Hi all, It is with very mixed emotions that I tell you that after nearly 23 years Raewyn has made the decision to retire and finish up with The Icehouse. Of course it was inevitable that this day would come, but part of me wanted to stay in denial for just a little while longer. The mixed emotions come from trying to imagine what The Icehouse will be without her in it, but at the same time, the joy and excitement that comes from knowing what she’s planning next. I’ll come back to that. As employee number two in August 2001, Raewyn took a leap of faith and latched onto The Icehouse vis ..read more

Blocking out the noise around you, adopting a laser focus on your business and developing a goal-orientated positive mindset in uncertain times were among the themes explored in our first blog of 2024. In this blog, we'll address five of the most common strategic concerns for SME owners cropping up in conversations with The Icehouse so far this year ..read more

A new year, and Kiwi business owners are looking for positive indicators on how the economy will perform in the next 12 months ..read more

The Icehouse recently caught up with Brad Hook, Chief Innovation Officer and a workshop delivery partner at the Resilience Institute. Brad offers some invaluable guidance to better prepare for a happier and healthier holiday season and expert advice on developing workplace resilience in 2024.  ..read more

It’s time to revisit one of the more challenging propositions we pose to owner managers. What is stopping you from getting the help you, your business, and your team deserve to grow the business further?  ..read more

Our latest industry focus reports on the wholesale trade sector and how The Icehouse can help owners upskill and accelerate the business's growth curve.   Globally, the market will be worth US$61 billion by 2027 at a compound annual growth rate of 7%. There are approximately 17,000 businesses in New Zealand’s wholesale trade industry, while Infometrics places wholesale trade as the third-highest contributor to the Aotearoa’s GDP (at 5.3 ..read more

First conceptualised in Gearing Up: Leading your Kiwi business into the future (Kolb, Irving, Shepherd and Woods; Auckland University Press, 2020), The Four Circles are the four connected elements which, when working effectively and harmoniously, contribute to a successful and stimulating life for an owner manager.  ..read more

The Icehouse puts immense value on its network. Through programmes, partnerships, content production and events, all sorts of incredible new alumni stories are created.    ..read more

The latest industry focus from The Icehouse highlights the many challenges facing Kiwi retail business owners and how to solve them.  Aside from building the business, running the daily operations, and setting the general vision and goals of the company, retail business owners face a unique set of challenges in 2023.  ..read more

Blocking out the noise around you, adopting a laser focus on your business and developing a goal-orientated positive mindset in uncertain times were among the themes explored in our first blog of 2024. In this blog, we'll address five of the most common strategic concerns for SME owners cropping up in conversations with The Icehouse so far this year ..read more