Business Essentials

The idea of flexible working hours - being able to manage kids, family, hobbies etc. sounds pretty good. But how realistic is it really? Well, Paul Benson, Financial Planner and author of ‘Financial Autonomy – the money book that gives you choice’, is living proof. Not only has he done it himself, but over the last 20 years he’s helped many of his clients bring greater choi...

The on-again-off-again restrictions in some parts of the country are a daily reminder that the future’s far from predictable, and plans can be thrown into disarray at any time. Leading your team through this particularly difficult period can be the most challenging of all. Martine Harkin, Director and Facilitator at Leading Teams explains how business owners can provide support and clarity f...

Since COVID-19, online retail has seen its largest growth on record. For businesses, it’s never been easier to set up an online store. Kelly Slessor is a digital growth expert and founder of Shop You, a personalised virtual shopping mall based on AI technology.  Kelly has spent the last 20 years working with retailers, property groups, banks and media companies globally to develop their...

In early July 2020 the Woolworths Group was fined $1M for significantly breaching spam laws. The highest amount ever issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority or ACMA. A strong, public rebuke was also given by the ACMA Chair, Nerida O’Loughlin, calling the scale and prolonged nature of the non-compliance, inexcusable. It’s not a cautionary tale for enterprise companie...

Why settle for okay, when excellent is so much better for your business? Why, indeed? 'Why' is just one of Darrell Hardidge's ten commandments of customer service. Darrell, CEO of Saguity, has been advising Australia's leading businesses on delivering high-quality customer service for years, and he knows better than most how it can transform the bottom line of your business. He says every touch po...

Last time we spoke with Justin Dry four years ago, he was riding the proverbial wave of success with his start-up online wine retailer. Since then, Vinomofo has matured into a multimillion-dollar company with a growing focus on overseas expansion. How has he maintained the company’s ethos of “no BS and no bow ties” while expanding his mofo tribe? In Part 2 of the Vinomofo story,...

To join this club you have to make a pledge: “There is no right or wrong, there is only what I like and don’t like.” In 2011, in an industry full of pretention, Justin Dry and Andre Eikmeier founded an online wine community with down-to-earth ideals. By July 2016 Vinomofo had 450,000 members and set its sights on overseas markets. In this first part of the Vinomofo story, Justin...

A good night's sleep allows your staff to have energy and attentiveness at work, but is your workplace culture preventing them from getting quality sleep? Productivity and wellness advisor Thea O'Connor says those late-night work emails and online messages can interrupt your employees’ down-time in the evening and early mornings. Because we all have different sleeping patterns and work bette...

Nothing’s more important in business right now than sales. Tony Gattari, sales expert and Managing Director at Achievers Group, says you can’t sit back and wait for people to buy your product or service. More than ever you and your sales team have to be proactive in developing leads and getting people to buy from you. You have to get back to basics, stay positive and persistent in your...

First an extension, and now some adjustments to the Federal Government’s JobKeeper payments scheme. It’s welcome relief to the thousands of businesses and workers facing an uncertain future as COVID-19 cuts deep into the economy. But how does this new round of payments work and who’s eligible?   Superannuation and Business Advisory Partner Michael Jones, of Mazars, provides...

If you were asked to nominate the qualities of the people you most admire, what would be top of the list? Storyteller and star-maker, Colin Pearce was curious to find out and the results of a subsequent survey of three thousand Australians and New Zealanders astounded him. Reference The Character Works Series by Colin Pearce Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com.au...

As the coronavirus throws up increasing levels of uncertainty about the future, there’s never been a more important time to step up as a leader. But what does leadership really look like in these strange and unusual times? Different! says leadership coach Alan Rodway, who explains why our roles must adapt in a fast-changing world. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundca...

Business partners Jarrod Milani and Marcus Brown have carved out a space in the rice market with their innovative products. An overseas trip opened Marcus Brown's eyes to the world of black rice and a dream to introduce and sell exotic grains to Australians. Eight years on, he and co-founder of Forbidden Foods, Jarrod Milani, have enjoyed phenomenal growth, supplying supermarkets and food retailer...

Divorce can be stressful enough, but more so perhaps when running a business. Is there a way to separate, without breaking up the business and without resorting to law courts? Yes, there is, says family lawyer Jennifer Hetherington. It's called collaborative practice – a mediation process for couples to finalise the legal aspects of their separation without court. It’s about meeting th...

People do business with people they like and trust. That's why it's more important than ever these days to build your personal brand. That's according to Andrew Ford of personal brand building company, Social Star. He explains how to build your profile online to reflect your personality and credibility and to help you stand out. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcartel.com...

Is COVID providing the silver lining you need to jump into the property market? Veteran Melbourne real estate agent and commentator James Tostevin says it’s a terrific market for buyers as long as you have all your ducks lined up, and that includes conversations with the bank. He offers wise perspectives for anyone buying or selling during this unsettling coronavirus time.   Business Es...

Being a leader is one thing, but leading your team to operate at its peak - building a high performance team - is a another thing all together. Jake Bridges is a Partner/ Facilitator at Leading Teams, an organisation best known for its success with high profile Australian sports teams, even though the majority of their clients are in the corporate sector. Jake explains what goes into building a hi...

It's hard enough running a business in normal times. With the extra burden the coronavirus crisis has inflicted, business owners need to develop strategies to support themselves and those around them. Managing Director of Barrington Centre, Rhonda Andrews, has some practical advice around managing your people – especially if they’re now working remotely – as well as the importanc...

LinkedIn is one of the best social media platforms for reaching out individually to prospective clients. The problem is, insists LinkedIn expert Ty Giuliani, business owners aren't active enough to get the results. Ty shares his tips on developing a strategy and framework to establishing rapport with your market and creating business opportunities. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCa...

No business is immune to cashflow issues. And now, with COVID-19, many business owners are feeling the pinch more than ever. Cashflow specialist, Paul Roach draws upon decades of experience assisting SMEs to provide a practical guide to business growth and profitability. He offers simple changes and ways of working smarter, which are outlined in his new book, Smarter Business Stronger Cashflow . R...

Mums are Australia’s most influential consumer group. Their collective spending power is vast. But a new report from Marketing to Mums Founder and CEO, Katrina McCarter, has revealed a shift in their attitudes and habits as a result of COVID-19 - and brands would do well to take note if they want to better understand the ‘mother of all opportunities’ that this presents. Business...

If merging with another business is something you’re considering during these turbulent times, there’s a lot to consider and you need to plan carefully. Where do you start, what are the risks and how do you find a perfect partner? Mergers can provide a great solution for business owners looking at the next step for themselves personally and for the business they’ll eventually lea...

Our preoccupation with making ends meet, paying the bills, the wages, sorting out stock levels and generally keeping the lights on may lead us to overlook the fundamental reasons why people do business with us. It’s our ASSETS, says Author, Trainer, and all-round storyteller Colin Pearce, and he means it in a very personal way. Business Essentials Daily is produced by: SoundCartel soundcarte...

Ebru Sak is an amazing entrepreneur and innovator with energy, compassion and enthusiasm for business and life. Her early life was a struggle as she was dragged out of school by her father and forced into an arranged marriage at 16 years old. With courage she divorced and paved her own way into the hair and beauty industry. With almost three decades' experience as a business woman, she reflects on...

Are you overwhelmed by urgency? Do the distractions throughout the day feel as if you don't have the time to get the important things done? Productivity expert Dermot Crowley has pointed out the problems many of us have in taming urgency in his new book, Urgent! In this episode, he outlines how we control urgency and improve productivity, all the while keeping our stress levels in check. Reference...