http:// 2013-05-26T00:29:59Z 2013-05-26T00:29:59Z companies-dying-of-embarrassment-business-mentors-nz-warns

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are literally dying of embarrassment in New Zealand because they are ashamed of seeking help just when they need it most, warns Ray Schofield, CEO of Business Mentors New Zealand, the only national, volunteer business mentoring organisation. Mr Schofield says that many SMEs run into trouble early in their development but won’t ask for the help that could see them through a rough patch. He explains: `There are lots of challenges in those first few months and early years of setting up a business but the New Zealand stoical attitude means that many struggling enterprises fail to seek help in time. The double whammy at 18 months when provisional tax really kicks in is often the final straw. But if only owner operators got themselves a business mentor earlier, more of them would survive. Our volunteer mentors, who provide a free service for up to two years, often arrive just in the nick of time.’ Business Mentors Patron Partner, Statistics New Zealand: NZ Business Demography Statistics for 2012 reports that there were only 40,690 new enterprises set up in New Zealand, a fall of 11.2 per cent on the previous year. This was the lowest birth rate since comparable data was first collected in 2000 and the third year in a row that more businesses have closed than opened. There were 469,120 enterprises in total, down by 0.8 per cent on the previous year.  Lisa Ford, Business Mentors National Agency Manager told a meeting of volunteer mentors hosted by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development at North Harbour Stadium this week: `Time after time our coordinators tell us they call up a new company owner to arrange mentoring only to find that they know nothing about it. That’s because their partner has called us in because they can see the business is struggling. They are simply too ashamed to ask for help themselves, yet some of the most successful companies in the country have got where they are today with the help of a business mentor. It’s something they really should be proud of doing. None of us knows everything and it’s the smart guys who know when to pull in an expert advisor.’ Business ‘deaths’ have outnumbered ‘births’ for the past three years meaning the total number of enterprises has been falling since 2009 with 30,000 fewer businesses set up last year than in 2004. Mentors report that finding the right support, financial as well as expertise, advice and tools to put a new venture on a sustainable footing are vital components to success.  Business Mentors New Zealand helps around 250 businesses find a mentor every month and has assisted more than 65,000 small to medium-size enterprise owners in New Zealand in the last 22 years.Business Mentors provides access to over 1,900 volunteer mentors (who give their experience, skill and knowledge free of charge). The $150 registration fee allows mentoring for up to two years. For more information please visit www.businessmentors.org.nz

2013-05-24T05:45:36Z gold-prices-beat-out-property-boom-1

Investing in property is meant to be the Australian layman’s way to turn a little bit of money into a lot of money. This month, a Sydney harbour-front mansion often vacationed in by Bono sold for $54 million to an anonymous Chinese businessman - a $26 million dollar improvement on what it was bought for back in 2002. But what if this property investor had instead chosen to play the commodity markets instead of eventually selling to a wealthy buyer? Mike Cohen from The Gold Company does the math so you don’t have to. In 2002, the average gold price was $$554.55 in Australian dollars. Nowadays, the price is sitting around AU$1420.  If the owner of this mansion had decided to invest in gold instead of property back in 2002, he would have been able to purchase 50,4266.66 ounce of gold. Just for reference, that’s a lot of gold, and particularly compared with today’s commodity market, an absolute investment bargain. So how much would that initial investment be today? If he chose to sell gold at today’s prices of $1420 an ounce, it'd be worth $71,704238.0523 whereas the house only sold for a comparatively measly $54 million. When looked at this way, gold has outlasted property - even through the recession - as a dizzyingly good investment. “Gold is a controversial commodity as both a form of money and as an investment because it is not subject to the same forces that cause stocks to rise and fall. However, as you can see from this easy comparison, maybe it’s time Australians reconsidered the safest way to make money in this uncertain economy.” says Mike Cohen. The property market has long been held up as the sure-fire way for average Australians to make huge returns. However, perhaps learning to buy and sell gold wisely could be the key today’s investors need to change their fortunes.  While gold has been through a sudden price drop recently and a few people are rushing to sell gold in case they lose out, historically, gold has been a safe investment and even a form of money that holds its purchasing power against inflation. As seen in this case of the Sydney mansion, a smarter financial choice back in 2002 would have been to take a chance on the commodity market instead of the property market and reaped the benefits only 11 years later to the tune of $17 million.  This holds true even today. If people want to take control of their finances and look for a safer way to invest their money, learning to sell gold is a sure bet. Media contact: Dan Novick  Phone: 02 9020 5150 About The Gold Company: Based in the heart of Sydney, The GoldCompany is Australia’s only full service precious metals and diamonds trading company. The GoldCompany was originally founded as the precious metals associate Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA). Identifying a gap in the Australian market for an honest, credible, full-service gold company, the DCLA directors formed The GoldCompany. Drawing on their impeccable reputation dedicated to protecting consumer confidence with unquestionable ethics, the company has grown to not only sell precious metals, but also provide multiple channels for buying, accumulating and trading in these commodities as well. Through community partnerships, a trusted network of specialists, a deep desire to inform and educate consumers and a dedication towards charitable actions, The GoldCompany has become established as the trusted authority in gold and diamonds in the business.

