By Sophie Byrne, Director, Optimised Consulting
Today I want to celebrate one of our clients in The Coromandel, New Zealand, and the incredible work they've put in this year to build up to an epic summer season.
Coromandel Ocean Adventures Tour Boat
Why most advice never gets used
Plenty of businesses bring in a consultant to help them grow, sharpen their marketing or hit their goals. But it's just as common for that advice to sit in a folder or an inbox, unused.
Sometimes it's time. Sometimes it's budget. Sometimes it's fear of change. Either way, the results come through softer than expected.
Richie and Hayden are the opposite. As they head into their sixth season, they've shown what happens when you don't just take the advice. You run with it.
What they did: going all in this season
This season, they went all in on their marketing:
A new photo and video shoot to capture their experiences properly.
A new website, designed and built to be found.
Expanded distribution across more OTAs and traditional trade partners.
A real commitment to social media, plus a growing content creator strategy.
It's been hard work. They've taken risks. And yes, we've forced them to get behind the camera.
Guests enjoying their incredible Aldermen Islands tour
The results
Here's the thing: that's what it takes. Passion gets you started. Action and consistency get you results.
Since July, Coromandel Ocean Adventures has seen:
350%+ year-on-year sales growth
311% growth in engagement across social media
And the growth is getting bigger every month.
What other operators can take from this
None of what Richie and Hayden did is a secret. The difference is they did all of it, and they kept doing it.
Act on the plan. A strategy only works once it leaves the folder.
Fix the foundations first. Great imagery and a findable website make every other channel work harder.
Don't rely on one channel. More OTAs and trade partners means more ways for guests to find you.
Show up consistently. Social growth comes from showing up week after week, not from one viral post.
Get on camera. Guests book people, not just boats.
Richie and Hayden from Coromandel Ocean Adventures
A full-circle moment
A little fun fact: these two were actually the original inspiration for me to go out on my own and start Optimised. Working alongside them now to grow their business feels like a real full-circle moment.
I'm so proud of what they've built. I have no doubt the Aldermen Islands will become a must-do New Zealand experience over the next couple of years.
If you're in The Coromandel this summer, get out on the water with them, so you can say you went there before it was popular. You won't regret it.
