Business West August 2012

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THE ART OF PR BE A BETTER BOSS FERGUSON PLARRE’S NEW RECIPE NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS

LET’S

TALK NETWORKING

ISSN 1837-9869

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ISSUE 19 AUGUST 2012 BUSiNESS WEST

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CONTENTS 5

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS Ferguson Plarre’s shift

6

YOU NEED IT, THEY’VE GOT IT Outsourcing services

8

BOTTLING SUCCESS Point Cook inventor

9

DRY IDEA Weapon in bedwetting war

10

MANAGING EDITOR Stephen Linnell stephen.linnell@starnewsgroup.com.au

HEATING UP THE KITCHEN Perfecting work/life balance

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DOING THE SUMS Business advisors and accountants

14

COVER STORY Brainstorming with bosses

18

BUNNINGS BONANZA Future of hardware

REGULARS 4 FROM THE EDITOR 20 SMALL TALK 22-23 STRATEGIES New financial year planning Be a better boss

25

Q&A Donny Walford

26 28 31

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EDITORIAL Charlene Gatt charlene.gatt@starnewsgroup.com.au

HOW TO GET NOTICED Taylors Lakes PR whiz

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EDITOR Tim Doutré tim.doutre@starnewsgroup.com.au

OUT OF HOURS BUSiNESS WEST NETWORK CALENDAR

“

The culture of the office is quite unique, we have a diverse staffing group…

CHRIS MASON - AEGIS

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ADVERTISING Charles Ferraro charles.ferraro@starnewsgroup.com.au Mobile: 0421 555 404 DESIGN Mark Dinnie mark.dinnie@starnewsgroup.com.au BUSINESS WEST Cnr Keilor Park Dve & Thomsons Rd Keilor Park 3042 Phone: 9933 4800 Fax: 9933 4844 Business West is a division of Star News Group Pty. Ltd. Celebrating our 102nd year as a family-run business. Proudly Australian-owned and independent.

Produced and published by Paul Thomas for Star News Group Pty. Ltd. ACN 005 848 108.

Star News Group Trading Terms and Conditions can be found on www.starnewsgroup.com.au Find an electronic version of Business West online. Keep a copy for yourself or share with your contacts.

Visit: www.businesswest.com.au Cover A&D Managing Director Tom Armstrong.

Picture DAMJAN JANEVSKI

BUSiNESS WEST

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FROM THE EDITOR

A LESSON IN PR

Promote your business or service in BUSiNESS WEST… BUSiNESS WEST offers your business the opportunity to be seen by your target market; key business decision makers in the West!

Stay tuned for the next edition of BUSiNESS WEST: coming out in October.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to promote your business or service to the business world of the West, call Charles Ferraro now on 9933 4800 to reserve your space.

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CARBON PRICING AND YOUR BUSINESS

TAMXESING TI

THE ART OF PR BE A BETTER BOSS FERGUSON PLARRE’S FUTURE ■ NEW FINANCI AL YEAR GOALS ■

9 123456 789013

ISSUE 18 JULY 2012

LE T ’S

TALK

NE TWORKING

ISSN 1837-9869

9 123456 789013

ISSUE 19 AUGUST 2012 BUSiNESS WEST

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TO ME the world of Public Relations (PR) is like my washing machine at home - I see it in action nearly every day but I am certainly no expert on how it works.

I’ve never worked in PR but deal with PR professionals (and un-professionals) on a daily basis. I imagine it’s a tough business to be in, one that involves pushing a product or message through a constant slog of emails, phone calls, brainstorming and rejection.

A PR lesson was highlighted to me recently by a post on a website called Mumbrella. A PR agent wrote a post discussing the bright future of the PR industry in the wake of job losses at media organisations like News Limited and Fairfax.

The post was not well-received by the general public (and many journalists) with more than 200 comments made on the website and a barrage of tweets flooding the internet, most of them slamming the post for taking joy in the misery of others.

In a way, the post itself became an exercise in PR for the website that published it, with users who may have not seen the article or even known about the website drawn to it by the controversy. Meanwhile, the PR company who the author worked for found itself in the middle of boycott calls – but any publicity is good publicity, right?

This edition, Charlene Gatt caught up with Material Girl PR’s Nicole Condos. The Taylors Lakes resident has reached dizzying heights in the PR world, having a hand in major events like L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival and dealing with celebrities like Paris Hilton.

Her story is one about embracing your passions but also working hard and dedicating

yourself to your craft. She also revealed some handy tips when it comes to managing your business’ PR needs.

In another positive PR story, I was contacted by a PR agency earlier this year in regards to The Executive Connection (TEC). The email discussed a possible story for Business West and highlighted the work of TEC - a company which connects CEOs and managers of SMEs in a bid to make them better leaders through networking, discussion and brainstorming with fellow captains of industry.

As part of our cover story, Business West spoke to managing director of Kensington business A&D Weighing Tom Armstrong, who overcame initial hesitation to embrace the networking side of TEC: “I’d sort of got to a stage where I didn’t have any more answers and I realised I needed to go out and meet other people,” he said.

Ultimately, in putting this edition together what really jumped out at me was that sometimes in order to find the answers for problems inside your business, you need to look for solutions on the outside. [BW]

Tim Doutré Business West Editor tim.doutre@starnewsgroup.com.au

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BUSiNESS WEST

NEWS

RECiPE FOR SUCCESS

BY CHARLENE MACAULAY THE namesakes behind Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses have parted ways.

continues to go from strength to strength with nine per cent growth in the last month and an anticipated 18 per cent year on year.

The Plarre family have bought out the Ferguson family interests under the umbrella of the Plarre Foods Company and have confirmed a management restructure.

Ferguson Plarre, which has run on five generations of the Ferguson and Plarre families over the past century, employs about 120 fulltime, part-time and casual staff out of its Keilor Park headquarters, and takes in about $17.5 million a year.

Steve Plarre will continue as CEO and director of the company, while dad and former CEO Ralph Plarre will return to the Ferguson Plarre board.

Craig Dowsley has taken the mantle as National Retail Manager, while Rod Douglas will chair the business and head up strategic direction.

“We look forward to bedding down the new structure and making sure all of our key stakeholders are involved in this exciting new chapter,” Ferguson Plarre CEO Steve Plarre said.

“We have a strong growth strategy which includes the role out of more than 20 stores in 2012/13, and we will continue to engage with new and existing franchisees who enjoy the reputation, security and quality that the Ferguson Plarre brand brings to the retail cake and pastry market.”

Mr Plarre said despite the doom and gloom of some retail sectors, Ferguson Plarre

As the story goes, the Ferguson family started up their first bakehouse in 1901 and the Plarres soon followed suit in 1911.

Both families continued trading through both world wars and the Great Depression despite tough conditions, and found unlikely allies in one another, cross-supplying products in times of shortage.

The two families merged their businesses in 1980 to become Ferguson Plarre and up until now each family had a 50 per cent stake in the business, with responsibilities delineated between the two.

In 2010 the business was inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame. [BW]

“

Ferguson Plarre CEO Steve Plarre Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

We look forward to bedding down the new structure and making sure all of our key stakeholders are involved in this exciting new chapter…

CEO STEVE PLARRE 401241-SH18-12

The business will continue to operate under the Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses banner, with a continued emphasis on delivering products made using family recipes developed over the business’ 110 year history.

BUSiNESS WEST

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BUSiNESS PROFiLE

YOU NEED iT, THEY’VE GOT iT

BY CHARLENE MACAULAY TWO years ago, a world-leading outsourcing services partner made Werribee its new home.

Today, Aegis Australia is reaping the benefits of decentralising its Victoria operations and boasts a second suburban office with another on the cards.

Aegis Australia is a diversified business that is part of Aegis Global and the Essar Group, which offers integrated IT, business product outsourcing, intelligence and innovation from contact centres to shared and consulting services. Its Australian division has offices in Melbourne, Werribee, Mill Park, Sydney, Adelaide and New Zealand.

“We help our clients to innovate the experience they deliver to their customers,” Aegis Australia president Chris Luxford said.

Aegis General Manager Chris Mason.

Picture: MATHEW LYNN

The company also has a number of sales businesses, support dealer models and a range of others including technology, analytics, social media and consulting.

“Those back end elements really help focus our attention on the things that an organisation will need to do in order to change its processes and technologies to then enable its people to then deliver that really unique customer experience.”

The Werribee office alone is 3000 square metres and boasts more than 300 employees.

“The culture of the office is quite unique, we have a diverse staffing group, where we cater to university students, to mums, to people who have retired and want to get back into the community,” Werribee manager Chris Mason said.

“We do that through a range of things – we offer a range of both products and services, from contact centre services, both inbound and outbound, and that can be sales or service activity.

Mr Luxford said Werribee became a strategic location for a new office because of the available real estate and employment pool.

“We provide a lot of customer experience training… we’re not talking about a traditional reactive customer experience, but that really delightful customer experience.

“We are a business that is built around people, we need people that are enthusiastic, energetic, really customer-centric, are very, very good at being able to talk with a smile on their face, because that’s the role we play for our clients.

“We have a huge services business, so we look at not just the front end of the customer engagement process, but also the back end, so when you’re sending invoices to customers, or when you’re chasing them for payment, how do you make that a delightful experience as well?”

“The biggest factor (in selecting a site) is people,” he said.

“So as we looked around various locations, there were a number of locations across the state that already had large contact centre populations – Bendigo, for example, down in the La Trobe Valley, Moe, and in the CBD.

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BUSiNESS PROFiLE “While they work really well, the really good people, the people who love being in call centres are probably already working for people, so we decided that we’d like to go to a place that gave us the opportunity to tap into people that really fit that culture, that really would enjoy this sort of work, and there weren’t too many other call centres around that space.

“Werribee became a very logical choice for us.

“Real estate is always a big issue for us in picking a site in that we do generally require large footprint in terms of office space, so real estate and availability of adequate real estate is always a very big consideration in our plans to go to a particular site.”

Six months later, Aegis opened another suburban office in Mill Park. The company is currently scouting a new location on the outskirts of Melbourne as more contracts come flooding in.

