Client Spotlight: The Paper Rain Project
By tasman. Posted in Clients, Company News, Uncategorized.
Tell us a little about The Paper Rain Project, how did you get started?
The Paper Rain Project is a social enterprise born from big dreams early on. We specialise in products with cause and story – namely, ethical clothing, skateboard artworks and longboards made from recycled or locally sourced sustainable timber. Initially born from a hobby of painting custom skateboard artworks, Paper Rain is now four years old.
The goal has always been a business which gives back through our process of making but over the last couple of years, the focus has expanded into giving on through our sales. Each of our new in-house board artworks and every t-shirt is paired with a social or conservation based ‘Cause’ for which we help raise awareness and funds through the sale of the product. We work with a number of talented artists to create high-quality products which each have stories of their own.
We also work with a NZ owned business that works to support women out of modern day slavery in India, screen-print in our garage and shape boards from recycled wine-barrels and locally grown hardwoods.
Where do you operate?
From our Picton Store (29 High Street), pop ups around the country (the next being at Ponsonby Central, Auckland Oct 30th – Nov 12th) and online at www.thepaperrainproject.co.nz Our workshop is at the back of the Cherrybank Orchard in Spring Creek.
Why did you choose to get into this industry?
There was never really a time we made this decision. We stumbled into it by following our love of making art and working with wood. The values of the business come from our upbringing (both amongst trees, Indigo off-grid on a remote Scottish Peninsula.) Essentially, we can’t imagine doing anything else and we are so passionate about social enterprise and hand-crafted products that it’s the only “industry” we can see ourselves in, for now.
Can you share any lessons learnt from business struggles or challenges that you’ve overcome?
Oh so many lessons…. Sometimes a gut feeling and a bucket load of optimism is not enough reason to make investments. We wish we had gotten mentors and financial advisors sooner. There are always people who have more experience than you and much of the time, they want to share that (which we really appreciate!) You can’t get anywhere without working with other people.
One of our biggest lessons is that you should always ask – we have been blown away by who has supported (or even just replied to) us! Some of our biggest opportunities have come through taking the risk of putting ourselves out there. Our Kickstarter campaign was the most visceral version of that (we were 531% funded for our recycled wine-barrel longboard campaign in 2016) and have had the honour of working with influencers such Michel Tuffery, Flox, Karma Cola (brand crush!), Louis Baker and more.
Another thing? There is always room for betterment. It might be a slow process and you might have to turn full tail on things you once thought were right, but in the long term, changes for good will always be worth it.We hope that with Sidekick on board taking care of your accounts, you have found more time to do the things you really enjoy. So what is it that you love to do with your spare time?
We are so in love with Sidekick! It’s so good knowing that despite the importance of knowing what’s going on in your accounts, some one has your back! We are all good at different things and having a team to support us through our numbers is a huge relief. Spare time? We love spending time outside in this beautiful region – kayaking, hiking, running but also playing guitar, drinking wine with friends and walking our dog, Raglan. When money allows… TRAVEL.
What is your proudest moment at The Paper Rain Project, and what are you most excited about for the future of The Paper Rain Project?
Oh, big question! One of the most exciting moments was when our wine-barrel longboard Kickstarter campaign was featured by the Kickstarter newsletter and jumped up $15,000 in a day. Little did we know just how much work that would entail! We loved seeing over 200 people show up for our Framingham Underground event with Framingham Wines too.
The future? We’re pretty excited about it all at the moment! We have a pop up in Ponsonby, Auckland this November… In the long run though, we’d be excited to have some quantifiable positive impact on conservation projects through our Cause range (our t-shirts which are paired with charities to which we donate to).Do you have any deals or specials that you’d like to share?Sure! Locals can have $10 off any t-shirt this month at our Picton Store. Just say, “Hey, I’m Local”. We are about to release 4 new adult t-shirt designs and one kids tee (to support Conservation Kids NZ) so there’s lots of new things in the pipeline!
