That Home Loan Hub
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That Home Loan Hub
Business Development That Turns Busy Into Productive
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She wears “100 million hats”, but the through-line is clear: Helene Judge builds plans that help people move from busy to genuinely productive. We sit down with the founder of Kapiti Business Projects to unpack what business development looks like in real life, especially for sole traders and small business owners who are stuck in delivery mode and struggling to step back far enough to see what’s next.
We also get the inside story of the Kapiti Food Fair, from its early days to becoming a major Kapiti Coast consumer event that people lock into their calendars as a family highlight. Helene shares what it takes to plan an outdoor festival across an entire year, how vendor success and entertainment fit together, and why the team thinks of themselves as being in the “happiness business”. We talk funding, measurable return on investment, and the wider economic impact when visitors travel from Wellington and the lower North Island to spend locally.
The chat goes wider too: resilience in a tough economy, budgeting for the quiet months, the psychology of December spending, and the pressure young people face with the rising cost of study and the pull of Australia. We finish with a practical reality check on technology and AI for business, including how tools like Microsoft Copilot can help, and why you still need to read, verify, and use your own judgement.
If you got value from this, subscribe, share it with a business owner who needs a fresh plan, and leave a review so more New Zealand listeners can find the show.
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Meet Helene And Her Many Hats
SPEAKER_01Today I've got a very exciting guest and this woman she wears 100 million hats. I don't think I've ever met anyone as busy as Helene Jaj from Paraparmo. Hello, Helene. Hello, Kiora. Kiora, so good to have you here with us today. Thank you so much for volunteering your time. Helene, as we were talking of the recording, I was asking you what sort of introduction would you like? And the first thing you said, oh, I wear so many hats. And that's where I decided to go with. You wear a lot of hats. And I think we live at a time where people are busy, busy, busy. But being busy and being productive are two different things. And I think you're one of those people that pops up on my feed for multiple different reasons. I know you from the Capiti Food Fear. You also run the Capiti Marathon. Capity Run for Youth, yes. Run for Youth. And you're also involved with a few other projects around Capiti. So let's dive in for those that are not really aware of who you are. Let's dive into who is Helen Jarge and how did you end up in this chair today?
SPEAKER_00All right. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that. Really neat to be here. Yes, it's been quite a journey. I went into business in 2012, and that was as Carpety Business Projects. So Carperty Business Projects is still there live and kicking today, which I feel extremely grateful for because, you know, over that time it's put food on my table and it's led me into a lot of different opportunities along the way. And my mind is always quite busy and it's always quite open to new things, change, doing things in a different way, that sort of thing. So I think that's why I've sort of landed in that woman of many hats. But the foundation of it all is really Carpeti Business Projects.
SPEAKER_01Capita Business Projects, what do they do, this project? For someone listening to this for the first time, and let's say they've just moved to Carpeti and they're like, what? There's Capita Business Projects? What does it do and who can it help?
What Kapiti Business Projects Actually Does
SPEAKER_00So I'm like a business development specialist, really. I am a sole trader. However, I do have a sort of a team of people around me and I don't employ them, I contract them as I need them. And so there are people, again, that I've met and built relationships with along the way because I've got different expertise to me. However, but fundamentally the Carpeti Business Projects is around working with things, business development opportunities where people are sort of maybe a bit more established and they're wanting to try something new. They want to, they need a bit of a hand. So I'm not an office administrator. I'm a person that will often come in and think through the issue issue a bit bigger and help them with how they can potentially use new platforms, particularly digital platforms, and how they can implement them in their business to make their business sort of grow a bit faster and to be more efficient with what it does.
SPEAKER_01Because do you find like a lot of business owners, especially sole traders, we get really stuck in the business. Yes. And it's really hard to sometimes take that step back and look from the helicopter view a little bit and go, okay, cool, what else can I do with my business here? Yeah. And this is where your help, I guess, comes in by helping those business owners to take a step back.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. And and I enjoy it when I talk with people all the time because as a sole trader, you know, I'm in my office, I'm there by myself, I'm having meetings with myself, you know, ranting and raving around the house because it is also a home office. However, I do have an office where I can shut the door and forget about things, you know, once I decide that the day's over and I'm going to have a rest and get going next day. So business planning becomes really important. And that's often a time when you do need to chat with people. And so that's where one of the things that Carpety Business Projects does. It often helps people bring together a plan. And it could be a really comprehensive plan that's needed because they want to get finance from a bank, or they're they're wanting to start up a small business, or they might be wanting to evolve a new line of services within the business. So it can be all different types of things, but planning is important. And often having that little guide on your shoulder, not doing everything for you, but challenging you with things that can be then quite useful for somebody independent to bring that business plan together. Yeah. And sometimes it extends out too, you know, particularly if it's a startup, you know, often you need a cash flow. And so I'll help people develop up their cash flow forecast. And that's also really valuable because, you know, as the business starts and grows, it's really important to have markers to see that, oh gosh, yes, that's what I forecast. And look, here we are, six months down the track, we're doing that. Now we're moving ahead with the next goal that we want to do. So there's I I I really enjoy doing things like that. Um, however, I can't do hundreds of those sorts of things because particularly because of other hats that I wear, and that's where
Planning And Cash Flow For Growth
SPEAKER_00things like the Carpete Food Fair comes into play because that operates, takes all year to plan and and deliver with a lot of other people that event.
