Business Essentials

How are you doing with sales? Do you have a winning sales strategy or approach? If not and you’re struggling to close, you might need a different pitch. Glenn Poulos has developed a sales pitch from his many years in corporate sales, marketing and customer service roles. The ‘Punch Perfect Pitch’ starts with a "punch" or "bang" – an impactful opening that grabs the audience...

Entrepreneur Rebecca Klodinski may have founded an internationally recognised swimwear brand, but now she’s branching out from bikinis to bling. Rebecca grew Frankie Swimwear — now rebranded as IIXIIST — from a student side hustle into one of Australia’s first Instagram-born fashion labels. She explains how and why her business instincts have now taken a new turn into the b...

Struggling to get your team back to the office? How about making them fear missing out on something? Founder of leadership and performance consultancy, Uncapped Potential, Marnie Brkenshire, offers three practical strategies to reignite connection and creativity in your workplace by making it more meaningful, bringing back real training, and creating a sense of FOMO. She explains how purposeful le...

Facts and stories play a vital role in successful sales operations. While facts build trust and demonstrate value, stories engage and connect with people on an emotional level. The problem is that businesses tend to use either sales or facts to convert customers or clients to purchase. Sales expert Sue Barrett, CEO of Barrett Consulting Group, insists a good story has the power to inspire action a...

Stress may sharpen our minds, but when it lingers, it can damage our health, productivity and relationships. Employee engagement specialist Esther De La Cruz says it’s possible for SME owners to manage stress through practical, science-backed strategies that support both mind and body. Esther shares how understanding the connection between brain chemistry and daily habits can empower busines...

Too often sales people tell the customer what they think they want to hear, rather than asking questions and listening to customer concerns. That’s according to business coach and trainer Jim Cocks, who equates great questions with great sales. Jim offers insights into how to improve sales performance by focusing on mindset and building rapport with potential clients. He offers strategi...

The complexity of the General Retail Industry Award is creating unnecessary challenges for small businesses, which make up the great majority of the retail sector. That’s according to the CEO of the Council of Small Business Associations Australia (COSBOA), Luke Achterstraat. COSBOA has joined a new collaboration with the Australian Retailers Association to push for sensible reforms - simpli...

A brand is more than just a logo — it’s the entire experience your business delivers. Rod Curtis, Director of Strategy & Creative Lead at Kommunal - Brand Strategy Architects, explains that while a well-designed logo is important, it’s just an empty symbol without a strong strategy behind it. Rod explores the deeper layers of branding, from the way you present yourself to the...

A successful sales team as one that is fully engaged, highly satisfied, able to handle pressure, and performs at their best. That’s according to Anna Glynn, speaker, author and coach on thriving workplaces, who shares her six secrets to sales success. Implementing the six principles, she insists, takes time and should be part of an ongoing plan. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: Soun...

Speaking up isn't always easy — especially for people who are early in their careers or from cultures that value deference. But organisational psychologist Stephanie Bown says your voice is your value. With AI transforming the workplace, it’s more important than ever to show up with your ideas, back yourself, and make your thinking heard. Stephanie helps us overcome self-doubt, prepare...

Businesses are scrambling to keep up with latest trends in technology and take advantage of the efficiencies of digitisation. At the same time, mediocre customer service is rampant. So, how can you embrace the benefits of the digital era while also servicing customers with the human touch they crave? Well, Jaquie Scammell provides the answers in her new book, ‘The Future of Service is 5D&rsq...

Struggling to generate revenue in today’s tough market? A sales revolution might be the answer. That’s according to Ingrid Maynard, Founder and Managing Director at The Sales Dr. Ingrid explains why traditional sales models are failing, how a lack of skilled sales talent is holding businesses back, and why a company-wide approach to customer engagement is essential for growth. She also...

As the nation goes to the polls tomorrow, Business Essentials Daily brings you the final episode of our special week of pre-election interviews, and it’s certainly revealing. A new report by OnDeck - small business loan experts, shows that out of the 500 Australian small businesses they surveyed, 85% cite cost of living pressures as the key issue shaping their vote this election. It’s...

