From survival to revival: Luke Piper
No-one can pretend it hasn’t been a tough couple of years but finally the green shoots of a genuine recovery are at last on the horizon.
If 2024’s mantra was ‘survive to 2025’, this year’s has felt more like ‘survive 2025’. It’s been another grind for many businesses – costs rising, margins tightening, and confidence fragile. The economy has seemed like a long, unrelenting winter: cold, stubborn, and slow to thaw.
Yet signs of a genuine spring are starting to appear. Across manufacturing, construction, and trade sectors, the mood is shifting. We’re hearing more and more stories of businesses finding momentum again. Enquiries are increasing, sales pipelines are rebuilding, and in some areas – particularly home improvement and renovation – orders aren’t just trickling in, they’re flowing freely. Homeowners are once again investing in their properties, projects once paused are restarting, and a quiet optimism is taking root.
Add to that a strong dairy payout and stable export performance, and the outlook brightens even further. Rural incomes will soon ripple through towns and cities, strengthening local economies and lifting consumer confidence. It may take a little time to reach retailers and service providers, but the upward momentum is real and growing.
That’s why 2026 is being seen as the year of recovery and renewal – but only for those ready to seize it. Waiting on the sidelines isn’t a strategy. The smart operators are acting now to survive and get ready to thrive: tightening systems, refining teams, and preparing for growth. The months ahead are critical to get your business lean, focused, and fit for opportunity. Those who make the hard calls early will be in the best position to thrive when confidence returns – not scrambling to catch up when it does. Don’t wait for recovery to find you; build it now and lead it.
If you’re unsure where to start, talk to the team at EBI. A no-cost, no-obligation consultation can help you assess where you stand and identify the steps to stay sustainable, decisive, and ready to capitalise on what’s next.