SPEAKER_01And that is the biggest event in Carpeti, to my understanding. Well I suppose we're the biggest consumer event. Consumer. I was I was thinking food. I just didn't say that word.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, but well, consumers from the perspective of we're a you know, we're not a an outdoor, well, we're an outdoor event, but we're an event where people can come in and consume, you know, there's 250 plus vendors. I was about to say how many vendors. However, it's more like a massive festival because it's this huge, exciting, fun day out, and people put it into their annual calendars to come. And, you know, particularly now, you know, because we know that the big main stage, music, you know, all that other basking entertainment, it all complements the vendor sites and the opportunity for those vendors to commercially make money out of being a vendor at the Carpete Food Fair. But it's actually a big event which we think we're in the happiness business. It's about joy. It's about joy.
SPEAKER_01Now tell me, as you were telling me that, I was thinking Capita Food Fair this year, when is it? Uh, Saturday, the 5th of December. Saturday the fifth. Because usually for me in my mind, it's like this Christmas month where everyone starts to get a bit happier and looking forward to the holidays and just needs a bit of that, you know, and finally we can spend time with family. So for me, it's a big family event as well.
SPEAKER_00It is.
SPEAKER_01I see lots of people bringing their bubs, bringing their kids, bringing their dogs.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I don't know if we're allowed dogs this year.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes, we are allowed dogs this year.
SPEAKER_01Okay, good. And there's just so much food and so much stuff to buy, and you know, really do your Christmas shopping. For people like me, especially, that leaves everything to the last minute when it comes to shopping.
unknownI hate shopping.
SPEAKER_01I have to really force myself to go and buy something. Not that I don't like spending money, it's just shopping has always been my least favourite thing to do. But when I get to the capital food fear and there are so many vendors and so many choices, I get really happy. Yeah. Because I can just do all my shopping in one go and then I'm done.
SPEAKER_00It's quite exciting, isn't it? I totally get that uh feeling of I'm not a shopper and I only go out to the shops when I really need to actually get something. Yeah, same.
SPEAKER_01Now, take me back a step. How did the Capitay Food Fear idea even come up to your head? Like, did you just wake up one morning and go, I want to do this?
SPEAKER_00Well, there's more. So my business partner,
How The Kapiti Food Fair Started
SPEAKER_00Janine van Krautenberg, she's one of the founding members of the actual Carpenter Food Fear brand. And it was her and some other people uh back in 20 uh 2008. So I wasn't on the scene at that stage. I think I came into the scene around about 2010, and it was because I was working as a business development manager for an organization called Nature Coast Enterprise, which doesn't exist anymore, but it wore two hats. It was the Local Economic Development Agency for Kapati Herofinua, and it was also the regional tourism organization for for Kapati Herofinua, and it was funded by both councils, Horofinua and Capati Coast. So they came up, that group came up to meet me because they knew that we were starting to do some work in the food and beverage sector, and we were building a database of all the different food producers in Karpati Herofinua. And so they came and they wanted to meet about how we could help them. And so it was sort of quite exciting. And I've always I'm I am a foodie, I love food, and the people that came were fun, they were really interesting, they were excited about what they were doing, they had kicked off their inaugural event, they got a small amount of money out of Capity Coast District Council, and they ran the first event at the old Fitiraya site uh near Lynn up by Lindale. Yeah. And it sort of just evolved from there without sort of very organically, and I sort of all of a sudden was being dragged into, you know, monthly, weekly meetings.
SPEAKER_01As it happens.
