Issue 75 Business Matters Magazine by Matters Magazine Sunshine Coast

, I'M YOUR'S TAKE ME!

ISSUE

2015

BUSINESS MA T TERS AN D LIFE MA T TERS HINE ENCOURAGE SUNS COAST LOCALS

TO SPEN D LOCAL, SUPPOR T LOCAL, THINK LOCAL TO HELP OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY THRI VE

ber | Next Issue 2 November www.businessmattersmagazine.com.au | Publication Date 28 Septem YOUR SUNSH INE COAST BUSIN ESS AND LIFE MAG AZINE

TURN TO PAGE 51 FOR 'LIFE MATTER S' AND SEE PAGE 54 TO CHECK OUT OUR LOCAL SHOPPI NG GUIDE, SHININ G THE SPOTLIG HT ON SOME LOCAL DIAMON DS

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RAW. HEALTH BAR

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Editor’s Note with Vickie Magic

On the 15th of September, I lost my dad. With this issue being our community issue, for me that means family, so I have decided to share some of my learnings from this amazing man. From as far back as I can remember, I would ask Dad, “Dad are you sniffling? Do you have cold? He would say, “Nope, sshh if I say it then I have to accept it, so I definitely DO NOT have a cold. Whatever I say is, so I need to choose very carefully what I say, what I say becomes my truth.” I grew up with this and took it on for myself, everyone who knows me knows my ‘if you say so’ mantra. I truly believe that whatever I say is, and my dad gave me this as my very first gift. My next gift from dad and another that I live my life by is a story that he shared with me and it helped to mould me into who I am. He told me the story about a son who said to his dad, “Dad I keep having an internal battle with two wolves, one is evil and negative and constantly looks for and finds the bad stuff in my life, he is filled with anger, frustration, jealousy, bitterness and he is just never satisfied. The other wolf is happy and positive and so grateful for what he has in his life, he just doesn’t look for or ever seem to see the bad stuff, I’m so confused and I just don’t which wolf is going to win, they are constantly fighting within me. Which wolf do you think Dad? Which wolf will win this internal battle? His father looked and him and said, the wolf that will win is the wolf that you feed. And you choose which one that is. The learnings I recieved from dad have made me the person that I am today, a person who now gets to share these learnings with everyone around me. But I guess the biggest thing that dad taught me was to believe in myself, that I could be, do and have whatever I chose for myself and my life. At the end of the day it isn’t about the life we live, it is about the life we give, and dad you gave life, you gave life to me and many others. I thank you and honour you. SCAN HERE TO HEAR VICKIE’S FREE OFFER FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Vickie Magic

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BUSINESS MATTERS 3

CONTENTS BUSINESS AND LIFE MATTERS // COLUMNS 42

Numbers Business

Powering Business Potential

45 48 50 68 71

Local Business

Mayoral Business Digital Business

First Cab off the Rank Business Psyccess

BUSINESS MATTERS // MATTERS Small Business of the Year: Business Matters Magazine Published by Matters Magazine ABN: 95 131 837 833 P. 5444 4456 Noel Burns House 18/21 Nicklin Way, Minyama Editor/Advertising Enquiries: Vickie Magic, 5444 4456 or 0433 198 868 editor@bmmag.com.au Photographer/Distribution Operations Manager: Dranko Magic, 0408 751 863 magic@bmmag.com.au Personal Assistant: Jasmine Sharpe admin@bmmag.com.au

Website Matters

Building Matters

26 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

Business Development Manager: Jen Forster, 0403 236 783 jen@bmmag.com.au

36 37

Design: Amanda Woods, 0458 272 705 amandaashley@gmail.com

Sub Editor: Louise Hickey www.louisehickey.com

Writers and Columnists this issue: Don Littler, Greg Searle, George Bakrnchev, Isobel Coleman, Jasmine Sharpe, John Lobwein, Kimberley Lynch, Mayor Mark Jamieson, Michael Shadforth, Peter Gibbon, Ron Hill, Steven Goodman, Ted FitzGerald, Vickie Magic Online: www.bmmag.com.au Distributed from Beerwah to Pomona. Readership approximately 35,500. Printers: The Ink Spot Commercial Printers Maroochydore 5443 5431 No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. All material in Business Matters and Life Matters Magazine is subject to copy right provisions. All editorial and advertising in Business Matters and Life Matters Magazine is accepted and published in good faith based on material provided by contributors and advertisers. All care is taken by the publisher, however responsibility is not accepted for errors or omissions and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

39 41

Weddings Matters

Training Matters CFO Matters

Brokerage Matters Lending Matters

Commercial Real Estate Matters Franchise Matters

Smart Business Matters Accounting Matters HR Matters

Property Development Matters Technology Matters Care Matters

Business Productivity Matters Office 365 Matters

LIFE MATTERS // MATTERS 58

Living Matters

Education Matters

59 61 62 63 64

Eyebrow Matters

Your Cat Matters Jewellery Matters

Pure Food Matters Music Matters

FEATURES

06 Top Ten Ways to Build Communities ‘On Line and Off ’

08 The Future Belongs to those with the Vision – meet the owner of

Surfair Conferences, Weddings and Events and Surfair Beach Hotel

10 Why Most Business Owners Will Never Achieve These 4 Prized Business Freedoms by George Bakrnchev

a c

Advertorial Column

ca Column

Advertorial

SCAN HERE TO HEAR BMS FREE WRITE UP OFFER

Editorial Feature Story

m Matters

Note these letters at the end of each article to indicate the article origin. Advertorial indicates some form of payment has been made by the writer.

4 ISSUE 75

12 Community Feature – Support Our Local Community

18 Strive And Thrive With The Launch Of Zoe Sparks New Book 19 All about Money Symposium 24

Business for People with Charity Mobile

Meet the new owner of Diamonds of Distinction Adrian Schulz

F4B’s Training Studio – we’re one big fit family!

46 Improving Your Business by KB Business Solutions 54 Support your local Sunshine Coast Community 67

Ezyfit Health Club

TOP TEN WAYS TO

Build Communities, Online and Off! By Steve Goodman

You probably have heard that marketing today relies heavily on ‘building communities’. But what exactly does that mean? At its essence the concept is built upon advanced niche marketing. Basically, it is creating a ‘community’ of people that will allow you to market to them. Now, that all starts with building online communities of ‘followers’ via social media, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Everybody and anybody you interact with, both online, and ‘in the real world’, is a potential member of your community. Here are 10 essential ways to build communities, both on, and offline.

Always keep in mind that the literal definition of a ‘community’ is people that come together to share a ‘common cause’. 6 ISSUE 75

Define your ideal community member

Think of the ideal person you want to market to. Then, pretend you are that person, and you are setting up a Facebook, or LinkedIn profile as that person. Create that profile in detail, and what will emerge is your target community member. Be sure to include hobbies, likes, dislikes, etc.

Set up your Social Media pages

Now that you know who you want in your community, you need to invite them in. If you have not already set up your social media pages, do so. Facebook is currently used by 1 billion users every month, so start there. Once your page is built (Facebook has simple tutorials on how to do so) invite people you know with a friendly email: Hi, we just launched a Facebook page, please help us grow by liking us. We will be sharing some stuff we know you will find interesting! Then, find pages that complement your business and messaging and start liking their pages, engage with those pages, leave comments, answer questions as an expert. This will expose your brand to the exact type of people that fit the ‘community profile’ you set up in ‘step 1’.

