phil&teds Most Excellent Buggy Company wins Creative Exporter of the Year Award

November 30, 2006

phil&teds Most Excellent Buggy Company, a Wellington company that prides itself on being quirky and somewhat irreverent and which grew exports by 173 per cent last year to $17.2 million, has won the Creative Exporter of the Year Award.

The Award was presented to phil&teds at the 2006 New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) Export Awards in Auckland on Thursday 30 November. Seven sector Export Awards were presented, with the DHL Supreme Exporter of the Year won by Opus International Consultants.

phil&teds designs and markets world-leading nursery hardware products, including baby buggies, travel cots, car seats and highchairs. The Export Awards’ judges were very impressed with the company’s strong export growth over the past few years and said it was an innovative company in all aspects of product design and company management.

NZTE Chief Executive Tim Gibson said the calibre and achievements of this year’s Export Award winners was outstanding and inspirational.

"They are building world class companies by continually striving to take their business to the next level. And despite the diverse areas they work in, they share common strengths, including confidence, visionary leadership and the ability to do what they do extraordinarily well."

He said the companies proved that coming from a distant country of just four million people was no impediment to winning in the tough international business arena.

"We celebrate their achievements and the valuable contribution they are making to the New Zealand economy."

phil&teds Managing Director Campbell Gower said the company helps customers adapt and survive the conflicting demands of parenthood.

Mr Gower took over phil&teds in 1998 when the business was in danger of foundering. As he readily admits, he knew about finance but knew, quote, 'bugger all' about engineering, design, marketing, exporting or pricing! The next few years were a massive learning curve as, with the help of staff, he transformed the business into a financial success and phil&teds into an international brand with attitude.

"Apart from the name, the business is not anywhere close to what it was when it started out of a garage in Wellington."

He retained the name because it is vital in creating all important cut-through in an intensely competitive market. "Our brand never fails to make people smile. It’s a bit of fun and it’s innovative in an industry where so much is the same."

Today phil&teds’ core products are established as niche leaders in the large global nursery product industry. About 95 per cent of sales are generated from exports to 25 countries, where phil&teds competes on quality, not price.

Mr Gower said its world leading and differentiated product designs are a critical success factor and are created by a small in-house design team. Its strongest products all have unique selling points.
 
Manufacturing is kept low-cost by being outsourced to Chinese suppliers where phil&teds is 100 per cent of their production.

Mr Gower said phil&teds would be nothing without its 22 staff, who all live and breathe the brand values. The company culture is not to take itself too seriously, but while it actively downplays corporate formality, it is very serious about what it does.

Contact: Campbell Gower, Managing Director, phil&teds Most Excellent Buggy Company Ltd, phone +64 4 380 0833, ext 706, email Campbell@philandteds.com, www.philandteds.com

Notes for editors:

The Export Awards celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2006. A historical briefing and more information including profiles of all of this year’s finalists and media information on individual sector category winners is available at www.exportawards.co.nz 

Interviews can be arranged through Jennifer Andrewes, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, phone +64 4 931 6144, mobile 027 228 0261, or email jennifer.andrewes@nzte.govt.nz

Photographs representing phil&teds are available on request to Jennifer Andrewes.

About NZTE:

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is the government's economic development agency, committed to helping New Zealand businesses grow their international competitiveness, capability and profitability. Visit www.nzte.govt.nz or www.exportawards.co.nz

About DHL:

DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specialising in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source.
DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.  285,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.

DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated revenues of €56 billion in 2005.

About the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST):

The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology invests over $460 million a year on behalf of the New Zealand Government, in research, science and technology. These investments are made to enhance the wealth and well being of New Zealanders.

Through its Technology New Zealand suite of schemes, the Foundation assists companies to undertake research and development projects that result in new export-focused products, processes or services. Investment from the Foundation, in the form of grants, is directed at supporting technical risk and the building of technical skills and expertise in companies.

For more information visit www.frst.govt.nz

About Export New Zealand (ENZ) - The association of New Zealand exporters:

ENZ is a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), not for profit incorporated society with national coverage. ENZ specifically focuses on helping its membership of exporters and exporter service providers grow their business in the international market place. ENZ has an elected National Executive and CEO with well established regions in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington and Christchurch providing the important regional presence and focus that ensures local needs are understood and met.  ENZ specifically acknowledges new export success with the Emerging Exporter Award.  This year, five regional finalists will compete for The Export New Zealand Emerging Exporter of the year award, to be presented at the NZTE Gala Awards evening in November.

For more information visit www.exportnewzealand.org.nz

Distributed by Jennifer Andrewes, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, phone +64 4 931 6144, mobile +64 27 228 0261, or email jennifer.andrewes@nzte.govt.nz