Founder: Ryan Peni
HQ: Eyrewell Forest, North Canterbury

Tell us about your business.

Niche FM Consulting is a NZ-based Management Consultancy Business specialising specifically in Facilities, Asset and Project Management Services. As Facilities, Asset and Project professionals we are the ultimate building organisers, encompassing multiple disciplines to ensure things such as functionality, operational management and the cost efficiencies of running a building, buildings or complexes are managed and achieved. We have assisted a number of government, local authorities, private investors and organisations of all sizes to provide safe and welcoming building environments for their staff, tenants and visitors.

Who and where are your target customers?

We have national presence, with an experienced international team of consultants. Our target customers are any property investors or organisations who really want to make a positive difference within their property and facilities teams and enhance their building efficiencies through smarter management solutions.

Who, how and when did you first come up with the idea for your business?

Niche staff at a health and safety meeting
Niche staff at a health and safety meeting

Working in large corporate facilities and real estate companies, I was exceptionally frustrated by the lack of client-centric solutions, and the inability to make change quickly without going through the big heavy dirty corporate processes. Missing opportunities because prospective clients didn’t get results quickly was the reason why I set up the business. Inspiration by frustration!

I had considered a startup for some time. It wasn’t till a holiday in Queenstown July 2015 with my fiancé that we decided “let’s do it”. I walked into Vodafone, purchased a iPhone and by the end of August 2015 I had walked out of my employment on the Friday, and on Monday started off with two contracts. One within the health sector and one with a property investor in Wellington.

What are your three biggest unique selling points?

Easy! We are upfront and not virtual managers; we cut through all the noise and make it easy to understand; and most importantly, we do what we say we’ll do!

Sounds simple right? You’d be surprised at how many people overpromise and underdeliver.

What are three things about your business that you are proud of?

  1. We are quiet achievers! We just get on on with it and make no fuss.
  2. We have achieved such amazing things in 14 months and have worked across the health, council, government, education and private sectors.
  3. Our people. We have an incredible amount of talented professionals who really love what they do and enjoy being part of our movement.

What is the biggest entrepreneur lesson you would like to share with other Kiwis thinking of starting their own business?

For me it was taking the leap, thinking that there was going to be a day or time or year where I would wake up and it would be the ‘right time’. I came to the conclusion that the right time to start your business is ‘now’. I remember reading a quote at the time that said, “there is only one type of failure – the failure of not giving it a go”.


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Niche FM Consulting  |  LinkedIn  |  Twitter @nichefm_nz

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