Chris Norris

Chris is a professionally qualified marketer with more than 40 years of experience across a wide range of design and governance roles.

Some highlights:

• Customer Experience consultation for Noel Leeming
• Brand Strategy for Telecom NZ (Now Spark)
• Retail Brand consultant for Toyota NZ
• Customer Experience Director for 360 Shopfitters
• Creative Director for BRANDPARTNERS
• Brand Strategy for Destination Orewa Beach
• Brand and Communications Strategy for Orewa Surf Lifesaving Club Redevelopment
• Brand and Communications Strategy for Silverdale Business Association

He has served:

• On the Executive board for Harbour Heat Basketball
• On the Executive Board for the NZ Retail Interiors Association
• As a mentor for Business Mentors
• On the Executive Committee for Silverdale Business
• And here, as current Chairman for Business Whangaparaoa Inc.

Organisations that rely on memberships are in decline. I believe this is due to the competition for our attention, thus causing a decline in engagement. People are often just busy being busy. My work within the Board of Silverdale Business has given me the experience in campaigning to become a Business Improvement District (BID) by working with Local Board, discussions with our elected MP and other BID districts, and of course local business and property owners. Through this, I have gained the confidence to confirm becoming a BID as a successful user-pays system for claiming rates money back to use locally, and thus maintaining support and financing improvements for local business and community.

Of course, as a local business owner I see value in staying close to new local initiatives. This is a huge help when I am running advertising campaigns and creating brands and designs for my Allbrand.co.nz customers, but this alone isn’t enough to keep me fully energised.

Small business is just that, small. We all have a unique set of skills, but as Theo Simeonidis, Chairman of Silverdale Buses puts it, ‘No one is an island’. When we work together we are strong, we can pool our skills and all be part of something bigger. Turning where we work into a viable destination generates work and opportunities, it’s just better for everyone. This is what makes it most rewarding for me - helping HBC locals, in my role as Chairman for Business Whangaparaoa Inc.