Client Gift Deduction Rules
By tasman. Posted in Company News, Small Business, Tax Advice.While we encourage giving your valued clients gifts to say thank you, congratulate them on an achievement, or whatever the reason for celebration may be, there are certain rules in regards to deducting these gifts as a business expense that we want you to be aware of.
The rules around deducting client gifts can have a few grey areas, so remember that only certain client gifts can be fully deducted. The tricky part is when you are gifting food or drink – if you provide or consume the gift away from your business premise, the gift is only 50% deductible. However if you provide or consume the food or drink at or from your business premise, the gift is 100% deductible.
Any gifts outside food and drink, e.g homewares, are 100% deductible whether you provide them on or off your business premise. The IRD have given a real world example to help understand the rules around this, which we’ll put below to help you understand the rules a little more. If you have any questions or concerns about gifting, get in touch with your Sidekick Accountant and they’ll happily help you out.
IRD EXAMPLE
Bob is a real estate agent. Each time he arranges the sale of a house, Bob delivers a bottle of champagne to the owner. He also sends a gift basket by courier to the purchaser. The gift basket contains a bottle of wine, some cheese and various household items such as tea towels and soaps.
Bob will only be able to deduct 50% of the cost of the bottle of champagne. This is because he is providing entertainment in the form of drink and doing so off his business premises.
For the gift basket, Bob can deduct the full cost of the tea towels and soap, because an appropriate apportionment should be made for items that are not food and drink. However, he can only deduct 50% of the cost of the wine and cheese (or, if the cost is not separately identifiable, an amount appropriately apportioned as the cost of the wine and cheese).
The Earthquake and Your Business
By tasman. Posted in Clients, Solutions.
We all know by now the impact that Earthquakes like the one on November 14th can have on our lives and businesses. We’ve put together some quick notes to help make sure the post earthquake process runs smoothly for you.
Remember – we’ve been through this before with the Christchurch earthquakes, so please get in touch if you have any questions or concerns at all. We’re here to help.
INSURANCE
• If you haven’t already, contact your broker or insurance company right away. Even if you aren’t sure of the full extent of your claim, start the conversation with your insurance company as soon as possible
• Take photos. When it comes to an insurance claim there is no such thing as too many photos
• If needed, after 10 days you can make a business interruption claim, talk to your broker or insurance company about this
TAX
• The IRD are taking a realistic and flexible approach to meeting filing and payment due dates
• If the earthquake has impacted your ability to file or make a payment, call us when you can and we’ll do our best to work with the IRD to grant you relief from any late filing or late payment penalties
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
• Most banks are offering both personal and business financial support such as short term funding. Head to the main page of their website to see how they can assist you
• The government has allocated a $7.5 million wage subsidy for small businesses in Kaikoura, Cheviot, Waiau, Rotherham, Mt Lyford and Ward. If your insurance covers loss of earnings, you are expected to utilise this first before accessing the wage subsidy
• A Mayoral Marlborough relief fund is being established for people and families in need
• The Government will distribute $5 million to help out the farming, fishing and wine industries in Hurunui, Kaikoura & Marlborough
Follow this link to view a help sheet from Duncan Coterill, covering topics such as business interruption insurance, landlord and tenant issues, employment and health & safety.
Again, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions at all. We know the process well now and are more than willing to help you through this time.
Client Feature: Zatori Retreat Golden Bay
By tasman. Posted in Clients, Company News, Xero.
Tucked away in Golden Bay, Zatori Retreat is just the ticket for rest, relaxation and adventure. We asked Tracey from Zatori a few questions to learn more about her slice of heaven in Golden Bay.
Tell us a little about yourself and what you offer at Zatori.
Zatori is a boutique type lodge in gorgeous Golden Bay. I brought an old hospital at the end of 2013 for a bargain price, but then proceeded to spend a fortune giving the old building back her grace and dignity and bringing her up to compliance. The local council were beyond useless and completely obstructive which is utterly ridiculous as I have created a huge new tourist development and I am single handily changing the life in Collingwood! I have raised the bar and am continuing to do so with 2 years trading under my belt now. Golden Bay is a delight, a bit quirky and even old school but an awesome destination especially out of season. My most common complaint from guests is that they did not stay long enough, there is simply loads to do here 🙂
Where can people find you?
