Business Essentials

Even though, as Simon Reynolds says, Pharmacists are scientists who are released into the retail world with no business training, he’s still managed to build a business that now groups together about one fifth of the pharmacies in Australia. Starting with his father’s two pharmacies in Western Australia, he’s spent the last 20 years building the extremely successful Pharmacy Alli...

There’s a goldmine of extra income a lot of businesses are missing out on because they don’t follow up effectively. Sales expert and founder of BOOM Sales!, Trent Leyshan, reckons businesses haven’t implemented a proper follow-up process or structure. Trent explains how to follow up, using both traditional and digital methods. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel...

Business owners can be their own worst enemies if they have a fixed mindset. That’s the view of Tristan Wright, a business coach and founder of Evolve to Grow. He says the way we are brought up can give us a blinkered view of the world and our own abilities. Tristan also says self-belief, the development of good habits, thinking laterally and embracing challenges can all be ways to remove ob...

Your staff really are your number one resource, so to make sure you attract the best talent and are able to hold on to them, looking after them holistically is going to give your business a competitive advantage. Lyndal Hughes, is a senior executive at Q5 Partners, an international award-winning consulting firm that specialises in "organisational change". She explains why Wellbeing is so integral...

Borders may have opened and most COVID restrictions dropped, but sometimes drastic labour shortages are persisting for many businesses. With about 750 pharmacies to manage, as well as a head office of 65, Ann-Maree Chadwick has experienced the problem first hand. Ann-Maree is the manager of People and Culture for Pharmacy Alliance, which is one of Australia’s largest pharmacy groups. In this...

As much as we'd wish it, not all staff are high achievers. In fact, some people don't perform up to scratch. So, what can you do about them? Karen Gately, CEO at Corporate Dojo, has nine solutions to get those underperformers on track. It's about acting early, decisively and honestly, and it's about being able to handle an upfront conversation to deal with performance issues. Business Essentials D...

As a business owner, have you let the sales process fall by the wayside? If you’re like many others, perhaps what stops you from selling is fear. Well, according to sales guru Trent Leyshan, you need to regain your mojo. Afterall, he says, sales is the lifeblood of any company. Trent is founder of BOOM! Sales and author of two sales books, Outlaw and The Naked Salesman. He outlines the three...

While staff health is of vital importance as we head back to work, the health of your business is just as crucial. With the flux of the last couple of years, where are things really at, how are things really operating and how healthy is your organisation? Tom Leary, Partner and MD at Q5 Partners, an international award-winning consulting firm that specialises in "organisational change", discusses...

As a result of COVID-19, the big push these days is to go digital in our marketing and communication with customers. But are there inherent dangers in this? Are we forgetting how to interact with our customers on a personal level? Veteran marketing expert and founder of Marketing Focus, Barry Urquhart, says digital communications is just a part of a broader mix of building relationships with custo...

As the ATO grows in size and its collection of data is becomes more sophisticated, Nathanael Lee of Mazars, expects more audits and reviews from the tax office. Currently, it has a spotlight on private groups, including medium and emerging private groups with wealth over $5 million dollars. Nathanael explains an ATO review process and how to prepare for one if you’ve been approached for a re...

As a matter of urgency, Australian businesses are encouraged to adopt an enhanced cybersecurity posture. In other words, be prepared for an attack from Russian cybercriminals, warns the Australian Cyber Security Centre. IT specialist Zaun Bhana, says the Australian government’s support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, is likely to increase cyber-attacks on our shores. Zaun outlines...

It’s a fine line: having the perseverance and grit to constantly manage a business, without succumbing to burnout. Andrew May, CEO of StriveStronger, recognises the challenge businesses face and says looking after your physical and psychological wellbeing is paramount to a healthy business. He says you shouldn’t ignore the signs that your body and mind might be suffering. Business Esse...

When you find what you love and you can make a buck form it, you’ll never ‘work’ another day in your life. That’s according to Stephen Hunt, whose success stems from a $100 beer garden in his parents’ backyard to building a $100-million beer empire decades later. Stephen’s Hunt Hospitality has a portfolio of seven pubs on Australia’s east coast and employs...

In a world that just keeps getting busier, how do we find time to get through our daily tasks? Switching the notifications pings off your computer and mobile phones is one suggestion. And there are many other strategies from Les Watson, Time Lord and author of ‘Get Back An Hour In Every Day: The A-Z of Being More Productive’. Another is prioritising your tasks by ditching or delegating...

It’s more important than ever to have a written employment contract in place with all your staff, and that includes your casual workforce. That advice is from lawyer Paul Cott, who discusses the rules around casual employment of which business owners should be aware. They include leave entitlements, superannuation, and a cap on the number of hours a casual can work. Reference Listen to 'The...

A huge proportion of Australian small businesses will be re-assessing their viability over the next couple of months, and many will close. That’s according to Alexi Boyd, the CEO of peak industry body the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia. She says that many small business owners are exhausted because of the pandemic and will be reassessing their viability. And she says that...

Tony Gattari has always been known as a sales guru extraordinaire, from his time at Harvey Norman, where he increased turnover in its computer division from $12 million a year to well over $500 billion. Today, he’s as well known as the guy who’s lost a heck of a lot of weight and is now a specimen of health. Tony explains why maintaining a healthy regimen has been wonderful for him bot...

Who’d have thought, after more than two years we’d still be talking, thinking and take precautions against COVID? And now, finally, the country is tentatively opening up: the doors are open for international visitors, there is less reliance on QR codes and face masks, and even WA is coming back into the fold. Of course, it doesn’t mean COVID’s disappeared completely. It&rsq...

The fundamentals of selling still exist, but salespeople need to fine tune their skills and techniques to get to their prospects earlier in the decision-making process. That's according to sales and business growth advisor, Rob Hartnett. You need to train your sales staff to be better, he says, in order to create new opportunities, capitalise on them and grow your business. Reference: Rob Hartnett...

The drastic labour shortages that have been affecting small businesses are “peaking” and should start to resolve soon, according to the CEO of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), Alexi Boyd. She says that while it is still the number one problem for small businesses, the “top of the curve” has been reached. Opening international borders will help...

COVID has brought with it a tsunami of change to our lives, and it’s challenged us to adapt and find opportunities that we would otherwise not seize if the world was in it’s slow-moving normal state. That’s according to John Di Natale who offers his three big factors that emerge from a crisis, like our current pandemic: the way we show up; the way we work; and the way we change....

The stock market has seen a woeful start to 2022. In fact, according to Elio D’Amato, founder of consultancy firm Spotee, January was our largest market decline in 40 years. Elio discusses what the volatility means to investors, and he guides us through his stocks to watch. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au +61 3 9882 8333 See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

It’s been a tumultuous two years for business across the country, and even now things don’t seem to want to settle. The uncertainty in the market, including staff shortages, supply issues, rising prices, and the twists and turns of COVID, have made it increasingly difficult for businesses to cope. So, where to from here? For guidance, we hear from leading corporate psychologist and Man...

Yes, we’re time poor, we’re really just trying to get through the day, so the idea of networking with peers might not sound overly enticing. But the investment could save you so much time down the track. Nick Jonsson, Co-Founder and MD of Asia’s number one Executive Peer Network. EGN Singapore, offers five benefits from investing in peer networks. Business Essentials Daily is pro...

Google processes billions of searches every day. So, how does your website stand out and ultimately reach the top of the search results page? Leigh Hanney, SEO and Analytics Specialist and the Founder of DataCraft Digitial, says it’s a slow burn but there are a myriad of ways to reach people who are searching for the content, products and service you offer. Business Essentials Daily is produ...