KEYNOTE SPEAKER: A Retirement Hobby gone bad 

Pic Picot - Owner and Founder of Pic's Peanut Butter 

Pic Picot moved from Auckland to Nelson in 1993. His widely varied career included leather work, furniture making, a gift ware company, boat building and voyaging around the pacific, a restaurant, a charter boat directory and a sailing school before becoming a peanut butter maker. Shortly after the opening of Peanut Butter World in 2019 he wrote an autobiography paying tribute to the remarkable New Zealanders he has known, worked with and loved. These days he spends much of his time at Marahau on the edge of the  Abel Tasman National Park, with occasional forays to Peanut Butter World and guest spots at New Zealand and overseas Food Shows.

ABSTRACT: 

Pic Picot retired from teaching sailing at 55, and enrolled in a creative writing course. He retained a small laundromat behind his office at the Nelson Marina to keep him in pocket money. When forced to close the laundromat, he began selling peanut butter at the Nelson Market. Today Pic's Peanut Butter World produces 25,000 jars of peanut butter a day, and at 72, Pic is having another crack at retiring. He is looking forward to sharing his story with us at our conference in February.

 

EDUCATION SESSION: Complaint Resolution: Effective Communication and Response Strategies

SPEAKER:  Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL) 

 

The Financial Services Complaints Ltd are an independent not-for-profit Ombudsman Dispute Resolution Service. They resolve complaints about financial service providers. They are free for consumers. They resolve complaints fairly and share lessons learnt.

ABSTRACT:
Managing complaints with compassion and professionalism is crucial for maintaining a funeral home's reputation and trustworthiness. This session will equip you with the skills to handle complaints empathetically and uphold service excellence.

Key topics include:

  • Understanding complaints: Recognize why people complain and how to identify a complaint.
  • Risks of ignoring complaints: Understand the dangers to your business of not addressing complaints.
  • Effective response strategies: Best practices for taking ownership and resolving complaints swiftly and empathetically.
  • Crafting thoughtful responses: Techniques for effective verbal and written communication, avoiding defensiveness.
  • Dealing with challenging behaviour: Managing difficult individuals professionally and empathetically.
  • Case studies: Real-life examples of successful complaint resolution and lessons learned.

 

PERSONAL STYLE WORKSHOP:  Tips, tricks and rules for being suitably styled

SPEAKER:  Christine Hobby, Style Coach, Style and Shine Ltd

A passionate Cantabrian at heart Christine has always had a flair and love for style and creativity. Now based in Nelson/Richmond Christine runs her business Style and Shine Ltd loves helping people and showing them how to emphasize their own unique attributes and de-emphasizing others. Whilst letting your personality shine through.  

Having spent a career working in the corporate space she is always interested how people perceive and present ourselves, conscious and subconscious.  Sometimes small changes can make a world of difference to how you look and most importantly feel in how you present yourself.

Christine is an accredited Style Coach and is a member of the International Association of Style Coaches.  

ABSTRACT:
A fun, informative and interactive Personal Style Workshop designed to help you enhance your professional and personal image. This workshop covers a wide range of topics to ensure you present yourself confidently and suitably in any situation. Discover what your clothes say about you from a perception perspective and learn the essentials of professionalism, including posture, confidence, eye contact, and personal grooming. Dive into the specifics of dressing for different body shapes, with tailored advice for both men and women. Explore the nuances of office attire, client visits, and service attire, with style ideas to help you make the best impression. Learn how to express your individuality within uniform guidelines, making it easier for others to relate to you.