As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic is not just a public health issue, it’s also caused lockdowns and financial worries on a global scale. Small businesses are not strangers to the impacts of the pandemic. In a survey by the International Trade Centre (ITC) among 1,200 businesses in 109 countries between 20 April and 4 May, the pandemic has strongly affected 60% of the businesses. The results of the survey… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Second Shipment of Pfizer Vaccine Arrives in Australia The second shipment with about 166,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived late Monday, as Australia entered the second day of a nationwide immunisation drive. Total weekly doses will be increased to 80,000 next week, from 60,000 doses this week.… Read more
Deciding on an online marketing plan can be overwhelming for small business owners looking for affordable ways to nurture steady, sustainable growth. With time in short supply, the key is to find one or two growth strategies that will get results at minimal cost. These proven growth hacks offer business owners a few simple, cost-effective ideas for attracting new customers, increasing brand awareness, and ultimately, getting more sales. Build your… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Victoria lockdown to end Victoria’s five-day lockdown is due to end at midnight Wednesday 17th February as no new local COVID-19 cases were announced. While most restrictions will cease, some will continue. For example, face masks are required in most circumstances and five visitors are allowed to homes. Public… Read more
These days, it’s inevitable that a diverse group of older and younger workers cross paths in business. After all, the young, tech-savvy, socially conscious demographic known as Gen Y are currently the largest living generation, navigating the work force in record numbers. And the boomers may be retirement age, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to stop working. Many baby boomers are choosing to enjoy “encore careers” – jobs that… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Australia to Reopen Doors to India Australia will lift a ban on its citizens returning from COVID-ravaged India next week, as state officials reported that an outbreak in Sydney appeared to be contained. The Prime Minister stood by his decision to impose a biosecurity order last month barring all… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Active COVID-19 Cases at Near 2-Month Low Australia only has 46 active cases of COVID-19, the lowest number in nearly two months. However, authorities warned against complacency. New South Wales, which has now gone 23 days without detecting any local cases of COVID-19, also warned of a drop-off in… Read more
If you’re like most small business owners, there are never enough hours in the day to complete every task on your list. Often you’re faced with prioritizing what you need to do right now – deal with a customer, meet a deadline, attend an event – and the things you know you should do for the ongoing growth of your business. Scheduling time to attend to these business activities on… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Australia Aims to Vaccinate Entire Population by End of 2021 Australia will spend more than $1.9 billion on equipping hospitals and health centres to administer COVID-19 vaccines that will see 26 million Australians vaccinated by the end of the year, according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Morrison said a… Read more
There are all kinds of groups dedicated to networking. Some are highly structured with performance requirements, exclusive membership, and the payment of dues. Others are free form, come as you please and no charge. Not every group is right for every kind of business. You will find that some groups may simply not have connections in the market you are seeking to attract. You will find some groups have rules… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Australia Set for 10th Day of No Local COVID-19 Cases Australia is on track for its 10th consecutive day of no new local COVID-19 cases, with NSW hoping to ease restrictions this week after controlling a fast-spreading cluster. Meanwhile Victoria, which is hosting the Australian Open tennis tournament, has… Read more
Don’t be left up in the air by traditional IT solutions. Check out the top 9 advantages for small businesses switching to cloud computing. Cloud computing is fast becoming the norm because storing information and using software hosted on the Internet has many advantages. 1. Save money Traditionally, a small business spends money licensing software or buying packages to install or download onto individual computers. Cloud computing, on the other… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Australian Consumer Confidence Clouded by COVID-19 in January Survey The Westpac-Melbourne Institute index of consumer sentiment released today fell 4.5% in January, from December, when it rose 4.1%. This is due to new outbreaks of COVID-19 in Sydney and Brisbane, though the spread has now been contained with relatively… Read more
Entrepreneurs want to have their hands on every aspect of their start-up. This is understandable, as many entrepreneurs come into their respective industries from a place of passion. Their passion will drive them to spend long nights at the office, working hard every hour of every day. Unknown to them, this kind of attitude can actually lead to some destructive outcomes. You must avoid these habits, despite the allure of… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Queensland Orders Hundreds to Restart Quarantine After a cluster of the new COVID variant was discovered at the Grand Chancellor quarantine hotel, all those in the hotel will have to restart their quarantine period. According to Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the remaining 129 guests are going to be moved… Read more
The start of the year is the perfect time to dust off last year’s business plan and set some new goals for the future. While some entrepreneurs love planning, others feel overwhelmed by the process. How do you decide on just a handful of goals that take priority, with so many moving parts that make up a business? These tips can help you get started brainstorming how your company can… Read more
Happy New Year! We hope you had a relaxing holiday break and are raring to go in 2021. Our first weekly digest of the new year includes the latest updates and ideas to help us all move forward. South Australia Keeps NSW Border Shut South Australia has a hard border closure in place with New South Wales with no one from that state allowed to enter unless they are a… Read more
As another year winds down, it’s a good time to reflect on your recent business successes – and consider what you’d like to achieve in the coming twelve to fifteen months. These tips can help you with the process of making plans to help guide your business to greater success. Set priorities Entrepreneurs are typically highly creative and optimistic; as a result, they often have difficulty narrowing down their ideas… Read more
The turn of the year usually prompts most people to think about some business planning for the year ahead. Here are some tips to make the planning more productive. Get your team involved Business planning works best when it’s a team effort. Involve your key staff and your advisors, such as your accountant, your mentor (if you have one), and others who can contribute meaningfully to the planning, such as… Read more
Thank you for your amazing support during this incredibly busy and challenging year. We hope you and your loved ones enjoy a safe and healthy festive season. We look forward to working with you next year! As usual, here are the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. November Retail Sales Surge Preliminary data showed Australian retail sales jumped 7% in November from the month before,… Read more