SPEAKER_00As it as it goes. And it sort of very much evolved from there. And what happened was it became clear that Janine and I were very like-minded, different, but like-minded. And also Thomas Thomas, who then owned Carpety Cakes and Bakery, he was sort of involved. And then there was Anne-Marie Tiffin, who used to own Sopranos Restaurant, which is not around anymore, but um we all sort of became together, and so we started. I suppose I started becoming a little bit more influential and helping to drive things, because I like driving things. So I get in the car and let's go, everybody. This is really cool. And off we went, and we all sort of we delivered, I think up to about 2012, up at the Lindale location, and then we got too big and we had to start looking. And so then we landed on the new site where we are now at AmazingGarp Reserve in 2014. But before landing there, Thomas and Anne Marie departed because things were going, you know, there were changes with their businesses and both were leaving town, that sort of thing. And so then it remained with Janine and I, and we were operating very sort of in a well-planned, productive way, and we had good systems and things in place, but we didn't have any entity authority behind us. So we moved locations, and then we thought, gosh, we better put some formality behind what we're doing. And so in 2016, we formed a partnership. Nice. And but we'd delivered two amazing fares at that new location. And then, you know, things started to expand. It's just like any business, you know, things started getting bigger and bigger each year, and more visitors would come and the excitement would would would, you know, it just sort of started compounding. So then in 2015, in fact, the Carpete Coast District Council developed the Carpeti Major Events Fund. So we were too flippant scared to apply the first year because we thought, oh, you know, we're just two chicks, what will what do we know? And then we so we didn't apply the first year. Wow. And the second um when we realised who had received money in that inaugural round, we thought, heck. We could have done it. We we could do that. Yeah. So we had to put our big girl pants on. And in 2016, we applied and we got funding. And ever since then we've been a recipient, but every year that fund tends to morph and change and and it becomes it's really it's massive to get into it. But we definitely meet the criteria. And the criteria is essentially you have to t return at least five to one from the funding that they've given you. Last, just as an example, we returned 25 to 1, so quite a good investment. Wow. And you also have to have the visitors that come, at least 5% of them need to be from out of town. And we normally achieve usually about 40% from out of town.
SPEAKER_01Where are they coming from?
SPEAKER_00They're coming from sort of lower North Island and a lot also from Wellington and all around that broader Wellington region, Munawatu, Fanganui.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I was about to say I've got lots of friends and palms to north there.
SPEAKER_00Those sort of easy drive distances for a day, or they're coming to visit and stay with family and friends, they stay overnight and then they head home. Um, so they actually come from all over the country, but predominantly Wellington and that lower North Island caption.
SPEAKER_01That's incredible. I mean, you know, for for my listeners, what I'm always trying to do is I'm trying to bring speakers that will encourage them and inspire them. And that you can actually start something out of nothing. You can, if you've got a vision, if you've got a drive, if even if that vision may not be where you end up, but you've got something to go by and the passion that drives you, you can actually achieve a lot of things. And listening to you today and to the story of the Capita Foot Fear and how it evolved over the years and what it is now, like it just blows my mind that you can just start up and run with it. And but see, a lot of people don't realize the effort that goes behind the scenes, the hard work that you put in, the sleepless nights, the organizing and planning and logistics and making sure the vendors are all where they need to be. Because on the day it's absolute, it's orchestrated. But at the same time, to me, it's always like, oh my goodness, does everyone know where they're going? But somehow, magically, everybody knows where they're going.
SPEAKER_00It's great. Absolutely. So it is all in the planning, and that's like a lot of things within businesses. Within business, you do need to be a good planner, you need to be able to work with people, you need to be able to lead them, but lead with purpose, and you need to be able to lead people that are with you. And and if you then set out that plan and then enact that plan authentically, it does all come together, and it is quite amazing. You know, we have pinch moments, Janine and I, during the day of the Carpete Food Fear, because we often stand up on the hill and we go, Wow, this is cool. Yeah. And we still have that feeling, you know, all these years on, because it is a pretty cool event, and it is pretty neat how it's grown. It is still very neat how it's very connected and engaged with its community. However, we are definitely a major event, not just in the Carpeti region, but when you look around, you know, we can be proud of the efforts that that we've taken. Absolutely. But with those efforts comes risk.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I was about to ask you, that was my next question, especially given the economy. And I was gonna ask you that early on when you were
Risk, Resilience, And Money Mindset
SPEAKER_01talking about when you're working with businesses, and it's awesome to talk about the businesses that grow, but what about all those businesses that are struggling at the moment? And in the environment that we're in where the economy is experiencing very, very down times where there's an unemployment rate that's very high. Like what's happening out there? Tell me from that angle.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's well, just personally, you know, as Carpeti Business Projects, you know, you know, I I'm you know, operate very leanly. And I think a lot of businesses are doing that, even more so now, because you know, the money, you know, the the work is there and I'm quite established now. So I I've been able to sort of set the scene for where, you know, I want things to go. However, I I didn't go into business to be a millionaire, and I you know, do operate Yeah, I I it can be challenging. However, with that those challenges comes that opportunity of being self-employed, and you do have a lot more flexibility when you're self-employed. And you know, I I went into business when my son was very, very young. It's only him and I. And and we've been able to get through our life. He's now in year two university at Victoria studying maths, and we're still getting, you know, we're still there, you know, we're we're surviving. But we see it, uh well, I see it as Carpenter Business Projects that a lot of people that are reasonably established like me, they are carrying on because the moment you pull back and you think, oh, we'll have a year off, or we'll slow down with this or we'll do that, you might as well kiss goodbye to things. You have to persevere. And so if you want to be in business, you've got to be resilient and you've got to be able to get yourself through those tough times. And you do have to be putting money aside. So instead of just thinking, oh great, I've got some spare money, I'm gonna go and spend that. You don't see me going off and buying new cars, having holidays. I just get on and and and live life. You have you have to factor in, you know, some fun and some enjoyment, but it doesn't always have to cost a lot. But but it's decisions that you make yourself, you know, it's around what your life to be and your and your lifestyle. And what's really important to me is is obviously my son and my and myself. And security. And security.
