PowerUp

Jai Huta is in the business of supplying high quality sports kit at affordable prices. His business Game Changer is doing exactly that, particularly when it comes to kitting out teams, clubs and schools that don’t have privileged backgrounds. Game Changer is at the intersection of sport and social enterprise. In this episode of the PowerUp Podcast, Jai talks about why it’s important to him, and how Game Changer grew from a hobby to a full time job. He discusses how having good kit makes people feel, the reality of growing a challenger business in a competitive space, and why he likes the flexibility of self employment.  Jai’s story is riddled with passion, both for his business and for the people it supports.  

Andrew Blanche didn’t exactly follow the normal route to become a baker, but we’re certainly glad he got there in the end. As the founder and head baker at Baked by Blanche, Andrew supplies bread and other baked goods all around Taranaki. This episode of the PowerUp Podcast walks through Andrew’s unconventional journey, from a chef and hospitality worker to a funeral director, and now business owner with Baked by Blanche. There are two common threads that bind Andrew’s story together - commitment to doing things properly and an emotional connection. Andrew connects people with food and to each other with his earnestness, and this shines through in the community he is building around his business.  A fantastic listen from someone who has an amazing story, and tells it exceptionally well.

Terry Boon has left his fingerprints all over Taranaki - almost literally. As the founding director of acclaimed design and architecture firm BOON, he has steered the business from its beginnings to its current status as a local giant in all aspects of building design. In this episode of the PowerUp podcast, Terry talks through more than 50 years of highlights, from the development of New Plymouth’s iconic Bowl of Brooklands to all the McDonalds in New Zealand, and even the New Zealand Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  Terry has an encyclopedic recollection of his incredible array of work, but this conversation is about much more than that. He is a passionate contributor to culture and the arts and a huge advocate for Taranaki as a region.  In this fascinating discussion, he reflects on his relationships, family and environments - many of which he has shaped, both literally and figuratively. 

If you met Ben and Tess Annabell 15 years ago, you’d probably never have known they’d end up running a business advisory firm. Ben was a qualified plumber, and Tess had gone away from her marine biology degree into chartered accountancy. Their life experience and shared passion eventually led them to start Recharge; an accountancy firm with a focus on supporting trades businesses to be both profitable and enjoyable.  In this episode of the PowerUp Podcast, they talk about their own struggles running a plumbing company, and how that led to starting Recharge. Ben and Tess discuss mental health and wellness, burnout, financial education and the toll of running a business.  It’s a fascinating look under the hood at the reality of small business owners, and how to prioritise yourself and your lifestyle alongside the health of your business.

Lisa Deken and Leeanne Snowdon are two school friends that run Down to Earth Organics; New Plymouth’s hub of holistic health. It’s packed wall to wall with nothing but good stuff for the mind and body. In this episode of the PowerUp podcast, Lisa and Lee talk about the beginnings of their work relationship, taking over a long-running Taranaki institution at the height of the Covid pandemic.  They discuss the skyrocketing wellness industry and their place in it, how they manage their relationship, getting the right expertise involved and what it’s like taking over an existing business rather than starting one from scratch. So many good lessons here for anyone in a similar position, be it in the wellness space, buying an existing business, or starting something with a friend.