2013-05-24T04:48:05Z sydney-startup-bootcamp-corporate-to-freedom-aims-to-free-corporate-employees-to-contribute-109-billion-to-australia-s-economy

Startup incubator program Corporate to Freedom will be running a one-day start up bootcamp in Sydney on 27 July 2013, to help corporate employees with entrepreneurial aspirations make a seamless transition between corporate life and their real dream; owning and running a successful business. Corporate to Freedom Founder and passionate entrepreneur Johan du Plessis said it needed to be made less risky for high-potential corporate employees to start new businesses, in order to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. “Australia’s future prosperity depends on innovating. Mining won’t last forever. We need to develop new industries to replace it. “Startups can provide more benefit to the Australian economy than we’re currently seeing - $109bn in GDP according to Google and PwC. This will come only once we free high-potential people currently trapped in ill-fitting corporate roles to lead the next wave of innovative Australian success stories. “Currently though “the leap” from corporate employee to successful business owner is too great.  The most common route is to make an all-or-nothing “gamble”, something many with existing commitments or responsibilities are understandably not willing to risk”. “Australia’s prosperity depends on helping these people make the transition from ‘wantrepreneur’ to entrepreneur,” said du Plessis. “What the team at Corporate to Freedom - who have all done exactly that - will do is make it easier and less risky for others to follow”. EVENT DETAILS Seven of Australia’s Top Startup Experts show corporate employees how to become successful business owners BEFORE quitting their jobs.   WHAT: Corporate to Freedom 1-day Startup Bootcamp SydneyWHEN: Saturday 27 July 2013WHERE: Scientia Building, UNSW Kensington Campus (High Street, Kensington)TIME: 9am to 5pmCOST: Tickets start at $97MORE INFORMATION/ TO BOOK: www.corporatetofreedom.com   ABOUT CORPORATE TO FREEDOM Corporate to Freedom (C2F) is a new Sydney-based initiative that helps corporate employees join the entrepreneurial revolution by making a seamless transition from corporate life to running their own successful business. The initiative is run by two passionate entrepreneurs and business coaches – Johan du Plessis and Stewart Bell – and supported by a star-studded cast of Australia’s top entrepreneurial names including Brian Sher, Kim Heras, Liz Atkinson, Peter Davison, Sarah Riegelhuth, Suzy Jacobs and Paul Dunn - who have all started businesses worth over $1m before – they’ve made the mistakes and have the scars to show for it. C2F is a series of programs aimed at busy people in corporate day jobs, where experienced entrepreneurs take you step-by-step through starting your own business BEFORE quitting your job. The initiative was started by Johan du Plessis, a self-confessed ‘start-up fanatic’ with extensive experience in running start-up companies, raising capital and product development. He has built up a strong team of experienced entrepreneurs and business advisers, who will together present a one-day start-up bootcamp on Saturday 27 July 2013 in Sydney; which they promise will be Australia’s most powerful boot camp for aspiring entrepreneurs. ENDS For more information contact: Stewart BellE: stewart@corporatetofreedom.comM: 0411 988 765Website : www.corporatetofreedom.com To download the media kit, go to: http://corporatetofreedom.com/in-the-media/

