Simon Barnett    TALK - ACTION = SHIT

Communities OBO Simon Barnet
Simon began his talk by declaring that we were “. . . the perfect audience to preach to the converted!. .”
 
Simon has a background in marketing, has worked at Massey University, has owned and operated various businesses over the years, currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Massey Business School, and is the founder of OBO! The name OBO is not an acronym and doesn’t hold any meaning - it simply meets the requirements in that it is short and can be joined up end-to-end.

OBO has been in the business of making goalkeeping gear for field hockey players for 28 years. They are a leader in their field, having only two or three competitors globally. OBO holds around 70% of the global market, with 100% of female goalies sporting OBO gear at the Rio Olympics.
 
 

All the design work is done here in Palmerston North, a business employing approximately 20 staff. Deep research determines how people play, move, and need to be protected. Video is used to analyse how goalkeepers move. The company is very design driven and produces things with beauty elements - “We have to add beauty to everything we do.” Beauty is why the fabulous mural outside OBO’s building on Mihaere Drive was a way to add beauty to the factory environment and community. Simon puts a lot of energy into working in partnership with its suppliers and agents and ensures the company contributes meaningfully to the local community.

OBO demonstrates care for the environment by accepting back used products and recycling them with raw material waste to make ‘bouncers’ - a new product Simon is taking to the market. Another way they show this is through the solar panels on their factory roof, which produce enough solar energy to have world-leading sports gear successfully.

Simon is a positive person and encourages this attribute in his staff. One of his quotes is, “Goalkeepers are amazing people, therefore, our customers are amazing people.” Another of Simon’s quotes is, “Communities don’t become strong because they are rich; they become rich because they are strong.” He believes that communities become strong because leaders talk about things that matter. Leadership is critical at three levels - local, national, and family. Simon promotes Respect, Kindness, Working together, and Caring about our community.

So it is no surprise that OBO is a value- and brand-led company. Two powerful sets of beliefs lead them:

WE Value:

  • WE respect the needs of the people employed in OBO, our customers, and our suppliers.
  • WE design and deliver hockey protection products that genuinely enable our customers to play their game better, melding form, beauty, and function in our products.
  • WE work in true partnership with our suppliers and agents.
  • WE contribute meaningfully to our local community and pay taxes.
  • WE think long-term, judiciously take risks and accept failure. Good sh*t happens!
  • WE value creativity and the innovation that it brings.
  • WE own our destiny
OBO people -
  • WE have respect and empathy for those we work with - always seeking win-win outcomes, and approaching all situations with honesty, loyalty, and pride.
  • WE have a can-do, will-do attitude, work hard and smart, have initiative and take responsibility for our actions.
  • WE are flexible in how we work and what we do.
  • WE are constructive members of our broader community
Simon concluded his talk with a rhetorical question - Why should business people care? He believes companies need to align themselves with the values of today’s youth. Young people will buy from, and work for, those companies.

Talk - action = shit!

Talk + action = OBO