Use the communities you already have

Encourage your employees, friends, and family members to like, follow and engage with your content on Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

Make use of Analytics

Facebook, LinkedIn and most other social media applications have very advanced analytics that lets you track your progress and see if you are reaching the right people, use them.

Use Ads

Again both Facebook and LinkedIn offer ads, and these can be very effective in reaching your target community. An affective ad of this type always starts with a question such as ‘are you looking for a unique gift for your wife? Follow us for some tips...’

Build partnerships

Are there other products or brands that complement, but do not compete with your brand or products? Build partnerships with brands that are going after similar communities.

Follow Key People and Businesses

You want to follow those people you most want to follow you back. So, take a look at who and what your targeted profile is following and follow the same feeds.

AUSSIE WORLD HAS IT

Use Hashtags

Hashtags (#s) proved popular on Twitter, and FB has recently added hashtag functionality to its posts. Use relevant hashtags on any post to provide additional information and drive people to relevant pages, other articles you have written, etc, etc.

It’s not Just Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

Do not forget to stake out your presence in newer and emerging social media apps such as Google+, Pinterest and Instagram. Also do not forget about good ‘old fashioned’ email marketing. Services such as Mail Chimp and Constant contact are great ways to connect with and keep your community growing and informed.

Give Back

As stated in the intro, not all ‘community building’ occurs online. One of the best ways to build your business community, is to be a more essential and active part of you actual community! Be an example of a great ‘corporate citizen’. Give back by hosting or sponsoring charity events, sponsor a local sports team, volunteer on community projects. Just look around, there are dozens of ways to ‘give back’ to your community, and the goodwill you build is worth every minute of time and ounce of sweat you will put in! Always keep in mind that the literal definition of a ‘community’ is people that come together to share a ‘common cause’. Remember, the whole idea of a creating your business’s community is to put together a group of people who want to interact with you, to share your thoughts, ideas, and values, and not simply ‘buy what you are selling’. Think of your community, not so much as your consumers or clients, but as your loyal fans. Sure, sports teams and celebrities are ultimately selling a brand to their devotees, but by taking a page from their playbook, you can also find some fanatical followers for your business! f

BUSINESS MATTERS 7

THE FUTURE BELONGS TO

Those with the vision! Interview and words by Jasmine Sharpe

8 ISSUE 75

Starting out as an apprentice in a printing shop at the tender age of 15, Tony Scanlon, now Managing Director of Surfair Beach Hotel, Surfair Conferences, Weddings and Events and Scanlon Property Group - has worked his way up the business ladder, using his business and life knowledge to become an entrepreneurial success. That apprenticeship led him to a bright new opportunity as the costing, estimating and sales manager at another Brisbane printing company, where he stayed for 10 years. But in 1993, when he spotted a gap in the market, Tony set sail on his own journey, starting his printing company, which he eventually sold in 2008. Mid 2014, Tony and his wife Karyn - along with children Brooke 26, Josh ‘Chops’ 24 and Holly 11 - took over Surfair Beach Hotel and soon after purchased the Surfair Conferences, Weddings and Events sector. Tony believes that being family owned and operated is a huge advantage in providing the impressive level of customer service Surfair has to offer. When you speak to one of the managers you will always be speaking to one of the family members, who will know what’s going on. As an opportunist, Tony jumped at the chance of buying Surfair Beach Hotel because of its prominent location with an absolute pristine, patrolled beachfront, just minutes from the Sunshine Coast airport and a short drive for visitors from major locations such as Brisbane, Maryborough and Noosa. A seamless partnership between Surfair Beach Hotel and Ramada Hotels works hand in hand with the food and beverage service for weddings and events because patrons can park, attend the event and stay at the venue, while enjoying those spellbinding views. This option removes the stress of having to organise transport to and from the venue or going home in scattered groups. And then there’s the recovery breakfast the next day, enjoying fresh sea breezes in the Beach Bistro Bar, before spending the morning at the patrolled Marcoola beach just a few steps away.

Being family owned and operated is a huge advantage in providing the impressive level of customer service Surfair has to offer. allowing for multi audio visual presentations. Locals love heading down to Surfair for a cold one at the pool bar just footsteps away from the surf and adjacent to the 60 metre lagoon pool, as well as heading into the Sports Bar with TAB, Keno and large screens showing the latest and live sporting events. On days off Tony enjoys surfing, rowing and being active so it is only natural that involvement in the Sunshine Coast sporting community is strong with Surfair sponsoring the local AFL team, Mudjimba and Coolum Board Riders, Northshore AFL and Northshore Traders Association. However, the favourite event he ever attended was, he said, the 2006 NRL Grand Final, when the Brisbane Broncos defeated the Melbourne Storm 15-8 in front of a crowd of nearly 80,000 at ANZ Stadium. The feeling of being there and celebrating the victory on the night with son Josh was phenomenal, Tony said. Tony’s tip for choosing your next event venue is to look for a well organised venue in a great location with excellent customer service. A forward thinker with the future in his vision, Tony is excited about the growth of the Sunshine Coast, especially in the area south of Coolum and north of Maroochydore. He truly believes the future belongs to those with the vision. f Surfair - right on the beach at 923 David Low Way, Marcoola or call 07 5457 2555 www.surfairbeachhotel.com.au

Boasting six in-house conference and function rooms, as well as 221 accommodation rooms, the friendly and professional team of 45 at Surfair provide the right balance of creativity and detailed planning for events catering from 10 to 240 guests. Each function room offers built-in AV systems, dedicated wireless Internet, adjustable lighting and technical sophistication

Surfair Conferences, Weddings and Events is perfect for: ✓ Birthdays ✓ Christenings ✓ Engagements ✓ Weddings

✓ Anniversaries ✓ School Formals ✓ Christmas Parties ✓ Work Functions

✓ Tradeshows ✓ Meetings ✓ Conferences ✓ Team Building Days

CALOUNDRA LAW

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• Business sales and acquisitions

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Please telephone or email us to find out how we can help you

p. (07) 5491 7866

e. business@caloundralaw.com.au

www.caloundralaw.com.au BUSINESS MATTERS 9

Why Most Business Owners Will Never Achieve These 4 Prized Business Freedoms

FREE

Entrepreneurial Business Tool Download Offer

LESSONS FOR EVERY BUSY BUSINESS OWNER! By George Bakrnchev

George Bakrnchev – Best Selling Business Author & Renowned Sunshine Coast Business Strategist

So What Are The 4 Entrepreneurial Freedoms™ and how do you rate? What’s your score out of 40? Scale yourself from 1-10, where 1 is low and 10 is high. 1. Time

The Freedom to work the hours you want _____ /10

2. Money

The Freedom to earn what you want _____ /10

3. People

The Freedom to work with who you want _____ /10

4. Place

The Freedom to work from where you want

_____ /10

Go to www.reddaycoaching.com/4riches and download your own free copy of The Entrepreneurial Riches™ Tool below

