to our warehouse to
pick up the goods. Okay, so it's really discreete and
customer feedback so far has been extremely positive.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Can I ask you, Tim, I'll start with you. How many?
How many? Is it is it working? Is it is it?
Is it more than a novelty thing?
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Like I was definitely when the idea came up. I
thought this wild either be a family or a feast.
But it's actually taken off really well, Like it's been
orders from from the get go, picking up, they're ramping
up and yeah, I've been surprised, like pleasantly by what's
sort of going on.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
I wonder if you actually have to get a curry
and a vibrator for dinner.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
You could mate, that's a spicy combination.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Oh my gosh. You know what they say about sex
and food?
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Go on?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Can I say this, the two things they say about
sex and food? Once you had them, you don't want
them think about that. I want to ask you both,
and I'm going to start with you Nikola on this one.
Both delivery easy in our adult toy megastore are locally
owned companies with hugely successful but also got competition against
(07:32):
the rest of the world. I mean, you know, we
know about uber Eats and we know all that, and
we know about your competition's Nicola. How do you compete.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Yeah, we definitely have some big international players trying to
nestle into the New Zealand market at the moment. But
I believe that you know, kiwis like to buy off
Kiwi companies. I think that's very valid. But I think
those Keywi companies have to be proving themselves all the
time that they deserve that person's purchase. So about being
innovative and being customer focused and making sure that you're
(08:04):
always trying to drive ours people to know, actually, these
key We businesses are better than the competition. They can
get it to you quicker, They're employing local people, the
money staying in the country, all of those things are vital.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Is it hard to get into your industry? One of
my daughters is trying to set up a similar sort
of thing, very small time out of bottom of the
South Island. She said, it's incredibly difficult to get people
to do business with it. Is it difficult as an industry?
Speaker 5 (08:35):
In the sexual one industry? It has been, or we've
been in this industry for fifteen years and right back
fifteen years ago, it was hard to get a bank account.
We couldn't get a lay by or after pay partner,
even collabs. You know, doing a co lab now is
completely different to try and find a co lab partner
fifteen years ago.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I want to talk about the banking thing as we
go on to it on about it, because I think
that's quite interesting because we've seen stories where they've stopped,
you know, stopped adult stores having bank accounts still now,
which is very odd, very odd. Back to onto you
tim of this, I mean, how do you compete? You're
competing with billion dollar companies. I mean, let's be real,
billion dollar advertising we've just seen is it share with
(09:17):
their latest ad? I mean, you know, how the hell
does a couple of blokes from wanting to compete with that?
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Yeah, they're not small, but it's this is a great challenge,
to be honest, and it's quite a it's a cool
to us to take on. So yeah, like they are
obviously massive, the huge American I mean, you know, Uber
is a dominant business and in the world, so like
it's it's cool to take them on. And I guess
we kind of identified earlier that when you going inst
someone like that, it's important to kind of pick a
(09:44):
position to play the foill to them. So like we're
not going to always win head on. We need to
pick an area that we're going to really carve out
and dominate.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
And so what was that area for you guys?
Speaker 4 (09:54):
For us, it was.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Focusing on service. So they're very automated. It's all an algorithm.
There's not people involved in the process. Things go wrong.
They don't look after their partners the way we do.
They don't look after their drivers the way we do.
So we identified it early that output of difference. We
focused on the human side of it, making sure the
service is great and then sort of let the rest
take care of itself. And it's been really successful, Like
(10:16):
we get a lot of support from customers, which we love.
Restaurant partners are really great towards us.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Can I ask you about the restaurant partners because obviously
it's a market that I'm in. It's pretty tough for
the restaurants with uberrites. I mean, let's be perfectly honest
about it. Everybody says you've got to have it and
it's got to be part of it, but you know,
we work of a profit rate of thirty percent.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
And thirty percent, right, it's not a great equation, no, Yeah,
so we pitch different commercials. So we pitch like you
know a much our great fucking exclusive part of them
wants to do business was just us. That's more down
around twenty. So it's like we think that helps them
look after us. We look after them, and we're kind
of trying to grow businesses together, Like we're not there
(10:57):
to take every pen out of restaurant's pockets. We'd rather
work with them and look after them. And especially lately
like it's been a tough time in hospital, I think
it's important that we know that Over's approach isn't the
only approach in the industry.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
What difference and Nicola, I'll come to you on this,
what difference is it in dealing with an international company
and a New Zealand company. I mean, the end of
the day, it might take a couple of days longer,
but why would people actually say, well, I actually want
to stick with Kiwi.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
I think, going on from your point, Tim, it's the
people behind the brand. I think of especially e comm businesses,
often you don't know who is behind that store, who
are the people that run it? What are they like?
Will they respond to me? So kind of allowing your
consumer to get inside your business a little bit through
social media or kind of behind the scenes fronting things,
(11:50):
being a person in the business is really important because
a lot of those other businesses, you wouldn't have a
clue who you were dealing with or which country you
were contacting when you were doing a customer service inquiry,
for example.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
But do people really care about that?
Speaker 4 (12:05):
I think I st to think about this earlier.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
I think you can't just coast a home being local, like,
you have to be real class. But if you are
will class and local, and that's a really powerful combination.
So if you're a customer with us, like interesting fact
that we paid more income text than Uber did in
New Zend last year. So if you try to look
after your own economy and look after your own backyard,
like buying local does make sense. And I think again,
(12:28):
as a business, you can't just rest on being local
because that's not enough for reason its own.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
You need to be real class.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
But I think it's a really nice cheering on top
and the zeal And people are really supportive.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Tell me one thing that you do that Uber doesn't do.
And one thing that I would notice if I rang
you than if I rang Uber would be different.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Straight away, you can only call us. You can't call Uber.
So you can call us, you'll get someone.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
I mean contact us on yah yeah old age here.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
But we literally have live staff all the time.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
So if you have a problem with your order, something
goes wrong, you can call us and talk to person
straight away. The whole time is under twenty seconds and
you're talking to a real person based just up the
road from here. So's yeah, there's a lot nice and
sending an email and not hearing back, and you employ
your own stuff one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
So yeah, I'm trying to get my head around how
you can make it work, you know, against a big boy. Yeah.
