Working with Professionals
NZ Design Pros Reveal Hopes, Challenges and Future Business Plans
We asked, you answered. Take a look at what Kiwi professionals on Houzz told us about running their businesses in 2018
It’s not always easy running a business, but most professionals on Houzz wouldn’t have it any other way. To gauge what’s important to them, along with their challenges and hopes, we ran a comprehensive survey in New Zealand and across the world.
Globally, the majority of businesses on Houzz are established and looking to grow. Their main goals over the next few years are to have a steadier workflow of clients, to grow their businesses and to attract larger, higher quality projects. Read on to find out more about what professionals on Houzz are focusing on, and what their biggest challenges are in running and growing their businesses.
Globally, the majority of businesses on Houzz are established and looking to grow. Their main goals over the next few years are to have a steadier workflow of clients, to grow their businesses and to attract larger, higher quality projects. Read on to find out more about what professionals on Houzz are focusing on, and what their biggest challenges are in running and growing their businesses.
In two years’ time, you hope to be…
In New Zealand and across the world, five themes emerged when owners were asked what they hoped their businesses would look like two years from now.
1. To have a steady workflow of clients.
2. To grow their businesses.
3. To stay stable/the same.
4. To be working on larger projects and/or high-quality projects.
5. To be more established in the market.
In New Zealand and across the world, five themes emerged when owners were asked what they hoped their businesses would look like two years from now.
1. To have a steady workflow of clients.
2. To grow their businesses.
3. To stay stable/the same.
4. To be working on larger projects and/or high-quality projects.
5. To be more established in the market.
What professionals on Houzz say…
Below, we’ve shared a few of the responses we received from Kiwi professionals on Houzz about their hopes for the next two years:
“Making more money but doing less work.”
“Working with high-quality clients who are appreciative of good design.”
“We are aiming to get our staff number back up to where we were two years ago.”
“Successful, with a healthy forward-projected workload and numerous award-winning houses/designs.”
“I would love to have enough work to get us by each year, covering expenses and also providing us with a reasonable wage.”
“More talented and experienced staff, a healthy work stream, growing profits and happy clients.”
“Getting larger with a better gender balance.”
Below, we’ve shared a few of the responses we received from Kiwi professionals on Houzz about their hopes for the next two years:
“Making more money but doing less work.”
“Working with high-quality clients who are appreciative of good design.”
“We are aiming to get our staff number back up to where we were two years ago.”
“Successful, with a healthy forward-projected workload and numerous award-winning houses/designs.”
“I would love to have enough work to get us by each year, covering expenses and also providing us with a reasonable wage.”
“More talented and experienced staff, a healthy work stream, growing profits and happy clients.”
“Getting larger with a better gender balance.”
Biggest business challenges
We asked about the single biggest challenge business owners are facing right now. The global findings were in line with New Zealand’s.
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We asked about the single biggest challenge business owners are facing right now. The global findings were in line with New Zealand’s.
- Finding clients and new business.
- Pricing, budget and cashflow.
- Marketing, exposure and advertising.
- The wider market and economy.
- Hiring and managing staff.
- Lack of time.
- Managing client budgets and expectations.
- Keeping up with the competition.
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Here are some of the responses we received from New Zealand’s Houzz professionals about the challenges facing their businesses:
“Lack of sections for my potential clients and competition.”
“Rubbish clients.”
“Unrealistic expectations by clients.”
“Not enough customers walking in the door as we are a drive-to destination and have little foot traffic in our vicinity.”
“Too much work, not enough days available to fill in all the work we need to output.”
“The market seems to be awfully slow this year; making sales has been pretty hard. Thank goodness I have a proper job.”
“A sudden influx of jobs coming in all at once – we aren’t complaining!”
“Tighter margins due to competition.”
“Significant delays with council consent processes and the extent of documentation council requires.”
“Reaching customers and the fast-changing trends of the tastes of Kiwis with furniture.”
“Lack of sections for my potential clients and competition.”
“Rubbish clients.”
“Unrealistic expectations by clients.”
“Not enough customers walking in the door as we are a drive-to destination and have little foot traffic in our vicinity.”
“Too much work, not enough days available to fill in all the work we need to output.”