Business Owners... Why do we leave the security of a full time job, with guaranteed superannuation, annual sick leave, holiday pay and every weekend off for life? We do it to fulfill our creative desires and for FREEDOM but instead of freedom we became enslaved and our creative desires get squashed out by the day to day ‘stuff’ of running a business. We left our jobs and went to work and work AND work, like the proverbial hamster on the wheel. We’re always at work. We’re always talking about work. Our minds are never far from work. And yet nothing seems to work! The harsh reality is most business owners will rarely if ever achieve the 4 Prized Business Freedoms simply because they are structured in completely the wrong way. They create a business around their own personal skill and as a result they can never truly leave it. They become ‘Entrepreneurial Slaves’ and it doesn’t have to be that way. The ironic thing is that our friends and family think we become entrepreneurs in order to make more money. But ‘Money’ is only one freedom. The truth is that every business owner we’ve ever worked with desires not one but Four Freedoms. We call them The 4 Entrepreneurial Freedoms™ and the greatest benefit, when you do it right, is that they lead you directly to the 4 Entrepreneurial Riches™! 10 ISSUE 75

You can go one step further with this and register for a live training webinar which reveals how Beefy’s Pies owner, Mark Hobbs, applied the 4 Freedoms to transform his business and how you can apply them to your specific business too! On this free live training webinar with Beefy’s Mentor and the founder of the 4 Freedoms, George Bakrnchev, you’ll discover in detail The 4 Entrepreneurial Freedoms™ and how they were taught to the owner of Beefy’s and how you can apply them specifically to your own business and become Entrepreneurially Free once and for all.

Book you and your business partner in NOW at

www.reddaycoaching.com/beefys

Free Online Training Reveals the SECRET which Transformed this Local Business into a QLD Icon Book yourself into this FREE webinar which shows how Beefy’s Pies became an 8-Store Qld Icon and How the Blueprint can be applied to any type of business willing to listen Early Bird Registration includes a FREE bestselling book and a FREE Beefy’s Pie (I know offering a free pie sounds weird, but read on to see the connection)…

then...

From a single Store to a QLD Icon with over 140 employees and still growing. But, Founder of Beefy’s - Mark Hobbs, says ...

“It wasn’t always like this!”

FREE Business Training Webinar for Sunshine Coast Business Owners “The 8 Strategies Behind Beefy’s Pies Remarkable Success and How they can Work for Any Business Owner Willing to Listen” With Renowned Sunshine Coast Business Strategist: George Bakrnchev

MEET BEEFY’S BUSINESS MENTOR

and . now.. Mark says: “We have had other mentors. The big difference is George has equipped and instructed us with tools through his Entrepreneurial Masters Programme which resulted in a better, more profitable business and a bigger life in all areas. Implementation has been the key and that is where I can proudly say that George, as our mentor, has helped us fast track many changes.” Dear Business Owner, You’ve probably noticed that you have so many important things to get done, so many good ideas that never see the light of day because you’re tied down fighting “bush-fires”. This never-ending “rush” to get through each day stalls business progress, limits growth potential, and saps everyone’s energy. Sound familiar? Here’s a SOLUTION: Do yourself and your family a great favour TODAY and book into this *space limited* FREE business training webinar. You see, the man who quietly mentored Beefy’s Pies into a Sunshine Coast icon is about to reveal the strategies he used to take owner Mark Hobbs from being an “Entrepreneurial Slave” to becoming an Entrepreneurial Master…

George Bakrnchev is a business growth strategist and a multiple bestselling author. He has a Bachelor of Behavioural Science Degree with a Double Major in Human Applied Psychology. A Sunshine Coast local, he and his business partners at Red Day® Coaching have dedicated their expertise to helping business owners around Australia live a bigger, better life. Their clients read like a “Who’s Who” of local success stories. He’s been featured on Channel 7, The Australian and the ABC.

FREE WEBINAR DETAILS Wednesday 14th October at 8:07am Register at:

www.reddaycoaching.com/beefys

Meet renowned Sunshine Coast Business Strategist, Founder of Red Day® Coaching, George Bakrnchev, who is holding a FREE live business training webinar very soon.

Entrepreneurial Freedom At Last!

“On the first day of working with George in his Entrepreneurial Masters Programme, my wife, Belinda and I, saved over $150,000 in costs. Since then we’ve innovated new products in record time, expanded our stores and have dramatically increased our family time.” Mark Hobbs - Beefy’s Pies Discover what George taught Mark… Register Early & Get Free Training, A Free Book & A Free Beefy’s Signature Steak Pie (a $277.15 value for free!) You will see for yourself HOW to make it happen in your business at George’s LIVE business training webinar on Wednesday 14th October at 8.07am.

A copy of George Bakrnchev’s bestselling business success book “The 8th Day of the Week” valued at RRP: $19.95 A FREE Beefy’s signature steak pie valued up to $7.20* *Valid until the end of this edition

To book in go immediately to www.reddaycoaching.com/beefys Attendance at this complementary training comes with

As Seen On...

BUSINESS MATTERS 11

WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY FEATURE

Read how and why these local businesses support local.

There are some truly incredible businesses right here in our own back yard, and yet sometimes we can tend to look elsewhere. May we suggest, before you do, that you take the time to see who you could support in your local community. Just like a supportive family, it’s so powerful when people link arms and help and support each other. Building a local bond that cannot be easily broken. When you support your local market, real estate agent, dog washer, florist, hairdresser and spread the word of the wonderful service you have received you help to build your community. So next time you need a product or service, think local, support local because at the end of the day it’s actually akin to supporting yourself.

The Concierge Club The Concierge Club is a locally owned and operated Virtual Assistant company. We provide you with a professional team at your disposal, to solve your problems or complete those tedious tasks, allowing you time to focus on the more important things. Don’t pay for a full time staff member, we have the connections and resources in our office to do the work for you.

How and why we support our local community

The businesses that support local are generally supported back by other local businesses. Clients come to us with a wide and varied range of tasks or business-related requests and we in-turn either do the job ourselves or put them in contact with a local business that can do it for them. Basically we’re a business concierge connecting local businesses.

OFFER

Visit our website www.theconciergeclub.com.au/matters and fill in the entry form, to go in the draw to win an ipad mini plus four virtual assistant hours.

Business Matters and Life Matters Magazine are extremely proud to say we avidly promote buy local, we don’t just say we support local, we really do. We are designed locally, printed locally, owned locally and distributed locally. Our passion and purpose is delivering results for YOU.

MELISSA BERGLAS

Phone 1300 667 735 www.theconciergeclub.com.au

Comsure Insurance Brokers

You don’t like surprises and neither do we. As your insurance broker we dig deep to understand your current business and future plans to ensure that all your risks are fully covered. Our 40 year strong relationships with insurance companies enables us to source the best cover at the best price and be your effective claims advocate.

How and why we support our local community

As a business owner and parent, the Sunshine Coast community is our extended family. Being actively involved encourages future generations to take pride and value their community in our ever changing, fast paced lives. You are never alone when you are actively engaged helping others and it also rewards you with a greater sense of purpose.

OFFER

Free review of your insurance policies and tailored advice designed around potential claims scenarios.

MARILYN BLACK

Harlequin Blinds and Security

Since its establishment in the early 1990’s, Harlequin Blinds and Security has grown to become one of the Sunshine Coast’s most quality renowned manufacturers of internal and external home design products. From day one, their main focus has been to provide a great personalised service for each and every customer. Harlequin Blinds and Security manufactures and supplies a range of Blinds, Awnings, Security, Shutters and Curtains, that can be suited to any design theme.