2013-05-23T16:03:42Z rug-design-website-breaks-new-ground

An online rug store based in Australia will give rug buyers the ability to entirely design their own rugs. The Bespoke Rug Company’s site provides customers with unprecedented levels of inventiveness and flexibility. Wannabe interior designers and proud home-owners now have a whole new outlet for their talents on The Bespoke Rug Company website (www.bespokerugs.com.au). The Australian firm’s website provides total control over the appearance of their luxury designer rugs. There’s always been a certain cachet attached to limited-edition designer rugs among those who take a pride in their home, but now, with The Bespoke Rug Company, that’s a concept that can be taken to its logical conclusion. Visitors to the rugs website will see that design variants are practically endless, so it’s unlikely that buyers will find a similar rug to their own in anyone else’s home. The Bespoke Rug Company rugs are truly unique. Those wanting easily designed rugs will also be at home with The Bespoke Rug Company. With handy software that turns designer rug-making into a series of mouse clicks, this is rug design made easy. In fact, it’s possible to specify every area of rug design, including shape, style, and weave. It’s a comprehensive design tool that covers every base. Rug buyers are able to rotate or enlarge images for a better view. They can also insert designs into a wide selection of roomsets to see how patterns or colours look in a typical home. For those wanting to know delivery times, there’s even a helpful online prompt. There will, of course, be slightly longer lead times for more intricate designs. But budding designers are unlikely to be put off. “We think that our site gives rug buyers the chance to out-do professional rug designers,” say The Bespoke Rug Company. “They’ll be looking for an amazing personal statement in their rug that they simply can’t get from retail-driven design houses. We’re happy to give them the opportunity.” Those wanting to try out the online rug-design software, or wanting to see the full range of online rugs offered by The Bespoke Rug Company, should visit www.bespokerugs.com.au.

2013-05-23T06:26:20Z master-perth-photographer-provides-blueprint-for-success

Perth, WA, May 23, 2013 - Geoff Fisher is the owner of Fisher Photography and is a Master photographer in Perth. He has been a professional photographer for over 35 years. He has been awarded the status of Master Photographer by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography. He has personally trained many other professional photographers, including everyone currently on his team.Fisher finds himself in a position where he is an authority and a role model to many aspiring photographers. He is often asked how to become a professional photographer. Earlier this month, Fisher posted a virtual roadmap to success on his blog. The post displays a depth of knowledge and understanding that is far beyond what the casual observer would expect for photography.The hobby photographer usually thinks that taking great photographs is simple: buy a good camera, aim it, and push the button. While this is a good way to get good amateur pictures, there is much more to professional photography.Fisher identifies six skills that any professional photographer must have to be successful. The first essential skill is the “eye” of an artist. A professional photographer must have an innate understanding of what makes a great picture. Literally one second too fast or too slow can make the difference between a mediocre photo and a lasting memory.The second skill involves managing people. This skill can also be seen as “rapport.” If the subjects aren't comfortable in the presence of the photographer, they will never “loosen up” enough to allow their natural personalities and beauty to shine through and be captured on camera. Fisher notes that it is rare when someone has both the artistic and managerial characteristics, and that most people only have one or the other trait, thus making it difficult to be a professional photographer.The next necessary skill is the ability to take full advantage of technology. This includes exposure speed, lighting, camera angles, timing, and lenses, among many other particulars that must be right. A photographer must also be teachable; they must have the ability to learn many divergent skills. They must also be willing or motivated to learn.The last skill or trait is patience. As the saying goes, “Rome wasn't built in a day” - neither are professional photographers. Becoming a professional photographer is difficult, and becoming a Master Photographer and an authority takes even longer.According to Fisher, there is no substitute for professional experience: “Ultimately, to be a successful professional photographer, you must take a lot of pictures in a professional setting. Despite what many of the camera companies say in their advertising, there is no camera that will take perfect pictures every time, simply by pointing and shooting.”“As for becoming an authority, it almost seems to happen by accident, if you work hard enough. As I became more experienced, I noticed that people naturally gravitated to me and asked questions about photography. When I attained Master Photographer status, though, it seemed to kick everything into high gear.”Fisher concluded, “To me, it is a pretty simple formula; I learned as much as I could, and I took as many pictures as I could, until I knew what I was doing. Then, I started teaching others. But I will never stop learning.”Geoff Fisher is an AIPP Master Photographer, and is the owner of Fisher Photography in Perth. He offers family photography, baby photography, corporate photography, and more. For more information, call 08 9381 2233. To view some of his work, please visit his website: http://fisherphotography.com.au/.

