This island neighbour has only four million people, but with purchasing power that equals or exceeds that of the leading nations of Western Europe and a tradition of barrier-free trade, there are plenty of good reasons to explore this market. When the Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) was signed in 2003, many Australians wondered why […]
In the cutthroat world of fashion, innovative design and strong branding are driving global markets, and Australian designers are leading the way. The global fashion industry is tough—competitive and constantly evolving—but Aussie success stories such as Collette Dinnigan, Sass & Bide, Zimmerman and Akira, as well as many emerging Australian labels, are putting their stamp […]
Shane Yeend’s idea of a fun game is creating and building a new enterprise. The sort that is worth millions on a poor day, and millions more on a typical day. Enter Imagination Entertainment. If you play board games, watch TV or play games on your mobile phone or PC, chances are you’ve come across […]
The Penrith Valley Business Expo, on 14 and 15 May at the Panther Exhibition Pavilion, has set its sights on providing businesses with education, promotion and networking opportunities. The expo, supported by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, also includes a business-to-business trade show for businesses that provide products, services and local assistance. […]
The Anholt GMI Index has named Sydney the world’s best city brand, beating London, Rome, Paris and New York. Melbourne came in at number six on the list. Tim Harcourt, chief economist at Austrade, says the ranking will mean a lot for exporters. “As well as being a great place to live, Sydney is regarded […]
The Australian dollar hit US$0.94 this morning, for the first time since 1984, as the United States recession takes its toll on its economy. Other currencies to do well include the Euro (US$1.51), which passed the US$1.50 mark for the first time since the Euro’s introduction in 1999. The US Federal Reserve has issued a […]
What started as a little side business between friends, Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton, has turned into one of Australia’s favourite fashion stories—sass & bide. When Sarah-Jane Clarke (nicknamed sass) and Heidi Middleton (nicknamed bide) became lifelong friends, the duo could hardly imagine that friendship was going produce one of Australia’s iconic fashion labels—sass & bide. Clarke […]
Under Kevin Rudd’s leadership, trade with China will open up exciting opportunities for Australian businesses. But you will still need to do your homework to make the right connections. Rudd brings a level of expertise to engagement with China that is unmatched by any previous Australian leader. He has not only strong connections with China […]
With receivership and equine influenza marring its past, Magic Millions has had a fair bit to overcome to be a global juggernaut. The Magic Millions thoroughbred auction house started trading in 1980. Then in 1986, the first Magic Millions race was run. “We pioneered the concept that was a sale with a closed race attached,” […]
All it really takes is an idea, and from there the rest will come. At least that’s what happened with ThinkSmart, a business-to-business financer for small and medium businesses. “The idea was really about seeing the appetite of the small business community in particular,” says Ned Montarello, ThinkSmart managing director and CEO. Montarello, in particular, […]