How and why we support our local community

Marilyn Black is an ambassador for local Charity SunnyKids, and the business often supports and sponsors local events. Harlequin Blinds and Security is a locally run business that has a large focus on supporting their customers, and other Needcharities, heating up local businesses.

OFFER

or cooling down?

Win the experience of a lifetime! Purchase any product and see if you Harlequin Blinds are the instant winner of a $200 Red Balloon Voucher PLUS go in the the answer. draw to win a $4000have Flight Centre Voucher • SECURITY Competition Ends: Sunday 4th October

COMMERCIAL & FINANCIAL RISK SOLUTIONS

Mobile 0477 200 091 Email melissab@comsure.com.au 12 ISSUE 75

• • • • •

BLINDS CURTAINS AWNINGS SHUTTERS MANUFACTURED LOCALLY

www.harlequinblindsandsecurity.com.au Phone (07) 5476 9888

Shed 5/46 Enterprise Street, Kunda Park Qld 4555 www.harlequinblindsandsecurity.com.au Ph 5476 9888

VICKI COOPER

DON LITTLER

Next Property Group

CFO on Tap

EXPERIENCE, I have been in the real estate industry for over 19 years and I am very proud of my achievements. Currently with Next EXPERTISE ANDProperty Group, I meet many people and enjoy helping them achieve PROVEN RESULTS their real estate goals. I love what I do and I believe this is the secret to my sales success.

Is your business experiencing rapid growth? Transitioning from a small to medium sized business? Are the finances taking a back seat to the large number of other chores that you as business owner have to attend to? You need a financial controller. I understand though that you can’t afford a full-time one yet. So why not outsource this function at a fraction of the price with CFO on Tap.

How and why I’ve we support our localbuyers community got qualified that

How and why we support our local community

Giving back to the community is a to major part of my life. As a are ready purchase now! member of Rotary for 11 years, I am very proud to have been awarded a Paul Harris Fellow for my contribution to club and If ayou areofready to sell, you community. I am also member SCBWN and the Buderim Foundation. know who to call NEXT

OFFER

VICKI COOPER 0412 802 215

I believe to be a part of the community, you need to be involved, and so for every property I list and sell until the end of November, I will donate $200 to the vendor’s choice of charity.

1300 400 777

nextpropertygroup.com.au P R O P E R T Y

G R O U P

I have a passion for assisting SME businesses on the Sunshine Coast gain access to affordable, Business Consulting and Advisory services through my businesses, CFO on Tap (your Outsourced Financial Controller) and BizLogic (your Small Business Advisor). As a demonstration of my commitment to this cause, BizLogic has recently given away $5,000 in Small Business Advisory services to five lucky businesses.

OFFER

The first ten (10) BM Readers who sign up for CFO on Tap’s Growth Train Promotion (minimum of 10 hours consulting per month for 12 months) will receive the service for just $99 per hour ex GST. That’s 50% off. See page 35.

Phone 0412 802 215 vcooper@nextpropertygroup.com.au

EzyFit Health Club

JOEY AND ADAM MOGG

Ezyfit Health Club is the largest, 24 hour fitness club on the Coast. With over 2000m2 of floor space, abundance of equipment, 70 group fitness classes with world renowned instructors and highly qualified personal trainers - we not only deliver service, expertise and variety but pride ourselves on ensuring your experience is highly enjoyable. Our concert feel studios make our philosophy towards group fitness stand out. Our timetable has the WOW factor and our team of energetic and friendly professionals make your return to Ezyfit inevitable.

How and why we support our local community

We were born to help people as little or as much as we can. It has always been our desire, whenever possible, to help the community with various tokens of kindness. We are instantly attracted to positivity and want to meet and be part of the excitement that the Sunshine Coast brings to the locals. Being in this industry we get to make people happy and that’s a really great feeling so tapping into the community and creating more of those feel good moments is motivating.

OFFER

Phone: 0498 367 306 www.getontap.com.au

CHARLES SHEWRING

NISER

NISER is a user friendly, community based organisation established in 2006. NISER has assisted numerous businesses with their R & D Tax Incentives, Grants, Tenders and all Business Planning Documents. In addition, we have successfully assisted over 100 community groups to achieve their development projects. Results are our forte and our overall success rate in positively assisting organisations we deal with stands at a very healthy 95 per cent plus.

How and why we support our local community

We support the community with community development and community economic development especially in securing the resources that businesses, people and organisations need to prosper. We believe that a community that works for everybody with no one left out will provide the best environment for all of our success.

OFFER

NISER is offering a free initial consultation and a 20 per cent reduction in the first service fee for Business Matters readers

• NO Joining Fee (saving $99) • NO Admin Fee (saving $59) • NO 24/7 Access Key (saving $59) • $14.95 per week on a 12 month plan

Phone: (07) 5493 5099 www.ezyfithealthclub.com

Phone (07) 5485 2780 Email niser@niser.org.au BUSINESS MATTERS 13

St Andrews Anglican College St Andrew’s Anglican College located in Peregian Springs is a coeducational Prep to Year 12 school with a commitment to educating young people through caring relationships and high expectations. With a passion to develop the whole child, St Andrew’s has a strong focus on academic achievement, pastoral care, service to others and an extensive range of co-curricular opportunities.

How and why we support our local community

St Andrew’s is about community and encourages students to participate in local events and organisations such as cooking for the Nambour Soup Kitchen and revegetating the Dunes at Peregian, along with supporting local charities such as Anglicare.

OFFER

Call us now to find out more about enrolling your child for 2016.

Edge Espresso Bar At Edge Espresso we pride ourselves in providing great coffee, great service and a relaxed atmosphere where you can feel at home, whilst looking out at one of the best views on the coast. You will be well catered for with plenty of gluten free and vegetarian options on our menu and lots of yummy treats. Our coffee is regarded as the best in Caloundra by so many!

How and why we support our local community Every Thursday night we hold ‘Café Talks @ Edge’. We have local speakers with various topics and have a strong following, bringing the community together. We also proudly support and use Maleny Milk and we source our packaging and produce locally. I believe in supporting local businesses, helping each other is what community is about and is what will help us to survive in the future.

OFFER

Buy one coffee and get a second cup (only) free (limited to one per customer)

Phone: (07) 5471 5555 www.saac.qld.edu.au

ANDREW DYER

Phone 5491 9499 and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/edgeespressobar

Network Communications/Optus

Network Communications was officially formed in 1992 as one Optus Resale store in Caloundra. A desire to expand through strategic communities has seen the Network grow to over 55 Optus stores across Australia.

How and why we support our local community

On the surface we look like a business, however at our core we exist to love people. We believe it can be the foundation for a business, so we create and sell reliable and sustainable products that fund programs designed to assist and protect others. This is at the heart of everything we do. We believe this responsibility starts with each of us, so we’ll go out of our way, not to just get a sale, but because people matter.

OFFER

Sign up at ‘Yes Optus’ Sugar Road, Maroochydore, Nambour Plaza or Noosa Village and five per cent of your mobile plan will go to a charitable and community organization.

PHIL HOFFMAN

Clockshop Montville

Clockshop Montville offers its customers a unique insight into the wonderful world of clocks and the Black Forest region in German, their originating area. Entering to bouncy tunes of folk music, delighting the senses with unexpected cuckoo calls, striking mantle, wall or Grandfather clock chimes, customers are offered a ‘WOW’ experience of quality items, traditional Russian Dolls, collector steins, Hummel figurines and the famous Christmas Corner.

