Social Media Key to New Growth for NZ Exporters

Press Release

Social Media Key to New Growth for NZ Exporters 43% of NZ exporters surveyed have generated orders through social Media Online orders a crucial channel - DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship

Auckland, New Zealand: 0500 October 17, 2014: DHL Express, the world’s leading international express services provider, revealed data today that shows social media is fast becoming a prime tool to driving sales orders for New Zealand exporters.

Nearly half (43%) of New Zealand exporters surveyed stated that they had generated orders through social media. Of those, a third (29%) are generating orders via Facebook.

“Social media is becoming an increasingly crucial communications tool for New Zealand exporters, and these findings indicate that exporters are using this channel in creative and innovative ways,” says DHL Express NZ Country Manager Tim Baxter.

Approximately half (51%) of exporters surveyed stated that they are confident they can improve their export business through the use of social media.

Online commerce in general was identified as a means to increase market reach, as more than 70% of exporters have experienced positive outcomes from online commerce through increased visibility, customer reach and business opportunities.

“The online channel continues to be a good vehicle for increasing presence in international markets and this is supported by burgeoning social media activity,” says Baxter. “New Zealanders are well known for being early adopters, and these findings only reinforce that exporters are highly adaptable.”

“We are seeing this particularly in younger start-up companies with small businesses using social media most effectively. However many exporters still do not provide pricing and shipping information, or online booking and payment functionality. We think exporters have a great opportunity to enhance the user experience in this area, potentially growing enquiries, and ultimately sales, even further,” says Baxter.

The data was released as entries open for the seventh annual DHL Express Fashion Export Scholarship. Designed to identify the country’s hottest up-and-coming fashion exporters and assist them in achieving international growth, the scholarship is open to New Zealand designers who have been exporting for less than five years.

The scholarship has become an early identifier of young talent in New Zealand, with previous winners such as Stolen Girlfriends Club, Lonely Hearts, twenty-seven names and I Love Ugly going on to significant international recognition.

In a first for the scholarship, inaugural winner Dan Gosling, director and part owner of Stolen Girlfriends Club, will return as a judge on the panel that includes John Kelly, MAX Fashions CEO, Paul Blomfield, chairman at FINZ and Megan Wildermoth, fashion and textiles specialist at DHL.

The winner of the scholarship will receive international freight to the value of NZ$10,000, as well as coaching in freight and logistics from DHL Express.

A second prize of $1500 and third prize of $500 will also be awarded. All three finalists will receive individual export mentoring and an annual membership subscription from Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ).

For more information: www.dhlfashionscholarship.co.nz

Key survey findings

-Over two-fifths (43%) of exporters have generated orders from social media.

-Of those, a third (29%) are generating their orders from Facebook.

-Approximately half (51%) of all exporters surveyed are confident they can improve their export business using social media.

-73% of exporters said online commerce has increased business, up from 67% in 2013.

-70% of exporters cite an increase in both visibility and wider reach to more customers.

-The majority of exporters (76%) are generating export sales from online orders.
Of that, 27% of exporters generate at least 50%.

-Fifty per cent (50%) of exporters also use online commerce as a way to engage with customers.

-Less experienced exporters are significantly more likely to use the Internet as a distribution channel for their products or services, with one third (32%) of companies that have been exporting for less than five years generating 100% of their export orders online.

-79% of those trading less than five years used their own website as a sales and distribution channel, compared to only 53% of those trading 20+ years.

-In the last 12 months, 40% of exporters said an enhanced website/online presence was one of the innovative initiatives used to increase export orders.

-91% offer product and service information on their website, but only 45% offer pricing information.

The survey was conducted by ACA Research and 205 New Zealand exporters were surveyed. The research period was 29 April – 16 May 2014.

DHL Express NZ aims to analyse export confidence in New Zealand and identify export trends. The survey is based on nationwide independent research, examining the business outlook of New Zealand exporters, highlighting changes in overseas market demand and providing insight into the factors impacting on New Zealand’s export trade.

On the internet: www.dpdhl.com/press Follow us: www.twitter.com/DeutschePostDHL

DHL – The logistics company for the world

DHL is the global market leader in the logistics and transportation industry and “The logistics company for the world”. DHL commits its expertise in international express, national and international parcel delivery, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation as well as contract and e-commerce related solutions along the entire supply chain. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and around 315,000 employees worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their shipping and supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting environmental protection, disaster management and education.

DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenues of more than 55 billion euros in 2013.

ENDS

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