2013-05-23T04:15:07Z label-power-introduces-a-new-series-of-compact-desktop-thermal-barcode-printers-from-source-technologies

The STw.1110 is the first model in the new ST Workstation Series from Source Technologies and is part of an overall strategy to expand the product portfolioto meet the evolving requirements and demands of todays' thermal barcode printer users.  The ST Workstation Series represents a new generation of desktop thermal barcode printers offering a reliable solution for low to medium volume printing environments looking to save space. The STw.1110 incorporates standard features such as Ethernet 10/100, 50 resident/scalable fonts, 300dpi and PCL5e making for seamless integration into new and existing systems, alleviating challenges often associated with proprietary languages.  James Malone Managing Director of Label Power explains “We are excited to introduce an innovative and easy-to-use product that offers what users want; reliability and performance at affordable prices. The great strength of the ST Workstation Series is that it offers low printing costs, without compromising on quality, and helps organizations to improve overall operating costs.”  The ST Workstation Series are ideal for a whole range of applications including:  Retail - product labelling, shelf labelling, receipt printing Healthcare - specimen/patient tracking, pharmacy labels Transportation and logistics - shipping/receiving labels, Item labels, packing labels The Source Technologies ST Workstation series of desktop thermal barcode printers are now available to purchase at Label Power. For more information about how this product can help your business, contact us on (07) 3710 7000 or alternatively visit our website at www.labelpower.com.au About Label Power Label Power was established in 1996 with head office and manufacturing facility located in Brisbane, Queensland.  We are the industry leaders in VIP (Variable Information Printing) systems which enable clients to print variable information labels and tags on demand. Label Power supply full colour industrial digital label printing and converting systems including the popular reel to reel Primera CX1200 digital press and FX1200 digital diecutter. Other products supplied are Colour Inkjet Label Printers, Label Dispensers, Label Rewinders and Label Applicators. For label design and print Label Power are distributors of a full range of labelling software including Bartender, Labelview and Nice Label.  An extensive trade label manufacturing plant coupled with over 17 years experience in the implementation of the best labelling systems, Barcode scanners and Software make Label Power the right partner to help you implement all your product identification and tracking needs.  

2013-05-23T04:05:46Z label-power-is-now-distributing-the-primera-cx1000-colour-label-printer-to-the-australian-market

Label Power is now distributing the Primera CX1000 colour label printer to the Australian market. The company says the printer makes it easy to produce high quality labels in house that are highly fade resistant and durable. Designed for in-house production, CX1000 is ideal for producing short- to medium-run jobs from 50 to 5,000 labels per roll in various sizes. James Malone, managing director of Label Power says with the CX1000, users no longer need to order massive quantities of pre-printed labels. He says, “There’s no lead time and no set-up charges, either. Just import your label files into the included PT Print Software, specify how many you need, and press go, it’s that simple.” Malone continues, “Printing your own labels saves time and money in other ways, too. Design changes can be accomplished immediately so you’ll have no wasted inventory – print only the labels you need when you need them.” According to Label Power the CX1000 can produce labels with a 2400 dpi resolution at a print speed up to 5 metres per minute, while a built-in cutter automatically cuts the web once the job is completed and a sensor turns off the printer and rewinder. The Primera CX1000 is suited to a wide variety of applications including: • Specialty, organic and gourmet foods and beverages • Wineries, breweries and distilleries • Coffee roasters and specialty teas • Cosmetics and personal care products • Private labelling Label Power adds that the CX1000 also prints onto many different laser-qualified label materials, from pressure-sensitive plain papers to white and clear polyesters. A wide range of approved matte, semi-gloss, high-gloss and specialty food and beverage label materials are available. Primera CX1000 is now available at Label Power. Customers interested in obtaining further information about this printer can visit www.labelpower.com.au  or contact us on 07 3710 7000.  About Label PowerLabel Power was established in 1996 with head office and manufacturing facility located in Brisbane, Queensland.  We are the industry leaders in VIP (Variable Information Printing) systems which enable clients to print variable information labels and tags on demand. Label Power supply full colour industrial digital label printing and converting systems including the popular reel to reel Primera CX1200 digital press and FX1200 digital diecutter.Other products supplied are Colour Inkjet Label Printers, Label Dispensers, Label Rewinders and Label Applicators. For label design and print Label Power are distributors of a full range of labelling software including Bartender, Labelview and Nice Label. An extensive trade label manufacturing plant coupled over 17 years experience in the implementation of the best labelling systems, Barcode scanners and Software make Label Power the right partner to help you implement all your product identification and tracking needs. 

