Welcome to Friday! As always, we’ve wrapped up the week’s most important small business headlines for all you time-strapped SMB owners. This week, the Personal Property Securities Register came into being, Woolworths announced it will sell its Dick Smith Electronics chain and business confidence and conditions results for December were released.
Twitter to filter content by country
Twitter has given itself the ability to reactively withhold content from users in specific countries, based on whether it contravenes an individual nation’s freedom of expression limitations.
Previously, Twitter said it has had to remove certain types of content from its global audience, based on the fact it might not fit with freedom of expression ideas in every region. Now, it can do this on a country by country basis, “while keeping it available in the rest of the world.”
Are you prepared for the new Personal Property Securities Register?
The Personal Property Securities Regsiter (PPSR) came into being earlier this week, promising to bring major change to existing business practices. Here’s what you need to do to be ready to take advantage of the new PPR Register.
According to Veda head of commercial risk Moses Samaha, the PPSR delivers great opportunity to businesses, but they must understand what the changes mean for their business practices.
Regulatory burdens top small business woes
Regulatory burdens and government tendering are the biggest issues facing small businesses in New South Wales, according to small business commissioner Yasmin King.
The tour, Giving Small Business a Big Say, was rolled out to hundreds of small businesses across NSW to allow them to report on their challenges and future priorities.
According to King, the results showed that many small businesses are experiencing the same problems.
Android security holes plugged by new McAfee app
SMBs with a fleet of Android smartphones can now better protect themselves against mobile data theft from cyber crime and the loss or theft of devices, thanks to a new app from McAfee Mobile.
McAfee has teamed with Vodafone to launch the McAfee Mobile Security app, a monthly subscription-based security service for selected Android smartphones.
Woolworths cuts Dick Smith loose
Woolworths plans to put its iconic electronics brand up for sale, with the chain’s namesake and founder Dick Smith saying he’ll be angered if the chain’s sold into foreign hands, but can’t see a likely alternative.
In a move praised by analysts, Woolworths said ending its 30-year ownership of the struggling subsidiary would help the company focus on a larger format position. The review also showed Woolworths plans to close up to 100 underperforming stores in the next two years, while underlining the fact that workers wouldn’t be culled, just redistributed.
Welcome to Friday! As always, we’ve wrapped up the week’s most important small business headlines for all you time-strapped SMB owners. This week, the Personal Property Securities Register came into being, Woolworths announced it will sell its Dick Smith Electronics chain and business confidence and conditions results for December were released.
Pizza franchise plans aggressive Sydney expansion
Pizza Capers will open 25 stores in the Sydney region this year, in response to “huge demand” from the market.
The aggressive expansion plan will see Pizza Capers take its total store numbers to 130 in Australia and Singapore, with the franchise having doubled its footprint in the past two years alone.
Co-founder Scott Geiszler said the business regularly receives emails, letters and Facebook posts from customers asking them to set-up shop in Sydney.
Calling women in business! CBA Women in Focus competition kicks off
Local women are being invited to enter the Commonwealth Bank Women in Focus Community Builders competition series, and share their stories to go in the running to win a trip to Mt Kilimanjaro or New York Fashion Week.
The first competition gives entrants the chance to win $5,000 to host their own International Women’s Day event in March, and the second will provide one volunteer with the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of children in a remote Northern Territory community. The prize is part of the Indi-Kindi program, which aims to improve literacy and numeracy among 0-5 year old children in remote bush communities.
Business confidence up slightly, conditions flat
Business confidence improved slightly in December despite challenging economic conditions in the Eurozone, though conditions remained flat across the majority of industries.
Business confidence rose 1 point to +3, according to the latest NAB Monthly Business Survey, but still sits below the long-run average of +6. The result is a good sign for businesses though, given the ongoing instability in the Eurozone.
“At the time the monthly survey was taken, data out of the United States was more positive, while the fear of a European debt crisis remained very elevated,” the survey said.
What you need to know about the new Work Health and Safety Act
The NSW Government implemented a number of regulations governing workplace health and safety (WHS) just before Christmas, and legal experts are warning SMBs to pay better attention to the legislation and how it impacts their workplace and workers.
The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and accompanying regulations and codes of practice provide further clarity regarding how the national Model Work Health and Safety Laws will be applied in the NSW jurisdiction, the team at Kemp Strang said.
Under the new laws, employers and anyone classified as a company ‘officer’, have a duty to ensure they understand the codes and regulations relevant to their business, and how they apply to their workplace and their workers.
Number of new businesses rises, but SMBs remain vulnerable
The number of trading businesses in Australia rose 0.4 percent in 2010-11, thanks to an increase in new business registrations and a decline in exit rates, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said.
As of June 2011, there were 2.13 million actively trading businesses, as the sector continued to bounce back from negative growth rates during the Global Financial Crisis. In the 2009-10 financial year, business numbers grew 3.6 percent, compared with the previous year, when they declined -1 percent.
Westpac to slash up to 400 jobs
Westpac will cut around 400 jobs from its head office, technology and operations teams this year, to compensate for a slow down in loan growth.
Spokesman Supreet Gosal said the bank has identified 560 roles that would be affected, but as some employees will be moved into other roles within the bank, Westpac expects between 300 and 400 jobs will be lost.
