It's been a tough year for Active Solar, but business is now picking up for this Christchurch based solar hot water heating company.

"After the earthquake the last thing on people's minds was what they were going to do with their water heating," says Active Solar co-owner Max Earnshaw.  The other problem the company faced was that those new home owners who were interested in their product couldn't get insurance, so the jobs were put on hold.

The company adapted to the challenges and started looking outside the region for business.  They also knew they had to keep their name top-of-mind in the Christchurch market so, with Recover Canterbury's help, they attended two home shows and carried out a mailbox drop.  Recover Canterbury also linked Active Solar up with a Business Mentor and introduced them to the Industry Capability Network, which is a database of organisations that can assist with the reconstruction of Christchurch.

Now business is starting to pick up for Active Solar with sales getting back on track and the future looking bright.

To read more about how Christchurch is Getting Back to Business see the business feature in each Friday's Christchurch Star.

Microfilm Digital Print had been at its Victoria Street home since 1970, when the company was established.  Following the February earthquake business owner Nelson Hubber and his team couldn't access the building for around three months, and once they did get into the building much of their specialist equipment was damaged and could not be used.

But in spite of all this business is bouncing back and Microfilm has reopened in a new premises in Byron Street, Sydenham.

Recover Canterbury helped Microfilm successfully apply for a $23,000 grant from the Canterbury Business Recovery Trust to go towards development of their photo books business and website, and helped them access funding for marketing training from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise's capability building programme.

While Nelson says Recover Canterbury's support and the marketing training has been enormously helpful and they are starting to put some of what they have learnt in place.

Recover Canterbury business recovery coordinator Tim Trewinnard says the earthquake has forced Nelson and the team at Microfilm to review the direction they are heaing in but they've met the challenge head on.

To read more about how Christchurch is Getting Back to Business see the business feature in each Friday's Christchurch Star.

Blair Clatworthy's business premise was destroyed in the February quake, along with his car and home.  He could have been forgiven for giving up...but just ten weeks later he was back taking the aches out of the quake.

Blair's business Central City Physiotherapy was in the Link Centre in High Street and he and his staff were lucky to escape on 22 February.  With only limited time allowed back in the building after the quake, Blair lost not only his premises but also much of his equipment and paperwork.

But a week after the quake Blair says he decided to get into action.  He purchased a house in Clarence Street, which was formally a student flat, and converted it into a clinic.  His new business - Tower Junction Physiotherapy - is gaining momentum, with about two-thirds of his High Street clients coming to the new premises.

Blair worked with Recover Canterbury to help him get the new business established, including accessing a $10,000 grant from the Canterbury Business Recovery Trust, which helped him purchase two new beds and some machines.

"It's been great to get the funding from Recover Canterbury to initiate it all, otherwise we would have struggled without that little financial kick," says Blair.

To read more about how Christchurch is Getting Back to Business see the business feature in each Friday's Christchurch Star.

When the earthquake hit Sundance Clothing's factory was not only covered in liquefaction, it was also in the middle of the cordon.

This had a flow-on effect on the stock levels for Ground Effect, a specialist cycle clothing company.  Ground Effect contract Sundance Clothing to produce their gear but since Sundance's factory was inaccessible so was their stock.

Ground Effect brand manager Laurence Mote said manufacturing locally helped the company be flexible and keep stock piles to a minimum, but the earthquake put an end to that.  They struggled to meet customer orders and lost around 10% of sales due to the production setback.

For both Sundance Clothing and Ground Effect their recovery was accelerated by Recover Canterbury's assistance.  Sundance Clothing received a grant from the Canterbury Business Recovery Trust to help them purchase new, more modern machinery to get back to its pre-earthquake production levels.

Hamish Robinson from Sundance Clothing says the assistance has been a huge help.  “This has helped us catch up with the production time we lost and provides us with some great opportunities for the future."

To read more about how Christchurch is Getting Back to Business see the business feature in each Friday's Christchurch Star.