Kenn Butler, member of BNI Nelson Originals, owner of Paradise Brokers – BNI Best Weekly Presentation October 25th 2017
- 40-50% of Kenn’s business has come through BNI referrals.
- With more than four decades in the insurance industry, Kenn has had the best year of his business life.
- He began his career in his native Invercargill and then worked his way through all aspects of the business, with stints in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Lower Hutt and Nelson before opening Paradise Brokers 13 years ago.
- Kenn is a former president of the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce and served on the board for six years. He says about 80 percent of his business is commercial insurance, with the remainder domestic, primarily houses, home contents and vehicles.
Recently my business Paradise Brokers was a big winner at the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce 2017 Business Awards. We received the NZME Customer Service Excellence Award. The judges noted that we strived to ensure our clients feel valued and important. I am an active member of the region’s business community, and hope my positive support through a range of business, community and wider groups is testament to my dedication to the region.
The challenging road to business success
Although the last couple of years have been fantastic for my business, it was not always this rosy. Thankfully BNI and my local chapter has always been there week to week supporting me and our business. This support was a big part of my ability to grow my business and achieve at the awards.
I’ve been in the insurance business for decades. After 32 years at an insurance company, at 49 years I found myself no longer employed. It was a tough time, but it allowed me to start my own business. I kept a good number of my clients but found it a challenge attracting new ones. This is one of the key areas where BNI has helped me out.
Starting out in business
My first year in business was just about keeping my head above water. Slowly I began to add clients and then I was appointed to two major contracts. One of 12 months from the New Zealand Police I held for over 4 years and one from Housing New Zealand doing seminars for first home buyers. I held this for more than 3 years.
During this period whilst growth was steady after the Christchurch earthquake our business radically changed. People often do not buy insurance unless they see the need. The earthquakes showed people the necessity of having insurance to protect their assets. People realised it makes sense to use a broker to navigate the complicated and constantly changing world of insurance. Insurance is a very complex product and without question, with our professional knowledge and network of industry contacts, we can offer a better deal than people are likely to find on their own.
Relationships built through BNI
My business grew exponentially – last year we turned over $4 million in business. I now have clients all over New Zealand, a couple in Australia and even one in Hong Kong. My company is the ultimate relationship business. We create relationships with people who become totally comfortable knowing they are properly insured. I am very proud of this, and proud of what we have achieved for our clients.
In the same way BNI is all about creating relationships with people. It is the key part of my marketing plan. I love going to BNI for the fellowship. It is easy to feel isolated when you are in a SME but BNI gives you the chance every week to meet like-minded businesspeople from a huge range of industries and backgrounds. I call my group politically incorrect whanau, and credit a significant contribution annually to our growth.
Kenn Butler, member of BNI Nelson Originals, owner of Paradise Brokers
Joining BNI was one of the best strategic decisions I have made, it is a fantastic way to connect with businesspeople, build relationships and grow your business. By maintaining your integrity at BNI, you can maintain growth in your business.