Global volatility, tariff tensions, and shifting global trade dynamics continue to shape the outlook for small and medium businesses in Australia. For the next in our special series of pre-election interviews, Economist Professor Robert Brooks unpacks the ripple effects of global uncertainty on Australia — highlighting inflation risks, exchange rate pressures, and why smart, steady policy re...

Hospitality is one of Australia’s largest small business sectors, and it’s been on the front lines of recent economic uncertainty. So, are government policies doing enough to help, and what is the Coalition offering? CEO of the Australian Restaurant and Café Association, Wes Lambert, unpacks the pros and cons of each major party’s offerings for small business owners, with...

In the lead up to the Federal Election, Monash University economist Professor Robert Brooks assesses the state of the Australian economy. He explores key productivity drivers — from childcare reforms to infrastructure and housing supply — and warns that lasting improvements will depend on smart, long-term policy decisions. Professor Brooks assesses the potential impacts of polices and...

The status of family businesses needs to come into clear focus this election, according to Family Business Association CEO Catherine Sayer. Family businesses make up about 70% of Australian enterprises, yet they remain largely invisible in federal policy conversations. So, Catherine is calling for greater recognition — through better data collection, targeted representation, and policy consi...

COVID spelt difficult times for many small businesses, perhaps none more so than in the travel sector. So, when the pandemic brought travel to a halt, owners of the travel app Locomote.com had to rethink their survival strategy to. CEO and Co-Founder of Growth Forum, David Fastuca, focused on repackaging Locomote’s value by highlighting duty of care, governance, and compliance to help SMEs m...

When Dr May Chan was a child, she had a fall which resulted in dental issues and an unwillingness to smile for family photos. This experience would later be pivotal in her ambition to pursue a career in cosmetic dentistry. Ten years ago, Dr May and her husband, Dr Reuben Sim, started Dental Boutique in the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn. Today it has grown to 10 surgeries across Australia and New Zeal...

The shift to remote work appears to have improved task efficiency, but is it hindering innovation? Marnie Brokenshire, Founder of leadership and performance consultancy, Uncapped Potential, says productivity in Australia is at its lowest in decades, and spontaneous in-person interactions may be what’s missing. Marnie says leadership is a “contact sport” and how returning to...

Rarely do we know when crisis will strike – a pandemic, war, or a GFC-like event – but if it does happen, the impact on your business and staff could be just as seismic. So how can you prepare for a potential disaster? It helps to have an adaptive mindset, insists Prof Martin Bean, CEO of The Bean Centre, and former Vice Chancellor of RMIT University, during the lockdown days of C...

Starting a firm with nothing but a printed leaflet and gritty determination, Melissa Browne built a thriving business by focusing on profitability and strategic growth. From helping clients with tax to coaching them on business success, she developed ground-breaking systems that revolutionised her practice. Melissa explains how she scaled, streamlined, and ultimately sold her firm for seven figure...

You may associate cybersecurity with protection, but it can also be a driver of business growth. That’s according to the Managing Director of Cyber Matters, Saaim Khan. He explains how trust is now a major differentiator in a competitive market, with businesses increasingly required to meet strict security standards to win contracts and retain customers. Saaim tells us that as cyber threats...

To maintain long-term profitability, you need a strategy that can adapt to new trends and consumer demands. Companies that don’t change will fall behind, says consumer and marketing guru Barry Urquhart. Barry identifies three pillars of business success, and offers the example of a particular Australian hardware company, which is pivoting from hardware to homeware – a subtle, yet power...

A strong brand isn’t just the CEO’s responsibility — it belongs to employees, customers, and even competitors. Rod Curtis is the Director, Strategy & Creative Lead at Kommunal Brand Strategy Architects, he understands more than most why businesses should involve their entire team in shaping their brand identity. Rod explains how effective team workshops can foster genuine buy...