I mean, you know that's pretty impressive for both of you, really,
I mean to be able to say we can tackle
you know, these multimillion dollar ad campaigns and share and.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
It's the hunger. It's like you know, I would imagine
from you, Tom, it's like it's you're so invested in
this game you can't not make it work. You just
have to keep doing everything you can to ensure that
it's a success and it's the best it can be.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Can I ask you both and individually to what do
you do to advertise that competes with those big boys?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
So, I mean we're specific and how we pack different channels,
so we always trying to make sure we're doing things
in a different way to those guys. So like our
creative we've got a fantastic creativators and colenso that have
been really good at that challenge, which is we're not
going to outspend these guys head to head. How can
we position ourselves in a way that's so compelling that
I meet spin goes further.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
So for the big boys, the big boys in the market,
so you know that must you must be spending some
decent coin for them to have them involved.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
Yeah, like we we chip away mate.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I think Neilson's last data came out and like head
here marketing spend, they were probably about twelve times twelve
dollars every dollar week spiends. So like it's a it's
a huge challenge and you kind of have to make sure,
like I say, that you've got a great crowd and
a great business behind it that you can work with.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
That Nikola you with your advertising, how do you get
your word out there and getting to the right people
the right way.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
Yeah, it's a little challenging in our industry because there
is a lot of sort of hurdles to overcome when
it comes to advertising sexual wellness.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
You still get that, yes, yep. So you can't bring
up a radio station sale. I want to advertise an
adult megastore.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
And the key is when those ads can play and
what they contain is really important for us. It's about
kind of going what can we provide consumers over and
above the sales experience. So we have our own YouTube channel,
for example, with a whole lot of YouTube videos that
are created by our own in house six educator. We
(15:11):
also have a podcast and that allows us to kind
of get our messages out to people in different ways
than sort of standard advertising. We also have a massive
article bank on our website, so we have over a
thousand articles that have been written on every topic you
could imagine.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
I was wondering that because that's almost the help that
they need more, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
Absolutely? Education is hugely.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Important social media. You are you big on social.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yeah, that's always been a good special when we start
it's a great channel for us. Yeah, and it's probably
harder in the next space to advertise on social media,
is it.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Do you do social Yeah?
Speaker 5 (15:44):
It also has restrictions, so yes. So for us, it's
about kind of working with other partners like we are
with Delivery Easy, using their channel and their target markets
to get a collaborative message across. And you know, it's
not as easy as just throwing money at sponsored ads
for example.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Right, gosh, how interesting. Let's talk invest The government has
introduced golden visas for foreign investors coming to New Zealand
with more than five million dollars to invest in local
companies two different areas five or ten million dollars. Nicola,
do you think that we actually need this to happen it?
Do you reckon it's going to make any different When
you first heard that, what did you think?
Speaker 5 (16:23):
Well? I think New Zealanders are known for their entrepreneurial spirit.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Right.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
We have a great range of people doing awesome things
in the country. And for me, it's about making sure
that starting up a new business is tough. Everyone always
looks for capital. If we can't get it locally, then
getting it offshore and bringing it in to me seems
like a great solution to ensure that those businesses then
(16:48):
stay in the country, Because if you've got a great
idea and you want to grow your business but you
can't fund it, you'll go somewhere that you can get
the support. And I'd rather stay here.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Now, Tim, you would have needed some money to get
your business going and stuff? Would you look at a foreigner,
a complete stranger, A complete wouldn't have a clue. You
might done a couple of meetings and a couple of
zooms if they wanted to put five million dollars into
your business, what would you think?
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Well, jeez, mate, when we started were at seven hundred
bucks each would have taken anything. But I guess, like
from where we've come from, like funding, I think it's
probably the journey for a lot of Jim businesses, Like
we've never truthfully had access to it.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
I think after a year we raise the money from
friends and family.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
But I think he really struggles truthfully with like capital
at the lower levels of business, like Nick alluded.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Too, Like it's it's available there for bigger businesses.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Is a level way about anything, correct, mate, And it's
like how do you get there? And if we want
an economy growing. We need the exports we had to find.
The next zero was as a typical example.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
But you talk about the X zero because we're all
in the same boat, right, I mean, you know, obviously
you guys have got bigger now. But when you start
off and you go to these people, you go to
your banks and they say, what, let me look at
your house. Really, they don't care about anything else. They
look for your house, and then the next level they
want to lend you ten million when you only need
one million.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Actually made it's it's a funny clungeon where you want cash,
it's never there when you don't need it, it floods in.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
And I remember my father telling me exactly the same thing.
The only time you don't need your bank is when
you the bank wants to know about your is when
you don't need them, Absolutely, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (18:20):
So?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Where do we go so wrong in New Zealand? Why
can't we borrow money in New Zealand to get businesses going?
Speaker 5 (18:27):
I think there needs to be. It needs to be
more accessible for people because where do you go, where
do you find those people? Where do you find the
next shark tank to be helped to go? Hey, I'd
love support, capital, mentorship, all of those things that are
reasonably difficult to get hold of. And especially when you're
a young business, you're just treating water right. You're trying
(18:47):
to get the income in the door to grow your business.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
And you know, if you had another ten grand in
the bank, you could do this or this or that.
And where do you get that ten grand? How's your
house looking?
Speaker 5 (18:56):
Yeah? Or friends and family you probably hit them.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
Up exactly mate.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Yeah, Like for us, that's exactly the problem you have
as you go demly have a house at the time,
so you go to call up up cry and go cracky.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Mum, I can't do my wages on can you help
me business?
Speaker 5 (19:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (19:11):
And that's what you're kind of. You're almost relying on
charity in New Zanders. It's hard to get there.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
So will this new plan will that make any difference
to you guys? Will it actually? Tim? Would you would
you think that actually?
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Are?
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Well? We can go, Megan, Now we'll get one of
these ten you know, we'll get this guy from America
or Asia that's got ten million dollars that will invest
in million dollars into us. Job over will give them
thirty percent of the business the way we go.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
Nah, like we don't.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
I won't help us personally at all. Like I still
think it's great, Like investment in the economy anywhere is
good for our stage and the journey. Like we've got
we needs, we're doing well. We don't need to be
taken on money.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
So it's see you're lucky. Well both are you lucky?
Both of you have done very well? Which is great?
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
I mean if someone came to you, Nicola and said, well,
I want to come and live in New Zealand, I've
got all this money and if I invest in you,
can I take you to the next level? Can I
take you to the world bigger than you are? Would
you look at it?
Speaker 5 (20:00):
Definitely look at it. I think always those conversations are
good to have because obviously you've got your strategy. You
know what you want whether you do that strategy in
five years or two years, but.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
You have to give away some of your business.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
You do, and I think that's part of growth and
a lot of businesses do that to grow. So yeah,
I think it would be one of those conversations to
be had and then decide whether it's right for you
or not.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You're not you're shaking your head.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Oh no, I was more reflecting on maybe sometimes you
look at money and it can people listing or a curse,
like no money comes without strings, and so like in
the early days were obviously love to we've had money
and didn't have it. But probably one of the greatest
benefits we've had in that is now we have a
lot of control over our own business, which lets us
move fast and do things that we probably couldn't do.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
If we'd sold down a lot of the business early on.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Wow, So that investment. You don't want investment, You just
want to do your way. You're slowly but surely.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Kind of Yeah, these days it's like I'd rather control
my own destiny and like it's a harder road at
the start. But yeah, and we didn't have the choice.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
Mate.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Again, no one thought we were a great investment back
in the day.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
So, well, you're going up against the big boys. I mean,
no one's exactly seriously, both of you. That's why I
love love having a chat to you, because both you're
going against the big boys in the world. You know,
they've got all the money and the power, and you've
got to come in behind and went through economy is
still in a tough spot and people are not going
out as much as they used to. Tim hows is
impacting your business. I suppose this is golden for you
(21:21):
because everyone's sitting back and ordering and not going out.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Yeah, as a sort of a mixed bag. So we've
probably been blessed to be in quite a fast growing industry.