SPEAKER_01I'm hearing security through this.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01Take me back to a young Helene. What did she know about money?
SPEAKER_00Oh, we were we were brought up in that generation of when we were young, when we were at um school, you know, we what was it? We got a bank book. You know, we you know, like a little bank book. It came through a school through the school system. And I think it was with the trustee savings bank back then, which sort of ultimately morphed into Westpac, I think, from memory. But w we were taught that it was about saving, you know, that you would you shouldn't really go and do anything unless you've got the money in the bank. So over the years I I've learnt to balance that because you know, if you just keep save, save, saving all your life and you nearly never enjoy the hard work and the effort that you put in, then what's the point? Yeah. So, but you do just have to be mindful. If you're if you're good at planning, good at budgeting and putting your money aside for different purposes, then you can have a balanced lifestyle depending on whatever choices you make. So, yeah, a family that's never had a lot of money, never had a lot, like when I left home and which was actually from Nelson and moved to Wellington. And I in my first job was I was a cadet working for the Department of Justice back in those days. And there were four cadets chosen around New Zealand, and I happened to be one of them. And, you know, my parents just sort of waved goodbye to me at the airport. Bye, and I had a suitcase and off I went, and I was landing in Wellington, and I got picked up by some family friends, and I lived in at their place for about six weeks before I had sort of got into this new job, and then met some people and landed in a flat, and life went on from there. So, but you know, didn't get any sort of check or any sort of support from the family. Not because they didn't want to do that, it's just that that's what it didn't happen. Yeah, but my generation that didn't happen. They didn't have much money either back then. No. But we were always loved and we were always warm and we were happy and we had a great family life. Do you have lots of siblings? Uh yes, I'm the eldest of five.
SPEAKER_01Wow. Okay.
SPEAKER_00Are the brothers, sisters? Yes, I've got uh well, there's two two myself and another sister, and then three brothers.
SPEAKER_01Wow, okay. I mean, the eldest daughter is usually the one that's supposed to be like the one that has everything switched on, and she's got it all. She's got it all together. And then the rest, I don't know what happens after. Yeah. This is all according to research, not me. But Helene, you've got a really interesting story. So you went to Wellington, and then but I'm still trying to put the puzzles together. How did you end up in business?
SPEAKER_00How do you go from Ministry of Justice to business? Well, when I was I've mentioned Nature Coast Enterprise, when I was working there, that organization was wound down and both councils
Starting A Business With $3,000
SPEAKER_00decided that they wanted to do economic development differently. So they both retrenched and they that the organisation was disestablished, and so we all got made redundant. We didn't get any big cheek checks or anything like that. However, for me, I just happened to have a bit of leave. So when I when we all left, we had a bit of a party, and then I landed, I think I ended up getting paid my last paycheck was about $3,000. So that's what I essentially started up business with, $3,000 in the bank. And but what was really lucky was the then board, one of them was a woman called Shelley from one of the directors from Colbert Cooper, who are who are my accountants today. And she said, Helen, can you come and do a project for us? So I said, sure, what's that? So that's what kick started me. And that was amazing. So I did some of that project that project from home, and some I would go into their office and live in. And then when that was coming to the an end, they said, Oh, can you do another project for us? So that's what really got me going. But also there was another person on our board of Nature Coast Enterprise, Kate Stan Kate Gibbs from Stanmore Farm. And I saw her recently and she reminded me of this. But again, she said, Could you come into a project for us? So I left. We got all made redundant and and I and I had decided that I was going to go into business because I thought, well, I don't want to go back into Wellington to work. Especially if you had a young kid at that time. How old was he at that time? He was probably about five.
