The Art of Email Etiquette
10 July 2019
Ahh electronic mail, everyday we are inundated with it. Some of the emails we receive are imperative for work, others might be personal, and a fair few will be junk. Whatever the case, you're likely trying to get out quick responses, file emails away to restore some kind of order to your inbox, or find a way to unsubscribe from whatever company has just sent you another discount code.
Tackling gambling harm to improve mental health and equity - Hon Jenny Salesa
4 July 2019
On Friday 28th June, the Government announced its updated national strategy to prevent and minimise gambling harm, says Associate Minister of Health Jenny Salesa.
Mining Your Data
4 July 2019
Customers expect a lot in their communication from businesses and brands today. They want personalisation and exclusivity - and they want it at the time it's relevant to them. But how do you offer this on a huge scale, potentially, in a club sense, to thousands of members?
It's something that Countdown does really well. For example, I'm a loyal Countdown customer and i scan my rewards card each time I shop to earn points. This provides me with discounts once I accumulate a certain number, and provides Countdown with data about what I buy, when I buy it, and how frequently. They then use this data to populate a weekly email they send me before my habitual Saturday shop, highlighting the things I regularly buy that are on sale that week. I also receive ad-hoc emails with bonus point offers, usually enticing me to buy a different brand of a product I normally buy.
Committee Size - Is bigger always better?
4 July 2019
With an increasing focus on Board (or Committee) composition, particularly as it relates to diversity, women and independents, there hasn’t been quite so much talk about committee size, but perhaps there should be. Committees of the not-too-distant past have had large numbers of committee members flanking both sides of their grand conference room tables - a grand committee was the sign of a grand club.
2019 Clubs New Zealand National Quiz Championship
3 July 2019
Calling all Quiz Lovers! Clubs New Zealand and our sponsors are happy to announce the first ever National Quiz Championship, which will be held in Wellington on Saturday 16th of November, 2019.
It's been five years in the making but we finally have it over the line. Thanks to some great work from the team at Believe it or Not we now have an annual event on the Clubs New Zealand calendar where you can prove that you really are the smartest club in the land!
Lower North Island Training Tour - July 2019
27 June 2019
Next month Keith will be crossing the Cook Strait on a training tour of the Lower North Island. This is the perfect opportunity for staff and committee members to get up to speed with Harm Minimisation, Armed Robbery and Club Smart Training.
The schedule is a follows - please contact keith@clubsnz.com or phone 021 285 1841 by Friday 5th July to register your clubs interest.
Combatting the Critics
26 June 2019
Social media has completely transformed the way people interact. In many instances, it has improved how we communicate, breaking down geographical and physical barriers and allowed us to share information instantly. On the flip side though, it also means negative feedback can be published by disgruntled customers immediately, gain traction quickly and sometimes cause irreparable damage to a brand.
Guidance released for businesses ahead of July plastic bag ban
19 June 2019
To assist with preparing for the upcoming plastic bag ban, the Ministry for the Environment has released guidance for businesses.
The Waste Minimisation (Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulations 2018, announced last December, ban single-use plastic shopping bags under 70 microns in thickness from 1 July 2019.
Gambling (Problem Gambling Levy) Regulations 2019
19 June 2019
The Gambling (Problem Gambling Levy) Regulations 2019 have been confirmed by Cabinet and will soon be notified in the New Zealand Gazette.
The Gambling (Problem Gambling Levy) Regulations 2019 will take effect on 1 July 2019 and introduce the following levy rates (GST exclusive):
Required Overtime...Is it allowed?
18 June 2019
In a recent case, Postal Workers Union of Aotearoa Inc v New Zealand Post Limited [2019] NZEmpC 47, a full Court of the Employment Court tackled the issue of availability provisions in employment agreements and concluded that while the amendments to the Employment Relations Act 2000 ("ERA") that occurred in 2016 effectively outlawed "zero-hour" contracts, the impact of those changes have a broader application.
Secure your spot on the next Back to Basics Managers Course - July 2019
12 June 2019
The dates for the next Back to Basics Managers course have been set for Tuesday 30th and Wendnesday 31st July 2019. This is likely to be the only Basic Managers Course of 2019 so if you are getting started or looking to refresh we highly recommend you book your spot now.
If you are new to club management or want to refresh the basics please contact Michelle Mazey to secure your spot by emailing michelle@clubsnz.com
Cheap or Quality - Who is your club appealing to?
12 June 2019
My Grandfather used to say, "if you sell to the classes, you eat with the masses. If you sell to the masses, you eat with the classes." Clubs are a mass market model. If my Grandfather's cliche is to be believed, all clubs should be successful. Clearly, there's a lot more to success than trying to sell to the masses. You need a business model that generates sales and a sufficient margin to ensure the club is profitable. With most clubs' gaming revenue flat or in decline, many are trying to win customers through promotions and discounts such as 2-for-1 meal nights and $10 roasts. Their appeal to the hip pocket makes sense, but in many ways it is a race to the bottom. The customers who only come for the discount meal are not likely to spend money on drinks and gaming, so the club's promotion may become a loss, not a loss leader.