How and why we support our local community

Clockshop Montville is proudly owned and operated by Sunshine Coast hinterland residents Phil and Fran Hoffman. For 22 years, Phil and Fran have employed local staff, supported the school, and community events with their fundraisers. An active member of local COC and Hinterland Associations, Phil constantly promotes the wonderful uniqueness of the mountain village. Clockshop Montville is a well-known drawcard for tourists who also bring their support to the village community.

OFFER

Come and visit us for the largest range of clocks on the Sunshine Coast.

www.charitymobile.com.au 14 ISSUE 75

Phone (07) 5442 9409 www.clockshop.com.au

ELISSA AND MARK HIGGINS

Shake It Up Music

At Shake It Up Music we are all about service. We pride ourselves on bringing our customers the best possible service and solutions, and have sale specialists in all key areas including home recording, percussion, brass and wind, stringed instruments, pianos and more.

AMANDA OXLEY

Amanda Hair Design

Complementing our retail sales, we also offer instrument repairs and servicing along with 300 students enrolled in our teaching school. We are your ONE STOP SHOP!

Amanda Hair Design is an award winning first class service hair salon located in Brightwater. With nearly 30 years’ experience in the hairdressing industry Amanda Oxley, owner and artistic creative director certainly is a hairdresser you can trust. Amanda started her career in London trained by Daniel Galvin, who was the hairdresser of the late Princess Dianna. Amanda is passionate about assuring that she and her team keep up with the latest trends in hair.

How and why we support our local community

Music has the wonderful power of bringing a community together. At Shake It Up Music we are constantly arranging and supporting local community events, and the positive vibes music brings to these events is immeasurable. To date we have helped at events such as the Caloundra Music Festival, Fringe Festival, Tram Fest, Ocean St Markets and more. Music provides a sense of involvement because everyone can partake. Music is power.

OFFER

Mention this article to receive 20 per cent off store wide.

So far we have donated 30 pieces of hair to local charity, ‘Beautiful Lengths’, to make wigs for cancer patients. I am also an active brownie leader. We aim to inspire you to be creative and try something a little different with your hair. The one thing we know is that, if nothing changes, nothing changes, at Amanda’s Hair Design we believe that change is as good as a holiday.

OFFER

If you can’t afford a holiday right now, come along and let us give you a change. Take the plunge and give us a call. We are offering a free mystery product to every new client from this ad.

Phone 54378484 www.amandahairdesign.com.au

Phone (07) 5441 5454 186 Currie St, Nambour QLD 4560

VIKKI DONE

The Give Back Campaign

The Give Back Campaign works with charities, non-profits and community organisations to drive custom to businesses. In return, when businesses make a sale to one of our referrals we simply ask them to make a donation to the charity or cause of that customer. It’s that simple! The more custom your business receives, the more it can support worthy causes with a percentage or flat dollar amount - it’s a win/win.

How and why we support our local community

We know from experience that businesses want to support their local communities. They want to give but the challenge, due to demand for donations, is for charities and organisations to show businesses a value proposition from the donation. The Give Back Campaign allows businesses to support every charity because the business only gives when it generates sales revenue. Charities win because they can help establish an ongoing residual funding relationship that will help them for years to come. Giving through The Give Back Campaign platform is 100 per cent sustainable fundraising.

OFFER

Free Coffee and consult on how to build a more profitable business with charity partnerships.

Email vikki.done@givebackinternational.com.au or visit the website www.thegivebackcampaign.com

Holistic Eye

ZOEY JORGENSEN

I am a Sclerologist, and owner of Holistic Eye, located in beautiful Alexandra Headland. Sclerology is defined as the art and science of observing markings in the whites of the eyes to determine current health status. The scleras show areas of the body that are stressed and congested, acidity build up, as well as genetic tendencies to weakness in specific organs or systems.

How and why we support our local community

I am very passionate about supporting local wherever I can. This includes artisans, designers, and farmers, as well as local community and charitable organisations. Food is probably the biggest driver for me, and I am always conscious to buy locally, direct from farmers and producers so my food has total traceability. I think it is important to support the efforts and passion that are behind local business and community.

OFFER

Holistic Ey

Initial Consultation for $100 (normally $150)

Suite 6, 6 Ae

HOLISTIC EYE

0413 712

zoey@hol

www.holis

SCLEROLOGY

Phone 0413 712 415 www.holisticeye.com.au BUSINESS MATTERS 15

SALLY DESCH

HRM Contracting & Consulting

HRM Contracting & Consulting offer the full range of recruitment, human resources and training services to support your business. Our cost effective human resource management solutions are designed to add value to your business operations. We recruit across all industries from blue collar to professional services. Our core business is recruiting and human resources. Your business is...your business. You are better spending your time doing what you do best and leave recruiting and HR to us.

How and why we support our local community

HRM is 100 per cent locally owned. We are passionate about our local community and have helped over 3,000 people secure employment locally. We support local businesses to grow our local economy and we assist local businesses to employ local talent.

FREE OFFER

Exclusive for BM readers - Do you employ people under an award? Call HRM and we will confirm you are paying correct rates.

ROZ WHITE

White’s IGA Group

Along with husband Michael, Roz White is owner/operator of the family owned White’s IGA Group, independently and locally owned IGAs located in Mooloolah, Mount Coolum and Bli Bli; community minded supermarkets offering a large and diverse range of grocery, fresh and local products with a price match promise to major competitors on every day lines. We aim to exceed our customers’ shopping expectations and in-store experience every day.

How and why we support our local community

‘No one does local better than a local’ is a philosophy the White’s IGA Group genuinely embrace because Roz and Michael live in the community where their stores exist. Communities thrive when they are cohesive and sustainable. White’s ‘locavore’ culture facilitates this through supporting local traders, local services, local schools, clubs and local producers. Locavores support local families – become one, eat fresher and create a sustainable community.

OFFER

Buy local and become a locavore with White’s IGA

RIGHT

PEOPLE.

RECRUITMENT. TRAINING. HR SERVICES.

Phone (07) 5436 1000 www.hrmcc.com.au

Phone (07) 5479 4727 www.whitesgrocers.com.au

RIGHT RIGHT

CAREERS.

Pedestrian CHOICE. Rush

ROCCO LINDEQUE

www.hrmcc.com.au

Pedestrian Rush is the brain child of Rocco Lindeque whose 07 5436 a1000 ask@hrmcc.com.au passion is fashion and has harboured dream to be in retail since high school. Rocco has had to overcome lots of obstacles in life with cerebral palsy but has realised you can overcome anything if you have the willpower and persistence to keep going to follow your passion and dreams. With a clear defined vision to go into business at the age of 20, and a year in planning, Pedestrian Rush opened its doors two months ago in Hastings Street, Noosa.

How and why we support our local community

Rocco has received support from various groups and schools and has always believed in giving back to the community. His aim is to get involved in as many of the local clubs and groups, from schools to sport clubs and providing support to help with fundraising, raffles, community days and other activities.

OFFER

All locals will receive a 10 per cent discount on purchases, with free delivery.

