OfficeMax is pleased to welcome the 2014 ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Competition winner Creative Hype to its small business community.

Creative Hype is a sports marketing and promotions company from Canterbury, which produces replica sports helmets designed to be handed out to fans as they enter stadiums. The cardboard helmets are utilised as an advertising platform for teams and sponsors.

As winners they received a $45,000 prize package. This included $30,000 from ANZ to be used to grow the business and $15,000 worth of consulting, advertising and legal advice.

Second prize went to Kiwa Digital Ltd and both Dr. Feelgood and Snolo Sleds received joint third place. Second and third-placed winners both received $5,000 in cash from ANZ. The 10 regional winners also received $1,000 each from Silver sponsors OfficeMax, Ernst & Young and Xero.

Managing Director for OfficeMax, Kevin Obern, was one of the experienced panel members of business experts who judged the competition. This well-esteemed panel was comprised of key figures in New Zealand, who had valued business experience in order to select a winner from the large number of entrants.

Mr Obern congratulated the winner Creative Hype, and said that OfficeMax was thrilled to have been a sponsor of this year’s competition.

“Congratulations to Creative Hype for taking out this year’s competition, their business plan was a clear standout,” Mr Obern said.

“Choosing a winner was a difficult process, due to not only the large quantity of entries, but also the quality of them. It’s a credit to the New Zealand small business owners out there – a clear demonstration of their determination and hard work.

“OfficeMax has been a consistent supporter of small business and we really value what this competition stands for. Small business owners have to juggle many balls and OfficeMax believes in helping people from the ground up.”

Mr Obern said that because of his previous experiences in small business, he is pleased that OfficeMax has had the opportunity to sponsor such a worthy programme.

“I have run several small businesses in the past from the ground up and understand the pressures and responsibilities that owners face,” Mr Obern said.

“My wife also runs her own small business and I know the importance of support from the beginning, and the effect this has on the businesses overall success.”

The competition, which is run by Business.govt.nz and in its fourth year, attracted 400 entries from across New Zealand. The competition focused on small businesses, or those with new business ideas. 

Entrants were required to submit a business plan for a viable idea that’s geared for growth and sustainable revenue as well as having the ability to make a positive contribution to the local, national or global economy.

Small Business Minister Craig Foss announced the results in Wellington late last year. 

Following its involvement with the competition, OfficeMax has also established a series of business resources and tools online at their new BusinessCorner. This includes health checks, interactive action plans and templates, which are all designed to help small businesses succeed and grow.

OfficeMax encourages budding small business entrepreneurs to head to the BusinessCorner and take advantage of the expert tools and resources that have been developed especially for busy Kiwi small business owners.