“If you break it down, most companies have all the same issues,” Mr Luxford said.

“One, they’re all looking for revenue growth.

“Many have cut costs over the last few years since the GFC to such an extent that cost reduction is becoming a diminishing source of profit return, so they’re really focused on revenue growth.

“Part of the challenge with revenue growth is that while you can innovate your products, any innovation in driving products is usually not very sustainable, because you might come out with the latest and greatest product, but it’s usually copied by your competitors very quickly.

“We believe that one of the long-term sustainable sources of competing and differentiation is around the customer experience.

“

The culture of the office is quite unique, we have a diverse staffing group…

“It’s going to be around how do organisations genuinely delight their customers – not just react well.

CHRIS MASON

“Let’s say you’re an organisation that provides transport and logistics services – it might be to the public, it might be to business.

“Let’s say you find there’s a number of people, given Melbourne’s weather, that leave their umbrellas either in the bus or the train or something like that.

“It could have your company’s logo on it.

What are the costs of making an umbrella these days? It can probably be made for a couple of dollars, and posted out for a couple of dollars, and in that instant you’ve spent about four or five dollars, but you’ve delivered a really delightful experience to the customer.

“They can call in and say that they’ve lost their umbrella and for you to take that call and say ‘sorry, we’re unable to help you’, that’s a bad customer experience.

“It really is about those sorts of things, the sustainable differentiation that can be created by delivering really outstanding customers experiences.

“Or, you could say, ‘thanks for calling and letting us know, we’re going to pop you out a brand new umbrella in the mail’.

“That’s the message we’re taking out into the market and I think it’s one that’s resonating strongly with our customers.” [BW]

business news west

What’s new in the business community?

Don’t miss a fantastic night, book your tickets today!

Visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/businessexcellence for more information or contact Katherine Renden on 9932 1000 for tickets.

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It takes creativity, discipline, energy and planning to make that happen. Give yourself the best chance to succeed by attending this practical and engaging seminar.

This workshop is on Wednesday, 25th July at the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre. For more information, or to register, contact Sally Curtis on 9932 1000.

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Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards Nominations have now closed for the Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards 2012, with the winners announced at a gala dinner at the Williamstown Town Hall on Friday, 7th September.

Join us for a spectacular night of networking and entertainment hosted by Ian Cover from the Coodabeen Champions. Whether you are a first time entrant, a previous award winner or a business operating in Hobsons Bay, come along and see what all the fuss is about!

Support your local precinct and business community and enjoy a night out rewarding and recognising local businesses in Hobsons Bay. Bring your staff along, make your business stand out!

Ticket includes canapés, two course meal, drinks and entertainment. There is the opportunity to win some fabulous door prizes on the night provided by our sponsors: PowerCor Australia, Bendigo Bank Altona/Laverton Branches and WynBay LLEN. Enjoy an evening of networking, entertainment and announcement of all winners.

For more information please call Sally Curtis, Business and Tourism Officer on 9932 1000 or email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

BUSiNESS WEST

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BUSiNESS PROFiLE

BOTTLiNG SUCCESS

BY CHARLENE MACAULAY THIS is no ordinary water bottle.

The Naturally Energised Water (NEW) bottle removes fluoride, chloride, ammonia from tap water, turning it back into pure spring water.

During a special manufacturing process, the frequency patterns of clean, natural spring water and oxygen are charged onto the metal of the NEW bottle.

When tap water comes into contact with the stainless steel bottle, this charged frequency is transferred onto the water, causing it to change its molecular behaviour.

Point Cook business man Ulrich Duenzl first

“

I emigrated from Germany as a boy and this country has done so much for me, I’d like it to be an Australian invented product…

ULRICH DUENZL

came across the technology in Switzerland in the form of the Aquakat, a device connected to a household tap or water main.

The technology has been used in Switzerland and Germany for the past 25 years, costing the average householder about $800 to install.

Keen to implement the technology into a more affordable format, Mr Duenzl came up with the NEW bottle.

Testing at the University of Newcastle has confirmed that the NEW bottle does what it claims.

Based on the concept of an increase in surface tension, tap water that was placed in the NEW bottle recorded an incredible 100 per cent increase in bulk energy.

Ulrich Duenzl with the Naturally Energised Water bottle.

Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

“It actually removes the energy matrix and restructures it back to spring water,” Mr Duenzl said.

bottle worldwide, meeting with industry giants like Nike, Coca Cola and the Australian Institute of Sport.

“It has the ability to de-energise those harmful ingredients and can aid substantially in dieting if taking diet supplements.

He hopes to turn the invention into a global company.

“It’s part of my initiative to try and keep it green and keep the concept with water bottles to reduce plastic bottles.

“I want people to start taking a liking to their tap water again and reduce costs substantially by using tap water.

“We’ve got all the science behind it now, so we’re really looking for more sports-based research that’s been done.”

Mr Duenzl has spent the past three-and-ahalf years spruiking the benefits of the NEW

“For me, it’s not about the money. I emigrated from Germany as a boy and this country has done so much for me, I’d like it to be an Australian invented product.”

The bottle has gained the support of many high-profile athletes, including Australian Olympian Victoria Mitchell, Jason Akermanis, Jason McCartney, as well as actors Sean Penn and Charlie Sheen.

Mr Duenzl said the technology had also been embraced by the holistic medicine practitioners. [BW]

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BUSiNESS WEST

BUSiNESS PROFiLE

DRY iDEA

BY CHARLENE GATT LINDA Sullivan knows a gap in the market when she sees one.

After working in the bed wetting clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Ms Sullivan started up A Dry Bed, which offers a bed wetting consultation and alarm hire service across the West and out to Geelong.

“I’d seen a few close family members that had wet the bed quite late in life, and I knew the impact that it had on families and how, even though it’s not life-threatening, it’s a pain,” the Werribee resident said.

A Dry Bed’s Linda Sullivan.

Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

“I saw the need for children to be seen a bit quicker, particularly for kids eight years and over. The waiting list at the Royal Children’s Hospital could be up to four months. (The clinic sees more than 1000 children a year.)

“Watching the children, particularly the teenagers, come back and they’ve completed the program and don’t wet the bed anymore was pretty amazing.

“When they first come in they’re so embarrassed and shy and mortified, and then the change in their self-esteem is fantastic.”

Bed wetting (nocturnal enuresis) is a common problem that often runs in families.

The exact cause behind bedwetting is unknown, but if one parent wet the bed as a child, there is a 40 per cent chance that their child will wet the bed. If both parents had, there is an 80 per cent chance.

The bell and pad alarm is considered the best treatment for children and teenagers who wet the bed. The alarm, which is louder than a smoke alarm, is activated when the pad gets wet with urine.

Ms Sullivan said the method was safe, noninvasive, and boasted very high success rates.

“The initial concept of these alarms started in about 1910, they have been around for a very long time,” she said.

“At the Royal Children’s Hospital, we still have a couple of the original ones that were made in 1965 and we’re still using them.

Ms Sullivan said her service provided a much more streamlined process than having to go to a GP to get a referral to the Royal Children’s, then sit on the waiting list.

Ms Sullivan provides a demonstration to the families that hire out her alarms, and is on call for any advice.

She is currently talking to school nurses in the region for referrals and said running her own business had given her a new-found respect for entrepreneurs. [BW]

Time to reward and recognise...

Don’t miss a fantastic night, book your tickets today!

Nominations have now closed for the Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards 2012, with the winners announced at a gala dinner at the Williamstown Town Hall on Friday, 7th September.

Join us for a spectacular night of networking and entertainment hosted by Ian Cover from the Coodabeen Champions.

Whether you are a first time entrant, a previous award winner or a business operating in Hobsons Bay, come along and see what all the fuss is about!

Support your local precinct and business community and enjoy a night out rewarding and recognising local businesses in Hobsons Bay. To book tickets please contact Katherine Renden on 9332 1000.

Stay connected – Keep up-to-date with the latest business news and information in your community. Simply send an email to business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au to subscribe today!

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BUSiNESS PROFiLE

HEATiNG UP THE KiTCHEN

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BY CHARLENE MACAULAY THE perfect work/life balance, it’s what most mothers can only dream of but for Hillside’s Josie Campese, it’s a reality.

Ms Campese has been able to have her cake, and eat it too, since becoming a consultant and group leader for The Chef’s Toolbox.

The company sells high quality cookware at ‘cooking’ parties but don’t mistake Ms Campese for a foodie.

“I cook because I have to,” Ms Campese admitted.

So when she was first invited to a Chef’s Toolbox party more than six years ago, she attended for different reasons than most – she was promised food and wine.

What she got was a business opportunity on a platter.

“It was a lot of fun, very social, we stood around and made a risotto without stirring, and that blew me away,” she said.

“I think the thing for me was that I could see the products in action, I could see the difference that quality products could make to the results you get.

“I just felt really comfortable with the consultant, so I decided that I’d like more of the products and I booked my own cooking party.”

Ms Campese’s reasons for booking her own party were two-fold – not only did she want more of the products, but she was keen to see if The Chef’s Toolbox could be the next job for her.

At the time, Ms Campese had spent more than 20 years working in the jewellery industry under various roles and she was keen for a change.

“I saw how much the consultant sold at the first party and how much she sold at the second party and I was at a point where I wanted to spend a lot more time with Sarah (her daughter).

“I was always very involved at school and worked for a small company and found that every time there was something on, I couldn’t make it because I had to work and, being a small business, I couldn’t swap and change my days with anybody and I felt really restricted.

“I asked the girl how much she made, and when she told me, I said ‘I think I need to have a coffee with you’. She made in one night what I made in three part-time days.

“It helped that I had a girlfriend who was in party planning and I’d seen her go on overseas trips and she was a busy mum with three boys that were heavily involved in sport and she just seemed to fit everything in around the family.

“That’s probably what appealed to me.”

The Chef’s Toolbox has run in America, New Zealand and Australia for the past nine years, with more than 500 consultants Australia-wide.

The parties themselves run much like a Tupperware party – as a consultant, Ms Campese shows up to the host’s house about half an hour before the party begins to set up a display.