2013-05-23T03:47:33Z label-power-redefines-label-and-tag-printing-with-colordyne-cdt-1600-c-colour-digital-printer

The CDT-1600 C is the fastest colour digital label printer in its class” says James Malone from Label Power. Powered by Memjet technologies, it can print up to 304.8mm/second, up to 1600x1600 dpi, and labels that are 50.8 to 215.9mm wide.The CDT-1600 C is designed for in-house label production, private labelling, and is capable to meet industrial label demands. With this printer, users can instantly print labels and tags at a very attractive cost per label.The CDT-1600 C prints fan-folded or roll labels. This printer gives users the flexibility to print variable data and barcoding, and change their label design whenever they need. Also, with the ability to print on-demand, users can eliminate their label inventories.Malone explains that the CDT-1600 C is the answer to all of those companies that have been spending their time looking for the right printer - in terms of price, quality and speed - to upgrade their label printing capabilities.Thanks to its amazing print speed, the CDT-1600 C is able to print more high quality labels in less time. This becomes a critical factor for companies that want to sell more of their product and/or want to serve new markets, but find it difficult due to their limited printing capabilities. The CDT 1600-C is here to meet this need says Malone.Colordyne CDT 1600-C is now available at Label Power. For more information about this product visithttp://www.labelpower.com.au or contact our consultants at (07) 3710 7000.About Label Power Label Power was established in 1996 with head office and manufacturing facility located in Brisbane, Queensland. We are the industry leaders in VIP (Variable Information Printing) systems which enable clients to print variable information labels and tags on demand.Label Power supply full colour industrial digital label printing and converting systems including the popular reel to reel Primera CX1200 digital press and FX1200 digital diecutter.Other products supplied are Colour Inkjet Label Printers, Label Dispensers, Label Rewinders and Label Applicators. For label design and print Label Power are distributors of a full range of labelling software including Bartender, Labelview and Nice Label.An extensive trade label manufacturing plant coupled with over 17 years experience in the implementation of the best labelling systems, Barcode scanners and Software make Label Power the right partner to help you implement all your product identification and tracking needs.

2013-05-23T03:16:59Z emeritus-profess-grant-steven-joins-the-board-of-clean-tech-startup-company-intresto-developers-of-the-world-first-rocksolver-software

Emeritus Professor Grant Steven of Sydney University has joined the Board of the Clean Tech software firm Intresto. Intresto is developing the Rocksolver software application which uses optimisation algorithms to solve the jigsaw puzzle when building with irregular-shaped blocks of unprocessed rock. By taking on the hard part of building with rock rubble Rocksolver removes the obstacle to using this resource of local, cheap and sustainable building material. Emeritus Professor Steven is a world renowned authority in structural and computational mechanics with over 40 years experience in this field and works closely with industry on many large scale engineering projects. He is also the founder of Strand7 one of the world’s leading Finite Element Analysis software companies with about 4000 commercial users. Emeritus Professor Steven said: “I am delighted to join the board of Intresto, the inventors of Rocksolver. Rocksolver is a highly innovative solution to the optimum arranging of irregular shaped tiles for paving and rocks for walls, it is bound for commercial success, and I am looking forward to helping to enable this”. Intresto founder Malcolm Lambert commented: “Having Emeritus Professor Steven on board is a big bonus for us. He will add significantly to the technical competence of the company and is highly regarded in industry and he has started up his own software company in the past. We are delighted he has chosen to join the Board”. In May 2013 Intresto released the first beta version of Rocksolver for optimising the layout of irregular-shaped stone pavers. See http://malbertsinvention.wordpress.com/ for details.

2013-05-23T01:04:25Z perth-marathon-causes-increased-demand-for-customised-uniforms

