Tuesday, November 03, 2026
The Entourage or Simple-Growth: who each suits, what The Entourage publishes on price and proof, and seven questions to ask before you apply. Checked 4 November 2026.
Lisa Campbell owns Woodhill Distribution Ltd, a New Zealand distribution business. She wanted to know whether her prices and freight costs were protecting her margin, and whether growth in New Zealand and Australia could be a plan rather than a hope. This case study shows what the coaching covered, what Lisa says changed, and what we do not claim.
A disclosure first: Simple-Growth publishes this page and Kevin D'Ambros-Smith coached this client, so read it as a case study, not a neutral review. Market: New Zealand. Last updated 4 November 2026.
Distributors sit between suppliers, freight and customers, so a small slip in any one of them quietly eats the margin. Lisa was making day-to-day decisions on pricing and freight without a clear picture of what each product and shipment really cost to deliver. Beyond that, she had no longer-term plan to lift her eyes from the daily work.
The pressure is not unusual. In the September 2026 NZIER Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion (reported by Westpac, survey run 9 to 28 September), firms' past-three-month average selling prices read +27 and next-three-month expectations +45, while the report notes cost pressures eased only a little. When prices and costs are both moving, owners who do not know their true delivered cost are guessing.
"Kevin helped me get a clearer picture of my pricing and freight costs, giving me more confidence in my decisions and a better understanding of how to protect my margins. He also helped me look beyond the day-to-day and build a five-year plan — making growth in New Zealand and Australia feel like a realistic, achievable goal. Alongside that, his guidance on improving my visibility in AI and search has helped me think more strategically about how customers find the business."
Lisa Campbell
Owner, Woodhill Distribution Ltd (quoted word for word)
This is a testimonial-led case study. We have not published revenue, margin or growth figures for Woodhill, so none are stated here and none should be implied. The outcome Lisa describes is confidence, clarity and a plan. Whether it lifts sales is something only her results over time will show.
It is probably not for you if you want someone to run the business for you, or you are not willing to look at your own numbers.
Yes. Coaching is chosen by mindset and ambition, not sector, across 30+ industries.
This page states no price. Eligible New Zealand businesses may be able to access co-funding through the Regional Business Partner Network, though funding is not guaranteed. See what NZ business coaches charge: https://www.simple-growth.com/growth-tips/how-much-does-a-business-coach-cost-in-nz-2026-price-guide
No. Every business starts from a different place, and this case study states only what the owner has said.
Want a clearer picture of your own pricing, freight and five-year plan? A 30-minute conversation is a good place to start.
Sources (checked 4 November 2026): Westpac IQ, NZ first impressions: NZIER QSBO September quarter 2026, 6 October 2026 (New Zealand, survey run 9 to 28 September). The testimonial is quoted word for word from the person named. Last updated 4 November 2026.
Monday, October 12, 2026
Seven low-cost ways to lift sales this week, starting with the customers and quotes already in your business.
Monday, October 12, 2026
The 4 real reasons marketing fails for SME owners, and the practical, low-cost fix for each one.
Monday, October 12, 2026
New research shows 39% of small business owners blame admin, not the market, for stalling their growth. Here is how to find the real constraint before you spend another dollar fixing the wrong one.
Monday, October 12, 2026
Only 20-30% of businesses for sale actually sell, often because they can't run without their owner. Here's how to design yours so it can.
Monday, October 12, 2026
Writing your goals down is linked to real gains in achieving them. Here's the Vivid Vision exercise that turns a fuzzy dream into a measurable plan.
Monday, October 12, 2026
Owners using AI with purpose save 6 to 10 hours a week. Here's the simple audit that finds your first three tasks to hand over.
Monday, October 12, 2026
97% of buyers read reviews, but trust in them is falling. Here's how to build the review ask into your sales process, not just your marketing calendar.
Monday, October 12, 2026
64% of marketers can't tell competing brands apart. Here's the one-sentence positioning formula that makes sure your customers always can.
Monday, October 12, 2026
Most SME owners already know their real edge isn't price. Here's why benchmarking competitors kills that edge, and how first-principles thinking builds a strategy around it instead.
Monday, October 12, 2026
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Coach, consultant, mentor or advisor? How the four roles differ, which one suits an established NZ business, and the questions to ask before you pay.
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Gallup's 2026 data shows global employee engagement fell to 20 percent, even in the best-performing regions. Here's the three-question check SME owners can run this week to find out where their own team really stands.
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Everyone agrees December is too close to Christmas to prospect. One sales agency's own client data says the businesses that kept going saw 19 percent more leads the following January.
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Most SME owners can describe next year's budget in detail and go quiet the moment you ask about year ten. A UK study of over 1,000 companies found that gap predicts success almost on its own.
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Most SME owners build their people plan around courses. The research behind the 70-20-10 model says courses are the smallest lever you have, and it is worth knowing how shaky that research actually is.