For businesses
Processing criticism leads to productive outcomes, if handled properly
We've all experienced criticism, it's part and parcel of human interaction but it's worth noting that there are stages of processing that feedback and how it is a journey toward resolution and something more valuable - acceptance. A recent article by Esther Bintliff...
Stay safe when shopping online
Online shopping is not even the new normal - it's just the normal. The past few years of the Covid pandemic has further increased consumer online spending to the degree whereby consumer behaviour has radically shifted. That means it pays to heed a few tips and...
Plasterboard supply chaos easing
The plasterboard supply debacle that has hindered the building industry and caused needless delays is slowly dissipating, signalling good news for Kiwi builders and consumers. As reported by Nicholas Pointon in RNZ this week, "The plasterboard shortage has eased...
Things to do to spruce up your house this Spring
Sure, it's been snowing where it usually doesn't this time of the year but it's Spring - the time to pay some attention to your home, inside and out. With the weekends hopefully warning up, there will be time to take care of small and large jobs that'll have your...
Tough conditions require a little patience
Currently things are really, really tough for a lot of trades around the country and despite a building boom, significant factors and stressors have created a set of extremely difficult conditions. Business owners are under considerable strain and homeowners and...
NoCowboys’ points of difference
To have pioneered online reviews in New Zealand and to have kept in step with an ever changing digital landscape for over 16 years is no mean feat. That we continue to evolve and grow Kiwi businesses online as well as offering the best information to consumers, isn't...
When times are tough – reputation is essential
One need only glance at whichever news platform you prefer to know that we are currently in difficult times. Inflation and interest rates are rising, consumer prices for essentials are increasing and despite the government reducing fuel taxes, the cost of fuel keeps...
Lack of real oversight when it come to reviews
I have a friend who runs a business - a financial advisor and accountant, whose services I use. She told me a story recently about a mysterious phone call she received a few months ago from someone she knew was an ex-employer who resented her leaving his business and...
Reviews, the far more powerful endorsement
In my last piece I wrote about branding and reviews and since then I've had the opportunity to talk with colleagues and think further on the subject and realised I had missed another feature of traditional branding that is trumped by authenticated online reviews -...
Reviews are the new brand, only more effective
Brand, the buzzword for advertising for so many decades, has changed substantially from what it once was since the advent and supremacy of online commerce. Years ago brand was the holy grail for businesses and by extension advertising companies. Brand was splashed...
Abusing reviews for personal vendettas
Online reviews are to meant give guidance to our peers based on our experiences and subjective opinions. Unfortunately, if allowed to be, they can also be used to damage the reputations of businesses when absolutely no service was provided or product purchased. When...
The power of the apology
In a perfect storm of irony I was all set to write about the power of apology in business this week, and wouldn't you know it, I was served up the ideal how not do it by celebrities in Lalaland. For those of you who missed it, Will Smith decided to let rage and...
Retail vs online shopping
I'm old enough to remember those crazy, carefree days before the internet where shopping was a physical pursuit and an adventure. Obviously a lot has changed since then and sometimes I have to check myself about my own consumer behaviours, especially over the past two...
Local Celebrity, Rarest Whale, and Bear Necessities
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Positivity is a real booster to well-being When I started putting together this In reviews blog over a year ago I...
All Blacks deliver, Parrot On The Run, and Living Legend
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. All Blacks grind out win against plucky English The All Blacks kicked off the international season and the tenure of...
Big Cheeses, Super Gardener, and Changing Times
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Kiwi icons discontinued I noted the passing of two Kiwi food and beverage items with a note of nostalgia this week....
Runaway Donkey, Sense Prevails, and Mistaken Identity
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Blame it on the cow This is a rather heartwarming tale about an elderly gentleman in Shropshire, UK who lost his...
Special Tree, and Truly Amazing Canine
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. World's tallest dog goes weak at the knees when the vacuum cleaner comes out As the cliche goes, the bigger they...
Miraculous Necklace, Historic Milk Powder, and Balloon Fight
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Historic milk powder not dissimilar to today's This is a rather nice tale with a bit of history involved, as well as...
