Tying the Bell to the Cat
I was reading a book to my girls the other night about a mouse conference — stay with me. These kiore (mice) were trying to figure out how to deal with a new cat that had moved in and was tormenting them.
One kiore (mouse) came up with a brilliant idea: tie a bell to the cat so they would have an early warning system. The idea was clever, practical, and made perfect sense. The problem was when it came to actually doing it, no one wanted to take the risk. And so, nothing changed.
In many ways, this reminded me of myself. I am never short on ideas, but I have often found the execution side harder to follow through on. That was part of the motivation for stepping into this flooring business: to see if we could not only come up with ideas, but actually put them into action, even in an industry completely new to us.
Our working hypothesis was simple. If we could enter a business completely new to us, learn fast, and turn it into a steady source of income, then we could replicate that approach elsewhere. By creating systems that are clear, repeatable, and scalable, we would have the foundations to purchase other businesses and use those same systems to lift them up.
As we near the end of our fifth month, the results so far are promising. Our approach to social media and systems is starting to show real impact, with sales growing roughly 30 percent month on month over the first four months. Growth has leveled off slightly this month, but that’s to be expected as things start to settle.
What is equally encouraging is that our expenditure has remained consistent even as revenue has grown. We also know there is still plenty of room to improve. Stock control is a big one. Right now, materials often arrive too early or too late, and our warehouse space is not being used as efficiently as it could be. With a better setup and tighter systems, we can reduce waste, avoid last-minute scrambles, and free up both time and money.
This personal experiment also fits into a much bigger picture. Right now, we are living through what many call the great wealth transfer. Across New Zealand and globally, baby boomer-owned businesses are looking to transition as their owners move into retirement. For the next generation, this represents not just a wave of businesses for sale but a genuine opportunity to take them on, evolve them, and keep them alive.
What we are learning is that the opportunity is very real. What started as just an idea is proving itself day by day. We have found that concepts like shifting left, improving communication, and introducing technology can genuinely streamline operations and reduce the pain points.
Looking ahead, our focus will be on tightening stock control, making our warehouse more efficient, and continuing to refine the systems that have already given us a strong start.
As we continue to learn, our aim is to keep that bigger picture in sight: to show that with the right mindset and systems, you can step into unfamiliar industries, grow businesses sustainably, and open the door to future opportunities.
Like those kiore, we had an idea — but this time, we acted. We tied the bell, we took the risk, and we are turning ideas into results.