Zatori is situated on state highway 60, so is very easy access and we overlook the Collingwood Inlet which is constantly changing picturesque land and seascape.
How did you get into the accommodation & venue industry?
It’s a funny story how I got here. I put a crazy low tender in for the property, and being the only offer the DHB took it! Honestly l got a hell of a fright, as I didn’t really mean to buy a hospital!
What is your most favourite part of your job?
Favourite part of the job is meeting cool people and also being my own boss and able to sneak out for paddle board with my dog almost anytime. My cell phone is waterproof so I usually end up answering the phone while out paddling, it’s fun being so flexible.
What is one piece of advice you have for small business owners?
My advice to other new business owners is to build a good solid team around you.
What accounting system (if any) were you using before moving to Xero? How did that compare to Xero?
I love Xero. Before that in my previous business I used MYOB and think Xero is fair superior, l love its intuitive abilities.
Why did you choose our Sidekick service for your business?
Ric has been great with all his support and outside the square ideas, much appreciated when l have been flapping about racking my brain to find another angle or solution.
Do you have any deals that you’d like to share?
We have a Singles Ball coming up! It’s going to be absolutely awesome!! Come to Golden Bay & have a fantastic time! Every single person there will be single!!!! There will be red carpet, champagne on arrival, beautiful canapes all night and an awesome 5 piece band to dance to all night. Please go to www.zatori.co.nz & pop onto events tab or ring me 0225483105 or email info@zatori.co.nz
Please follow us on Instagram as I am much better at using that than Facebook!
Zatori has free wifi everywhere here, free paddle boards, kayaks & push bikes. We do amazing whole foods and the shared facility wing is from $60pp. We welcome Christmas parties and also do great deals for conference packages – a perfect place to work & focus. We are also just getting into wellness retreats, so there is something here for everyone.
Xero’s best kept secret – Xero Files
By tasman. Posted in Cloud Software, Solutions, Updates, Xero.
Xero has it’s own document storage facility and we want you to be making the most of it!
Not only can Xero store online copies of your documents, but you can attach them to transactions when reconciling, invoices or bills, expense claims, or you can simply leave documents in your files inbox for your accountant to use when doing your end of year accounts.
Here are the simple steps to take to save you from keeping shoe boxes full or receipts, or clogging your email inbox with power bills. Scroll down to see how to use the phone App to add files.
On your computer:
Log into Xero, and click the Xero files icon that you can see circled below, this will take you to your files inbox.
On your phone:
Log into the Xero app on your phone, and click on the menu symbol in the top left hand corner. Click on the “Files” option to open your Xero files inbox.
Client Profile – B&N Properties
By tasman. Posted in Accountants and Business Advisors, Business Growth, Clients, Xero.
CrunchBoards – the Xero add-on we’re loving right now
By tasman. Posted in Business Growth, Clients, Cloud Software, Small Business, Solutions.
We sat down with Cameron Robertson, our Senior Manager at Sidekick Christchurch to learn more about a Xero add-on that his clients are loving at the moment called CrunchBoards.
CrunchBoards is an all-in-one forecasting and reporting engine with all the time-saving tools you need to grow your business. Features include business planning, budgeting, forecasting and real-time business intelligence.
So Cam, what are your favourite features of CrunchBoards?
“It’s a great forecasting/budgeting tool which incorporates directly into management reporting. The customisable management reports allow our clients to focus on particular areas of their business.”
What do your clients like best about using CrunchBoards?
“The way the information is displayed is the real upside of the software. CrunchBoards turns the numbers behind your business into easy to read graphs, that tell the true story.”
How much does it cost?
“It’s free in our Sidekick+ package, otherwise it’s only $25 per month plus a setup fee with our other Sidekick packages.”
