BF | EDITOR’S DESK
Family, respect and innovation
BUSINESSFIRST MAGAZINE
www.businessfirstmagazine.com.au
There is history in this issue of Business First magazine. Long histories, some that date back a century – or close to – that command respect. Respect keeps businesses alive. It allows them to flourish through all eras in time: through downturns, upswings and the plateaus that are sometimes the hardest periods to get through. With time, also comes innovation. Just ask the McWilliams family, the Coopers family and the Selig family. Their stories began in different centuries. The McWilliams in 1877, the Coopers in 1862 and the Seligs in 1920. Today, the managing directors in charge of these family businesses look back and note the history and the values that their businesses were based on: respect for customers, employees and product. And they have the same innovative streak that led their forebears to such great success. For instance the Cooper family have consistently improved their product. First by figuring out how to separate wort (see the story for the explanation) and then utilising that wort to build the biggest home brewing business in the world. There have been chemical innovations, machine innovation and all of this evolution has been done with respect for the customer in mind. For Geoff and Paul Selig, whose grandfather started Blue Star Printing back in the early 20th century, the innovations have been immense. What was once just a printing company is now a full-blown communications company which not only helps customers with their printing needs, but with all their digital communications requirements. And Geoff Selig does not see an end to this: technology will continue to evolve and Blue Star’s value proposition will evolve with it. Then there is Buxton, which was founded by John Robert Buxton in South Melbourne in 1861. In a fickle industry such as real estate Buxton has also remained relevant through innovation. They were the first – and are still the only – estate agency group to provide an independent valuation report to sellers. And through Richard Buxton, the family name will live on through construction and retirment sectors. History, success and innovation are intrinsically linked, as you will find out when you read through this issue’s feature stories. We also take a look at the rise of digitisation and how technology has changed the workplace and work practice forever. Take a look at the exclusive Elandra resort, which you can hire out for your next business conference or honeymoon and take the new Ford Mustang for a spin. This is the last issue for the year, although you can catch our daily news updates and columns at businessfirstmagazine.com.au. In the meantime we wish you a very safe holiday and happy New Year.
Jonathan Jackson
Editor, Business First Magazine
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BUSINESSFIRST MAGAZINE
PUBLISHER Alan Hyman EDITOR Jonathan Jackson MEDIA DIRECTOR Bob Forshaw SUB-EDITOR Judy Hyman MEDIA & COMMS MANAGER Ellie McInerney DESIGN Gino Hawkins Head Office: Suite 7, Level 1 174 Willoughby Road St Leonards NSW 2065 Australia Advertising enquiries: Phone: 02 9437 5155 Email: bfadvertising@amgroup.net.au Subscription enquiries: Phone: 02 9437 5155 Email: bfsubscriptions@amgroup.net.au Contributors: Steven & Chutisa Bowman, Mark Chapman, Stan Gordon, Stephane Ibos, Mat Jacobsen, David Jackman, Matt Lewis, Jon Michail, Fred Nucara, Joanna Oakley, Federico Re, Andy Rogers, Aaron Sansoni, Lauretta Stace Associated Media Group Pty Ltd ABN 68 123 058 926 Copyright ©2013 Associated Media Group
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