Strategy
In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world of business, a company’s competitive advantage is no longer a ‘sure-thing’, a globally-recognised strategy expert has warned. Speaking at the World Business Forum in Sydney, last month, Rita McGrath, a professor at the Columbia Business School, explained that while sustainable competitive advantage has been a fixation of companies for decades, the […]
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! End of Financial Year is a great opportunity to take a moment to reflect on how the year has gone and to make some New Year’s Resolutions to get your […]
Earlier this year the World Economic Forum published its Future Jobs Report and the research listed ‘complex problem solving’, ‘critical thinking’ and ‘creativity’ as the most valuable skills for 2020. Nurturing these skills will enable your business to adapt and thrive in an era of unprecedented fast paced disruption. Here are several behaviours you can […]
Australia’s small business exporters are concerned about accessing finance for their export journey. This isn’t a new concern, but it is one that can be addressed. This article outlines some of the perceptions of, and challenges in, accessing export finance, as well as the ways that Australian small businesses are overcoming this challenge. Access to finance […]
Over the past decade, the balance of power in the consumer-company engagement dynamic has shifted unequivocally in favour of the customer. Once upon a time, brands spoke to consumers via one-way vehicles such as broadcast and print media. Now, there are multiple digital channels, many of them open to public scrutiny, creating a dialogue between […]
In January 2014, the Sydney tech start-up, Maestrano, launched with a mission; that mission was to help SME’s focus on their core business by reducing time spent on low-value administrative tasks. With cloud applications already renowned for their ability to provide cost-effective access to information and technology, Maestrano’s founding team sought to take things a […]
Product distribution resides at the heart of getting your products into the hands of consumers. Any startup business, no matter where they operate from, must overcome the basic problems of distribution in order to generate meaningful profits. The more avenues through which your startup can move product, the more potential income streams you will have […]
There are many challenges facing small businesses and, with the New Year well underway, now is a good time to start addressing these head-on in order to build a stronger business. Whether you are a small enterprise just starting out or a mature business looking for additional growth, there is no shortage of challenges that […]
There’s a school of thought in business that suggests you should stick to what you know. According to one article, paying heed to this tenet will increase your chances of success as you take benefit from the insight, networks, and ‘rules of thumb’ you’ve spent years developing. You’re more likely to navigate through all the […]
Growing a business is a special talent, part science, part art and doing it well can be one of the most rewarding life experiences. It can also spell financial disaster from which it is very difficult to recover, when things don’t go well. In this article we discuss 5 common mistakes made by businesses. Cash Flow Cash […]
On the 16th of March 2016, Sydney will play host to a new conference on the business scene, specially curated to equip CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners with the knowledge to take their business to ‘the next level.’ But unlike others, this one will not be spearheaded by the best executive coaches in town. Instead, […]
If you are a leader – or an expert in your field, whether you like it or not, you are Captain of your personal brand. Do you buy from people you don’t like? Do you return to places where an individual has shown you bad service? Have you been in a business meeting where a […]
Why do you own a business and work those incredibly long days and sleepless nights? I’ll take an educated guess and say the main reason is money driven; the means to an end that is a (more than) comfortable lifestyle. For many, this includes providing the very best for their nearest and dearest. In order […]
An action plan could save thousands of small businesses from going bust but as many as eighty percent don’t take the time to make one despite its proven success. I’m not talking about a five-year plan with detailed budget forecasts, but an annual action plan that is reviewed regularly and updated quarterly. I’ve seen first […]
Finding the right time to take the plunge and expand your business overseas is a daunting thought for any entrepreneur. With the decision comes the possibility of facing unexpected challenges and ultimately the greatest fear, failure. However, with an up and coming generation of entrepreneurs and many supportive government initiatives, it is becoming increasingly easier […]
In this digital age, there are matching sites for almost anything. Whether it be for dating or for finding employment, Google will fetch back a raft of options – all vying for our attention. But despite their best efforts to distinguish themselves, most of them have one fundamental element in common: their charging model. Users are […]
Jaid Hulsbosch reveals 5 steps in an internal employee engagement program that will support a launch of a repositioned or new brand strategy Articulating a company’s DNA to engage with consumers in relevant and meaningful ways is a large-scale effort and production. However this is only half the job, often overlooked in the process is […]
Networking: the single most powerful marketing tactic to accelerate and sustain success for any individual or organisation. The new-to-industry finance broker, Edwena Dixon tried to network, but to no avail. And there were a number of problems. In her experience, non-industry specific networking groups were ineffective and industry-specific initiatives were often just “old boys’ clubs, […]
While there are certain things that reality television shows have in common – the vast majority of them seem to keep us glued to our seats while, at the same time, make us cringe at some of the things people do or say – not all reality TV shows are created equal. Some are little […]
According to the Small Business Development Corporation of Western Australia (WA), where Brooks Hire has been based for over 35 years, small businesses represent 97% of all businesses in WA. Operating across a broad range of industries, from manufacturing and business services to retail, transport and more, small businesses are crucial to the state of […]