So like we don't feel as much the sort of
macroeconomic trends as much. But I guess where we do
really feel it. I guess you know, I have a
lot of sympathy for it as we do a lot
of work with HOSPO and yeah.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
That's a fever.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Who get they having a really hard time, So it's yeah,
for us, it's been I guess the challenge has been
how to support them in those times because it's not
been easy.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
And Nicola, it's the same for you. The more people
stay at home, the more they need your product, they
need help.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
Well, you know that's what heavened over. COVID right has
exploded because people were at home.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Getting bored with each other and needed some help.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Absolutely, But I'm in the same kind of area of
Tim in terms of the industry is growing. People are
talking about sexual wellness now more than ever before. So
the industry is growing once again. You know, even if
the economy is tight and is not doing quite so
well as it was. The good news is for us
is that the whole industry is growing well.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
I mean, really, if you sat down and you said
to myself, yourself, because I've read lots of articles about
how gyms are doing very well, gym's are you know,
everyone wants to wants to go to the gym and
stay healthy and get well. But when you think about it,
two businesses that would do it the harder things got
the two businesses would do better, were you guys? Firstly,
you know, everything you buy for you you use at home.
(22:44):
You're not you know, putting an underneath your car seat
and using on your way home, are you? So that's
sort of something you put and then and say with
you till you know, if you need a meal and
you don't want to go out, you don't want to park,
and don't have a problem, you just order it in.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Yeah, I think it's as funny because yeah, it's a
place where it's hard to know what's going underneath it
all right, Like we're probably not exposed in the same way.
So yeah, like I said, we feel it through partners
and we feel it through the wider job market.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
But that's kind of yeah. Maybe been a bit lucky
to be in a different space.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
You've been very lucky. Tell me what your thoughts are
on the Golden Mile. I want to talk about the
Golden Mile, Nicholas. Start with you. You have an office in town.
You have an office out of COI Photopa, Grenada, so
I knew you had an office out of town. So
tell me what your thoughts are when you hear that
the Golden Mile's about to start, and it's going to
start on the corner of Kent and Cambridge Terrace and
Courtney Place. What as a Wellington business woman, a successful
(23:38):
Wellington business woman, do you think it's the right move?
Speaker 5 (23:42):
Yeah, it's a difficult one. I mean, I've been Wellingtonian
all my life, lived here and I remember sort of
Courtney Place back in the late nineties, early two thousands
absolutely pumping heaps of people. You know, the nightlife was
awesome and I would love to see Courtney Place back
like that. I think that is really Do you think
this is the right move for it? It's a tricky
(24:03):
one because I love the idea of like Alfrisco dining
and having the restaurants kind of sprawling out on the street.
But you know, Wellington comes with it's a whole lot
of interesting things, you know, whether it is not the
best in the city. You've got wind, you've got rain,
there's there's lots of things that kind of hamper that.
But the idea is good.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Yeah, So I don't think, well, I think we all
agree that the idea is good, but it's probably the
timing probably couldn't have been worse. We've just had four
hard years again, to what are your.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
Thoughts kind of the same.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
I think like everyone's going to agree with like revitalising
the place is fantastic, and maybe it's just how they
go about it and the timing to your point as well,
Like I think, you know, there's obviously a lot of
vocal business owners that are against it, and like I
really hope they get heard, Like if it wasn't the
best interest, that obviously support it. So the fact they're
all screaming out.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
I think they all Maybe my view on it from
being one of them is I think they all want
it and need it, but we've just had four years
where we've been hit over the head with a baseball
bet in the front and the back and the sideways.
Please don't do it again.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Yeah, I think that's it made us like doing in
a way that you know, parkingsvius a big thing too.
People have to get to like if you can support
the parking and make sure people can still get there, fantastic.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
We've talked this morning also about the rates. Your rates.
It's just horrific. I mean, I mean, is there another
way of describing it. I mean, I mean, you guys
must have parents, so trying to retire and trying to
live life and thinking how the hell can I live
with my rates bill the way it is. What advice
would you give to those people right now? Nikola?
Speaker 5 (25:33):
It's definitely difficult. I mean, if you know, I think
the rates every rates bill's gone up over twenty percent
in Wellington and so those things are just direct costs
on businesses, households. Then you've got high interest rates. People
are squealing in terms of hey, actually everywhere they're looking
there's just increased costs, which doesn't help anyone.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Tom, come on, well, it's kind of I don't know
what advice I give anyone I'm not I'm no good
with it. I think, yeah, it kind of harms back
to your point about time, and like, I think it'd
be great to see you can't out looking at the
time of these things and going there's so much cost
increase at the moment. Is this the right time to
expensive projects or can we focus on I.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Mean, if you were mayor for a day, you're a
young guy, successful business, you're you know, you're a doer,
what would you do?
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Don't do this to me. I don't think i'd make
a very good meal at all.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Well, I think you'd make a great meal. Both of
you'd make great meres.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
I mean, yeah, my personal view is, given the way
the economy siding, like, it's a good time just to
you know, be careful to spending and make sure it
like get costs under control, because as much as people
appreciate great projects, cost living is probably the biggest in
my mind, the biggest problem at the moment, and maybe
that should be forefront.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Also last week, via Finance Minister, Nicola Willis came out
swinging you say there needs saying there needs to be
a third player in the supermarket duopoly of will wear
some food stuff Nicola. How badly is this needed? Is
it needed? Could you see can you see a gap
in the market.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
Competition's great regardless of which industry you're in, So absolutely,
I think more competition in the supply of food in
this country would be a no brainer. How that's done,
I'm not quite sure, but I think more competition would
increase innovation within those businesses, and I think it surely
has got to be better on the cost also probably
(27:18):
on the growers and the suppliers into those stores. You know,
it would probably increase the food quality, decrease the price,
make people really be more consumer focused to get you know,
the foot traffic into their story as opposed to somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Tim, how do you think this would work? How do
we how do we get it? And do you actually
do deliveries for supermarkets?
Speaker 3 (27:37):
We do, Yeah, We've got a collaboration for rereess stories
at the moment, like we do do some other delivers
in the grocery space, So like we're doing familiar with it.
I guess groceries like every other industry, I think, like
every in the world, like in every industry, competition like
next is really healthy.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
Like how you achieve it.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
It's a great problem in New Zealand because it's a
not the world's biggest market, so you know, finding people
to invest is not an easy task. So again I don't,
I don't. I'm beat, I'm not the Prime Minister. I
don't know how to solve it.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
I reckon the warehouse is the one I reckon. That's
plane as your noses on your face of the warehouse
could do something. They've got the sights all over the country.
