Kaiwaka rural retreat is ready to put itself on the map
After completing the restoration of his rural property, Rudy is now ready to dive into the marketing and promotion side of business so he can really put his place on the map as a destination for people wanting to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
The relaxing outdoor area at Rudy's Retreat.
Rudy Parklak has lovingly restored his spawling rural Kaiwaka property to offer a peaceful retreat experience for his guests. He has 4 ensuite rooms for B&B type accommodation and a magnificent chef’s kitchen (with a stunning outlook) in which he teaches food and wellness workshops and hosts relaxed group events featuring his own cooking using fresh local produce.
“I want to build a lifestyle business where I can create a retreat experience for my guests that’s affordable, fun and educational. I want to make a difference by creating awareness about the positive effects of eating healthy and nutritious food and drinks”. ~ Rudy
Rudy makes an awesome cup of coffee!
Rudy first contacted Northland Inc as the result of a conversation with another business owner who had been working with our Growth Advisors. He was part-way through the restoration of his property which would see him develop his property to offer 4 ensuite rooms as B&B accommodation and a Chef’s kitchen and entertaining areas to host groups events and workshops.
He had been running the property as a retreat on and off for about 3 years while the restoration work was underway. With the completion of all the rooms and the entertaining areas, he was ready to start marketing his business. However, like many small business owners he faced the challenge of not really knowing where to start or who to trust to get the marketing help he needed.
After a Discovery Session with his Growth Advisor, Rudy was able to put together a simple business plan using the tools and resources that we recommended. He then applied for Regional Business Partnership funding so he can utilise a local provider to help him create a clear and robust marketing strategy and plan. The plan will see him fully develop his new product offering and promote it via online and social media channels.
“My experience with Northland Inc. was very organic and pleasant. I found them very approachable and friendly and full of experience and knowledge where I needed the most. Considering what we were going through with Covid, they helped me keep things positive and moving forward”. ~ Rudy
Rudy discusses his business plans with Northland Inc Growth Advisors.
Our Growth Advisors also connected Rudy up with our Regional Promotions team who have been in touch with him to talk about the many ways we can help promote his business. These include opportunities to host media and ways to share his images with us so we can include in our promotions. He also now has full access to our Tourism Operator Toolkit which explains how the industry works and the myriad of marketing opportunities he can be part of.
Rudy is most at home in his kitchen preparing food for guests.
Growth Advisor David Templeton says “Rudy has created such a warm and welcoming space for his guests. Having sampled his hospitality at our last Christmas function, it’s obvious he loves cooking for and hosting his guests. I am excited to see where he takes the business once he has completed his marketing and promotions plan. We’ll keep checking in with him to see how things are going. Establishing an ongoing relationship and a providing a listening ear to bounce ideas off as the business grows is something we see as a vital part of our role.”
One of the four bedrooms Rudy has available for guests.
Bedroom accommodation at Rudy's Retreat.
Quick facts:
- Rudy started cooking as a young boy with his Mum in Turkey, and says she was “The greatest cook in the world!” Many of the recipes he uses today are a variation of those recipes, with a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influence.
- Rudy’s creative side is highly motivated by fresh seafood, and he says he has never lost the excitement of watching the boats come in when he was a child in Istanbul
- Rudy has over 25 years in the hospitality industry having owned and operated restaurants in NZ for 25 years. He first started in the hospitality business in 1977 at a Sheraton hotel in Istanbul while he was studying tourism and hotel management at high school.
