Starting
With plenty of business hatchlings growing bigger every year via incubators, it’s clear that technology parks are more than just commercial neighbourhoods. They can offer small companies resources beyond their wildest imagining or ability to finance for themselves. Located at the heart of the Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, close to mountains, beaches and hinterland, this estate […]
There are plenty of tips for job seekers on how to behave in an interview, but what’s the secret to successfully conducting one? Using the right interview techniques can help employers identify a candidate that is not only technically competent, but a good fit for the company culture as well, according to Nina Mapson Bone, […]
Ecology versus economy—it doesn’t have to be one or the other. Check out how your business can benefit from, and contribute to a greening marketplace. Your asset, should you choose to protect it, is the ecosystem in which we live. And while you may never have thought of the ecosystem as a business asset, maintaining […]
While it’s important to take a close look at the mechanics of your business, to keep improving you also need to be aware of what’s going on in the industries around you and how to improve your foothold in the marketplace. Barry Urquhart shows us some keys to innovation, even offering lessons on what businesses […]
Ironically, start-up businesses are often prepared for success on many levels but not on one of the most important: leadership. James Michael explains the principles of his three-e style of leadership training. From innovator to entrepreneur to marketer and employer, and then, inexorably, to manager and leader. What a journey! And for many small to […]
There are plenty of tips for job seekers on how to behave in an interview, but what’s the secret to successfully conducting one? Robert Half has prepared a guide to successfully conducting an interview. Using the right interview techniques can help employers identify a candidate that is not only technically competent, but a good fit […]
Anthony Bell doesn’t always do things like the rest of the mob. And as Camille Howard discovers, it’s clear that going his own way has worked out very nicely, allowing his boutique business to beat big companies in the competitive financial services sector, while retaining the benefits of being an SME. Anthony Bell exudes confidence. […]
Importing can give a business a unique niche at home, and can also be necessary to manufacturing products for export. Adeline Teoh looks at the crucial steps for setting up for import, and where you can find specific answers to particular questions. Importing can be a rewarding way to sell to the Australian market, but […]
Online marketing can be less expensive and more effective and accountable than traditional methods – Rebecca Spicer explores the benefits for SMEs, and the myriad options for getting the best results from e-marketing campaigns. Perhaps the most telling comment that came from research for this article was, “No-one can afford to brochure drop all of […]
Buying into a franchise can be a rewarding business decision – but with so many franchise systems out there, how do you go about choosing the best one for you, and then funding it? Rebecca Spicer investigates From dog washing and home maintenance to juice bars and fitness gyms, the list of franchise models in […]
Recruitment can be a lottery for business if it isn’t handled correctly – astute employers use a strategic approach to attract talented people, employ innovative recruitment measures, and promote a strong employer brand, writes Charisse Gray. There is light in the skills shortage tunnel for employers who think laterally and use the raft of technological […]
Gift and homewares trade fairs can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the industry. Aside from ensuring you wear your most comfortable shoes, Liz Swanton gets tips from those who’ve ‘been there, done that’ to help maximise your trade fair experience. There’s an old adage that suggests one should ‘shop till […]
Thinking about updating the look of your store, or planning your first store? Before you rush off to the designer, shopfitter, or get out your can of paint, Marilyn Stephens recommends you think about why and how – Pre-planning and understanding the outcome you want saves time, money, and adds value to the result. The […]
Giftrap recently attended this year’s Retail Technology and Shopfit, Display and Design expos where Rebecca Spicer found some new, as well as renewed, solutions for the retail sector. Running concurrently at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre in September, the Retail Technology and Shopfit Display and Design expos showcased 223 exhibits with the latest in interactive shopping […]
Don’t dismiss branding as a multinational phenomenon – Look at what they do, and adapt it to your SME situation – Cameron Cooper looks at the important steps in building a brand, and vehicles for promoting it. If you think branding is not important for your business, consider this: Coca-Cola, the world’s most valuable brand, is […]
If you’re looking for ways to ease the start-up phase or grow your business through innovation, technology parks and business incubators are a good place to start. The start-up or early phase of a business can be tough. Sometimes new kids on the block are isolated from the expertise and resources provided by technology parks […]
Innovation is key to survival in business to keep financial services relevant and stay ahead of the competition – Just like business, financial services need to evolve to stay in the game – The latest innovation in financial services is Individual Managed Accounts (IMA), which provide a synergy between service and product. A standard IMA platform […]
Multi-channel retailing is becoming increasingly crucial for businesses to survive in an online age – Rebecca Spicer explores the options and steps required to build a successful e-store. Thanks to the spread of broadband and wireless services at home, online business are growing rapidly, urged on by confidence in online brands such as eBay and […]
In any retail market independent retailers must compete with mass merchants to get their piece of the pie. And while it’s often customer service that gives them a point of difference, finding and capturing a niche can keep them a step ahead. Rebecca Spicer explores some successful niche outlets to find out what gives them […]
Staying flexible and being able to set competitive prices is fundamental to small business so the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a fact sheet outlining small business’s and retailer’s rights to do just that. A Competitive Advantage The resale price maintenance provision in the Trade Practices Act protects all businesses from having […]