They're not doing that well in their present form, so
put it in a super much small supermarket in each
one of those. I don't know your thoughts on it.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
They've got a great footprint for sure.
Speaker 5 (28:19):
Yeah, yeah, and I think they've started.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
They tried to, Yeah, they've tried. They turned down Steven
Tindall's idea. That was his idea, right, they turned it down.
Their shoulders turned it down. So okay, Nikola, I'm going
to start with you. Someone very special you haven't seen
for a long time. Old school friend that hasn't been
back to Wellington for ten or twelve years, been living
in Europe. Arrives at eleven o'clock on a Wednesday. You're
picking her up she's coming all herme up. You're going
(28:43):
to take them out, You're going to show them. They're
going to stay at your house. What are you going
to do?
Speaker 5 (28:46):
I think i'd be headed to them mar Puya Walkway.
There's a beautiful walkway that kind of goes from one
side of my puey to the other. Views from there
are spectacular. You can see all the way from the
airport right through to start of lower Hut and on
a good day you just can't beat it. Some beats
down there.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
It's it's really a bit jet leg. They've been coming
from Europe. They are a bit tired. You really got
to take the one that longel What else are you
gonna do with it?
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Probably a nice cafe and then would probably end up
somewhere either Charlie Nobles or Noble Rot for dinner.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Wow, that would be very nice. Thank you. That would
be a very nice experience from them. Okay, Tim, what
are you going to do?
Speaker 4 (29:22):
I'm probably not quite as fit as Nerd, so I'm
not going for a walk. Well, I probably do.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Most most socialized will be down the little Hingeheading gym
and the Merrimat would be Double Vision's little brew House. Yep,
I tucked away next to the workshop. Yes, you have
a few pints off. I've overseas the workshops down the road.
So it's quite a nice combination.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Very nice combination. What else would you do with that?
But yet you get you stay there and get mothered
and go home after that?
Speaker 4 (29:44):
Well, I don't know here.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
When I start there, I don't often finish.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
I think then you look like a brewer. For those
who can't see, you'll see a photo because Will be fat. No,
he does look like a brewer, doesn't he? And no,
wonder you want to go to Double Vision. You look
like you've probably honed the bloody place, you know. But anyway, Karen,
what are you doing after you've been the Double Vision? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Other hidden jims and weally you actually love as more
more of itness one but like thawed them pools a
bit of a hidden gym, So that's really cold.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
Nah, hated used to work there at UNI and never
heard of it.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
And it's actually like the most beautiful pool, really quiet,
so probably some of the regulars anger I'm talking about it,
but it's a yeah, that's a great gym.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Right, One piece of advice from both of you, come
on young entrepreneurs are listening to the show. One sentence,
one piece of advice, starting with you, Nick, Gosh, you.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
Put me on the spot. Probably if it's to be,
it's up to me. Just go hard, do it whatever
you're thinking about. Just actually make an action you get.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I was gonna say, just go and do it like it.
Just don't overthink it. Just give it a crack and
see where your land.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Do you really want to take risks in these days?
Speaker 4 (30:52):
Personally?
Speaker 5 (30:53):
Yeah, you've got to otherwise you'll stay still great.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Thank you both so much. Yeah. I always say Nike
got it wrong when they said just do it. They've
forgot another word now because there's no putting off. People
come to me all the time and say, oh I'm
going to go into business, I'm going to do this.
I just need to wait for that. There's never that
wait for that day.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
None and everyone always has that. I had that idea
three years ago. It's like, well, cranky mate, you should
have going and done it.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Do it now and take the risk. Who gives it?
Damn you go bus to go bust.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Totally absolutely there you go.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Thank you both very very much. Tim Robinson and Nicola
Ralph enjoyed the business panel very much.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Sed b.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Mondays Mean Business. It's the business panel on Wellington Mornings
with Quidovic Property Management, a better rental experience for all.
Visit Quinovic dot co dot ins head.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Let's get done, let's get downs you monnight mon characters.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Joining us for the business panel this week is Delivery Easy.
Deliver Easy co founder Tim Robinson. I should get your
name right, Tim, shouldn't?
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I know?
Speaker 5 (00:41):
Well?
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I mean I think it's a fantastic organization and I've
had some dealings with you guys, and you're an amazing
Wellington company.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
And adult Tory Megastorg owner operator Nikola Ralph Morning Nicholas.
How are you?
Speaker 5 (00:54):
I'm great?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
How can you be great?
Speaker 5 (00:57):
It's the weather in Wellington the last seven days has
made me.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Great, it has it has. I mean I watched before
I went to bed last night. I looked out the
window and saw the sky and I just looked around
on it. Oh my god, how good.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
The lack of wind amazing.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah. I wanted a bit of wind last night because
it was so damn hot trying to get to sleep,
so I was waiting for a little bit of wind
to keep me, to keep me cold, but it never happened.
How did you guys sleep last night?
Speaker 5 (01:23):
Like a baby?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
It was my daughter's first night in a bed, so
not that well no, but I mean the heat, the
heat was terrible as well.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
I want to just briefly talk about the partnership that
you guys have sort of entered into this arrangement. Partnership. Now,
when I first read it, I thought to myself, this
is pretty cool. Isn't it be able to ring up
order a whole lot of things from a mega adult
shop and get them delivered within an hour? I mean
(01:53):
there must be some people saying some really weird things
to you. Come on, tell me what tim you got
told when you first when people's you started talking about saying, oh,
we're going to deliver, well, I want to say sex
toys bat sounds right, doesn't it?
Speaker 5 (02:07):
Sexual wellness products toys?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Well, I mean when the pitch first came across, so
we got a pitch for it from Jewels in the
next team, and you get a lot of code air
pictures across the years, but this one sort of definitely
stuck out.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Page two.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
They had a fantastic billboard mocked up with hungary or horny.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
We've got your covered. You see that.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
It sort of pricksy ears pretty quickly. So yeah, we
thought there'd be something just you know, interesting to do.
And I think sexual wellness has probably got a bit
of taboo that maybe it shouldn't have, so we're caing
to get into the space and.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, you reckon it's still there? Do you reckon that
that taboo is still there? I think that we've gone
past that, haven't. We'll come to you in a minute,
because I know you're going to say everything's about positivity
with you, so you'll say it. But I mean, as
as a bloke.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I think that's we've got in the right direction. It's
probably still got a lot of way to go, but yeah,
I think it was. We liked it because we think it's, what,
you know, a great thing to be doing, a cool
partnership with a cool Wellington business. So it made a
lot of sense and anything where you can do to
kind of push it along term is actually we think
win win.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Now, Nikola, you your business is well established, your well respected.
You're probably one of the biggest adult stores in Australasia
and delivering is your product. You don't go knock on
your door and wander a round. I'll have one of
those and one of those or two of those. So
what who came up with this idea and what made
you do it?