Phone: 0432 350 820 Shop 1/31 Hasting street, Noosa Heads, Qld, 4567 16 ISSUE 75

PETER DE JONG

Pure Food Essentials

Serious health issues forced Peter to reinvent himself. Since planting the first Turmeric rhizome in Palmwoods in 1995, Peter has researched traditional spice growing practices and nutrition and has applied the practice of eating for health. His passion and knowledge has informed the scientific, culinary and health communities in Australia as demand has grown.

How and why we support our local community Peter’s greatest contribution to community is spreading his knowledge of eating for health. In down time, he contributes financially and by way of beach clean ups and planting programs, to the local branch of the international Surfrider Foundation. Founded in Malibu in 1983, with 500 branches worldwide, it works to encourage Conservation, Activism, Research and Education about our ocean ecosystems.

OFFER

Purchase online today www.healthfoodshoppingonline.com.au

www.healthfoodshoppingonline.com.au

KEVIN BENNETT

KB Business Solutions

Simple, practical and effective support to enable your business to increase customer satisfaction, develop your staff and deliver sustainable improvements across the whole of your business. We work directly with you to deliver these improvements by providing hands-on support, which has access to over 30 years of experience implementing successful business improvement programs in Australia and Internationally.

TERRI CARR

Ballinger Training and Consulting

Terri Carr owns and operates Ballinger Training, and has been trading on the Sunshine Coast since 2005. Before starting the business, Terri was a primary school teacher and taught in schools in country Victoria, and later on the Sunshine Coast. Courses are offered in a variety of formats. Currently Terri is developing new online training programs in the areas of management, business, and training and assessment.

Check out my

How and why we support our local community

Quality online and face to face

management, How and why we support programs our local in community

BRAND NEW WEBSITE

We have established a new base on the Sunshine Coast, and are actively committed to supporting our new community. We recognise the importance of having a vibrant and successful region, which will provide for all of us today and in the future. Good businesses build good communities. As parents we are passionate about having a bright future for our children.

There are an amazing number of small businesses on the Sunshine business, work health and safety Coast. Being a small business myself, I amtraining committedand to providing and assessment. cost effective, quality programs, with one on one support, payment RPL offered on all courses. plans, and flexible options to suit individual business needs.

www.ballinger.edu.au

OFFER

Quote this article and we will provide for local businesses a free no obligation Business Diagnostic and Assessment with summary report and high level action plan – we just require two to three hours of your time.

Over the years, Ballinger Training has sponsored the Buderim Wanderers Football Club, Knowles Racing, and has supported local P: 07 5445 1397 charities such as Give Me 5 for Kids.terri@ballinger.edu.au Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety online program for $500 (RRP $999). Email terri@ ballinger.edu.au and mention BM magazine to redeem offer.

Mobile 0407 144 963 Email kb@improvingyourbusiness.com.au

MEGYN CARPENTER

How and why we support our local community

Megyn donates marketing services and coaching to local businesses and organisations in need. Megyn says, “I figure that by donating my services, I can give them a helping hand and make a difference. ‘Give someone a fish and they’ll eat for a day, teach someone to fish and you feed them for a lifetime’ is my philosophy.”

OFFER

Complementary Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) review on your website for bookings made before 20 November 2015 (Conditions apply).

Email megyn@rejuvenatemarketing.com.au www.rejuvenatemarketing.com.au

RTO Provider Number: 31252

Phone (07) 5445 1397 www.ballinger.edu.au

Rejuvenate Marketing

Megyn Carpenter works with small to medium business owners to promote their business and manage their social media activity, blogs and website updates. Rejuvenate Marketing is located at Currimundi and specialises in target marketing to attract the best customers for local businesses. The online marketing packages are customised and include search engine optimisation and content marketing for a flat monthly fee.

www.ballinger.edu.au

OFFER

LISA WHITE

4 Pets’ Sake

Your pets can rest safe and sound while you are away as ‘For Pet’s Sake!’ minds and feeds your animals in your own home. The convenience with this service is safe and comfortable for your pet and there is no need to worry about relocating them before you travel– they get to remain in their own environment. If your pet has plenty of energy we can also walk or play with them for extra time.

How and why we support our local community

From an early age, my family felt it was important to help others who were less fortunate. These actions inspired me to try to have the same attitude wherever I could. As a result, I now sponsor the Sunshine Coast animal refuge and have been involved in fundraising efforts for the Smart Pups. Smart Pups is particularly close to my heart as I also have a child who has special needs.

OFFER

When you book in two day’s or more of Petcare you receive 20% off and also receive a free little gift of treats for your Pet :)

Phone 0409 049 075 www.forpetssake.com.au BUSINESS MATTERS 17

IT’S YOUR TIME TO

‘Strive & Thrive’!

Are you thinking of starting a new business or taking over an existing business? Do you have a small business and want to catapult it to a whole new level? Are you new to business, in an Owner, Manager or Supervisor role? Do you want to learn more regarding the key areas of business success? If your answered ‘yes’ to any of the above and you are keen to enhance your skills, relish new thoughts or pick up ideas to learn more in regards to the day-to-day operations of a SME business, then this book is for you! ‘Strive & Thrive’ contains 100 tips on Vision & Leadership, Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, Administration and People/Staff which will give you tools, ideas and the inspiration to reach new heights of business success. This book is not only practical it is motivating and inspiring, encouraging you to progress and succeed in the business arena.

Don’t delay – it’s YOUR time to ‘Strive & Thrive’!

Local, Zoe Sparks, has worked in small business for almost 20 years, not only as a business owner but also as a franchisee, a committee member in a range of non-for-profit organisations and a volunteer. She has also been employed and contracted to work in a number of small businesses and larger companies, so has experienced business from all angles and both sides of the desk. Zoe is keen to share the knowledge and expertise she has gained on her career path to date, and ‘Strive & Thrive’ discusses the key elements of business success to help you develop your business.

and many have years of experience, so my wish is to help people build on this and hopefully take something away that can help to take their business to the next level. If you are new to business or looking at starting up a business, then hopefully these tips and tricks will help you on your way. There is always room for improvement and every day presents us with a new opportunity to learn something new or take something on board. I truly believe one of my greatest strengths is the ability to view business from all angles. My first job was as a Junior Travel Consultant in a small office, in a regional area and over a seven year period I worked my way from Office Junior to 2IC, and took out the prestigious Traveland ‘National Consultant of the Year’ award, recognising high achievement in sales, customer service, knowledge and expertise.”

Zoe is passionate about ‘women in business’, reward and recognition and loves her role as being a mother to two sons.

Join Zoe at her book launch ON TUESDAY, 13TH OCTOBER www.zoesparks.com/events

We asked Zoe to share her why for writing this book, she said, “There are lots of people running small businesses of all types

NEED SOME HELP GROWING YOUR MONEY TREE? Join us for a Wealth Creation Symposium See pages 19-23 for more information

Thursday 22nd October at The Edge Mooloolaba 5.30 to 7.30pm Book your ticket here http://goo.gl/CNAUyL Tickets are just $20 with all money being donated to a local charity For more information contact 07 5444 4456 or admin@bmmag.com.au

Hear from a Builder, a Solicitor, an Accountant, a Mortgage Broker and a Financial Advisor 18 ISSUE 75

Welcome to our ALL ABOUT MONEY feature

which will give you education about creating wealth from a holistic point of view. From a Financial Planner, an Accountant, a Mortgage Broker, a Solicitor and a Builder. In this our first issue we will be introducing you to our contributors and letting you know what to look for yourself when using someone from their industry.

