Liz Trethowan
Winning talks customer service & jumping online
Appliances Online was awarded the honours of Best Customer Experience and Best Site Optimisation and Design at the Online Retail Industry Awards (OIRA’s) on Tuesday night, and CEO John Winning has told Dynamic Business his company’s success is due to its focus on customer service.
B2B group buying fostering greater customer loyalty
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.
Shop A Docket giving SMEs a kick start with free ad package
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.
New survey urges women in business to speak up
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 recognised for franchising excellence
Hairhouse Warehouse has received three finalist nominations in this year’s Excellence in Franchising Awards.
Internet TV growth marks new business promotion opportunities
The internet TV advertising industry will grow 476 percent in five years thanks to the increasing popularity of online video streaming, delivering businesses fresh opportunities to reach new audience demographics.
AVG unveils 2012 online security edition
AVG (AU/NZ) has announced the release of its 2012 Internet Security Business Edition, a strong protection security software for SMBs and the latest version of which promises to be faster, lighter and easier to use.
Employee satisfaction levels plummet as Google tops Dream Employer survey
Less than half of all employees are satisfied with their job, a new survey has found, with 45 percent of employed respondents intending to seek jobs elsewhere in the next 12 months and only 33 percent saying they’d recommend their employer.
Moving away from lean office design empowers employees
Employees who are involved in the design of their personal workplace have been found to be up to a third more productive, according to office and care management studies by University of Exeter chartered psychologist Dr. Craig Knight. Knight spoke to Dynamic Business about the impact a work environment has on employee productivity.
Business confidence falls sharply in August
Business confidence dropped in August, thanks largely to increased global uncertainty, major falls in equity markets and a widespread fear of European debt.
Mothercare tops LivingSocial records
Mothercare has broken the record for sales on LivingSocial, with over 21,643 vouchers sold in seven days at a total pre-discount retail value of $2.9 million.
MYOB launches petition to draw government attention to SMEs
With the Federal Government’s October Tax Forum kicking off soon, a new study by MYOB found 71 percent of local business owners want the Business Activity Statement (BAS) simplified and 76 percent want GST rules reviewed. In light of this, MYOB has released an online petition for business owners to send a clear message to the government to introduce legislation that makes life easier for SMEs.
Pre-paid cash passports benefitting business travellers
Corporate Cash Passports, the prepaid travel cards distributed by Access Prepaid, are gaining popularity with businesses in Australia and across the world thanks to their ability to save time, money and security hassles.
Now’s the time to start planning
The beginning of a new financial year is the ideal time to focus on financial business strategy, with experts suggesting businesses target three main areas – finances, culture and operations.
Business failures jump 25 percent in June quarter
Business failures rose 25 percent for the three months to June to reach their highest rate in 12 months, according to the latest Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) figures.
Rogue Cold Rock stores closed following franchise breach
Three Cold Rock Ice Creamery stores in Queensland have been placed into administration after being taken to court for breaking their franchise agreements.
Free business workshop for Indigenous designers
Indigenous designers will have the opportunity to enhance their business skills at a free workshop ‘Your supply chain – from manufacturing to funding your business,’ which will be held in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta.
UQ Enterprize Awards finalists named
The five finalists for the University of Queensland (UQ) Business School Enterprize Awards 2011 have been announced.
Single register cuts business naming costs
Under newly introduced legislation, businesses will only have to pay one fee to register their company name.
Business urged to better customer service strategies
Many Australian businesses don’t put enough focus on customer retention strategies to ensure growth during tough economic times, which is becoming increasingly essential given the current economy.
Skills shortage ranks among SMBs biggest concerns
A shortage of skilled labour is the biggest challenge facing small and medium businesses, according to a poll of state and territory winners and finalists in the 2011 Telstra Business Awards.
Mobile overuse hinders long-term employee productivity
Employers need to manage the time employees spend on their mobile devices outside of work hours, with experts warning of the need to avoid employee burn-out.
Confidence disparity evident across industry sectors
On the whole, SMEs are reporting low business confidence and continued challenges posed by cashflow, with the NAB Quarterly SME Survey revealing a disparity in confidence exists for businesses across different industries.
SMBs treated as second-class customers by local banks
In comparison to personal customers, small businesses are being treated as second-class customers by Australian banking providers, leading Mozo.com.au to launch a comprehensive business banking comparison service to help small business owners compare their options.