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Well, we know that delivery is important for people. Accessibility
to these products is really important, and we were one
of the first adopters of the Express Evening services. So
currently you can order today and receive tonight, which is
a pretty good offering.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Through the deal that was through New Zealand Post Okay.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
And we knew that people were taking up that service,
so we were like, okay, what extension can we do
from there? How quickly could we actually get it in
the consumer's hands. So that's when we were like, okay,
the only thing we can do next is partner with
a direct two door fast service and deliver easy. Being
willing to based was absolutely no brainer for us.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So I'm going to get to the bottom of this
so in the nicest possible way. So if I had
a date or I've had some plans, Yes, I'm getting
a bit awkward here. Have I had some plans tonight
and I think I might need a little bit of help,
but I want to be sort of a little bit different.
Could I go online? Yes, order some something from your
(04:32):
some assistance.
Speaker 5 (04:33):
Yes. So deliver Easy has arrange there's just under one
hundred products.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Oh so it's only it's limited.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
Yeah, and we have made bespoke packs, so you could
get a.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Come on, tell me make me less like.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
A date night pack. Okay, Right, so you have someone
special coming over tonight and you're like, actually, I want
to make this amazing. You can then jump onto deliver Easy,
order a date Night pack and get it delivered to
your home between nine am and eleven thirty or midnight
in thirty to forty minutes.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Can I ask what's in that pack?
Speaker 5 (05:04):
Absolutely? So. Packs are slightly different, and so say a
date night pack might have a little vibrator for her,
a ring for him. It might have massage oil, might
have a little tickler in it, those sorts of things.
So it's around romance and it's around sexual wellness and
making it fun.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
And how much more expensive is it for me to
buy that if I want to get it in an hour?
Speaker 5 (05:28):
Not very so. The good news is we've got the
spoke packs that you can't actually buy elsewhere on Delivery Easy,
and the pricing we've matched. So the good thing is
there's a little bit of cost in delivering it, just
like there is normally, But in terms of the pricing,
it's awesome. The pricing's great.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
When I saw the promo for it, you said, of this,
if your next door neighbor's got a Delivery Easy and
it's vibrating around, don't get too worried. Tell me you
haven't had that problem. Have you haven't been dropping stuff
off to people's.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Good mate, I've got some good technology that make sure
that your order goes to the right house. So we
TVs tracks are drivers can not get to the wrong house,
which is yeah, pretty important in the space like this.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
And discretion is also really important. So these bags are
all closed off. The driver doesn't actually know the contents
that they're picking up either. So I know when you
when you buy a curry, the driver will know it's
you know, well.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
He knows that's something from that from an adult shop,
though doesn't he doesn't know he's not picking up a
curry from your adult shop.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Well.
Speaker 5 (06:26):
The thing is, at the moment, we're using different supply areas.
So for example, they don't come to our warehouse to
pick up the goods. Okay, so it's really discreete and
customer feedback so far has been extremely positive.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Can I ask you, Tim, I'll start with you. How many?
How many? Is it is it working? Is it is it?
Is it more than a novelty thing?
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Like I was definitely when the idea came up. I
thought this wild either be a family or a feast.
But it's actually taken off really well, Like it's been
orders from from the get go, picking up, they're ramping
up and yeah, I've been surprised, like pleasantly by what's
sort of going on.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
I wonder if you actually have to get a curry
and a vibrator for dinner.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
You could mate, that's a spicy combination.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Oh my gosh. You know what they say about sex
and food?
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Go on?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Can I say this, the two things they say about
sex and food? Once you had them, you don't want
them think about that. I want to ask you both,
and I'm going to start with you Nikola on this one.
Both delivery easy in our adult toy megastore are locally
owned companies with hugely successful but also got competition against
(07:32):
the rest of the world. I mean, you know, we
know about uber Eats and we know all that, and
we know about your competition's Nicola. How do you compete.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Yeah, we definitely have some big international players trying to
nestle into the New Zealand market at the moment. But
I believe that you know, kiwis like to buy off
Kiwi companies. I think that's very valid. But I think
those Keywi companies have to be proving themselves all the
time that they deserve that person's purchase. So about being
innovative and being customer focused and making sure that you're
(08:04):
always trying to drive ours people to know, actually, these
key We businesses are better than the competition. They can
get it to you quicker, They're employing local people, the
money staying in the country, all of those things are vital.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Is it hard to get into your industry? One of
my daughters is trying to set up a similar sort
of thing, very small time out of bottom of the
South Island. She said, it's incredibly difficult to get people
to do business with it. Is it difficult as an industry?
Speaker 5 (08:35):
In the sexual one industry? It has been, or we've
been in this industry for fifteen years and right back
fifteen years ago, it was hard to get a bank account.
We couldn't get a lay by or after pay partner,
even collabs. You know, doing a co lab now is
completely different to try and find a co lab partner
fifteen years ago.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I want to talk about the banking thing as we
go on to it on about it, because I think
that's quite interesting because we've seen stories where they've stopped,
you know, stopped adult stores having bank accounts still now,
which is very odd, very odd. Back to onto you
tim of this, I mean, how do you compete? You're
competing with billion dollar companies. I mean, let's be real,
billion dollar advertising we've just seen is it share with
(09:17):
their latest ad? I mean, you know, how the hell
does a couple of blokes from wanting to compete with that?
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Yeah, they're not small, but it's this is a great challenge,
to be honest, and it's quite a it's a cool
to us to take on. So yeah, like they are
obviously massive, the huge American I mean, you know, Uber
is a dominant business and in the world, so like
it's it's cool to take them on. And I guess
we kind of identified earlier that when you going inst
someone like that, it's important to kind of pick a
(09:44):
position to play the foill to them. So like we're
not going to always win head on. We need to
pick an area that we're going to really carve out
and dominate.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
And so what was that area for you guys?
Speaker 4 (09:54):
For us, it was.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Focusing on service. So they're very automated. It's all an algorithm.
There's not people involved in the process. Things go wrong.
They don't look after their partners the way we do.
They don't look after their drivers the way we do.
So we identified it early that output of difference. We
focused on the human side of it, making sure the
service is great and then sort of let the rest
take care of itself. And it's been really successful, Like
(10:16):
we get a lot of support from customers, which we love.
Restaurant partners are really great towards us.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Can I ask you about the restaurant partners because obviously
it's a market that I'm in. It's pretty tough for
the restaurants with uberrites. I mean, let's be perfectly honest
about it. Everybody says you've got to have it and
it's got to be part of it, but you know,
we work of a profit rate of thirty percent.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
And thirty percent, right, it's not a great equation, no, Yeah,
so we pitch different commercials. So we pitch like you
know a much our great fucking exclusive part of them
wants to do business was just us. That's more down
around twenty. So it's like we think that helps them
look after us. We look after them, and we're kind
of trying to grow businesses together, Like we're not there
(10:57):
to take every pen out of restaurant's pockets. We'd rather
work with them and look after them. And especially lately
like it's been a tough time in hospital, I think
it's important that we know that Over's approach isn't the
only approach in the industry.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
What difference and Nicola, I'll come to you on this,
what difference is it in dealing with an international company
and a New Zealand company. I mean, the end of
the day, it might take a couple of days longer,
but why would people actually say, well, I actually want
to stick with Kiwi.
