If customers can't tell you apart from the rest, they choose on price. Every great business has that one-of-a-kind ingredient that makes it unforgettable. This energising programme helps you discover what truly sets your business apart — and shows you how to use it to become magnetic to your dream customers.
This isn't guesswork. You'll be guided step-by-step through the Simple-Growth Business Growth System™ — a framework built on big-brand thinking and refined with fast-growing small businesses to help them stand out and scale up.
In crowded markets, the businesses that win aren't the biggest or cheapest — they're the ones with the clearest identity and the most compelling reason for customers to choose them. That's your Secret Sauce.
With real-world insights and examples from businesses of all sizes, Kevin helps you discover what makes your business fascinating to the people who matter most — and build a marketing message that turns fascination into loyalty and growth.
Each session is practical and tailored to your business. You'll apply every framework directly to your own situation so the insights are immediately actionable.
Define and clearly articulate your UVP — the specific reason customers choose you over everyone else.
Build a precise picture of your ideal customers, what drives their decisions, and how to connect with them powerfully.
Craft messaging that attracts the right people, builds genuine trust, and makes your business impossible to ignore.
Understand where you sit in your market and how to position your business to command attention and loyalty.
Leave with a ready-to-customise template for your own annual marketing plan — practical, prioritised, and doable.
Apply the Simple-Growth System™ to connect your Secret Sauce directly to measurable business growth.
Coaching clients surveyed through The Icehouse return a Net Promoter Score of +72. Here's what past participants have shared about their experience.
“Kevin is down to earth, genuine about providing guidance to set up his clients for success and has a wealth of business experience.”
“Encouragement, support, knowledge, enthusiasm — Kevin brings it all to every session.”
“Kevin helped us work out how to take a new drink to market: where to focus first, which customers to win, and how to stand out in a crowded category.”
“Kevin worked with us at PhysioACTION to develop a positioning that sets us apart, 'PhysioACTION - A better experience', then helped us build the experience to match. In every part of the business we ask how to make it better for our customers and our team, and that's now the standard we hold ourselves to.”
“With a rich background in Marketing and Media, Kevin assists businesses to understand their 'Secret Sauce' and assists them to implement a strategy to grow the company's brands and in turn, business opportunities. One thing I love about working with Kevin is his passion. He loves working with business and business owners and wants to see them succeed. Because of this, his guidance and strategic advice is always well thought through and gets fantastic outcomes.”
“Kevin D'Ambros-Smith was the first coach that helped us and he was so great. He understood the business straightaway, was able to identify some of the areas where we could grow it, and some of the things to park.”
Client feedback shared with permission. Results are specific to each business and are not typical.
Kevin D'Ambros-Smith is a Business Growth Expert and Coach with over 30 years in business, including three global agencies — DDB, Ogilvy, and Saatchi & Saatchi — where he worked with global brands including McDonald's, IBM, Heineken, and Unilever.
He founded or co-founded 9 companies. Since 2017, Kevin has channelled this experience into coaching 200+ businesses one-on-one across 30+ industries through his Simple-Growth System™.
Kevin is an approved RBPN service provider and has delivered workshops and programmes for The Icehouse, BNZ, TradeMe, and ATEED.
Accessing RBPN co-funding is straightforward. Here's what happens from the moment you register your interest.
Fill in the form below. Tell Kevin's team about your business and confirm whether you'd like to apply for RBPN co-funding or attend as self-funded.
A Growth Advisor from your regional RBPN agency contacts you to complete a short discovery session and confirm your co-funding eligibility.
Once approved, you register on the RBPN platform. The Government co-funds up to 50% of the programme fee and you pay the remainder.
Begin your one-to-one programme. Leave with practical frameworks, a clear plan, and the confidence to grow your business faster.
The Management Capability Development Fund supports NZ SMEs to build business capability. Here's what you need to access the co-funding.
The Regional Business Partner Network (RBPN) connects NZ small to medium-sized businesses with the right advice, resources, and capability development support. Funded by the NZ Government, the network comprises 14 regional growth agencies nationwide.
Register your interest and hear back from Kevin's team within one business day about this programme and your RBPN co-funding eligibility.
Tell Kevin's team about your business and you hear back within one business day, with this programme explained and a guide through the RBPN funding process.
You hear back within one business day.
You get your RBPN co-funding eligibility confirmed and your next steps explained.
Not eligible for co-funding? You're still welcome to attend at the standard rate.
RBPN co-funding is subject to eligibility assessment, and a successful outcome cannot be guaranteed.