Treasure Find, Bee Rescue, and Cheesey Adventures
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Cheese and daredevilry - a winning combination It's hard to beat a centuries old tradition that combines a steep...
Chicken Run, Record Haka, and Poignant Discovery
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Chicken gang torments village In a happier sidestep from the usual stories about gang violence in our country, I...
Beevers Return, Football Beerfest, and Heroic Tale
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Hero does the right thing, despite fears of getting in trouble As we know, citizens do not have the power to detain...
Germans Protecting Kebab Price, Phoenix One Game From Glory
Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer. Germans want subsidy to keep kebabs affordable The cost of living crisis in Germany has motivated some to demand that...
In reviews – 5th May ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Man loses best friend and hopes for speedy return A man in the United States formed an unusual connection with an...
In reviews – 28th April ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Late night ice cream revelries cancelled Some cities and towns face noise issues from boy racers, drunks, and...
In reviews – 21st April ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Not a level playing field - Overseas Monopolies in NZ One entity is a state owned broadcaster forced to cancel or...
In reviews – 14th April – ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Animals really are incredible Last night as as I was driving home I approached a zebra crossing and had to take a...
In reviews – 7th April ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Christchurch Cathedral rebuild slowed down by huge budget blowout I was raised in Christchurch, so like many others...
In reviews – 31st March ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Easter trading rules are a bit of a mess For years, the rules over Easter trading have been a bit of a hodge podge...
In reviews – 24th March ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Frozen pie sold for ten times its price I grew up in the South Island and we were introduced to fast food chains a...
In reviews 17th March ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Anonymous benefactor brightens strangers' lives A lovely heartwarming tale of faceless generosity opens this weeks...
In reviews – 10th March ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. We all lose when tech giants get a free hand In the past few weeks our two major broadcasters have announced cuts...
In reviews – March 3rd ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Dad found in the bush after son's gut feeling and help from a goat This one is a real beaut. 72 year old Brent...
In reviews – 25th February ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. The buck sotps here Making mistakes on the job isn't always the end of the world and this one at least raised a few...
In reviews – 18th February ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Sterling effort from firefighters battling Port Hills blazes Only seven years ago the Port Hills in Christchurch...
In reviews – 11th February ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Feat given record status, finally You spend seven years knocking together a faithful reproduction of Paris' Eiffel...
In reviews – 4th February ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Heartwarming tale of generous stranger You're working in your garden, minding your own business and some randomer...
In reviews – 28th January ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. We need to question the traffic management rort. An recent article in the New Zealand Herald made me realise that...
In reviews – 21st January ’24
Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. 'Theft' grey area makes for a ripping yarn Laying waste to the well established schoolyard maxim of 'finders...
In reviews – 13th January ’24
Looking back over the past week and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Huge spider a big boon for science I know loads of people are terrified of our arachnid pals and even the thought of...
In reviews – 5th January ’24
Looking back over the past week and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Incredible aversion of what could have been a total disaster We've been hearing for years that flying has become...
In reviews – 30th December ’23
Looking back over the past week and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. New Year's Eve - the big carnival As I write this I can hear the din from a few neighbourhood day before New Year's...
In reviews – 21st December ’23
Looking back over the past week and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Some things are so mad that they may just be great Nothing beats a quirky food or beverage 'invention' and this one...
In reviews – 13th December ’23
Looking back over the past week and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. With Christmas a week and a half away - this week's reviews are all related to our favourite holiday. Christmas...
In reviews – 7th December ’23
Looking back over the past week and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Maybe get a garden gnome? Some people love quirky ornaments or sculptures to enliven their garden spaces but a couple...
In reviews – 1st December ’23
Looking back over the past week and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Not all heroes wear capes Each week I send hours looking for appropriate stories to review and I have to admit, it...
In reviews – 22nd November ’23
Looking back over the past week and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Rules are rules, but sometimes clemency is the right move If you've ever watched the Kiwi version of Border Patrol,...
In reviews – 14th October ’23
Looking back over the past week and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing. Coalition talks drag on and on and on It's a month ago that we went to the polls and cast our votes in the general...