Speaker 5 (11:26):
I think, going on from your point, Tim, it's the
people behind the brand. I think of especially e comm businesses,
often you don't know who is behind that store, who
are the people that run it? What are they like?
Will they respond to me? So kind of allowing your
consumer to get inside your business a little bit through
social media or kind of behind the scenes fronting things,
(11:50):
being a person in the business is really important because
a lot of those other businesses, you wouldn't have a
clue who you were dealing with or which country you
were contacting when you were doing a customer service inquiry,
for example.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
But do people really care about that?
Speaker 4 (12:05):
I think I st to think about this earlier.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
I think you can't just coast a home being local, like,
you have to be real class. But if you are
will class and local, and that's a really powerful combination.
So if you're a customer with us, like interesting fact
that we paid more income text than Uber did in
New Zend last year. So if you try to look
after your own economy and look after your own backyard,
like buying local does make sense. And I think again,
(12:28):
as a business, you can't just rest on being local
because that's not enough for reason its own.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
You need to be real class.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
But I think it's a really nice cheering on top
and the zeal And people are really supportive.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Tell me one thing that you do that Uber doesn't do.
And one thing that I would notice if I rang
you than if I rang Uber would be different.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Straight away, you can only call us. You can't call Uber.
So you can call us, you'll get someone.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
I mean contact us on yah yeah old age here.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
But we literally have live staff all the time.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
So if you have a problem with your order, something
goes wrong, you can call us and talk to person
straight away. The whole time is under twenty seconds and
you're talking to a real person based just up the
road from here. So's yeah, there's a lot nice and
sending an email and not hearing back, and you employ
your own stuff one hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
So yeah, I'm trying to get my head around how
you can make it work, you know, against a big boy. Yeah.
I mean, you know that's pretty impressive for both of you, really,
I mean to be able to say we can tackle
you know, these multimillion dollar ad campaigns and share and.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
It's the hunger. It's like you know, I would imagine
from you, Tom, it's like it's you're so invested in
this game you can't not make it work. You just
have to keep doing everything you can to ensure that
it's a success and it's the best it can be.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Can I ask you both and individually to what do
you do to advertise that competes with those big boys?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
So, I mean we're specific and how we pack different channels,
so we always trying to make sure we're doing things
in a different way to those guys. So like our
creative we've got a fantastic creativators and colenso that have
been really good at that challenge, which is we're not
going to outspend these guys head to head. How can
we position ourselves in a way that's so compelling that
I meet spin goes further.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
So for the big boys, the big boys in the market,
so you know that must you must be spending some
decent coin for them to have them involved.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
Yeah, like we we chip away mate.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I think Neilson's last data came out and like head
here marketing spend, they were probably about twelve times twelve
dollars every dollar week spiends. So like it's a it's
a huge challenge and you kind of have to make sure,
like I say, that you've got a great crowd and
a great business behind it that you can work with.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
That Nikola you with your advertising, how do you get
your word out there and getting to the right people
the right way.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
Yeah, it's a little challenging in our industry because there
is a lot of sort of hurdles to overcome when
it comes to advertising sexual wellness.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
You still get that, yes, yep. So you can't bring
up a radio station sale. I want to advertise an
adult megastore.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
And the key is when those ads can play and
what they contain is really important for us. It's about
kind of going what can we provide consumers over and
above the sales experience. So we have our own YouTube channel,
for example, with a whole lot of YouTube videos that
are created by our own in house six educator. We
(15:11):
also have a podcast and that allows us to kind
of get our messages out to people in different ways
than sort of standard advertising. We also have a massive
article bank on our website, so we have over a
thousand articles that have been written on every topic you
could imagine.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
I was wondering that because that's almost the help that
they need more, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
Absolutely? Education is hugely.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Important social media. You are you big on social.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yeah, that's always been a good special when we start
it's a great channel for us. Yeah, and it's probably
harder in the next space to advertise on social media,
is it.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Do you do social Yeah?
Speaker 5 (15:44):
It also has restrictions, so yes. So for us, it's
about kind of working with other partners like we are
with Delivery Easy, using their channel and their target markets
to get a collaborative message across. And you know, it's
not as easy as just throwing money at sponsored ads
for example.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Right, gosh, how interesting. Let's talk invest The government has
introduced golden visas for foreign investors coming to New Zealand
with more than five million dollars to invest in local
companies two different areas five or ten million dollars. Nicola,
do you think that we actually need this to happen it?
Do you reckon it's going to make any different When
you first heard that, what did you think?
Speaker 5 (16:23):
Well? I think New Zealanders are known for their entrepreneurial spirit.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Right.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
We have a great range of people doing awesome things
in the country. And for me, it's about making sure
that starting up a new business is tough. Everyone always
looks for capital. If we can't get it locally, then
getting it offshore and bringing it in to me seems
like a great solution to ensure that those businesses then
(16:48):
stay in the country, Because if you've got a great
idea and you want to grow your business but you
can't fund it, you'll go somewhere that you can get
the support. And I'd rather stay here.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Now, Tim, you would have needed some money to get
your business going and stuff? Would you look at a foreigner,
a complete stranger, A complete wouldn't have a clue. You
might done a couple of meetings and a couple of
zooms if they wanted to put five million dollars into
your business, what would you think?
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Well, jeez, mate, when we started were at seven hundred
bucks each would have taken anything. But I guess, like
from where we've come from, like funding, I think it's
probably the journey for a lot of Jim businesses, Like
we've never truthfully had access to it.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
I think after a year we raise the money from
friends and family.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
But I think he really struggles truthfully with like capital
at the lower levels of business, like Nick alluded.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Too, Like it's it's available there for bigger businesses.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Is a level way about anything, correct, mate, And it's
like how do you get there? And if we want
an economy growing. We need the exports we had to find.
The next zero was as a typical example.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
But you talk about the X zero because we're all
in the same boat, right, I mean, you know, obviously
you guys have got bigger now. But when you start
off and you go to these people, you go to
your banks and they say, what, let me look at
your house. Really, they don't care about anything else. They
look for your house, and then the next level they
want to lend you ten million when you only need
one million.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Actually made it's it's a funny clungeon where you want cash,
it's never there when you don't need it, it floods in.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
And I remember my father telling me exactly the same thing.
The only time you don't need your bank is when
you the bank wants to know about your is when
you don't need them, Absolutely, isn't it.
Speaker 5 (18:20):
So?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Where do we go so wrong in New Zealand? Why
can't we borrow money in New Zealand to get businesses going?