SPEAKER_01Were you terrified when you heard that you were going to be redundant?
SPEAKER_00Terrified. I thought, no, it it all felt right because I felt it was time for to be doing my own thing. You know, and but it took me into being my forties to th to be brave enough to do that. And and because I had two people that said, can you come do these projects for us? And I said yes. And boom, away it went. And and then one thing leads to another. And so here I am now, you know, 2026.
SPEAKER_01I love that for you. I absolutely love that for you. What did you learn as a lesson being self-employed, apart from you've got to put money aside? What sort of downfalls did you had where you were like, oh, if I could have got back in time, I would have done that differently? Were there any moments like that?
SPEAKER_00Not hugely. Sometimes you hold your breath because you think, oh, there's not much money this month. But then what it did, it would just sort of pushed me harder to to work with people. And there was always collaboration opportunities that were presenting, and quite a lot of them were in the event space. So there are people out there that think that, oh Helene, she's an event manager. Because I obviously Carpeti Food Fair is quite a large event. And but I got landed quite early in the piece. Richard Kalkin, you know, another really great guy here in business in Carpeti, the founder of Web Genius. Yes. And he invited me to one of his BI meetings. And after that meeting, he said, Helen, could you come and work with us? Because we Web Genius has created this new event called the Web Genius Carpety Run for Youth. And I said, Oh, that sounds really interesting. And it piqued my interest because it was all about community. Community and and bringing people together to do something wonderful. And the wonderfulness was about raising as much money as possible for Rangatahi in our community. And so we developed a model that financially sort of worked for me. So, you know, I get paid on a performance basic basis, basically, and that still happens to this day. But it's still quite a low, it's not huge. No. But amongst everything else I do, what it offers to me is variety. It enables me to be connected with a large variety of different people in carpet. So it I I crave that, I like that. It keeps you current. That's right. That's right. And it keeps keeps me connected because being connected is actually really important in business. Yeah. You've got to be able to do it. Building relationships. Yeah. Very, very important. You just have to be able to handle all the craziness that can sometimes happen. But that's okay. I I can do that.
SPEAKER_01You strike me as a person they can handle quite a bit. I find often myself that you know when people say, Oh, how hard is it like? You know, oh, you've got such a great life. You can go for coffees anytime you want, you can go out to the gym or whatever. To me, it's like, oh God, it's like a roller coaster. Being self-employed, and especially if you've got staff, like I've got staff, I have to pay people, regardless of the of the results this month, I still have to pay fixed cost to my people. So for me, it's always like this roller coaster journey, going, woo, ah, holding my breath. And um, I totally feel you, and but it gives you purpose.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. And as long as you wrap a whole lot of systems and thinking and planning and stuff around that purpose, you will continue to do that because business is a bit like a roller coaster, and that's okay as long as you can manage all of that, and it's not sort of too high all the time and too low when you drop. Exactly. You know what I mean? Yeah. Exactly.
SPEAKER_01Now, in terms of um our community, what do you think is lacking here? What sort of events do you think we could be thinking of or giving businesses ideas of
Community Events That Create Momentum
SPEAKER_01you know, how can we bring more life to carpete, especially our youth?