Building for investment versus residence – what’s the difference? There are a number of considerations to take into account when building a home for investment purposes. When living in your own home, you will care for it more so than a tenant would. Therefore when selecting the finishes for your investment, you should take a long term view on how each element of the home may suffer from wear and tear. For example, tiles in the living areas may be a better alternative to carpets as they won’t wear or become stained. A common mistake is building an investment property that strictly suits ‘your’ purposes. The ‘would I live in it?’ approach is not always the best rule of thumb. There are a number of different tenant types that many people don’t consider when constructing an investment home. The location of the investment property may also factor when determining the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas and car spaces. For instance, when located near a university, plenty of bedrooms, bathrooms and off street car spaces are a good idea, catering for student share accommodation. Another example is an investment property in a family orientated location benefiting from a second living area, in lieu of a third bathroom. To achieve long term flexibility, designing a home that ticks boxes for both investors and owner occupiers is usually the best bet. When the time comes to sell and capitalise on your investment, not only will other investors be looking at the property, owner occupiers will also be in the mix. Increasing the number of buyers vying for your property is beneficial. A unit versus a house? Properties without a body corporate or common facilities, and incurring fees, can typically be more valuable on the market and having 100 per cent ownership of the land is very desirable in the long run.

Brad Thompson

Why build an investment property? (versus buying new)

Being able to select the house design and the fittings and fixtures is a critical part of investing in property. Being able to make minor tweaks to the house design can make a big difference in how desirable your house is to prospective tenants. If you purchase a property that is suited for the owner to live in, you may be ending up with an investment that costs a small fortune in frequent repairs. It is best to start from scratch to make sure that you are getting exactly what you need in an investment. How do I maximise my return on investment? A good way of maximising your return on investment with a new investment home is by designing and selecting the fixtures and finishes in conjunction with your builder. This will ensure that you are delivered a low maintenance investment that will require less maintenance costs in the long run – which will maximise your cashflow and enhance sale price of your asset. Which builder should I use? Not only should you choose a reputable builder that can deliver, you should also select a builder that is experienced in building investment homes. Selecting a builder that has a specialty in not only building investment homes, but is also adept at selecting the appropriate fixtures and fittings that will ensure the longevity of your investment is paramount to the overall success of your investment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

P. 1300 90 40 40 W. www.thompsonsustainablehomes.com.au

Brad Thompson is the Director of Thompson Sustainable Homes, which is a licensed builder based on the Sunshine Coast. Thompson Sustainable Homes delivers energy efficient homes that suit owner occupiers and investors alike.

Book your ticket here http://goo.gl/CNAUyL

Tickets are just $20 with all money being donated to a local charity For more information contact 07 5444 4456 or admin@bmmag.com.au

SCAN HERE TO BOOK YOUR SPOT

$ All About Money

$ $ $ $$$ $

Wealth Creation What’s involved?

Should I, • Buy shares or an investment property? • Borrow or pay off debt? • Add funds to Super or set up a managed investment? • Do I need a budget, when should I start? At Infocus, we have learnt that the place to start is with what’s important to you! Everyone’s situation is filled with different circumstances and has different life changing events. It comes down to the lifestyle that you want for yourself and your family.

The above are all methods for creating wealth. The time for action is now! So whether you’re 21 and just got your first job, or 61 and just finished your last job, time in the market, not timing of the market is what’s important. Small steps can create large results over time. Look at the trillion dollar value of Super funds that didn’t exist 50 years ago. Borrowing funds to invest gives you more exposure to an investment compared to using your own cash. Borrowing is not the only way to create wealth. You create the means to wealth by earning an income, either by a salary or from your business. Your ability to earn is the most important aspect for building wealth so make sure it’s protected. More on that next time.

The Wealth Creation Mortgage

The Client ... John, 42, Supervisor earns around $85,000 per annum, his wife Jenny earns $21,000 per annum, both children have left home, and they have net assets (excluding superannuation) of $185,500. The Problem ... The Js had no set plans about how to pay their house off or retirement and personal finances were not building. This concerned John and Jenny.

Infocus Sunshine Coast Team The Process ... During interview, we uncovered that the things that concerned them were: • Paying off the mortgage • Surplus cash flow was not being saved • Be sure retirement was secure and • F reedom to enjoy their lifestyle, play golf and visit family in the meantime. Sound familiar? The Solution ... By restructuring their loans we were able to use some of the available equity in their property to commence an investment. John increases his investment every month with a regular investment strategy. Tax savings were taken into consideration and the investment was placed in John’s name. The Outcome ... In 11 months the Js increased their net assets by $35,474 to $220,974! This was achieved through restructuring, investing and harnessing their cash flow and tax savings. Fictitious names have been used in this true Case Study to protect the privacy of our clients. Disclaimer: This information is general information only. You should consider the appropriateness of this information with regards to your objectives, financial situation and needs. Sunshine Coast Financial Planning Pty Ltd ABN 34 133 955 736 is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Infocus Securities Australia Pty Ltd ABN 47 097 797 049 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence No. 236523 trading as Infocus Money Management.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

P. 07 5443 4311 W. www.infocus.com.au/sunshine-coast

Matthew Johnson, Senior Financial Advisor AR# 455767 Since entering the industry in 2001,Matthew has a passion for educating clients to reach their goals and objectives. This personal approach to financial advice has seen Matthew build strong,long term relationships with his clients based ontrust.

$ All About Money Symposium

Thursday 22nd October at The Edge Mooloolaba 5.30pm to 7.30pm 20 ISSUE 75

See our advertisement on page 18 for more information and how to book

$ All About Money

9 3 041 4678256 Create your budget/ cash flow projections

Budgeting is the most basic and the most effective tool for managing your money. Yet, most people avoid doing it because it is additional work, much like cutting your lawn or fixing the roof. Budgeting also connotes that you have to give up and stop yourself from enjoying stuff.

Melanie Jacobson and Renee Spears

What budgeting actually does is clearly show you how you allocate your money and present you the choices on what stuff to enjoy – based on your financial limitations. It will save you the grief of overspending and being too much in debt. Budgeting does not stop you from enjoying stuff, it ensures that you enjoy stuff when you want it.

sure you have the vehicle, you have the petrol, but if you don’t know the way, you are going to need guidance to get there, you need a map. Having someone assist you to work out your budget is the same thing for business.

Although budgeting is indeed more work, it pays off with many life-enhancing benefits:

A couple of years ago we had a new client approach us. They had considerable Tax Office Debt and were unsure how they could turn it around and get on top of everything.

Benefits of Budgeting 1. Gives you control over your money.

We sat down and completed a business budget of what income targets the business would need to achieve to produce the cash-flow the client needed to meet financial commitments. These targets gave the client a plan of exactly how much to put aside each week to pay the debt off within 12 months, a goal that previously seemed unsurmountable.

2. Keeps you focused on your money goals.

3. Makes you aware what is going on with your money. 4. Helps you organize your spending and savings.

5. Makes you decide in advance how your money will work for you.

6. Enables you to save for expected and unexpected. 7. E nables you to communicate with your significant others about money. 8. Provides you with an early warning for potential problems. 9. Helps you determine if you can take debt and how much. 10. Enables you to produce extra money.