Perth, WA, May 23, 2013 - On Sunday, 16th June, the West Australian Marathon Club (WAMC) will hold the Perth Marathon at the Burswood Water Sports Centre. The marathon will start at the headquarters of the WMAC, outside of the Burswood Water Sports Centre, where it will wind through a picturesque riverside course, through East Perth, South Perth, to Canning Bridge, to Troy Park, and back to the beginning.The first Perth Marathon was in 1979, and has been contested every year since then. It now includes a Relay Marathon, a Kids Marathon, the Masters Athletics WA Marathon Championship, and the WA State Marathon Championship. This year, the Perth Marathon will award prize money totalling $8,000.JP Promotions, which offers promotional products, corporate clothing, workwear, and uniforms in Perth, are currently taking orders for customised race uniforms and singlets for the Perth events. Their singlets are available in many styles, as are tops and bottoms for tracksuits.JP Promotions offers screen printing and embroidery to customise race uniforms with company names and logos. All tops can be screen printed or embroidered on either side of the chest, or on the back. JP Promotions is still taking orders for the Perth Marathon and associated events, but they do recommend ordering now, to ensure that the uniforms arrive in time for the race.In the past, JP Promotions have outfitted numerous local companies, large and small, with corporate athletic clothing. Because the Perth Marathon also has the Perth Relay, in which four runners are allowed to run as a team, many companies and corporations sponsor relay teams. Many also sponsor teams of runners who all run the entire marathon. In addition, many individuals and small clubs also order customised uniforms.According to Jarrod Wojtowicz, Director of JP Promotions, companies and clubs that sponsor runners create a unique camaraderie among the runners: “Every year, we outfit hundreds of runners and triathletes in the various local events. Most of these are sponsored by their workplaces. In almost every case, those ordering the uniforms comment about how the runners are looking forward to them, and how the runners seem to share a special bond that only exists between athletes.”Wojtowicz continued, “We have seen it over and over again. The camaraderie and pride that the runners take in representing their companies in athletic events always spills over into the workplace. Employees who represent their companies in off-site activities, especially athletic ones, seem to be more proud of where they work, and care more about how well their company does.”Wojtowicz added, “In addition, the runners and triathletes are all in better shape than most of their fellow employees, and they seem to be more efficient, more alert, and take less sick days than those who don't get regular exercise. Another benefit from sponsoring runners in customised uniforms is the billboard effect. Employees tend to wear the uniforms when they practise, and if they all meet somewhere and practise together, they wear the uniforms to and from the practise site. Many will stop off for light shopping on the way home, while still wearing the uniforms. This provides hundreds of advertising impressions.”Wojtowicz concluded, “Sponsoring runners with customised company logo uniforms promotes pride in the workplace, gets employees in better shape, and provides thousands of advertising impressions. Everybody wins.”JP Promotions provides workwear, corporate wear, and uniforms in Perth and surrounding areas. For more information, please call 08 9248 6300 or visit their website: http://jppromotions.com.au/

2013-05-23T00:44:49Z gimrs-launches-exclusive-premium-corporate-advertising-promotion

MAY 22, 2013 GIMRS launches exclusive corporate promotion to win one month's premium advertising worth $4,000 (AUD). This promotion presents an excellent opportunity to expand market visibility by show casing corporate brands and services to over 350 publicly listed companies and their key decision makers. Entries commence from the 16 May 2013 and close the 2 June 2013. In order to enter please email GIMRS your contact details and outline the reason why our executive members would benefit from your brand or service and what places your brand or service in front of market competitors. Prize details can be located here. The winning entry will be drawn Monday 3 June 2013 and the winner will be notified by email. Entries can be submitted via this link.      

2013-05-22T04:46:38Z new-program-helps-tassie-s-tradies-become-business-owners

The AtoB (Apprentice to Business Owner) Program, run in Tasmania jointly by Business Advice Tasmania and darylconnelly.com as part of a Federal Government initiative, arms tradespeople with essential business skills.   Starting in June, the free program comprises workshops and one-on-one mentoring. Participants complete a business plan for their own business and graduate with a Certificate IV in Small Business and a host of skills to start them off on the right business track.   Business adviser and trainer Daryl Connelly understands the commitment it takes to translate vocational skills into running a business. Long before commencing a successful career as a consultant, he completed an apprenticeship as a chef and ran a popular Devonport café.   “I worked at some of Hobart’s top restaurants, like Prossers on the Beach and Wrest Point, but I thought having my own café would give me greater options, allowing me to expand into more businesses in the future,” Daryl explained.   “I enrolled in a Certificate IV in Small Business, much like the AtoB Program, that combined skills training with developing your own business plan, so I felt ready when the opportunity to take over the lease on the café was presented to me,” he added.   Less than a year later one of Daryl’s regular customers suggested he try hospitality training and human resource management, which was a further opportunity for him to combine his trade with the business skills gained through study and running his own operation.   “Although I’ve gained lots of experience since then, including a Master of Business, and various management roles, I still look back and see that program as a catalyst because it opened the door to opportunities and rewards that, without the program, I probably would not have thought about.”   “Having had my ‘hands on the tools’, I can see things from a different perspective. I can help recently qualified apprentices overcome the doubts that come when considering starting their own business because going from a tradie to running your own business is not necessarily easier, but it has the opportunity to be more flexible and a lot more rewarding,” he said.   There are currently 20 places available across the state in this round of the AtoB program.   To find out more about the AtoB Program, or to apply for one of the places, visit www.apprenticetobusinessowner.com.au.   * http://www.startupsmart.com.au/growth/buy-a-business/start-up-numbers-rise-as-tasmania-ranked-top-for-smes/201105252703.html   ** http://www.startupsmart.com.au/growth/buy-a-business/finding-australias-best-start-up-state/20101101730.html

