New Zealand, characterized by its vast and open landscapes, serves as the inspirational backdrop for big ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit. Over 40 years ago, in this majestic and pure environment, New Image™ International was conceived. Graeme Clegg, the founder and Chairman, embarked on this journey from his origins as a sheep farmer in Masterton.
It was on his farm that Graeme formulated groundbreaking ideas about health supplements. In 1984, he took action based on his research into the remarkable health benefits of colostrum, nature’s first food. The company expanded its scientific research and introduced the unique Alpha Lipid™ technology, designed to enhance the body’s absorption of the valuable nutrients present in colostrum.
New Image™ International’s commitment to innovation and the delivery of top-quality health and nutritional products has propelled its expansion into numerous countries in the Asia Pacific region, Africa and Europe. This dedication has earned the company multiple awards, establishing it as an industry leader in the pursuit of better health and wellness.
Innovative Spirit of New Zealand
Graeme highlights the current status of the Health and Wellness industry as the fastest-growing globally. He attributes New Image™ International’s limitless growth to the company’s commitment to using the purest ingredients in its products. Emphasizing that their success is intricately tied to the success of Independent Distributors, Graeme portrays New Image™ International as a global family of entrepreneurs dedicated to health and wellbeing.
Fueled by the innovative spirit of New Zealand, everyone within the company has the opportunity to embrace the art of living well. Graeme expresses a belief in the inherent entrepreneurial spirit within each individual, asserting that it only needs to be unleashed. This perspective aligns with the company’s ethos of fostering a global community focused on health, wellness, and entrepreneurial success.
Founding New Image™ International
In 1984, Graeme founded New Image™ International, challenging the prevailing skepticism around the necessity of vitamins and minerals. The early years faced media criticism, dismissing vitamin peddlers as creators of expensive urine. Undeterred, Graeme, having sold his farm and paid off the mortgage in a challenging market, began New Image with limited capital but unwavering confidence in his abilities and a belief that anything was possible with the right approach and preparation.
Graeme immersed himself in understanding vitamins, minerals, tablet manufacturing, and supplement production. He embraced direct marketing, driven by a belief in free enterprise and the influential impact of person-to-person recommendations for health products. Recognizing the limitations of the New Zealand market, Graeme ventured into Asia during a time of global paranoia. Establishing numerous relationships, the business flourished internationally, leading to the acquisition of Pfizer Pharmaceutical’s manufacturing plant in Manukau.
Despite facing challenges like the Asian currency crisis, Graeme remained committed to delivering on promises and building trust. In the early 1990s, reflecting on the miracle qualities of colostrum from his farming experience, Graeme explored its potential for human health. Collaborating with a team at the Hautapu dairy factory, they commercialized colostrum, marking the inception of a global billion-dollar industry. The first product, Lifeline, a breakfast shake, was followed by Alpha Lipid, a patented liposome delivery system protecting bioactives in the digestive tract. Alpha Lipid, still a lead product, has significantly impacted the health and vitality of people globally.
Graeme emphasizes ongoing support for scientific research with a dedicated team of 16 scientists and an innovation laboratory conducting research, publishing findings, and engaging in clinical trials. The journey reflects Graeme’s perseverance, commitment to quality, and dedication to enhancing health globally.
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It’s the courage to continue that count.”
Shifting Perspectives
Graeme is working on a book titled ‘Under the Influence’ that delves into personal development. He reflects on how individuals are influenced by various factors from birth, including parents, society, associates, religions, and politics. Graeme emphasizes the need to holistically balance these influences to lead a successful life, highlighting the impact of one’s associations, both positive and negative.
Recalling childhood aspirations, Graeme shares a teacher’s advice on the correlation between hard work and financial success. Eager to achieve his dreams, he pursued what was considered the hardest physical work—shearing sheep. Under the mentorship of Godfrey Bowen, a world record-holding shearer, Graeme built the largest shearing contracting business in the country. He transformed shearing contracting into a professional business, coining the slogan ‘Shear Expertise’ and introducing innovations like computerization, work contracts, quality accommodation and transportation and more.
Despite also setting world records and engaging in demanding work, Graeme realized he wasn’t accumulating wealth but working for the banks haveing to pay excessive mortgages. A mentor’s insight shifted his perspective, leading him to recognize that mental muscle, not physical, creates wealth. This realization prompted Graeme to embark on a journey of learning about nutrition, wellness, and longevity.
Facing personal losses with the passing of his parents and younger brother at 46 due to cancer, Graeme devoted his life to understanding ways to avoid health challenges. He became a wellness and longevity advocate, experimenting on himself, and delving into research about how the body functions and the role of nutritional supplements. As the says he started New Image to save his life and not to make money, as his family tragedy indicated he could also potentially be a victim of the grim reaper. Turning adversity into opportunity, Graeme’s passion became a career, aiming to make people aware of the positive choices they can make to ensure a quality life and extend it through dietary choices and supplements. He advocates proactive health and not reactive health care like most government systems around the world. Why wait to get sick ending up at the doctors or in hospital before treatment begins? Its too late as the body has been damaged. This pivotal crossroads in his life marked a profound transformation and a commitment to promoting well-being.
Expanding Horizons
Graeme’s leadership has been characterized by innovation and vision in the wellness industry, leaving a lasting impact on a global scale. He has played a pivotal role in educating and inspiring hundreds of thousands of individuals across various countries, promoting New Zealand’s reputation for quality health products and anticipating the progression of diseases.
Under Graeme’s guidance, New Image™ International has expanded its footprint to 22 countries, established state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, and achieved a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 34% over the past three years, even in challenging global economic conditions. His unwavering commitment to excellence is reflected in the company’s reputation and success. In recognition of his achievements, he was a finalist this year in the Earnst and Young Entrepreneur of the year for the 3rd time.
As Graeme envisions the future, he sees New Image at the forefront of natural stem cell stimulation, anticipating a new wave of rejuvenation and anti-aging solutions. He plans to invest heavily in research involving bioactives extracted and concentrated from colostrum. His ultimate legacy goal is to develop a capsule with a trillion natural killer cells to reinforce the immune system and prevent the development of cancer cells.
Graeme’s vision extends beyond business success; he aims to reduce cancer-related deaths by leveraging the successful model perfected by New Image. His goal is to duplicate this model in more countries, allowing the company to compete against giant American corporations dominating the industry. With these ambitions, Graeme envisions New Image becoming a $1 billion revenue company within two years.
Beyond business achievements, Graeme has actively sought to positively influence and change the lives of those deprived of education and opportunities, offering them hope. His perseverance and commitment to prioritizing attention to detail and preparation make him a formidable representative for New Zealand, and if chosen, he expresses a commitment to compete with the aim of winning, a testament to his strength in persistence and resilience.