After doing a bit of prep work and introducing the products briefly, she uses the cookware to make a two-course meal, usually a main and a dessert.

Ms Campese believes the business can inspire cooking in every home.

For her, The Chef’s Toolbox has also been a winning role.

Ms Campese has won numerous company awards as a consultant and group leader, including team leader with the highest volume of the year, and third place manager of the year.

She is also a five-time Australian Top Personal Volume Achiever.

“

I think, like anything, you’ve got to drive a business – it doesn’t happen on its own…

JOSIE CAMPESE

“I think, like anything, you’ve got to drive a business – it doesn’t happen on its own,” Ms Campese said.

“To some people it’s a hobby, for others it’s a part-time job, for others it’s a full-time job. It’s what you choose it to be.

“People can give it a go without a huge outlay.

“You can’t buy a franchise with a system in place for under a few hundred thousand dollars. For less than $500, you can buy a starter kit, the systems are already in place, the training is all provided for free.” [BW]

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DOING THE SUMS

BY CHARLENE MACAULAY NEGOTIIS means business – literally and figuratively.

The Point Cook business advisors and accountants have taken accounting to the next level since starting up in 2010 from two longestablished accounting practices.

Kim Deneys and Co and Holman and Associates joined forces to use their complementing strengths to present a different kind of offer to the accounting industry – and the experiment is working.

Joint directors Kim Deneys, Ron Holman and Amanda Newton each have their own specialty to bring to the table: Mr Deneys takes care of corporate compliance and business activities; Mr Holman caters to the individual’s needs and the administration of the business; and Ms Newton, who is Mr Holman’s daughter, handles communications, marketing and new business.

All three are qualified accountants.

“They both had two very different approaches to tax in terms of targeting different areas of the market (as individual businesses),” Ms Newton said.

“Holman and Associates was very much about individuals and some basic small business and Kim Deneys and Co was more about small to medium businesses.

“By combining the two we were able to get some efficiencies in terms of what we were able to offer our customers across the board, and at the same time both businesses shared

“

There’s lots and lots of businesses talking about the idea of offering a comprehensive service structure, and I really think it’s about who’s going to get to the punch first…

AMANDA NEWTON

a passion for giving more to the businesses, more to their customers than what they were both able to do independently.”

But merging two businesses was not always smooth sailing.

“It’s been a significant undertaking whilst trying to manage growth at the same time,’ Ms Newton said.

“The perils of merging – there’s different software packages that each practice was using, different procedures, so it really has been a long road.

“It’s been two years now (since the merger) and we’re just probably getting to the point where we’ve sorted out most of it.

“It would have been huge just trying to merge what we’ve got, and keep it that way, but it’s been absolutely phenomenal trying to merge what we’ve got with growth at the same time.”

Negotiis, which means business in Latin, is based strategically at the Point Cook Town Centre to capture the bulk of Wyndham’s everexpanding growth.

The crux of the merger was to produce a company that provided more than your standard tax return.

Negotiis handles personal tax, rental property, investments and business advice to new and existing businesses.

Ms Newton said the new model was the crest of a tsunami she predicts will sweep over the business field.

Mc who?

TravelAds If McDonalds didn’t advertise, they wouldn’t be a household name.

Advertising has many mediums; TV, radio, written – and visual. Outdoor advertising has become one of the prolific and successful forms advertising has encompassed.

Billboards on the side of the road are very eye catching; until they blend into the background and become an everyday item.

Moving objects are an interesting, different and new part of the everyday humdrum –fresh, something a little out of the ordinary.

Like us – billboards on wheels. TravelAds are local advertising specialists, and the only service in the West. We take your name and product or service out into the big wide world, for all to see. Our rates are reasonable, and if you provide a written quote that beats us, we will not only match it; we will beat it by 15%, happily.

Everybody’s looking... where’s your ad? www.travelads.net.au 1040204-KG29-12

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BBUSiNESS USiNESS PROFiLE

“There’s lots and lots of businesses talking about the idea of offering a comprehensive service structure, and I really think it’s about who’s going to get to the punch first,” she said.

“Accountants are busy trying to be a onestop shop, banks are trying to be in that space, there are actually a number of business coaches trying to get into that space, there’s so many different industries that want to be that one-stop shop – they all want to offer that comprehensive solution.

“People are time-poor and they want to know they got a trusted advisor and that trusted advisor can take care of multiple needs, not just niche needs.” Now that Negotiis has ironed out post-merger teething problems, the directors plan to make 2012-`13 their bumper financial year. “Our offering here extends well beyond accounting, we’ve got a bookkeeper on staff that operates under a separate brand name. We go right from bookkeeping to consultancy.” [BW]

Negotiis directors Ron Holman, left, Amanda Newton and Kim Deneys.

Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

Building for Success 2012 Atherstone Shire of Melton Business Breakfast Our highly entertaining and motivating guest speaker, Dr Adam Fraser, will deliver a strong message designed to be a real time solution to stress and burn out. Combining years of work with Olympic athletes, the armed forces and business professionals, Adam perfected ‘The Art of Flow’ which will leave a lasting impression and a new way to view work, pressure and performance.

Luke Shannon, Melton Shire Council General Manager Planning and Development will bring you up to date on the key drivers behind Melton Shire’s exceptional growth and the opportunities to business provided by recent ministerial announcements and employment land changes.

Tuesday 18 September 2012 7.15am (registration) 7.30am – 10.00 am (breakfast & entertainment) COST: $45 per person (inc GST) VIP table for 8 - $320 (inc GST) VENUE: Tabcorp Park, 2 Ferris Road, Melton VIC 3337 Proudly presented by:

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL! To reserve your seat, please book online www.melton.vic.gov.au/businessevents

1040079-JM29-12

DATE: TIME:

Proudly supported by:

232 High Street, Melton – 193-201 Caroline Springs Blvd, Caroline Springs – T: (03) 9747 7200 www.melton.vic.gov.au/business

BUSiNESS WEST

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The world of PR

HOW TO GET

NOTICED 14

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Material Girl PR’s Nicole Condos.

Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

BUSiNESS PROFiLE YOUR GUIDE TO PR 1 CREATE A BRAND, NOT JUST A BUSINESS Customers should recognise your name, logo, services and branding as being synonymous with what your business represents.

2 KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER Who are you targeting? How do they like to be communicated to? What appeals to them? How will you connect with them?

How will you maintain customer loyalty?

3 SOCIAL MEDIA Utilise social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter & Youtube to not only promote and grow your brand online, but to engage with customers, the media and other brands you are affiliated with.

Customers love to shine online celebrate their testimonials and target their own networks.

4 BE PERSONAL Remember customer and supplier names and be hospitable whatever your industry, however and whenever you communicate.

5 FOCUS ON WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS What sets you apart from your competition?

6 PLAN Failing to plan is planning to fail! From marketing activity, events to business goals, take the time to plan your strategy and seek the support of a professional in areas you may not have expertise in.

7 CROSS PROMOTE Connect with other reputable brands and events and utilise their networks and audience, particularly online, to promote your own brand.

8 PUBLICITY What are interesting angles or news stories about your business that the media will find newsworthy?

9 WBE REALISTIC Results often take time and require ongoing effort. Invest your resources appropriate to what you plan to achieve and capitalise on your momentum.

Be patient.

10 EVALUATE & RECREATE What tactics were successful?

Which tactics had the least impact?

When you know better, you do better! *Tips from Material Girl PR

BY CHARLENE MACAULAY WE’RE living in a material world, and Nicole Condos is a material girl.

Actually, she is the Material Girl, PR.

Before long, the university student was coordinating the after parties for the Logies, the Grand Prix and other high-profile events.

“I was lucky enough to be right in it.”

From Lisa Marie Presley to Ronan Keating, Paris Hilton to Dennis Rodman, the Taylors Lakes resident has been a part of public relations campaigns that most professionals can only dream about.

Moving on, Ms Condos found herself working with the A-List of film, TV, sport, fashion & music.

“

She’s also been involved in successful events such as the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, Swim Fashion Week and The Black Eyed Peas Melbourne party.

Because I am growing as a brand, I have aligned myself with local businesses or other businesses that are growing, so we can grow together…

NICOLE CONDOS

And at 31, she’s only just firing up.

Harbouring ambitions to be a lawyer at high school, Ms Condos started an Arts/Law degree at Monash University, but soon realised it wasn’t for her.

“The passion wasn’t there,” she told Business West.

“I stuck it out for a year then took six months off.”

It was during this time that she held her 19th birthday party at Heat Nightclub at Crown Casino. Her guest list was so big she was offered her first PR role as a Heat Nightclub promoter.

“It was a dream come true,” Ms Condos said.

“I was 19, I got asked to work at the hottest club, and so I started working Fridays and Sundays. A lot of my income would be from going out and getting people in to Heat.”

Her flair for networking then saw her start a PR/Journalism degree at Deakin University, where she soon attracted attention for being successful in the field she was studying.

Over at Heat, she was promoted to PR and events manager after a change in management.

She quickly went from being on VIP lists, to deciding who makes the cut.

These events involved red carpet and event stunts to secure publicity, get people talking and most importantly get the clients smiling.

Ms Condos is also responsible for turning Ed Hardy Australia from an unknown brand to being listed at number six by BRW Magazine’s Fast 100, with a revenue of $18.59 million – all in three years.

In the last year, she has used her talents to develop Material Girl PR, her own public relations business.

“I’ve taken the bits and pieces that I like (about the industry) to run Material Girl,” she said.

“I guess I’m a little bit older, much more experienced at dealing with people, and I’ve developed a brand to suit who I want to work with.

“Because I am growing as a brand, I have aligned myself with local businesses or other businesses that are growing, so we can grow together.”

Ms Condo believes that in order to be truly successful in any campaign, it’s important that you believe in yourself.

In order to do that, you have to know what’s unique about you.

And just like her personal branding for Material Girl PR – which covers fashion, events, celebrities, business and lifestyle – she pinpoints the key flair about her clients and then tirelessly promotes it so that their audience wants to be a part of it.

“Material Girl identifies what I stand for,” Ms Condos said.