SPEAKER_00So, there's quite a lot going on already, but it's often in silos. But if you're thinking about, you know, like looking at our environment, so you know, we have this whole mountains to the sea sort of concept, and there's a lot in between. And the outdoors and nature are really beautiful here in Carpeti Coast. So, so you know, you think about the Capati Hearth Marathon and even Carpeti Run for Youth and the different running and outdoor sporting events that happen, Carpeti Women's Try, you know, things like that. So those sorts of events are all events that are they're backed by the major events fund. And so you need we need more of those sorts of events. Because being outdoors is great, but often they're all concentrated often around summer. Yes. So, you know, if you can because it's obviously nicer often to do events in summer and then sometimes as as against in winter. But it's all risky, you see. It's really hard. It's hard setting up new events and and not having a lot of money and bringing people together with the right passion and the right purpose. So outdoor events for sure, I think, bring more of them in, but also events that you know, you you you think about the wedding expo that happens. That's a very cool event, again, run by private people. So encouraging private people to bring their passion together to deliver an event, but one that can make money so that you can survive and the event can be sustainable. So weddings again work with the outdoor environment because a lot of events happen outdoors, but then you go intodoors and into very beautiful spaces, and there's some very beautiful spaces indoors here in Capitol. So it's about often again bringing all these different people together that work in different industries to deliver events. We'd like to think that the Carpeti Food Fair is sustainable and can keep on going. Yeah. And because food, food and beverage industry in Carpeti is a is a emerging and sustainable industry. There's a lot of amazing producers out there, and the work that Carpeti Coast District Council is doing with that new cluster, the food and beverage cluster, is very important because it's setting a foundation and setting a stage for collaborations in particular to flourish. So a good example of that at the moment is with the Carpeti Food Fair, you know, for this year. We're hoping that our site map is going to deliver a new Carpeti zone. It's quite hard when you've got different Carpeti vendors all around the site map, but we're going to stay focused on those that are producing things and packaging things up to sell to consumers. So that should be quite an exciting new zone. And at the center of it will be the Visit Carpeti brand. So it's about bringing all of that together and collaborating and showing cohesion and all together, you're pitching a pretty cool story about all these amazing products that are being produced here in Carpeti and that can be bought at festivals, bought at fairs, bought at markets, but also bought online through their own websites that can be, you know, and a lot of these businesses are starting to export, you know, they're starting to export overseas. So it's it is exciting, the things that can grow and how events can help the growth of some of these industries. Events are a massive for economic impact. You know, when you just think back earlier in our conversation, and I mentioned that 25 to 1, what that technically means is that we don't have to give that major events funding funding money back. However, there's an economic analysis that gets developed through an infometrics tool. And we have to put it, we don't put the tool, we don't put the numbers in, but we provide a whole lot of stats. The numbers go into that model, and then that extrapolates out uh that return on investment if you know from an investment perspective. And then what it also does is it estimates the additional spending that goes into our local economy. So uh last year there was just under two million dollars extra spending, they estimated that went into our local economy. Now that's pretty cool, that's not too shabby the way we look at it.
SPEAKER_01No, not at all. And I mean when people come this way, they want to enjoy the day, they want to really go out there, explore what else is out there, and spend money and spend time with their families. Because honestly, like if I'm looking at if I go somewhere, I've got four kids, by the time I buy them all food and drinks, it's a lot of money. And then all the activities and things like that. So you have to plan for it and you have to budget for it. Yeah, and that was my next question. Do you think this year is going to be the same or different compared to last year, given the economic environment?
SPEAKER_00It's challenging, and we feel, you know, you have moments where you feel pretty nervous about what you're doing. However, you know, we have to go into it well planned, we have to plan a really good campaign, which kicks off very soon. We've like everybody, we've had to re-look at well, what does it cost to get in as a visitor? What does it cost to high, you know, to have a site by a vendor? So we're doing small adjustments like everybody, you know, we have to operate just like any other business, but we have to take the market with us. But because we're an event and because we try and focus on that joy factor, that happiness factor, by the time the end of the year comes, people really need, you know, like they need it now, you know, but we're also in that other challenging sort of year as well, and then we've got to flip an election. Election. And that's a real pain, you know, when you think about it, because it's quite distracting for a whole lot of reasons. And, you know, there appears to be still money out there, but a lot of that money's just being held in people's bank accounts or in their pockets, in their wallets, because they're just trying to be mindful about what they're doing. But by the time December comes, we hope we hope that they will come in similar numbers, if not a little bit more, because then we know that at the end of the day, we can then be a sustainable event. Because if we don't get the visitors, then you know we struggle to pay everybody that we owe. And generally, you know, the two owners, the two directors, we're the ones that have to absorb it. Yeah. And when there is a hit. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. No, I always borrow for you every year.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00But joy, joy, joy, happiness, happiness, happiness, we have to rely on that. And we know that our our ticket prices are still good when you compare them to other similar sort of. How much are the tickets? So this year, though, for an adult early bird, it'll be $18 to go.
SPEAKER_01I've got
Ticket Prices, Giveaways, And Year-End Spending
SPEAKER_01some to give away. So for those that are listening, if you want to go to Captive Food Fair as one of your sponsors, I don't even know what sort of sponsor I am, but I'm you're a silver sponsor. I'm so very grateful. Thank you. Oh, thank you. I always forget. I'm like, I just love coming there. I don't care about the titles. I just wanted to bank the community event and because food is important, obviously. But um, I will have some tickets to give away. And for those that are listening, if you want a ticket, if you want to reach out to me, more than happy to give them. And you know, in the past it's been really cool for those that I give away the tickets, they'll come on a day and they'll find me and we'll take selfies together and stuff like that. So it's really cute. What I was thinking as you were talking about it is that you know it's interesting, the psychology of spending. I find often when I'm dealing with my clients in January and February, when they're looking to buy a house, they go, Oh, you know, please ignore the spending that I had in December because you know it went a little bit crazy. What I find is the moment December hits, people don't care anymore. They really start spending. Even the money they don't have, they spend. So I think with the capital food fear being in December, it just you're definitely in that right window where people just stop caring because they've been carrying all that weight on them the whole 11 months of budgeting and saving and putting up with the rates and mortgages and insurances and not going away on trips. So when December hits, they're like, oh well, we're done.
