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About E2theMax
Below are some brief details to put E2theMax and the Challenge in context for your business.
In January 2004 E2theMax developer Jacqui Jones moved to Hawke's Bay on contract to set up a 24/7 security company. Once the contract was complete and the company was up and running with 12 staff Jacqui looked around and thought, "I love it here, but what's next business-wise?".
"Over the next few months I met many owners whose established businesses were stuck at a plateau or crossroads, others who had a 'tiger by the tail' and wanted a better grip, and others who wanted to sell and move on but realised their businesses first needed some work."
 Jacqui was also meeting a number of suppliers who could make a real difference.
"Everyone has an interesting business. Getting to know people and their stories invariably leads to discussions of where the business is going. I found I was making introductions left, right and centre and this was leading to good outcomes for owners and suppliers. This in turn lead to developing E2theMax as the 'showcase environment for effectiveness in business'."
E2theMax launched NZ's first online business expo in March 2007, with content-rich sites providing ideas, information and contact details to those interested in developing their businesses. (The expo won a business award for online innovation in November 2007 with the judges commenting they'd not seen anything like it here or overseas.)
"E2theMax doesn't have clip the ticket arrangements that track the value of resulting work, but I was told of over $700,000 of business that eventuated in the first 8 months alone. Confidence from understanding and rapport makes a big difference," says Jacqui.
With the working relationships developing well and the online expo being an increasingly visited place for information, Jacqui was keen to bring online into the real world with a "whole of business demonstration of what happens when the right business and the right team get clear and get going."
Five months of development later, the first E2theMax Business Makeover Challenge was launched on 14th February 2008.
2 Challenges ran successfully in 2009 (Hawke's Bay and North Shore).
"It was great to successfully grow the Challenge in 2009 and take it to a whole new region," says Jacqui. "For 2010, we're running more like a multi-sport event so we can bring everyone together for the briefing and celebration and work on 'personal best performance' in between. It's hugely satisfying for us all to see the enduring difference we're making in this 'established business' sector that's very often overlooked."
About Jacqui Jones
Born in Oamaru, educated in Wellington, with 21 years working in Auckland (with a 3 year OE during that time) and 5.5 years in Hawke's Bay, Jacqui moved to the North Shore late in 2009 and now commutes various distances to develop E2theMax and the Challenge.
Having qualified in programming and studied design in the 80s, Jacqui managed several firsts for the South Pacific and NZ in the graphics industry and continued this as Kodak's first digital imaging specialist in New Zealand. Being at the forefront of the practical implementation of new technology lead to opportunities as head of production at Ogilvy & Mather and Colenso, transitioning both agencies from analog to digital production capabilities.
In 1996 Jacqui decided to formalise her interest in marketing and new ventures at the University of Auckland. Working as head of production in New Zealand's second largest advertising agency at the time, in her first new venture paper Jacqui came face to face with the stats of SME failure to thrive and became hugely concerned.
Leaving corporate life, Jacqui went out on her own. The first step was working on a complex 6-month project to reduce error rates in a 5-division pre-press company that fed a multi-million dollar printing company. One key outcome was a drop in weekly errors from 300% to 3%.
"But then of course the project was over and I wanted to create something that I could belong to longer term," says Jacqui. "That lead me to develop Art That Works, providing agency services to growing businesses."
Jacqui has developed 4 diverse businesses: Art That Works (established 1996), Optimus Healthcare (established 2001), InfoRed Security (on contract, established 2003) and E2theMax (incorporated early in 2007). Whether onsold, developed on contract or still owned and run by Jacqui, each continues to provide service today.
For feedback on the Challenge, please click here. Below is a sample of feedback on Jacqui's work over the years.
- "I love Jacqui's phrase that it takes a community to raise a business. Having survived the 1987 share market crash, I know it was the strong alliances that I formed that meant I was able to keep going and in turn kept other people going. What I've loved with the Challenge is working with somebody who has such generousity and requires and requests this of other people, so that instead of working from fear and thinking we're in competition, we can work healthily, well and effectively together to build a whole community. This does everybody's business a great deal of good." Lani Morris (worked with both 08 winners on vision and leadership).
- "Jacqui is a terrific person. She sets very high standards for herself and will always put in an inordinate amount of effort to achieve the right result. She is a very caring person with an unusual blend of artistic ability as well as the ability to think strategically." Andy Walker, MD Adplus Advertising, 2005
- Initial meeting; on the day; follow-up and value: Each rated 'Excellent'. "You were up to speed very quickly with where our organisation is today. Your contribution during our planning day was appreciated - you kept us on track!" David McGregor, NZ MD, RCR Easteel, 2006
- "One of the most clear thinkers I’ve met." Michael Newby, MD, InfoRed Security, 2003
- "The work you’ve done has blown me away!" Jane Iles-Bennet, Spaceworks Commercial Interior Design, 2005
- "Thanks Jacqui for making dreams come true." Mike Cushman, MD, Natural Health Laboratories, 2001
- "Jacqui was hired to restructure and revitalise our internal production department (that was) largely uncooperative, unskilled and certainly unprofitable. Jacqui's background was central to turning our production group into a polished, professional, ‘state of the art’, efficient and profitable operation. Jacqui has demonstrated in depth skills of leadership,technical innovation and good business sense. I relied completely on her judgement and experience in making the changes required in both personnel and experience." Alan Brodeur, Managing Director, Ogilvy & Mather Direct, 1995
- "I must congratulate you on your staff and single out for a special thank you Jacqui Jones. Nothing was too much trouble and her knowledge and expertise are, I think, an invaluable bonus for Kodak. We thank her for giving her valuable time so freely and fitting in with the staff as ‘just one of the lads’." John Heale, Kodak client, Tauranga – 1993
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E2theMax Ltd
P O Box 300-202
Albany
North Shore City 0752
Phone 09 473 7811
or 021 271 0370
Fax 06 835 4970
(received via email)
Click here to email
E2theMax: Winner
of the Westpac
Hawke's Bay Chamber
of Commerce Business
Award for Online
Innovation, Nov 2007.
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