“Ten years ago, PR wasn’t what it is today.

It wasn’t as recognised as it is now.

“You need to be very disciplined, time management needs to be down to a pat, you need to be organised.” [BW]

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COVER STORY

BRAiNSTORMING

WiTH BOSSES

BY CHARLENE MACAULAY BEING the boss can be hard work.

Staying fresh and innovative can be even harder. But who do you talk to when you are already at the top?

Bouncing ideas off other like-minded professionals can provide the light-bulb moment you are after.

The Executive Connection (TEC) brings together CEOs and senior leaders of SMEs and helps them be better leaders by providing them with a confidential environment to sound out problems they’re experiencing, get fresh perspective from their peers to see the big picture, test their ideas, and move their company to the next level.

Mr Martin was involved in a number of businesses over his career, heading up roles in sporting goods, fibreglass and property groups.

Now, apart from co-ordinating the monthly meetings Mr Martin also meets with members one-on-one to discuss the business landscape and their personal development.

“What we don’t do is have people from the same industries in the same groups,” Mr Martin said.

“We want them to be able to discuss anything in a totally confidential manner, and obviously there’s lots of things they wouldn’t want to discuss in front of their competitors.”

THE MENTEE

THE MENTOR HARVEY Martin is the Regional Chair for The Executive Connection and rues that the organisation wasn’t around when he first took charge of a business.

“I heard about it towards the end of my career as a CEO and thought ‘where was this when I needed it?’

“Like most of the TEC chairs, I’m in the twilight of my working life and sort of putting a bit back.

TOM Armstrong is the first to admit he was a doubting Thomas when he first came across The Executive Connection.

The managing director for A&D Weighing in Kensington was invited to a TEC breakfast about 20 years ago and left unimpressed.

“I remember going and walking away from it thinking it was a bunch of old farts that have found themselves a bit of a job to keep themselves going,” Mr Armstrong said.

“I wasn’t interested at all.”

“We’ve all been CEOs and in a number of roles over the years and now we’re there as a coach and mentor to those members.”

It wasn’t until he found himself at a standstill as a boss nearly a decade later that he realised TEC had merit.

TEC members represent a variety of industries, from manufacturing and business services to retail and not-for-profit organisations.

“Somebody approached me and I went to another breakfast, but by then I was looking for answers.

Members come from small and medium sized companies, with most heading businesses that produce an annual turnover of $2 million up to $200 million.

The concept started in America in 1957 and moved to Australia in 1986.

TEC boasts more than 300 members in Victoria and more than 1600 between Australia and New Zealand.

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moved up the ranks, becoming CEO more than 17 years ago. He said one of the strengths of TEC was its monthly speakers.

“Nine times out of 10 you’re going to really learn something, and even the times where you go there and think I’ve heard this before, I go with an attitude of ‘I’ve got two hours here, I want to take something away’. There’s always something there that challenges me.

“It’s also getting together with guys that run businesses that are not competitive and being able to share problems. They give you really straight advice – sometimes more straight than you want to hear, but it really makes you think.

“If you’re not constantly improving your capability, then you’re doing yourself and your company a real disservice. TEC certainly does that.”

Mr Armstong is practising what he preaches; at present, he is doing his MBA at RMIT and ensures his business unit managers are involved in TEC. “I really looked at it (TEC) and thought it was a load of crap and a waste of money, but having not done it and struggled on my own and then having done it, I think it’s a great investment.” [BW]

“I’d sort of got to a stage where I didn’t have any more answers and I realised I needed to go out and meet other people, and that’s where TEC came in. It was a fantastic forum for that.”

A&D is a manufacturer and retailer of weighing equipment. The business is also diversifying into weighing systems and solutions.

Mr Armstrong started with A&D as the marketing manager for Victoria and quickly

TEC regional chair Harvey Martin.

Picture: CONTRIBUTED

COVER STORY

“

I’d sort of got to a stage where I didn’t have any more answers and I realised I needed to go out and meet other people…

HARVEY MARTIN

A&D Managing Director Tom Armstrong.

Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

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BUNNiNGS

BONANZA 18

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Bunnings Warehouse Complex Manager Anthony Carnovale, Kylie Hynds, Chief Operating Officer Peter Davis, Charlie Spiteri and Mary Homburg at the Sunshine store.

Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

BUSiNESS PROFiLE

BY CHARLENE MACAULAY OVER the past 18 years, Bunnings Warehouse has become synonymous with tools and DIY. Starting out with its flagship store in Sunshine, the home improvement giant now boasts 201 warehouse stores, 58 small format stores and 36 trade centres across Australia and New Zealand.

“There were a number of projects underway at the time, including our Altona, Mentone and Nunawading stores and Sunshine was the first to open,” Bunnings Chief Operating Officer Peter Davis remembers.

“The site on which our Sunshine Warehouse is located actually used to be a Spalding golf ball factory.

“

Mr Davis said the expansion would cement Bunnings’ place as the leading retailer of home improvement and outdoor living products in Australia and New Zealand.

“We have been helping Victorians with their home improvement and outdoor living needs for many years by offering the lowest prices, widest range and the best service to customers,” he said.

“We constantly expand and innovate our product offer to meet changing customer needs and expectations and have launched several new categories over the past five years including carpets, landscaping and pool fencing, and more recently, kitchens and appliances.

The site on which our Sunshine Warehouse is located actually used to be a Spalding golf ball factory…

“At the time it was built, the average Home Centre was approximately 3000 square metres and the change in format from these smaller stores to a Bunnings Warehouse was a huge investment, with the Sunshine Warehouse covering more than 12,000 square metres.”

Today, the Sunshine store alone employs more than 140 staff and sees about 17,000 customers through its doors each week.

In the 2010-11 financial year, the store helped raised more than $176,000 for local projects and charities through its weekend sausage sizzles.

Now Bunnings Warehouse is set to get even bigger.

Earlier this year the business unveiled a $1.5 billion expansion plan to roll out 85 new stores across Australia and New Zealand in a counter-attack against new hardwares giant, Masters.

Ironically, Masters’ maiden store on Ballarat Rd is less than two kilometres away from the Bunnings Warehouse in Sunshine.

PETER DAVIS “The continuing evolution of our offer has provided ongoing opportunities for growth in the sector and has brought new products into the market for customers.

“As well as offering the lowest prices on the widest range of products, we want our stores to be a place where customers can rely on a friendly greeting, helpful advice and loads of practical DIY knowledge on home improvement.

“Most of our stores have a playground and a cafe, so customers can bring the whole family for a trip to Bunnings.

“We have also been providing free DIY workshops and events for more than a decade and we are constantly looking for ways to improve our in-store offer for customers, who range from first time DIY’ers to professional tradespeople.” [BW]

WHAT BUNNINGS HAS IN STORE: ■

SIX WAREHOUSES (Highpoint, Torquay, Traralgon, Mentone, Geelong, Thomastown)

■

TWO SMALLER FORMAT STORES (Werribee, Wonthaggi)

■

SITES SECURED AT Doncaster, Sunbury and Springvale

■

WAREHOUSE UPGRADES Sunshine and Rosebud

ON THE CARDS FOR VICTORIA IS: ■ Four warehouses currently under construction at Torquay, Traralgon, Mentone and Geelong with Highpoint and Thomastown about to commence; ■ Two smaller format stores under development at Wonthaggi and Werribee; ■ Sites secured at Doncaster, Sunbury and Springvale, all of which are at various stages of the planning process; and ■ Upgrades to the Sunshine and Rosebud Warehouses.

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SMALL TALK

The PAZ Group took out the Hobsons Bay Business of the Year award in 2010

AND THE WINNERS ARE? NOMINATIONS have now closed for the Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards.

The awards, which celebrate the cream of Hobsons Bay’s business crop, will be held at the Williamstown Town Hall on Friday, 7 September.

Second-generation family business ABLE Industries Engineering took out the top gong at last year’s awards.

The business is owned by the self-titled “Martyn Five” siblings – with Steve at the helm as managing director, brother and AFL star Mick Martyn running project teams, Peter working in the warehouse, and John and Rosemary as silent partners.

ABLE Industries covers a number of project areas, including the army, navy and airforce, energy and renewable energy, mining, rail, construction and the industrial engineering sectors.

Other winners include the Newport Organic Collective, Trading Places Foodservice Brokerage, Elle and Stuart, The Substation, Hampton Sustainability, Court Jester Fancy Dress Hire, Lantern Ghost Tours, Captains Retreat, Compu-stor, Ragusa Restaurant and Aqueous Solutions.

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To book tickets please contact Katherine Renden on 9332 1000.

Ticket includes canapés, two course meal, drinks and entertainment. There is also the opportunity to win door prizes on the night provided by sponsors PowerCor Australia, Bendigo Bank Altona/Laverton Branches and WynBay LLEN. Business West is a major sponsor of the event.

BE WATER-WISE AND SAVE WATER Minister Peter Walsh has announced that the Living Victoria Water Rebate program will be extended to more Victorian households and small businesses.

Mr Walsh said a review of the first year of the program had led to changes to provide greater incentives for households and small businesses to make better use of water in commercial operations and around the home.

Mr Walsh said the Victorian Coalition Government had expanded the program by increasing rebates on products such as rainwater tanks and by making greater allowances for small businesses.

For more information about rebates on rainwater tanks, contact your local water authority or visit www.water.vic.gov.au/rebates

CAN WE BUILD IT? THE State Government has welcomed new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing the state’s building approvals continue to rise.

Treasurer Kim Wells said Victoria accounted for almost 40 per cent of housing approvals nationally.

“Despite the weaker national economy and challenges on the global market, the property sector domestically is showing signs of positive growth,” Mr Wells said.

“The total value of building work approved rose by 10.2 per cent in May 2012 and is up 12.4 per cent over the year.”

Mr Wells said the growth was driven strongly by residential approvals, with dwelling approvals up by 32 per cent in May. SUNSHINE SNAPPED UP A PRIVATE investor has paid $1000 per square metre for a little bit of Sunshine.