Who is the perfect person to be utilising CrunchBoards?
“Anyone with particular points of focus. For example someone in hospitality may want to focus on % of food & beverages against sales, or wages against sales. This can all be displayed on one easy to ready graph.They also need to have good administration processes because CrunchBoards pulls data directly from Xero.”
How does it work in with Xero?
“It syncs daily with Xero. If your Xero is up to date, so is your CrunchBoards. It can be accessed using the browser on your smartphone, tablet, laptop or computer.”
Any final words?
“To me it’s a must-have tool for any business looking to grow and keep their business in check.”
IRD Telephone Scam
By tasman. Posted in Updates.You may have seen in the news recently that there has been a high number of telephone scammers pretending to be the IRD at the moment. Here are some tips to remember if you suspect you’ve received one of these calls:
– If you’re a client of ours, the IRD should speak with us directly as we are your tax agent. Ask for the person to call your tax agent and hang up.
– The IRD will never call you out of the blue to tell you that you’re due for a refund, to demand money on the spot for overdue debt, to threaten you with jail time for tax evasion, or to ask for personal information over the phone.
– The IRD will always call you from a blocked number, if you have any concerns of the legitimacy of the person you’re speaking to, you can ask for their name, hang up and call the IRD on the numbers listed on their website or in the phone book, and request to speak to that person.
You can follow this link to see examples of phone and email scams, and who you can get in touch with at the IRD if you’re concerned that you may have been a victim of a scam.
Client spotlight: Kaikoura Cheese
By tasman. Posted in Clients, Small Business, Startups.
If you’re a lover of good cheese, then like us, you’re going to want to find out more about our clients Kaikoura Cheese. We got to know them a little better with the few questions below, you can also check out the video to see them in action.
Where can people find Kaikoura Cheese?
Our base is 45 West End, Kaikoura, it’s in the middle of town.
How did you get into the industry?
I tried to get work within the industry around 2010 but no one would give me a job. I had no experience in farming or cheese making. So my wife and I decided just to startup our own thing. We registered Kaikoura cheese Ltd as a business, bought 3 goats, a few books about cheese and farming. When people see you giving it a go the information and knowledge turns up pretty fast.
Are there any lessons learnt from business struggles or challenges that you’ve overcome, that you can share with other business owners?
Don’t let perfection become an enemy of the good.
What accounting system (if any) were you using before moving to Xero? How did that compare to Xero?
Pretty much went straight to Xero. Our first year we used a 12 column cash book and wrote everything in with a pencil. The business was quite small.
Why did you choose our Sidekick service for your business?
Quite progressive in your service with communication and simplicity. The networking aspect is interesting as well. I could feel the same drive within Sidekick as with my business.
We’re sure the choices are endless, but what is your favourite cheese, or one that you recommend people to try, that they might not have tried before?
I would have to say that our very own Tenara is my number one go to. Although it can be visually challenging it’s quite delicate in flavour and very creamy.
Do you have any new products announcements that you’d like to share?
We have just released a Tomme style cheese which is semi hard. Sometimes we wash it in beer or brine. Sometimes we wash it in wine or no wash at all. The cheese can have a mix of goats and cows milk or sometimes it’s a single milk cheese.
You fan find Kaikoura Cheese anywhere online here: Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram
The Sidekick Tasman office is now right in town!
By tasman. Posted in Company News.
As you may know, Sidekick Tasman have had a client base in Blenheim and the surrounding areas for many years. With Megan and Dawn on the ground full time, Dave and Ric visiting regularly, and the good word of Sidekick spreading through Blenheim, we have now set ourselves up in a beautiful new space in town.
Our new office features a spacious waiting area, bright open plan office space for us, and a nice big meeting room. Feel free to stop in and say hi anytime, we’d love to give you the grand tour.
We still love heading out to visit our clients place of work, but we are also really pleased to be able to offer a central base for clients to be able to drop in when they need to. You will now find Sidekick Tasman at Level 1, 19-21 Maxwell Road, which is just above Harvey Norman.