2013-05-21T23:01:27Z oki-the-perfect-match-for-clearview-estate-winery

When iconic and busy Hawke’s Bay winery and restaurant Clearview Estate sought a printer to support its wine tastings and produce professional ‘table talkers’ and other materials, it’s requirements were clear: reliability, low cost per page, and great quality colour output. Meeting this need is the OKI C610dn colour LED printer. Established in 1989, Clearview Estate Winery in the Hawke’s Bay is located near the historic landscape of Cape Kidnappers. The restaurant offers a comprehensive seasonal menu, complemented by the Estate’s famed and multi-gold medal-winning Clearview Reserve Chardonnay and full bodied red wines. The trophy cabinet at Clearview Estate is well-populated, containing over 40 awards for its wines, which are available throughout New Zealand and internationally in export markets including Australia, USA, Canada, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Europe. The estate also grows avocados, olives and citrus trees and culinary herbs to supply the kitchen. The restaurant and Clearview’s historic accommodation  provide a unique  venue  for weddings, functions and special occasion celebrations. Situation:As a busy venue at which wine tastings are a guest highlight, Clearview Estate Trade Sales Leigh Cowan says its requirements from a colour printer were quite specific: “We wanted a machine which could be located in the wine tasting room to produce tasting notes as guest handouts.” In addition, he says the printer is used for on-site promotional material, producing updated menus and ‘table talkers’, black and white invoice printing, for directional signage. Being in a public area, the demands on the machine are a little out of the ordinary. As a venue which puts professionalism and guest service first, reliability and the quality of output is paramount. “The printer plays a role in delivering our guest experience as the tasting notes are printed and handed out on the spot,” says Cowan. Paper jams or any other interruptions would be unseemly and potentially embarrassing.  Instead, Clearview Estate wanted a machine which would simply deliver with no fuss or hassle, allowing the sommelier to focus on guests – and, of course, the wine.  Solution:Instead of selecting an inkjet machine and having to deal with high-cost and low-yield cartridges, Clearview Estate chose the networked, duplex-capable OKI C610dn. Suitable for workgroups of up to 12 people, the machine employs OKI’s ‘Single Pass’ colour LED technology to deliver a highly reliable print process, with colour resolution of 1200x600 DPI. Single Pass means paper travels through the machine just once as the image is created, with minimal bending. That’s a key factor in avoiding the paper jams for which many other printers have a reputation. “The OKI C610dn simply does what we need it to do. It is easy to use and is always ready to handle any jobs we have for it,” confirms Cowan. Those jobs include printing ‘table talkers’, promotional flyers produced on higher-weight paper and placed in holders on tables. The OKI C610dn’s ability to handle anything up to 250gsm card stock is invaluable for this purpose. Other features of the machine to which Cowan calls attention include the large capacity toner cartridges; standard cartridges deliver 6,000 pages of CMYK colour and 8,000 pages in mono (black). That means more time and prints between maintenance; with the Estate producing some 500 pages per month, more in busy times, it’s C610dn hasn’t required any attention since installation. As a compact device which reliably meets Clearview Estate’s needs, the OKI C610dn’s small stature (‘We like the fact that it isn’t very large,’ says Cowan) belies its capabilities. With a maximum duty cycle of up to 75,000 pages per month (but an average of 1,500-5,000 pages per month) it is also fast, printing up to 32 pages per minute in colour and 36 in mono. Taking just 9 seconds for colour and 8 seconds for mono means no time is wasted in getting urgent jobs out. However, says Cowan, speed isn’t considered a major priority for Clearview Estate’s printing needs. Instead, he says it is the reliability and ease of use which really make the difference. “The OKI is great to work with. It is company, easy to install on a network, and easy for all our staff to work with.” Most importantly, the C610dn produces prints of a quality which perfectly accompany the guest experience and wines for which Clearview Estate is renowned.