The Melbourne-based investor paid the sum for an office and warehouse facility at Northview Drive in Sunshine, in a deal negotiated by Savills Australia.

The property comprises a 345 square metre office and warehouse facility including an open-plan mezzanine level, container height roller door and on-site car parking.

SMALL TALK COUNCIL’S BUSINESS BOOST

FARMER FINED

BRIMBANK City Council has endorsed its Economic Development Framework to address the unique pressures facing the municipality’s local business community during the current global climate.

THE Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined a Werribee South farmer nearly $1500 for causing an environmental hazard by dumping herbicide near Port Phillip Bay.

The framework sets out to enhance economic resilience though employment, investment, competitiveness and productivity.

It sets out a plan to increase diversity of employment opportunities through education and language proficiency, asset development investment and supporting new business establishment.

Entrepreneurs can now register their business at no charge on the online business directory or register for an event that will help refine their competitive advantage.

WORKERS GET WHAT’S COMING DOZENS of workers in Melbourne’s NorthWestern suburbs have been back-paid $292,900 following recent intervention by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The largest recovery was $114,200 for an education professional at Thornbury.

The male employee in his 50s lodged a complaint with Fair Work Ombudsman after he was underpaid termination entitlements.

Other recent recoveries include $36,900 for a Tullamarine maintenance worker underpaid the minimum hourly rate, $21,200 for 94 construction industry workers at Deer Park underpaid travel allowances, and $6800 for a Kealba hospitality worker not paid for all hours worked and underpaid penalty rates.

The Fair Work Ombudsman recovered a total of $7.573 million in back-pay for 3556 underpaid workers in Victoria last financial year.

It responded to a report of a chemical spill in a storm waterway on Duncans Rd, Werribee South in January this year.

An inspection of the premises confirmed the report after seeing bright yellow liquid in a storm water drain.

Officers traced the spill to a farm on Duncans Rd and viewed a container of herbicide which was confirmed to be in the form of a bright yellow liquid.

The stormwater drain leads directly to Port Phillip Bay and there was concern that if the herbicide reached the Bay that it would harm the vegetation in particular sea grass beds.

SUBURB SURPRISE NEW suburbs will be created at Diggers Rest, Manor Lakes and Rockbank North while the urban growth boundary will be extended in Wyndham, Melton and Point Cook.

The State Government has approved the Growth Corridor Plans that includes Precinct Structure Plans for the new suburbs.

The plans are geared towards creating homes and delivering new roads, schools, sporting facilities, parks and health, education, leisure and community services.

At Manor Lakes, 4850 new homes will be built to accommodate 13,500 new residents during the next 20 years.

Infrastructure to be built includes two state primary schools, two large new recreation reserves, a local town centre and an important new north-south arterial road.

The Diggers Rest Plan will see 3800 new homes built for 10,700 residents and includes the urban expansion to the existing Diggers Rest Township supporting a range of new commercial, retail and community facilities in addition to upgrades to existing public facilities.

The Rockbank North plan will see 6650 new homes and a population of 18,500 residents during the next 25 years.

RAIL LINK MOVES FORWARD THE final contract for the Regional Rail Link has been awarded to Leighton-Downer Joint Venture.

This $43 million contract is to design and construct the West Werribee Junction.

The project is the first new railway line to be constructed in Melbourne for 80 years.

“

The project is the first new railway line to be constructed in Melbourne for 80 years…

SHOPPING CENTRE SALE A SHOPPING centre in Sunshine West has been sold by Colliers International to a private investor for $4.95 million.

The Avenue Shopping Centre was been sold under instructions from receivers and managers PPB Advisory with a yield of 9.6 per cent.

The 13,340 square metre site has a net lettable area of approximately 3997sqm, with 196 on-site car parks.

The estimated fully leased net income was approximately $565,000 per annum.

The anchor tenant at the shopping centre was a Coles supermarket, complemented by a strong tenancy mix incorporating a Cellarbrations liquor outlet and other specialty stores.

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STRATEGIES

BE A BETTER BOSS

“

A man can never hope to be more than he is if he is not first honest about what he isn’t…

Are you honest about what you are and what you aren’t?

Answer these questions honestly, and you will end up with a list of things you can do to improve yourself, and therefore your company.

DO I SPEND TIME (AND MONEY) DEVELOPING MY PEOPLE? THERE’S INDUSTRY MAGAZINES AT RECEPTION, DOES THAT COUNT? Advancements in technology, upgrades in software, legislative change or even a shift in industry practice can all affect your workplace.

Maintaining skills, knowledge and therefore your competitive edge is imperative to business in a capitalist market especially during poor economic times.

Investing in your staff is also key to keeping your staff engaged and motivated to continue working at their best for you.

You should budget for training and development and encourage staff to participate in events whenever possible and keep an eye out for free presentations, workshops, online seminars, and set up in-house on the job training and mentorships.

Your staff should know their own job, and one other, to cover leave.

I THINK I HAVE THEIR PD’S SOMEWHERE… You don’t need to know how to do everything your staff do – but you should know what they do – and understand workload, the perks and challenges for each role and be clear about priority tasks that affect other staff and business units.

In case of an emergency, or sudden absence, you will be equipped to manage the workflow to minimise impact on the business until they return.

DO I LET PEOPLE DO THEIR JOB OR FEEL COMPELLED TO DO IT FOR THEM? Don’t do it for them. Your knowledge and skill level may exceed your employees’, but you must help your staff learn and grow.

There is a fine line between coaching and doing.

A good manager will know the difference.

DO I KNOW EVERYONE IN THE BUSINESS AND DO THEY KNOW ME? I think my PA sent an email out on my behalf at Christmas.

Do you know your staff, your customers and your business from the ground up? Do they all know you? Do they know each other?

You can showcase elements of your business and your people, throughout your business through newsletters, meetings, annual days out, and/or social events.

The more you know about your company, the team and each other, the more enriched the experience will be for you, your staff and your clients.

DO I HAVE OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE STAFF? They can email me anytime… my PA will tell me if it’s important.

Information is not a limited commodity to hold. It should flow freely and easily between management and workers.

If you sense that you are not getting important information, consider ways to increase communication.

Likewise, don’t hoard information, unless it is confidential.

What seems irrelevant to you may be highly relevant for someone else.

An open door policy for all works well – especially if it leads to developing more opportunities for the business.

Last week I told Max that his haircut sucked, I told Tracy she looked nice.

Be sure your staff knows what they are doing and have clear criteria and expectations to work towards - and are rewarded for doing well - because positivity breeds positivity.

Similarly, challenges and skills shortages need to be addressed immediately.

Regular, honest and quick feedback can be managed as casual conversations, formal performance reviews, or public announcements in meetings.

A little miracle pill to most staffing situations is an honest ‘Thank you’, ‘please’, and ‘I’m sorry, I was wrong’.

Just last week I told Max to tell Tracy, to get Simon to do the rosters for Sally!

It is not fair to expect your staff to do something if you are not doing it yourself.

Part of being a manager is applying more strategic and critical-thinking skills to the work your company, department or team are doing.

Delegating helps minimise the amount of tactical work you’re doing so you can focus on the bigger picture.

The importance of choosing the right person to delegate the right task too is paramount.

And you need clear communication of the instruction along with your expectations, and keeping the door open to address any obstacles along the way.

There’s not enough time for me to evaluate my time management skills.

Janice Ward from TechRepulic in her article ’10 Tips to being a better IT Manager’ suggests that working smarter, not harder is the key to time management. If you can identify how you are losing time – you can find a remedy to address this and save time.

A common way to save time is to only check your emails at certain times of day in a block, so that the drip, drip, dripping of emails and responses doesn’t completely negate the value of you doing actual work.

FLEXI PERSONNEL “Good People = Good Business” For more information about this article or help finding good people for your business contact one of our offices.

Campbellfield: 9359 1222, Laverton: 9360 9722, Geelong: 5229 7233 or email newsflash@flexipersonnel.com.au Website: www.flexipersonnel.com.au Written by Katrina Fleming of Finer Films for Flexi Personnel Pty Ltd.

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STRATEGIES

NEW YEAR,NEW GOALS Whether you’ve had a bumper year or a bummer year there are still things you can do to improve and prepare yourself for the best year ever. Here are some of my tips for business New Year resolutions: 1. SORT OUT YOUR TOP 20 PER CENT Have you noticed how each year you are in business, things change? Customers change, customers’ profitability changes and sometimes the importance of particular customers to your business can change.

It is important to get an idea of which customers are most profitable for your business right now versus the ones that are not.

AILSA PAGE is Managing Director at AP Marketing Works.

A qualified marketing professional with over 18 years’ marketing experience and expertise, Ailsa specialises in the services, education and small business sectors.

She has worked in marketing and senior management positions for organisations such as Bicycle Victoria, the Conservation Council of Victoria (now Environment Victoria) and The CEO Institute. Ailsa is a judge for the Telstra Business Awards and a panel judge for the Telstra Women’s Business Awards. In 2009 Ailsa was awarded the Star Women in Business Professional and Business Services category.

Ailsa recently relaunched a revised edition of The Shoe String Marketing Kit for Small Business and has two copies to give away to lucky business readers. Log onto www. apmarketingworks.com. au and go to Contact and mention “Business West” for your chance to Written

by Ailsa Page of P Marketing Works.

This New Year take the time to have a look. Make sure you spend your time on the customers that are making you money.

If a customer is damaging for your business either they take up too much time, are late to pay, are never satisfied or constantly try and beat you down on price it might be time to sack them.

2. SET SOME TARGETS What do you want to achieve this year? Without goals it is hard to get ahead. So my challenge is to spend a little bit of time thinking about what you want to achieve in the next 12 months.

It might be as simple as writing down your sales goals and how you think you are going to get there.

This doesn’t have to take long nor do you have to write it down in a complex document.

A piece of paper with what you want to achieve stuck onto your office wall is a good starting place.

If you look at it every day – you will be well on your way to achieving those goals.

3. TAKE TIME TO REVIEW – MEASURE AND EVALUATE WHAT’S WORKED AND WHAT HASN’T What marketing worked, what marketing didn’t work so well?