SPEAKER_00We want to rejoice. And it's a kiwi psyche, like December, January, it's sort of like everything goes to sleep a little bit from a business perspective. And and I know when I'm talking with some of my clients, you know, particularly if they're new to business, you know, I say to them, you really have to put money aside because things will go quiet in December and January. You'll actually work quite hard in December if you've got any sense, and you'll try and build things up as much as possible so that you can actually have a break. Because January is the natural time when you can have a break, because you your email will drop off, your phone will stop ringing for a while, and you can actually switch off and you can be with the people that you love doing the things that you want to do, and also spending some money yourself. Yeah. But but time is the thing that's also really important spending time, spending time with the people that you love.
SPEAKER_01It's creating memories, right? Because that's the only thing really we have when we get old. It's not about how much money we've got in our bank account. Nobody thinks on their dying bed, oh yeah, I've got $25,000 in my bank account. Nobody thinks of that. They'll be lying down in their hospital bed thinking about all the fun stuff they did with their loved ones or things they haven't done and they wish they did. That's right, yeah. So you've got to strike that balance of what works for you. You know, I look at my kids and I realize the other day I only have five more summers probably left with my eldest son before he's off to college uh to university, before he's off to doing fun stuff with his mates. Because in five years' time, he probably doesn't want to do summers with me when he can go to the beach with his mates and girlfriends and all sorts. So it's yeah, how do you spend that time in a balanced quality way that will create memories?
SPEAKER_00I think if you do that now while your children are young, because once a mum, you're always a mum. Oh yes. Doesn't matter how old your children are, like my boy's coming up 20 this year. And he, yes, I know what you mean when yes, he may not want to come away for the Christmas camping trip that we often do, and last year he didn't. However, he's always there. I'm the one, you know, we talk, we have a good close relationship, and I think that's because we've built that up over the years, and you know, we both need each other, and if you nurture your children and guide your children in that way, they'll always be there just in a different way. Yeah. Yeah. No, definitely. Because you do have to remember there is a time where you have to cut the rope. However, you know. Have you cut one? Yes, I have done that. However, financially it's not easy for young people now. No. And and I it it does bother me sometimes, you know, like even just the mere cost of how much it is to go to university
Youth, Uni Costs, And Talent Leaving
SPEAKER_00and and whether that is preventing some people going to university. And you know, Sydney's in that precisely in that thing, whereas next year he was gonna be year three, he was gonna be that year three fees free. It's gone now, because the current government has cut that and they cut it immediately. They didn't give it a sort of a warm down period. So, you know, it it worries me, and uh and those sorts of things it bothers me because education is you know very, very important for f the future, and you know, my son will be somebody, and I know I want him to be somebody, but you know, like it it all comes back to money to be at university. Yeah, and there are people that are there that are struggling and they drop out because of money, and and to me it doesn't seem quite right.
SPEAKER_01No, no, that'll be really cool, like if the government would say, Okay, cool, study the three years, get that student loan, because it's interest free, right? But then lend a job, land a profession, stay in New Zealand for at least three years, and we'll wipe your debt.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, sort of bond them, and that's where they don't they don't bond that at the moment.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, because a lot of we we're leaking brains. A lot of New Zealanders that are super smart, they come here, they go. They just, you know, they're the the the grass is definitely greener in Australia at the moment. I see so many young people leaving to go because the Kiwi Saver is well ahead. You know, they're doing 12% versus we're still stuck at three and a half. The packages they get from their work. And look, this episode is not sponsored by Australian government to send you away. But what I'm seeing is that yeah, a lot of people are leaving. I mean, I love New Zealand, I don't think I will ever go to Australia because I just don't like spiders or snakes in my bed. But I do see why it could be attractive for younger people to go. Absolutely, totally. And that terrifies me slightly as well, thinking my kids are gonna grow up, and then they will go, Mom, actually, why can I is boring, Wellington is boring, we're gonna go to the ground.
SPEAKER_00But it's okay because the way technology is now, you can be chatting to anybody, well, look engage, you know, like it's all it's all okay. It will all be alright, but it would be nice if New Zealand can maintain that, you know, keep that talent and have the opportunities there for our own kids.