“The market seems to be awfully slow this year; making sales has been pretty hard. Thank goodness I have a proper job.”
“A sudden influx of jobs coming in all at once – we aren’t complaining!”
“Tighter margins due to competition.”
“Significant delays with council consent processes and the extent of documentation council requires.”
“Reaching customers and the fast-changing trends of the tastes of Kiwis with furniture.”
Immediate areas of focus
When asked about businesses’ main focus right now, the majority of respondents (37 percent) told us they were trying to generate new business. Other areas of focus included: bringing in larger-budget projects (23 percent); building brand visibility (19 percent); developing their online presence (13 percent); and increasing marketing/sales efforts and improving the customer experience (10 percent).
Other areas of focus included offering new products/services, hiring new staff, partnering with other businesses and opening new showrooms/sites or offices.
When asked about businesses’ main focus right now, the majority of respondents (37 percent) told us they were trying to generate new business. Other areas of focus included: bringing in larger-budget projects (23 percent); building brand visibility (19 percent); developing their online presence (13 percent); and increasing marketing/sales efforts and improving the customer experience (10 percent).
Other areas of focus included offering new products/services, hiring new staff, partnering with other businesses and opening new showrooms/sites or offices.
We also inquired about the main things standing in the way of businesses achieving their goal, and seven key themes emerged. It’s important to note that the third most-popular response was that nothing was standing in their way.
1. Lack of time (by far the most-popular response).
2. Money, cashflow and finance.
3. Nothing.
4. The economy.
5. Marketing and advertising.
6. Staff and labour.
7. Clients and leads.
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1. Lack of time (by far the most-popular response).
2. Money, cashflow and finance.
3. Nothing.
4. The economy.
5. Marketing and advertising.
6. Staff and labour.
7. Clients and leads.
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Marketing matters
Given that most Houzz professionals run their business with no or few staff, the majority of business owners (79 percent) look after the marketing. Just 12 percent have an in-house marketing manager and a small number outsource it to an external marketing agency.
These trends are in line with other countries in the global survey.
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Given that most Houzz professionals run their business with no or few staff, the majority of business owners (79 percent) look after the marketing. Just 12 percent have an in-house marketing manager and a small number outsource it to an external marketing agency.
These trends are in line with other countries in the global survey.
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As for where they advertise their business, most Houzz professionals rely on word of mouth and their own website rather than advertising. Social media has become more important as a marketing tool, however, with NZ respondents spending time and money on Facebook (64 percent), Instagram (44 percent) and LinkedIn (31 percent).
Other marketing dollars are being spent on search engine optimisation (SEO), print ads, pay-per-click, and trade shows and industry events.
Globally, Instagram has grown by 17 percent in the past year as a marketing tool that Houzz professionals use.
Other marketing dollars are being spent on search engine optimisation (SEO), print ads, pay-per-click, and trade shows and industry events.
Globally, Instagram has grown by 17 percent in the past year as a marketing tool that Houzz professionals use.
Knowledge is power
We asked pros where they go to find professional advice and information relating to their businesses. We’re happy to report that Houzz is relied on by a large number of respondents (27 percent).
Other sources of advice and information include online forums, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, trade-specific websites, trade events, networking events, and search engines.
Tell us
Do you have something to add about where you’d like to see your business in two years’ time and any challenges that may be standing in your way? Tell us in the Comments below, like and save this story, and join the conversation with other Houzz professionals.
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See more industry research Houzz has carried out in 2018
We asked pros where they go to find professional advice and information relating to their businesses. We’re happy to report that Houzz is relied on by a large number of respondents (27 percent).
Other sources of advice and information include online forums, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, trade-specific websites, trade events, networking events, and search engines.
Tell us
Do you have something to add about where you’d like to see your business in two years’ time and any challenges that may be standing in your way? Tell us in the Comments below, like and save this story, and join the conversation with other Houzz professionals.
More
See more industry research Houzz has carried out in 2018
More than 220 Houzz professionals in New Zealand responded to our survey in November, highlighting some key hopes, focuses and challenges that their businesses face in the home-design industry. The survey was also extended to business owners in other countries within the Houzz network – with 10,500 respondents from Australia, Singapore, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Russia, India, Japan and other nations.