You can also review a whole range of areas of your business including suppliers, cashflow, workflow, staff, equipment, which investments in your business paid off which ones didn’t.

It’s great to write in a book what you learnt from mistakes made.

It’s one of the delicious ironies of running a small business - the mistakes we usually learn the most from are the most expensive ones.

By the way, don’t feel bad about making mistakes.

If you’re not making mistakes then you are playing it too safe.

I always suggest having a marketing experiment budget for just this purpose. It’s always good to try your hand at some new technology as it will keep your technophobia at bay and stop you getting too far behind younger generations.

This might be getting a smart phone or dabbling in social media.

Things are changing and it’s much better to go with the change than resist it. Technology is very much a part of our world and it certainly is the way of the future. Make it a resolution to keep in touch.

5. FIND OUT WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS REALLY THINK A good New Year’s resolution is to conduct a customer satisfaction survey.

You can get great information such as whether customers are likely to do business with you again and if you are pricing too high or low.

It can be scary getting the feedback but invaluable for moving forward in your business.

6. ENTER A BUSINESS AWARD There are some great benefits to be made from entering business awards.

You gain focus and learn a lot just through the process of preparing your application.

Then if you are successful enough to be a finalist or even win, of course then there are plentiful marketing bonuses for your business.

7. REVIEW YOUR WEBSITE Read through your website and correct out of date information. It’s once a year – you can do it! You’ll feel so much better and your customers will thank you.

8. BOOK A HOLIDAY Too many business owners work themselves into the ground. If you love being in business and have been in business full-time for more than three years then you need to make it sustainable or else you can work yourself to death.

Your business, your customers and your family will all benefit from you being more rested and relaxed.

4. TRY SOMETHING NEW

So book a holiday. I know as the business owner it’s hard to take time off but take some time off.

This might be a new way of marketing. Sometimes a new form of marketing may give you a great return on investment but you have to give it a go to find out.

Start with a day and go away for a long weekend then work up to a week. Why be in business if you can’t have the life you want?

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Tax Returns

A BUSiNESS WEST PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

PREPARATiON iS THE KEY As you prepare for the new financial year it is important that you step back from your business and reflect on what has occurred good and bad, and plan for the next year. As is often said, stop working in the business and start working on the business.

REVIEW YOUR BUSINESS PERFORMANCE The result of your review should be an objective and relevant business plan which is broken down into quarters and months. You should also be creating a budget to support your business plan.

PREPARING YOUR BUSINESS PLAN Your business plan will have improvement objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets against which to measure whether you have achieved your business goals.

Key points to note when producing your business plan are: 1 THINK BROADLY: As you consider each part of the business, think broadly (take a balanced view of the business) and test each issue by asking yourself what are the implications for each of the following: ■ Monthly, quarterly and annual budgets ■ Business improvement objectives ■ Financial objectives and KPIs ■ Non-financial objectives and KPIs 2 BUSINESS OBJECTIVES: Your business objectives should be action statements and specify an outcome, consequently they should start with a verb.

3 MEASURING OBJECTIVES: Each objective should have a measure, a target, a time by when it is to be achieved and the name of the responsible person. The results should be collected on a regular basis (at least monthly) and the trend reviewed.

4 SEGMENT OBJECTIVES: The objectives may need to be broken down into initiatives and tasks. These should be treated as small projects and have clear measures of success (quality, time, cost). They should have a responsible person and a start and completion date.

CREATING YOUR BUDGET When creating your budget remember that it is the financial representation of your business plan, so both are done in conjunction. Key points to remember when creating the budget are: 1 DEFINING COSTS: Separate your costs between those which are a cost of production and/or service and those which are an overhead or support cost. This is essential if you are going to accurately know your true cost of service and/or production.

2 VARIABLE VS FIXED COSTS: Know which of your costs are variable. A variable cost will increase or decrease in relation to an increase or decrease in sales volume, such as the number of parts required. An example of a fixed cost would be rent.

3 OTHER COSTS TO CONSIDER: Make sure you have included the costs of your improvement projects and any other one off expenditure.

4 BREAK EVEN ANALYSIS: Now that you know

your fixed and variable costs, do a breakk l i to t determine d t i th volume l even analysis the off sales necessary to achieve break even. This is your minimum sales volume; at this volume you have only covered your costs and have made no profit. Then calculate the volume you need to achieve your profitability target. Your sales target should be this figure or something higher.

5 CAPACITY: Do you have the capacity to achieve the necessary monthly, quarterly and annual targets? If not, can you increase price, increase productivity, improve efficiency, or reduce costs? You will need to go back and review the business plan and the budget assumptions.

6 PROFIT DAYS/ MONTH: If you achieve the sales targets you have set, how many days in the month are associated with covering cost (when do you cover your costs) and how many days of profit generation are there?

KEEP TABS ON YOUR WORKING CAPITAL Ensure you are closely monitoring your working capital. This is how sales are converted to cash, and is the economic engine of your business. Set tight targets for your working capital and monitor and enforce them.

If not, you may encounter cash flow problems.

Peter Mayall, Principal, Accounting & Business Advisory, WHK Werribee office

Tax Time Our expert tax advisers can assist individuals and businesses to maximise tax refunds and minimise tax payments.

18 Synnot St, Werribee 3030 T: 9742 8444 E: werribee@whk.com.au Advice is provided under licence approved of WHK Financial Pty Ltd ABN 51 060 092 631 other AFSL than 238 244.

Liability limited by a scheme under Planning Professional Standards Legislation Lending provided under WHK Pty Ltd Australian Credit Licence number 054.466 351 for the advice acts orisomissions of financial services licensees.

WHK Pty Ltd ABN 389 84 006

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BUSiNESS WEST

www.whk.com.au

1039718-KG29-12

So prepare your paperwork now and make an appointment to have your tax return prepared by the local experts at WHK.

Q&A

MENTORiNG THE FUTURE DONNY WALFORD is the founder of DW Bottom Line Pty Ltd (Bottomline) Transition Strategists™ and DW Behind Closed Doors Pty Ltd. She has an enviable record of success working with boards, executive, senior management and business owners across industry, government and the not-for-profit sector. With an extensive background in banking, finance and human resources, Donny works at the board and executive level of management to drive major strategic change. DW Bottom Line (08) 8333 4303. Email info@dwbottomline.com Website: www.dwbottomline.com/bcd.htm 1. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WORKING DAY. Beyond busy and no two days are the same! I could be presenting to a group of women who are interested in joining Behind Closed Doors in Melbourne, mentoring one of my Bottom Line clients, or facilitating one of our Behind Closed Doors group sessions or a strategic planning session with a Board of Directors and Executive. I love what I do, as well as the pace and variety so it never really feels like ‘work’ to me. Since we have expanded the business interstate I am travelling more frequently and welcoming more women into the Behind Closed Doors program.

2. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, AND WHAT SKILLS DID IT GIVE YOU TO GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? My first job was with the Savings Bank of South Australia. I joined the bank straight from school and studied accounting while working full-time. It was fabulous training in understanding business and financial statements and reporting, which helps greatly in running organisations particularly owning and operating your own business.

3. WHAT WAS THE LIGHT BULB MOMENT BEHIND BOTTOM LINE? I wanted to help businesses grow and contribute to the economic development in South Australia. I believe that if businesses have the right strategy, leadership, financial management, HR, marketing and business development and technology, it will make a positive impact to their bottom line. On the flip side of that, get it wrong and it will have a negative impact.

4. YOU FOUNDED WOMEN’S MENTORING NETWORK BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU TO DEVELOP AUSTRALIA’S UP AND COMING BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS? I am passionate about this mission and my main driver is to see greater diversity in boardrooms and in executive teams; not just women but people with diverse skill sets, cultures and backgrounds.

5. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND WHY? BU Th That women do not want the top roles such as Managing Director, CEO or board su roles and that there isn’t a big enough ro pool to draw from. The reality is that there po are so many women putting their hand ar up for consideration but employers and chairs/ directors play it safe and keep ch appointing the same women to multiple ap roles. Women need to learn to position ro themselves so they are noticed and the considered. co 6. IF YOU HAD TO INVITE FIVE PEOPLE TO A BUSINESS LUNCHEON, WHO WOULD IT BE? W Tim Harcourt – as the Premier of South Australia’s new Adviser for International Au Engagement, Malcolm Turnbill, Andrew En Denton, Carolyn Hewson and Heather De Ridout.

Rid

7. WHAT ARE THREE QUALITIES EVERY BUSINESS OWNER NEEDS? You need to have resilience, passion and the determination to keep going even when the going gets tough.

8. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND CAN IT BE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR BUSINESS? Australians are the world’s biggest users of social media so it’s important that businesses consider how to use social media as part of their broader communication activity, and have a strategy about what they want to say, how they want to say it, who they want to have online conversations with and how they evaluate success.

9. IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO AN ENTREPRENEUR STARTING UP A BUSINESS, WHAT WOULD IT BE? It is important to do what you can to make sure your business model and offering is ‘recession proof’. It is also valuable to consider what you can offer that is a ‘must have’ for your market and specialise and focus on that. Begin how you want to finish and have an exit strategy in year two of your business start-up.

10. HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM WORK? I love to spend time with my partner David, friends and family, usually sharing fabulous food and wine in magnificent South Australian wine or coastal regions or visiting favourite venues and restaurants when interstate. I also love to read fiction on my Kindle, particularly crime books. Every two years David and I travel overseas – this is when I truly relax because I don’t turn on data roaming.

Donny Walford

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OUT OF HOURS THE Greater Melton Chamber of Commerce hosted a dinner with Emily and Carly Cheung from My Kitchen Rules. Belinda Lee, centre, from the Hotel, posed with the two reality TV stars.

GREATER MELTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DINNER 2

1

1 Local financial planner Ashley Andrew and Interior Designer Lee Torney posed with the guests of honour.

2 Practical Outcomes’ Kielle Narmington, Ollie Tabone, and Caren Watts, Melton Business Award Winners, with Carly and Emiley Cheung.