Speaker 5 (18:27):
I think there needs to be. It needs to be
more accessible for people because where do you go, where
do you find those people? Where do you find the
next shark tank to be helped to go? Hey, I'd
love support, capital, mentorship, all of those things that are
reasonably difficult to get hold of. And especially when you're
a young business, you're just treating water right. You're trying
(18:47):
to get the income in the door to grow your business.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
And you know, if you had another ten grand in
the bank, you could do this or this or that.
And where do you get that ten grand? How's your
house looking?
Speaker 5 (18:56):
Yeah? Or friends and family you probably hit them.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
Up exactly mate.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Yeah, Like for us, that's exactly the problem you have
as you go demly have a house at the time,
so you go to call up up cry and go cracky.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Mum, I can't do my wages on can you help
me business?
Speaker 5 (19:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (19:11):
And that's what you're kind of. You're almost relying on
charity in New Zanders. It's hard to get there.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
So will this new plan will that make any difference
to you guys? Will it actually? Tim? Would you would
you think that actually?
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Are?
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Well? We can go, Megan, Now we'll get one of
these ten you know, we'll get this guy from America
or Asia that's got ten million dollars that will invest
in million dollars into us. Job over will give them
thirty percent of the business the way we go.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
Nah, like we don't.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
I won't help us personally at all. Like I still
think it's great, Like investment in the economy anywhere is
good for our stage and the journey. Like we've got
we needs, we're doing well. We don't need to be
taken on money.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
So it's see you're lucky. Well both are you lucky?
Both of you have done very well? Which is great?
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (19:49):
I mean if someone came to you, Nicola and said, well,
I want to come and live in New Zealand, I've
got all this money and if I invest in you,
can I take you to the next level? Can I
take you to the world bigger than you are? Would
you look at it?
Speaker 5 (20:00):
Definitely look at it. I think always those conversations are
good to have because obviously you've got your strategy. You
know what you want whether you do that strategy in
five years or two years, but.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
You have to give away some of your business.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
You do, and I think that's part of growth and
a lot of businesses do that to grow. So yeah,
I think it would be one of those conversations to
be had and then decide whether it's right for you
or not.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You're not you're shaking your head.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
Oh no, I was more reflecting on maybe sometimes you
look at money and it can people listing or a curse,
like no money comes without strings, and so like in
the early days were obviously love to we've had money
and didn't have it. But probably one of the greatest
benefits we've had in that is now we have a
lot of control over our own business, which lets us
move fast and do things that we probably couldn't do.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
If we'd sold down a lot of the business early on.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Wow, So that investment. You don't want investment, You just
want to do your way. You're slowly but surely.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Kind of Yeah, these days it's like I'd rather control
my own destiny and like it's a harder road at
the start. But yeah, and we didn't have the choice.
Speaker 5 (20:56):
Mate.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Again, no one thought we were a great investment back
in the day.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
So, well, you're going up against the big boys. I mean,
no one's exactly seriously, both of you. That's why I
love love having a chat to you, because both you're
going against the big boys in the world. You know,
they've got all the money and the power, and you've
got to come in behind and went through economy is
still in a tough spot and people are not going
out as much as they used to. Tim hows is
impacting your business. I suppose this is golden for you
(21:21):
because everyone's sitting back and ordering and not going out.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
Yeah, as a sort of a mixed bag. So we've
probably been blessed to be in quite a fast growing industry.
So like we don't feel as much the sort of
macroeconomic trends as much. But I guess where we do
really feel it. I guess you know, I have a
lot of sympathy for it as we do a lot
of work with HOSPO and yeah.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
That's a fever.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
Who get they having a really hard time, So it's yeah,
for us, it's been I guess the challenge has been
how to support them in those times because it's not
been easy.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
And Nicola, it's the same for you. The more people
stay at home, the more they need your product, they
need help.
Speaker 5 (21:56):
Well, you know that's what heavened over. COVID right has
exploded because people were at home.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Getting bored with each other and needed some help.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Absolutely, But I'm in the same kind of area of
Tim in terms of the industry is growing. People are
talking about sexual wellness now more than ever before. So
the industry is growing once again. You know, even if
the economy is tight and is not doing quite so
well as it was. The good news is for us
is that the whole industry is growing well.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
I mean, really, if you sat down and you said
to myself, yourself, because I've read lots of articles about
how gyms are doing very well, gym's are you know,
everyone wants to wants to go to the gym and
stay healthy and get well. But when you think about it,
two businesses that would do it the harder things got
the two businesses would do better, were you guys? Firstly,
you know, everything you buy for you you use at home.
(22:44):
You're not you know, putting an underneath your car seat
and using on your way home, are you? So that's
sort of something you put and then and say with
you till you know, if you need a meal and
you don't want to go out, you don't want to park,
and don't have a problem, you just order it in.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Yeah, I think it's as funny because yeah, it's a
place where it's hard to know what's going underneath it
all right, Like we're probably not exposed in the same way.
So yeah, like I said, we feel it through partners
and we feel it through the wider job market.
Speaker 4 (23:11):
But that's kind of yeah. Maybe been a bit lucky
to be in a different space.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
You've been very lucky. Tell me what your thoughts are
on the Golden Mile. I want to talk about the
Golden Mile, Nicholas. Start with you. You have an office in town.
You have an office out of COI Photopa, Grenada, so
I knew you had an office out of town. So
tell me what your thoughts are when you hear that
the Golden Mile's about to start, and it's going to
start on the corner of Kent and Cambridge Terrace and
Courtney Place. What as a Wellington business woman, a successful
(23:38):
Wellington business woman, do you think it's the right move?
Speaker 5 (23:42):
Yeah, it's a difficult one. I mean, I've been Wellingtonian
all my life, lived here and I remember sort of
Courtney Place back in the late nineties, early two thousands
absolutely pumping heaps of people. You know, the nightlife was
awesome and I would love to see Courtney Place back
like that. I think that is really Do you think
this is the right move for it? It's a tricky
(24:03):
one because I love the idea of like Alfrisco dining
and having the restaurants kind of sprawling out on the street.
But you know, Wellington comes with it's a whole lot
of interesting things, you know, whether it is not the
best in the city. You've got wind, you've got rain,
there's there's lots of things that kind of hamper that.
But the idea is good.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Yeah, So I don't think, well, I think we all
agree that the idea is good, but it's probably the
timing probably couldn't have been worse. We've just had four
hard years again, to what are your.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
Thoughts kind of the same.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
I think like everyone's going to agree with like revitalising
the place is fantastic, and maybe it's just how they
go about it and the timing to your point as well,
Like I think, you know, there's obviously a lot of
vocal business owners that are against it, and like I
really hope they get heard, Like if it wasn't the
best interest, that obviously support it. So the fact they're
all screaming out.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
I think they all Maybe my view on it from
being one of them is I think they all want
it and need it, but we've just had four years
where we've been hit over the head with a baseball
bet in the front and the back and the sideways.