2013-05-21T04:18:58Z modular-wall-systems-wins-industrial-product-of-the-year-and-steel-innovation-of-the-year-awards

Modular Wall Systems has been awarded the Industrial Product of the year and Steel Innovation of the year awards in the 2013 Manufacturers’ Monthly Endeavour Awards. The annual Manufacturers' Monthly Endeavour Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in Australia's manufacturing industry.This year’s winners were announced during the biggest awards ceremony in the history of the Endeavour Awards. The event, hosted at the Sofitel Melbourne Hotel, featured various influential speakers, including Shadow minister for industry Sophie Mirabella and Manufacturing Australia's chair Sue Morphet. Modular Wall Systems’ Jason Harvey addressed the audience twice during the night, after receiving awards for both Industrial Product of the year for ThermaMax Panel and Steel Innovation of the year Award for QuikWall. The company’s acoustic fencing product SlimWall Designer Fencing was named a finalist for the Consumer/Trade product of the year. Modular Wall Systems would like to take this opportunity to thank all of its customers, trade partners and suppliers, all of whom support the company’s innovative drive and consistent growth.www.modularwalls.com.au

2013-05-21T02:58:16Z shed-vendor-warns-perth-residents-don-t-get-complacent-about-tropical-storms

Perth, WA, May 21, 2013 - Cyclone season 2012-13 came and went without much effect on the Perth area. Port Hedland, to the north, and Queensland would bear the brunt of this season's most severe weather. Perth would be threatened a couple of times, but for the most part, the Perth area would emerge unscathed by tropical storms.During the 2012-13 season, four tropical cyclones had a chance of affecting Perth. Ironically enough, none would affect Perth as much as the 7th-8th May storm that wasn't even included in tropical storm ratings.Mitchell was first, forming on 27th December. Mitchell would produce winds as high as 75 km/h, but stayed to the west of WA, and didn't affect the mainland at all. Narelle, though, would be a different story, entering TCWC Perth's domain on 9th January.Narelle was predicted by some models to make landfall in WA, but never did. It would, however, bring belts of wind and rain into the wheatbelt. Exmouth had 76 mm of rainfall, and Karlgarin would see wind gusts as high as 90 km/h. This would tear the roofs off of eight buildings. A suspected tornado hit Capel and cut through a 400 m wide swath of trees. Perth would only receive a bit of rain and their warmest January in more than two decades.Port Hedland and much of Western Pilbara would see two tropical cyclones in a little over a month. Tropical Cyclone Peta made landfall near Point Samson, causing shipping to be closed in Port Hedland on 22nd January. 261.6 mm of rain fell in Hooley Station, adding 28 billion litres of water, or 40% of its capacity, to the Harding Dam.Severe Tropical Storm Rusty was next, making landfall a mere 100 km to the east of Port Hedland. Port Hedland saw 39 straight hours of winds recorded at gale force, with gusts as high as 199 km/h. Pardoo Station would subsequently report 482.5 mm of rain, with other stations reporting as much as 300 mm of rainfall.Though Perth was not affected by tropical storms, it did see a very heavy system or rain and high winds on 7th-8th May. 53.4 mm of rain fell in Perth, while some suburbs saw up to 100 mm of rain. Some areas saw winds as high as 100 km/h.Max Italiano, owner of Action Sheds Australia, was happy to see a relatively calm year, but sounded a note of caution: “I am happy that we had such a quiet cyclone season, but I don't think for an instant that it means we aren't at risk for a direct hit in the future. We have been very fortunate in Perth. For the most part, it looks like we are almost sheltered from tropical cyclones due to where they usually form and how they usually move. But there is no guarantee that we won't get hammered like Port Hedland did this year.”Italiano continued, “Most houses are built to withstand cyclonic winds, but your sheds also must be able to withstand severe weather. ShedSafe certification guarantees that we have the know-how to provide you with the right shed for the right area, but why not go one step further with cyclonic sheds?”Italiano concluded, “Don't let your shed or its contents become projectiles in severe weather.”Action Sheds Australia provides cyclonic sheds to Perth and surrounding areas, for both residential and commercial use. For more information, please call 1300 778 628 or visit their website: http://www.actionsheds.com.au/