Pictures: MATTHEW LYNN

COLLINS & CO BUSINESS BREAKFAST 1

2

3

COLLINS and Co got business owners thinking about the Personal Properties Securities Register when it hosted a business breakfast and seminar at the Yarraville Club. Guest speaker Michael Norbury, pictured, from Madgwicks spoke about protecting business assets, security interest and the implications on your business if you do or don’t register one.

1 Minuteman Press Ed McDonnell, left, and Colins and Co’s Ryk Eksteen.

2 Clare, left, Alysia and Lydia enjoyed the breakfast 3 Western Truck Repairs Philip Purdy listened intently.

Pictures: NICOLE SULTANA

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BUSiNESS WEST

OUT OF HOURS 2

3

1 Flickers Australia’s Yaron Flicker and NAB Business Banking Executive Joe Spiteri.

2 Graham Campbell Finance Director Lou Talevski, left, and M+K Lawyers Associate Noelene Treloar.

3 NAB Business banker Adrian Banducci and City of Brimbank General Manager Stephen Sully.

4 General Laser’s Andrew Miles, left, and Westpac relationship manager Noel Spiteri.

Pictures: NICOLE SULTANA

1

BRIMBANK CITY COUNCIL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY BREAKFAST 4

BRIMBANK City Council held manufacturing industry breakfast briefing at the Sunshine Golf Club.

Malcolm Brown, pictured, of M+K Lawyers addressed various issues including whether or not you ‘own’ what you develop or invent.

MATTHEWS STEER CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS BREAKFAST

1

MATTHEWS Steer Chartered Accountants presented Australia’s famous racing family – the Freedmans at an Ascot House receptions breakfast. Geoff Steer, posed with guest speaker Anthony Freeman, Emma Freeman and Victoria Police Inspector Nigel Howard.

2

1 Fluid Dynamics owner John Bolton, left, and Matthews Steer manager Stephen Wooster.

2 Meerkin and Apel lawyer Fotini Kypraios, left,Midland Insurance broker Bruno Troise and, Meerkin and Apel partner Emanuel Tumino.

Pictures: NICOLE SULTANA

BUSiNESS WEST

27

BW NETWORK Business West Network – a growing directory of local businesses ready to do business with you.

You can join the Business West Network by registering online at www.businesswest.com.au to make sure you receive your personal copy of Business West AND receive a free onetime 30-word listing for your business in a future edition.

92 DEGREE ESPRESSO 29 Prominence Blvd, Tarneit 0468 365 201 www.92degree.com.au 92 Degree Espresso provide coffee carts around Melbourne for all events including corporate functions, trade shows, product launches, staff appreciation days, markets, festivals etc.

ADVERTISING REWARDS PO Box 82, South Melbourne 9016 0123 www.advertisingrewards.com.au Advertising Rewards is a free service for businesses who want more value from their advertising spend.

ANZ 22 Douglas Pde, Williamstown 0434 734 960 www.anz.com We can assist you with every aspect of your business finances, including: managing your cash flow, consolidating your banking and streamlining your accounts. Get in touch today.

AP MARKETING WORKS PO Box 471, Yarraville 0419 546 159 www.apmarketingworks.com.au Marketing company providing marketing strategies, plans, implementation, training, workshops and coaching to service industries, education and small business. Head by professional marketer and speaker Ailsa Page.

AR PROPERTY INVESTMENTS Suite 705, Level 1, C8 Main St, Point Cook 0411 845 699 We help build investment property portfolios for people who don’t have the time and don’t know how to do it. Our complete service addresses everyone’s needs individually.

ART TEACHERS EXPIRED 6 St Patricks Pl, Tarneit 0405 186 582 www.myartroomonline.com.au online art education and photography programs and art products.

AUSTAB LABELS PTY LTD 70-74 Westgate Dve, Altona North 8369 9777 www.austab.com.au With more than 50 years’ experience manufacturing labels Austab can assist with both off the shelf or specially produced custom labels.

BACK IN MOTION BRAYBROOK Shop 3, Central West Plaza, 67 Ashley St, Braybrook, 9687 2700 www.backinmotion.com.au Preferred provider of physiotherapy, pilates, massage and personal training in Australia.

Our group has over 30 clinics across Australia and has been listed in the fastest growing franchises in Australia.

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BALANCED LIFESTYLE MATTERS 19 Mirls St, Newport 0409 831 002 www.balancedlifestylematters.com.au Body Detox - the technology used is the unique BodyCleanse Ionator System and a Magnetic Resonance Analyser to determine the electric frequency of major organs and devise a program for optimum health.

BEST PRACTICE CERTIFICATION 2/23 Marriot Rd, Keilor Downs 0419 161 668 www.bestpracticecertification.com.au Third Party Certification of Quality, Safety and Environmental Management Systems to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and AS 4801. Training and Internal Audit Services.

COURT JESTER FANCY DRESS Cnr Fitzgerald Rd & Everaise Crt, Laverton North, 9369 0777 www.courtjesterfancydresshire.com.au Welcome to Melbourne’s award winning Costume Shop, we are now the biggest costume retailer in Melbourne. Phone 04DRESSUPS now ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL L 1 / 98 Maribyrnong St, Footscray 8398 4415 www.environmentalearthsciences.com Utilising its philosophy of Innovative Science, Environmental Earth Sciences develops strategies to sustainably unlock land such that it can become an economic asset available to sustain the community it serves.

BERRY FAMILY LAW 162 Ferguson St, Williamstown 9397 2488 www.berryfamilylaw.com.au We are a specialist Family Law firm that cater to any legal difficulties or issues arising from relationships.

We have offices in Williamstown and the CBD.

FARREN GROUP PTY LTD 74 Maribyrnong St, Footscray 9689 1000 www.farrengroup.com.au Farren Group Pty Ltd - We are licensed land surveyors, development consultants and town planners. We handle all types of land and Building Subdivisions

BRIMBANK/MELTON LOCAL LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT NETWORK Level 1, 13-15 Lake St, Caroline Springs 9361 9324 www.bmllen.com.au The BMLLEN is a non-profit organisation working as partnership brokers in the Brimbank/Melton area of Melbourne-working to improve education, employment and training outcomes for young people.

FAZ GRAPHIC DESIGNS 15 Sunnyside Way, Cairnlea 0411 413 169 www.fazgraphicdesigns.com.au Faz Graphic Designs is your single stop for all your business design needs! Faz Graphic Designs specialises in results-driven marketing including graphic design, branding and advertising solutions.

BUREAU VERITAS AUSTRALIA 3/435 Williamstown Rd, Port Melbourne 9922 0700 We are in the testing, inspection and certification business servicing a broad spectrum of customers all across Pacific region.

FLUX DESIGN STUDIO 4 Bunbury St, Footscray 9687 3744 www.fluxdesignstudio.com.au FLUX Design Studio believes good design is honest and unobtrusive – drawing attention not to itself, but to the message. ON TIME ... ON BUDGET!

CHANDLER MACLEOD 1 Slough Rd, Altona 8331 6020 Division of the Chandler Macleod Group CHILD ONLINE 38 Morcambe Cres, Keilor Downs 9367 6462 www.childonline.org Online publication COMPLETE HIRE EQUIPMENT PTY LTD 185 Fairbairn Rd, Sunshine 9312 5444 www.che.net.au Complete Hire Equipment is open Monday – Friday 7am-5pm and Sat 7am-12pm, we supply for hire: tools, boom lifts, cherry pickers, scissor lifts, plant and equipment for the construction, maintenance and DYI.

G-FORCE PERSONAL TRAINING 12 Albany Crt, Werribee 0403 972 456 www.gforcetraining.com.au Work with clients who want to lose weight or gain muscle even specialising in rehabilitation, sports specific, younger children and older adults.

GATES AUSTRALIA PTY. LTD 1-15 Hydrive Cl, South Dandenong 9797 9666 Gates Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gates Corporation (USA), one of the world’s largest manufacturers of Industrial and Automotive belts and hoses, plus a host of related products.

GET ME SORTED 41 Central Ave, Altona Meadows 1300 788 192 www.getmesorted.com.au I save business owners time and money by organising office makeovers, setting up systems and helping business owners develop leadership and management strategies to move their business forward.

BW NETWORK HEINEJONES 26 Murray St, Yarraville 9689 2720 www.heinejones.com.au HeineJones is a visual communications consultancy specialising in branding business for success.

Based on experience spanning twenty five years.

HeineJones can tailor a brand strategy to suit your needs.

LEND LEASE Level 2, 825 Bourke St, Docklands 0438 010 317 Lease Lease is an global property and infrastructure business. In Australia we’ve been delivering masterplanned communities for more than 50 years. These communities include Caroline Springs and Wyndham Green.

HILLGROVE GARDENING SERVICE 15 Nicholson St, Essendon 0412 338 844 Maintains domestic and Industrial gardens no job to small FREE quote available

LETICIA RODRIGUEZ AND ASSOCIATES Shop 3, 19-23 Arabin St, Keilor 9331 5044 www.lrlegalpractice.com.au Leticia Rodriguez and Associates offers premium legal services at cost effective rates through highly qualified legal professionals in areas of family law, criminal law, property law and civil litigation.

HOBSONS BAY CITY COUNCIL 115 Civic Pde, Altona 0428 165 298 Hobsons Bay was created on 22nd June 1994 following the amalgamation of the former Cities of Williamstown and Altona with parts of Laverton and South Kingsville. It’s situated on Port Phillip Bay around 10 kilometres west of central Melbourne.

It covers an area of approximately 66 square kilometres.

HOMESTEAD FINANCIAL GROUP P / L 6 Synnot St, Werribee 9741 8566 Financial Planning and Finance business, including Insurance, Investment, Superannuation and Retirement advice, both personal and commercial.

Strong community engagement philosophy evidenced by viewing our year books in our customer reception room.

HOPPERS CROSSING PHYSIOTHERAPY CENTRE 171 Heaths Rd, Hoppers Crossing 9749 5110 www.hoppersphysio.com Quality Physiotherapy and Women’s Health Services.

INDUSTRIAL ART SIGN CO 7/59 Hudsons Rd, Spotswood 9398 0752 www.industrialart.net.au We are a sign company based in Spotswood.

