A recently-conducted survey by the PricewaterhouseCoopers underlines that most of the firms in New Zealand look money after customers and expressed willingness to grow their business with better customer focus. About 44% of the respondents in a "snapshot" survey of 620 New Zealanders in business said that they will design their policies putting customers before anything else.

A total of 35% business houses are eyeing new markets, while 23 per cent intend to arrest operational costs for healthy growth. The quarterly survey establishes major shift in the attitude of firms, as compared to their stance few months ago.

PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Robbie Gimblett said: "Eight months ago, cost control was easily top of mind when we spoke to our clients - and the focus was mainly about short term survival." He said that business houses have realized that customers' focus is a crucial factor to guide growth strategies of business.

The survey pointed out that 32 per cent of the business performed well due to better customer attention followed by technology improvements, manpower skills and recruitment.