From Pay packets to Winerax

12th June 2007

Press Release:

From Pay packets to Winerax

After spending16 years growing New Zealand’s largest payroll software business (Comacc) Steve and Bev Nathan were ready for a change and the sale of their company in August to an Australian accounting software provider (MYOB) gave them the perfect opportunity for it.

And a change it was. With the sale of the business they sold up everything in Auckland and moved to the sunny Hawkes Bay.

Not one to sit around for long Steve was soon involved with other opportunities. These include a small vineyard growing chardonnay on the famed Ngatarawa Triangle and the launch later this year of a wine label.

Then on a recent rainy Saturday morning Steve came across an ad for a small plastic manufacturing business. Intrigued he called the agent and when he was told the product was an innovative New Zealand designed wine rack, another business was born.

“It was a little like the guy (Victor Kiam) who liked the Remington razor so much he brought the company” says Nathan. “When I saw it I thought “I wish I’d designed that” and I could immediately see the synergies with other things we were doing. The fact that the business was easily transportable to the Hawkes Bay was a bonus”

The beauty of a WINERAX wine rack is each individual rack can be joined, allowing it to extend in length and height at any time (there are many examples on the Winerax website at www.winerax.co.nz) This means wine enthusiasts can construct a rack to fit their space – whether it is under the stairs, the basement, bookcase or closet. WINERAX is also good for use on shelving. The 4 bottle sections are also great for the wine buffs who buy by the case.

In addition to offering excellent stability, the durable plastic frames will not decay or go mouldy and bottles are stacked on a slight angle, making the wine labels easy to identify.

“It’s “no tools required” assembly means it can easily be assembled and dismantled. To test this I gave one to my 8 year old daughter Brydie to assemble without any instructions and she did it in less than 2 minutes”

“We are currently working on developing export markets in Australia and the UK where Winerax has design registrations. We also want to get into the corporate gift market. With its light, compact design and with plenty of space for branding, WINERAX make the ideal gift.”

“This is an exciting New Zealand product and we are looking forward to having some fun with it”

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