Specialising in signage that attracts attention.

We have a design orientated business creating signage for a wide range of clients.

INTEGRITY BUSINESS COLLEGE Suite 2, Level 1, 902 Mt Alexander Rd, Essendon, 0412 189 857 Integrity Business College focuses on offering dynamic, accredited training in the areas of Business Administration and Management, Retail and Information Technology. All training can be customised to a business’ needs.

ITCH NO MORE - SPECIALIZED HEAD LICE TREATMENT SERVICE Unit 2/54 Grand Pde, Epping 9009 0547 Are you struggling, frustrated and tired of spending hours and hundreds of dollars on treating your child’s hair for head lice? We can help you!

MARISA BERTON DESIGN Unit5, 49-55 Riverside Ave, Werribee 0414 427 489 Large or small we design buildings including residential, commercial, apartments and mixed use developments. Town Planning and Building Permit applications. Urban Design approach on large sites and colour consultant, 20 years’ experience.

LETTER IT (NAME DECORATIVE ART) 40 Rowes Rd, Werribee 0414 720 282 Description: Specialising in quality, handmade, modern and uniquely alternative ways to personalise names, words and decor using canvas blocks and photo frames.

Products are custom made, making them individually unique and personalised.

LISAS ALTERATIONS & BEAUTY 2 Ash Crt, Hoppers Crossing 9734 6048 Hoppers Crossing business providing Remedial Massage and Beauty Therapy as well as Kid’s Pamper Parties and Wedding/Special Occasion Makeup and hair.

MELBOURNE METRO PSYCHOLOGY Suite 101, 416 Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale 0450 4446 788 Specializing in psychological treatment for men in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s with depression.

MEMBERMATIC 6 Sunset Dve, Williamstown 0414 397 230 Business services including: Membership Management for Associations and Clubs, Commercial Insurance, Grants and Awards Applications METRO WEST Unit 307 - 277-287 Barkly St Footscray 0417 014 308 DHS department responsible for social housing/ placements MORTGAGE HOUSE HOPPERS CROSSING 8 Francisco Bay Point, Point Cook 0439 439 019 www.mortgagehouse.com.au Mortgage House Hoppers Crossing is your complete mortgage solutions provider. Our service commitment is to walk you through the loan application process from start to settlement and even post-settlement.

OTTOMAN3 303/1 Danks St, Port Melbourne 0403 937 333 Australia’s number one Nail and Brow Bar. Brining the signature treatment of Eyebrow Threading and Haute Couture Nails in the Myer network.

PROBIOTEC LIMITED 83 Cherry Lne, Laverton North 8278 7570 Manufacturer of complementary medicine and weight loss products.

PROVEN RESUME RESULTS PO Box 81, Werribee 0408 807 466 Experienced Human Resources Consultant/Manager and Professional Resume Writer able to assist with free resume assessment, recruiting, Interview Coaching, Key Selection Criteria and Business Proposals. Mobile Service - Money back guarantee.

Q-SAFE ELECTRICAL TESTING AND TAGGING 25 Neerim St, Melton South 0427 873 989 www.q-safe.com.au We test and tag single and 3-phase equipment to AS/NZS 3760 to help you comply with the new OH&S legislation. Free log book reports.

Competitive rates with no hidden charges.

THE WEALTH FACTORY PTY LTD 8 Glenmaggie Place, Wyndham Vale 1300 308 304 www.thewealthfactory.com.au The Wealth Factory has coached over 5000 business owners worldwide with our proven business profitability system. We enable businesses to have an online lead and sales generating web business.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 12 Ovington Pl, Altona Meadows 0431 318 413 Participate in Australian Foot League. Strive to recruit members to the Club and win premierships of the competition.

WISE EMPLOYMENT 20 Hall St, Newport 9391 0755 Not for profit organisation who have a Federal Government contract to run Job Services Australia in Newport WYNDHAM CITY COUNCIL PO BOX 197, Werribee 9742 0777 Planning for the future whilst also managing for today. Managing the development of one of “Australia’s fastest growing municipalities whilst balancing social justice, economic development and environmental protection.

MPOWER COACHING 23 Jack St, Newport 0410 632 314 www.mpowercoaching.com.au Business improvement specialists, focused on the results and outcomes you want from your business.

Tired of working in the business and not on it? Free initial diagnostic consultation.

ORANGES AND LIME PO BOX 3540, Caroline Springs 9307 7681 www.orangesandlime.com Oranges and Lime works with individuals and small to medium businesses in web design, web development, SEO, SEM, Social Networking, Email Marketing, Content-Creation, and Graphic Design.

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Find me online

www.capturerecruitment.com.au

TEMPORARY STAFFING AND PERMANENT PLACEMENTS, priding ourselves on our ability to understand and meet the expectations of our clients, working with and recruiting for Warehousing/Logistics, Trades/Construction, Manufacturing/Process and Clerical/Administration.

Our name reflects what we are here to do, and that is to Capture our customer’s needs and candidate knowledge. Only by listening and asking those “VITAL” questions of you, can we ensure your service needs are Captured. With locations in Point Cook Somerton and Geelong open 7am-5pm, with 24 hour after hours service. Inquiries: 9369 4459 email info @capturerecruitment.com.au

1018392-MD6-12

Capture Recruitment

A BUSiNESS WEST PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

BUSiNESS SERVICES MARKETING

Keeping organisations healthy – specialising in business process we can work with you to resolve an immediate organisational issue or to assist in forward planning and strategy to add value.

Ph 1300 602 880 www.complianceessentials.com.au Essential Compliance and best practice for every business

C418042-JM36-11

CONTACT US FOR A COMPLIMENTARY NO-OBLIGATION DISCUSSION.

Don’t Waste Marketing Dollars.

Get Expert Advice Before You Spend!

Call 0419 546 159 now apmarketingworks.com.au

1034769-SH24-12

BUSINESS SUPPORT

To advertise your services to the business community phone: 1300 666 808

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BUSiNESS WEST a secret…

Share the success of the West’s own businesss magazine with your business colleagues.

After all, isn’t that what friends are for?

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A STAR NEW S GROUP PUB LICATION | $4.95

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THE ART OF PR BE A BETTER BOSS ■ FERGU SON PLARRE’S FUTURE ■ NEW FIN ANCIAL YEAR GOALS ■

LE T ’ S

TNEATWOLK RK

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ISSN 1837-9869

9 123456 789 013

ISSUE 19 AUGUST 20 12 BUSiNESS WES

T

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1

FFOR OR YOUR DIARY

AUGUST Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

1 2 3 4 5

Your business online workshop Old Calder Highway, Keilor. 6pm-9pm. $30.

Call 9249 4413 to book.

Uniform Work Health and Safety Laws seminar Council Chamber, Function Room 1, Wyndham City Civic Centre, 45 Princes Highway, Werribee.

6pm-8pm. Free. Email business@wyndham.vic. gov.au to book.

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Creating Apps For Your Facebook Business Page Small business forum workshop 6pm-9pm. For more Featherbrook Community Centre, Point Cook. informtion or to register for the event please email 6.30pm-9.30pm. Go to ecodev@brimbank.vic.gov. www.impactiv8.com.au/ au or call 9249 4413. workshops to book.

Matthew Steers ast Kokoda Gala Breakfast ey Racing Moonee Valley t Room, ty Club, Celebrity McPherson SSt,t, Moonee 9 9.30am.

Ponds. 7am-9.30am.

331 for more Call 9325 6331 information.

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Business Planning workshop Caroline Springs Civic Centre. Call 9747 7157 for more information.

The Art of Networking workshop Kangan Institute Campus.

3.30pm-6pm. $35. Call 9094 3042 for more information.

Wyndham BizNet monthly meeting Werribee Open Range Zoo, K Rd, Werribee. Call 0418 533 806 to book.

Marketing Basics seminar Brimbank Council Offices Conference Room, 704b Old Calder Highway, Keilor. 6pm-8pm. $20.

Call 9249 4413 for more information.

Compliance for SMEs and Not-For-Profit organisations workshop Council Chamber, Wyndham City Civic Centre, 45 Princes Highway, Werribee.

6pm-8.30pm. Free. Email business@wyndham.vic. gov.au to book.

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 SME Carbon Briefing workshop Hobsons Bay Civic Centre, 115 Civic Parade, Altona.

11.30am-12.30pm. $20. Call 9932 1365 or email cmaccormaic@ hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au for more information.

Starting Your Business workshop for CALD communities African Australian Community Centre, 30-32 Pickett St, Footscray.

5pm-8.30pm. $30. Call 8412 8710 for more information.

Free on-line tools to increase productivity workshop Council Chamber, Wyndham City Civic Centre, 45 Princes Highway, Werribee.

6pm-9pm. Free. Email business@wyndham.vic. gov.au to book.

Manufacturing Breakfast Briefing – Minimising Risk Sunshine Golff Club, 475 Mt. Derrimut Rd, Derrimut.

5pm. Call 7.15am-8.45pm. o email 9249 4630 or m mbank.vic.gov. ecodev@brimbank.vic.gov. au to book.

27 28 29 30 31 Getting the Right Staff seminar Brimbank Council Offices Conference Room, 704b Old Calder Highway, Keilor. 6pm-8pm. $20.

Call 9249 4413 for more information.

Better Business Practices workshop Committee Room, Moonee Valley Civic Centre, 9 Kellaway Avenue, Moonee Ponds. 5.30pm-9pm. $30. Email business@ mvcc.vic.gov.au for more information.

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Werribee Hyundai is a third generation family owned & operated business situated in the heart of Werribee’s CBD. Since 1962, our family has been dedicated to meeting the automotive needs of the community & developing genuine customer satisfaction with all our customers.

We continue to do so with a professional sales, service, parts & administrative team, all of whom are committed to providing you with the highest level of quality service & the latest Hyundai technology.

If your looking for a new vehicle for personal use or as part of your business eet call 9741 4444 and speak to Jim or one of his team who will only be to happy to assist.

1036245-SH24-12

~ Paul Hopper Dealer Principal