SPEAKER_01You just raised a really interesting point about technology that I was going to ask you earlier as well. How do you see that affecting businesses these days, especially
Technology, AI, And Staying Current
SPEAKER_01the ones you're working with?
SPEAKER_00It's huge, it's huge. You've just got to really keep on it. And you you can't put your head in the sand and go, oh look, I'll just ignore that and and it won't I won't I'll I won't be bothered by that. You actually do have to keep your head up over the radar when it comes to technology. And you it's critical because if you don't, you know, give it five years, give it ten years, you know, you're potentially going to be a person stuck in an arc that won't understand and won't have the confidence to engage. You can't and so you've just got to keep moving with it. If it means chatting with a friend or another colleague, or you know, talking just talking with others, stay connected. Keep you you don't have to become a guru at everything. You have to just look at your business, look at your personal circumstances and try and work out the right things that are going to help you keep your head above the parapet and also to feel engaged and confident with what you're doing. Because the moment you stop, you'll be left behind.
SPEAKER_01I think it's just really like our parents had to embrace the rise of technology, the Wi-Fi's, the WWW.
SPEAKER_00When I got my first PC, I think it was 1992 or something, or 1995, around that. And then, you know, first mobile phones, you know, those big bricks that you would carry in your car when you're driving. Yeah, you just have to sort of keep moving with it. Yeah. And try not to be overwhelmed by it and and pick up on new things that that that help you run your business more efficiently. Like AI, you know, like, ooh, it's moving so quickly. But attempt to get on board with it. Choose your platform, you know, like for me, you know, I work in lots of different platforms, but my my chosen AI platform, I just I work in co-pilot because I've got a business license. I know it's protected on the enterprise sort of foundation, and you just get on with it. And and you learn because AI learns as well. If you learn to do all the right prompts and ask it to do all the right things, it will learn from you and it will give you back sensibility, but never release anything without looking at it and reading it and making sure that it does actually make sense.
SPEAKER_01That's the key as well. You know, I often say, and for those that are listening probably would have been sick by now, I always say AI is only as good as a human that's using it. Like you've got to use your own brains when you're using AI. And if you don't know what you need to ask of it, or if you don't know how to check for validity of that information, like you're gonna be in trouble. So you really gotta be smart as well on how you're using AI. Absolutely. Helene, I feel like this conversation went all over the show today, but it just beautifully rounded who you are and how much experience you have. If you could have one minute of fame, how would people find you? And do you want people to reach out to you and why?
SPEAKER_00Oh,
Where To Find Helene And Wrap-Up
SPEAKER_00well, I'm easily found. If you just, you know, put Helene Judge into your AI, you know, partner or into Google wherever, you will find me and you will generally find me at the top of the list with as Carpety Business Projects and Carpety Food for you will follow pretty closely with that. But my name, you know, Helene Judge New Zealand, Cuperty Coast, you you will find me. And I and I open my door or my telephone or anything to anybody, but I'm I also get a bit selective as to where I do step in. You know, I have to make sure that whatever I decide to get involved with, that it that it does so somehow keep me keep me connected within in within business and within Carpety Coast as such, because that's where I live and where I operate from.
SPEAKER_01What are your big goals and vision? Where are you heading?
SPEAKER_00Where am I heading? Gosh, that's kind of a question. You'd sort of think that I'd know the answer to that, but I'm in an interesting part of my life where, you know, working and and watching my son grow is really important, and being part of that, but also my own family, you know, and I'm the eldest of five, and and I tend to be the matriarch of our family. And so keeping our family together is very important, and some of our family are in Melbourne, and some of our family are in Nelson, and some of our family we're a bit all over the place, but Nelson is very much our home. So evolving that next stage, like and being able to work, continue to work, you know, from a home environment is important to me. And but also remembering in my family and where I might want to be with them in the future. So that's not sort of always quite crystal clear because I'm not ready to take that leap yet. Yeah. You know, it's important that I'm still making money and putting food on the table and doing the things that I need to do that work for Sydney and I.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00Exactly.
SPEAKER_01Well, hopefully he will finish university, he'll land a beautiful job, and then he'll be the one looking after you.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, wouldn't that be great? Well, he's doing it. Wherever in the world that will be. Yeah. He's a mathematician.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So I'm sure you can't go wrong if you know how to do with numbers, how to deal with numbers. It's the best. Elaine, thank you so so much for your time today. I've really, really enjoyed our chat. And I can't wait to the Captive Food Fear in December. It's gonna be fun. Wonderful. Joy, joy, joy. Thank you. Thank you.
