Growing
Commentary around ‘customer experience’ has not been in short supply in the Australian business media of late. Take a deep dive into the topic and you’ll find scores of experts who’ll identify customer experience as a key area for companies to create competitive advantage in 2019 and beyond. According to management consultancy Accenture, we have […]
Know when to cut your losses if an investor is not committing.
Running a small business is like climbing Mount Everest: it’s challenging.
Many people struggle to know if funding is the way to go.
When you first started your business, you more than likely made decisions based on your gut instinct and learned through trial and error. As your business has started to grow, you will work with more talented professionals, who can help point you in the right direction when making big decisions such as marketing techniques, sales […]
There is a special ingredient when it comes to small business success and leveraging this ‘special ingredient’ can make all of the difference to the ultimate triumph of the company you worked so hard to build. What is this ‘special ingredient’ you ask? Simple: It’s being small. Small enough that you can cherish your customers […]
Corporate lawyer Alyce Tran had a dream to make an extra $50,000 from her fashion blog, The Daily Edited, which she co-founded with her friend Tania Liu. After an unsuccessful attempt to launch an online clothing line, the pair introduced their personalised accessories business, which today turns over more than $15 million a year – […]
For years, sales teams have struggled to keep up with a customer base using the latest technology to upend the traditional sales process. Today’s customers have more choice and buying power than ever before, and they expect unprecedented levels of contextualisation and personalisation. The latest wave of technology, led by Artificial Intelligence (AI), may be […]
Obtaining finance can be challenging for any business but it is an acute difficulty for micro and small businesses in their start-up phase. Having the Best Business Idea in the World won’t necessarily be enough to convince sceptical, risk-averse banks to approve a loan, especially if the business owner doesn’t have a proven track record […]
What are the attributes of an SME that is growing, and how do they differ from a business with static or declining revenue? [Related: SMEs trading banks for fintechs, poll suggests] Twice a year, when more than 1200 owners or leaders of SME businesses are interviewed for our SME Growth Index, one of the first questions […]
Having an idea for a business is the start of what can be a very exciting journey, although in truth it may feel more like a rollercoaster ride at times. In particular, coming up with the funds to get the company off the ground at a time when money is tight can be challenging. Having […]
Since launching in July 2015, the Federal Government’s employment services program, jobactive, has helped employers from across Australia recruit more than 400,000 suitably skilled workers. The popularity of jobactive with employers is attributable to the range of services, available through the program, that make it cost-effective and hassle-free for businesses, especially SMEs, to recruit staff who […]
Amongst Australia’s SME owners, millennials are not only more optimistic about the future, they are also more likely to expand their business in the near future, according to a new whitepaper from NAB. Titled The Moments That Matter: Understanding Australian SMEs, the whitepaper reports on qualitative and quantitative research undertaken by IPSOS on behalf of […]
When you first set up in business the single biggest challenge you face is getting people to notice that you’re out there. You can offer the best products and services in the world, at amazing prices, but nobody will buy them – and if somebody does happen to stumble upon you and make a purchase, […]
Employers seeking staff to grow their business have numerous options available, including recruitment agencies and online employment marketplaces, but many would argue it is still hard to find good help these days. Of course, by basing hiring decisions predominantly on resumes and CVs, employers leave themselves vulnerable to the risk of a bad hire. Why? […]
When was the last time you reviewed your business? Every owner should conduct an extensive review at least once a year to stay on track. It doesn’t matter if you’re running a small firm or a large corporation – every business benefits from a solid plan of attack. Annual reviews allow you to evaluate what […]
When you’re a time-poor business owner whose attention is being pulled in all directions by competing obligations it can be difficult to focus on improving productivity. And while a growing customer base is good for the bottom line, if you’re a ‘one-man band’ you might begin to feel like you’ve bitten off more than you […]
