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Local employees are most irked by co-workers who don’t take ownership for their actions and dirty common areas in the office, according to a global survey by LinkedIn.

Amazon has finally revealed its hotly anticipated iPad competitor, today launching the Kindle Fire and using the opportunity to take a swipe at the premium price of Apple’s products.

Rhondalynn Korolak blogs about standing out in a marketplace where imitations are plentiful.

“If you continue to compete based on price alone (or intangible claims), 99 percent of your customers will continue to assume that you are not the real deal either.”

iiNet has unveiled a new cloud-based phone service aimed at SME customers, designed to give them access to services usually reserved for big businesses including conferencing facilities, advanced call routing and music on hold.

Local replica furniture supplier Matt Blatt is being taken to the Federal Court by American manufacturer Herman Miller for its use of the “Eames” brand, and Founder Adam Drexler has told Dynamic Business of his “surprise” at the legal action.

Roger Woodend delivers tips for getting started with mobile customer acquisition.

“Business owners & marketers tasked with developing a major mobile strategy for their company may feel overwhelmed at the perceived amount of planning, infrastructure & co-ordination, combined with the fact that competitors may be stealing a march on mobile prospects.”

In a deal worth $1.6 million, the Boost Juice franchise is expanding to India, with five stores to open next year and 100 stores open over the next five years.

Bizz Buzz, a start-up group buying site delivering group buying deals to SMBs, has announced it’s saved local businesses over $200,000 in discounts since its inception and is fostering greater customer loyalty than B2C group buying sites are capable of.

Nancy Georges blogs about the love/hate relationship she has with local retailers.

“I want to feel important to you and fell that you listen to me and know what I want. I want to support my local retailers, I just don’t feel they support me!”

In order to drum up business for itself and SMEs, Shop A Docket is offering small businesses six weeks free in any 18-week advertising package on Shop A Docket grocery dockets, both online and in-store.

Female small business owners are being given the opportunity to have their say in the country’s first national research project that specifically addresses the concerns of women in business.

Hairhouse Warehouse has received three finalist nominations in this year’s Excellence in Franchising Awards.

Julian Smith blogs about how important it is for small business owners to be passionate.

“I’ve always been of the belief that jumping off that cliff into a world where a salary isn’t guaranteed and the hours are long is the most daunting part of starting your own business. It never occurred to me that sharing your idea – or on a grander scale, sharing your dream – is pretty terrifying as well.”

Apple has sent an invitation to journalists to attend an event at its Californian headquarters next week, sparking rumours it will unveil the next generation iPhone.

The public has voted the Commonwealth Bank the worst mortgage lender and Big 4 bank in a recent Mozo survey, with NAB topping the big boys category thanks to its break-up fee-axing campaign.

As we celebrate 20 years as Australia’s leading magazine for SMEs, we asked a variety of people to predict what the SME will look like in 20 years time, with some interesting views on what 2031 will hold. In Part 1, read what Google’s Kate Conroy, CareerOne’s Michael Harvey, Microsoft’s Oscar Trimboli and ABN’s Suzi Dafnis predict.

Robert Steers blogs about finding the right e-commerce system for your business.

“There are many open source e-commerce systems available to web developers and designers. Some have great support, whilst others are meant to stand alone. But, which one will suit your business and your customers?”

If you’d like to find out how many small businesses have realised substantial benefits from setting up Self Managed Super Funds, Dynamic Business has found a must-attend free seminar for Sydney-based business owners.

Anna Cairo blogs about setting goals for social media use.

“When it comes to social media, for the most part, businesses don’t set goals. They simply engage with a platform (because it’s free) and hope that success will come.”

Dick Smith has come out firing again, this time at Coles Managing Director Ian McLeod, whose “new form of extreme capitalism” and “greed” he says is ruining local farmer’s livelihoods.