Monday, November 02, 2026
Seven things you can check before you hire a business coach, and how ActionCOACH, Business Mentors NZ, EOS, Simple-Growth and The Icehouse compare on each. Method and bias disclosed. Checked 2 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.
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