Please don't do it again.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
Yeah, I think that's it made us like doing in
a way that you know, parkingsvius a big thing too.
People have to get to like if you can support
the parking and make sure people can still get there, fantastic.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
We've talked this morning also about the rates. Your rates.
It's just horrific. I mean, I mean, is there another
way of describing it. I mean, I mean, you guys
must have parents, so trying to retire and trying to
live life and thinking how the hell can I live
with my rates bill the way it is. What advice
would you give to those people right now? Nikola?
Speaker 5 (25:33):
It's definitely difficult. I mean, if you know, I think
the rates every rates bill's gone up over twenty percent
in Wellington and so those things are just direct costs
on businesses, households. Then you've got high interest rates. People
are squealing in terms of hey, actually everywhere they're looking
there's just increased costs, which doesn't help anyone.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Tom, come on, well, it's kind of I don't know
what advice I give anyone I'm not I'm no good
with it. I think, yeah, it kind of harms back
to your point about time, and like, I think it'd
be great to see you can't out looking at the
time of these things and going there's so much cost
increase at the moment. Is this the right time to
expensive projects or can we focus on I.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Mean, if you were mayor for a day, you're a
young guy, successful business, you're you know, you're a doer,
what would you do?
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Don't do this to me. I don't think i'd make
a very good meal at all.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Well, I think you'd make a great meal. Both of
you'd make great meres.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
I mean, yeah, my personal view is, given the way
the economy siding, like, it's a good time just to
you know, be careful to spending and make sure it
like get costs under control, because as much as people
appreciate great projects, cost living is probably the biggest in
my mind, the biggest problem at the moment, and maybe
that should be forefront.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Also last week, via Finance Minister, Nicola Willis came out
swinging you say there needs saying there needs to be
a third player in the supermarket duopoly of will wear
some food stuff Nicola. How badly is this needed? Is
it needed? Could you see can you see a gap
in the market.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
Competition's great regardless of which industry you're in, So absolutely,
I think more competition in the supply of food in
this country would be a no brainer. How that's done,
I'm not quite sure, but I think more competition would
increase innovation within those businesses, and I think it surely
has got to be better on the cost also probably
(27:18):
on the growers and the suppliers into those stores. You know,
it would probably increase the food quality, decrease the price,
make people really be more consumer focused to get you know,
the foot traffic into their story as opposed to somewhere else.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Tim, how do you think this would work? How do
we how do we get it? And do you actually
do deliveries for supermarkets?
Speaker 3 (27:37):
We do, Yeah, We've got a collaboration for rereess stories
at the moment, like we do do some other delivers
in the grocery space, So like we're doing familiar with it.
I guess groceries like every other industry, I think, like
every in the world, like in every industry, competition like
next is really healthy.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
Like how you achieve it.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
It's a great problem in New Zealand because it's a
not the world's biggest market, so you know, finding people
to invest is not an easy task. So again I don't,
I don't. I'm beat, I'm not the Prime Minister. I
don't know how to solve it.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
I reckon the warehouse is the one I reckon. That's
plane as your noses on your face of the warehouse
could do something. They've got the sights all over the country.
They're not doing that well in their present form, so
put it in a super much small supermarket in each
one of those. I don't know your thoughts on it.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
They've got a great footprint for sure.
Speaker 5 (28:19):
Yeah, yeah, and I think they've started.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
They tried to, Yeah, they've tried. They turned down Steven
Tindall's idea. That was his idea, right, they turned it down.
Their shoulders turned it down. So okay, Nikola, I'm going
to start with you. Someone very special you haven't seen
for a long time. Old school friend that hasn't been
back to Wellington for ten or twelve years, been living
in Europe. Arrives at eleven o'clock on a Wednesday. You're
picking her up she's coming all herme up. You're going
(28:43):
to take them out, You're going to show them. They're
going to stay at your house. What are you going
to do?
Speaker 5 (28:46):
I think i'd be headed to them mar Puya Walkway.
There's a beautiful walkway that kind of goes from one
side of my puey to the other. Views from there
are spectacular. You can see all the way from the
airport right through to start of lower Hut and on
a good day you just can't beat it. Some beats
down there.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
It's it's really a bit jet leg. They've been coming
from Europe. They are a bit tired. You really got
to take the one that longel What else are you
gonna do with it?
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Probably a nice cafe and then would probably end up
somewhere either Charlie Nobles or Noble Rot for dinner.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Wow, that would be very nice. Thank you. That would
be a very nice experience from them. Okay, Tim, what
are you going to do?
Speaker 4 (29:22):
I'm probably not quite as fit as Nerd, so I'm
not going for a walk. Well, I probably do.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
Most most socialized will be down the little Hingeheading gym
and the Merrimat would be Double Vision's little brew House. Yep,
I tucked away next to the workshop. Yes, you have
a few pints off. I've overseas the workshops down the road.
So it's quite a nice combination.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Very nice combination. What else would you do with that?
But yet you get you stay there and get mothered
and go home after that?
Speaker 4 (29:44):
Well, I don't know here.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
When I start there, I don't often finish.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
I think then you look like a brewer. For those
who can't see, you'll see a photo because Will be fat. No,
he does look like a brewer, doesn't he? And no,
wonder you want to go to Double Vision. You look
like you've probably honed the bloody place, you know. But anyway, Karen,
what are you doing after you've been the Double Vision? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Other hidden jims and weally you actually love as more
more of itness one but like thawed them pools a
bit of a hidden gym, So that's really cold.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
Nah, hated used to work there at UNI and never
heard of it.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
And it's actually like the most beautiful pool, really quiet,
so probably some of the regulars anger I'm talking about it,
but it's a yeah, that's a great gym.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
Right, One piece of advice from both of you, come
on young entrepreneurs are listening to the show. One sentence,
one piece of advice, starting with you, Nick, Gosh, you.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
Put me on the spot. Probably if it's to be,
it's up to me. Just go hard, do it whatever
you're thinking about. Just actually make an action you get.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
I was gonna say, just go and do it like it.
Just don't overthink it. Just give it a crack and
see where your land.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Do you really want to take risks in these days?
Speaker 4 (30:52):
Personally?
Speaker 5 (30:53):
Yeah, you've got to otherwise you'll stay still great.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Thank you both so much. Yeah. I always say Nike
got it wrong when they said just do it. They've
forgot another word now because there's no putting off. People
come to me all the time and say, oh I'm
going to go into business, I'm going to do this.
I just need to wait for that. There's never that
wait for that day.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
None and everyone always has that. I had that idea
three years ago. It's like, well, cranky mate, you should
have going and done it.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Do it now and take the risk. Who gives it?
Damn you go bus to go bust.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
Totally absolutely there you go.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Thank you both very very much. Tim Robinson and Nicola
Ralph enjoyed the business panel very much.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!