Case Study

Having a budget in place removes the stress. It’s like getting in the car to drive to Townsville without a map,

With the budget in place the client felt they were now in control of the business and also the decisions they made going forward. Having a budget and set targets in place also benefited the business, as now the owner was focussed on the numbers, the business naturally improved. By taking control of the budget the client not only repaid the ATO debt in full, they have now also been able to set up investments outside of the business. They are now taking the same principles they learnt within the business to their personal budget and when they are making decisions about personal investments.. a

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

P. 07 5451 1118 W. www.mjjaccountants.com.au

With over 30 years combined industry experience Melanie and Renee at MJJ Accounting and business solutions are passionate about helping businesses be successful so that you can enjoy life and the things that matter most to you and your family. We understand that central to all business success is sound strategic and financial advice.

Book your ticket here http://goo.gl/CNAUyL

Tickets are just $20 with all money being donated to a local charity For more information contact 07 5444 4456 or admin@bmmag.com.au

SCAN HERE TO BOOK YOUR SPOT

BUSINESS MATTERS 21

$ All About Money

$ $$ $$$$ Top Tips for Comparing Lenders

With interest rates at record lows, and Australia’s lenders offering innovative and sharply priced home loans, there are many good reasons to shop around and consider a range of loan and lender options. By choosing a home loan lender on banking history alone, you could be selling yourself short when it comes to finding the best home loan deal for you. There are many lenders out there offering mortgage products whose features may be ideally suited to your needs and if you don’t shop around, you may never know what is on the market. Here are my top tips for comparing lenders and their loan offers:

1. Compare lender interest rates: Understand what interest rates are being offered by Australia’s lenders. While interest rates aren’t everything, your perfect lender should be very competitive on rates.

2. Investigate the associated fees: Many lenders will charge various fees, so make sure the lender you are contemplating partnering with offers competitive fees and charges. Get your mortgage broker to compare how the lender stacks-up in terms of the fees and charges on the loan (loan features, transactions, late penalties, early repayments, top ups et cetera.). 3. Consider your features: Before you can find the perfect home loan, you need to understand what loan features you want to have both today and into the future (for example, offset account, redraw facility and more). 4. Consider lender support capabilities: If weekend branch access and phone support are high on your priority list, it is important to partner with a lender that offers such facilities.

The Mortgage Choice Buderim Team

Case Study

Keola Westcott To be financially free by age 40 - invest in appreciating assets - minimise bad debt - have fun along the way Properties: 3 Client: Goal: Strategy:

Like many Aussies who’ve realised that their superannuation won’t be accessible any time soon, and the aged pension is hardly enough to make ends meet, Keola’s goal is to be financially secure, earning a passive income that will allow her to travel and enjoy her time off. Well on her way to achieving her goal Understanding the difference between good debt and bad debt is what sets Keola apart from the crowd. She knows that she’ll have her dream home one day but for now she’s focused on keeping her bad debt (any debt that doesn’t bring in an income) low whilst she builds up her portfolio of properties. She’s learnt some valuable lessons along the way and is happy to share these for any young investors starting out: Check your ego at the door • A few sacrifices now, while you’re building your property portfolio, will pay off in spades. Buy a car that’s reliable and will get you from A to B, and buy clothes that are good quality • If you choose to buy a property to live in, it doesn’t have to be the Taj Mahal • Have fun along the way

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A. 1 Ballinger Rd, Buderim | P. 07 5476 9333 E. Matt.ireland@mortgagechoice.com.au W. www.mortgagechoice.com.au/linda.ireland

Linda Ireland is the Owner/Manager of Mortgage Choice Buderim, Linda has been a top Mortgage Choice franchisee for the last 12 years, a credit to her customer focused team. Linda and her team are passionate property investors themselves, and have helped thousands of people reach their finance and property investment dreams.

$ All About Money Symposium

Thursday 22nd October at The Edge Mooloolaba 5.30pm to 7.30pm See our advertisement on page 18 for more information and how to book

$ All About Money

G D FBCEH A Developing a Plan

So you have found advisors to assist with your transaction. So what next? Just as you can’t build a good house without a solid footing, you need to make certain arrangements before you enter into your transaction.

Whatever the transaction is that you are contemplating, it is vitally important that you get the foundations right, from the beginning. Generally, things can be changed or fixed at a later date however it will always come at a cost and probably a headache as well. Our role as solicitors is to assist people in reducing agreements to writing, setting up structures correctly and ensuring that your particular circumstances are considered and the transaction is structured to suit your individual needs. There is no one size fits all approach.

Your solicitor will help with things such as setting up trusts and other structures, registering for various licences and other statutory requirements, and preparing contracts and other written agreements, depending on your transaction. One thing we stress to our clients no matter what they are doing or who they are getting into business with: put it in writing. Your solicitor will assist you with planning for unforeseen events and ensuring that you have agreements in place to protect your interests. This is particularly important if you are investing with other people.

If you fail to get it right from the beginning, there may be tax consequences or other costs, or if things go wrong you may not have any rights to recover your losses or protect your interest. The cost of getting the foundations right will nearly always be less than the cost of having to fix it at a later date.

Glen Carpenter and Grant Cunning

Q&A

Here are some questions we get asked frequently:

Do I need a family trust or a company, or both? What structure you use to enter into the transaction will depend on your individual needs. Each structure has its pros and cons so you need to consider what you are trying to achieve and your own circumstances. I am buying a property. Should I speak to my solicitor first? Yes. Before you enter into the contract it is important that you have sought advice about the entity that will purchase the property, whether it’s through your Self Managed Super Fund (if you have one), what enquiries you can make before signing the contract and what the terms of the contract are. Once you sign the contract, you may lose your ability to change things so it is best to get it correct from the beginning. I am investing with a family member so I don’t need a contract, right? Wrong. Family members and friends have the same legal rights as any other business partner. It is important that a shareholders agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement is prepared from the outset so if there is a dispute, the parties’ intention is clear. Too often we deal with issues where relationships in the family break down, this effects the business and there is no agreement in place to deal with the dispute.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

P. 07 3088 7511 E. admin@spirelaw.com.au W. www.spirelaw.com.au

Glen Carpenter and Grant Cunning are directors at Spire Law, a Sunshine Coast law firm focusing on property, commercial, litigation and construction law. With over 50 years of combined legal experience, there’s not much the Spire Law team hasn’t done. The difference Spire Law offers is our ability to provide exceptional legal services consistently and efficiently on time, every time.

Book your ticket here http://goo.gl/CNAUyL

Tickets are just $20 with all money being donated to a local charity For more information contact 07 5444 4456 or admin@bmmag.com.au

SCAN HERE TO BOOK YOUR SPOT

BUSINESS FOR PEOPLE

YOU CAN HAVE A BUSINESS THAT OPERATES FOR PROFIT AND CARES ABOUT PEOPLE. WE DON’T NEED MORE THAN WHAT WE NEED, THE REST CAN BE TAILORED TO FULFIL THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.

DARE TO DREAM

HOW IT WORKS

Network Communications was officially formed in 1992 as one phone store in Caloundra. A desire to expand through strategic communities has seen the Network model grow to over 55 stores across Australia.

The Charity Mobile Plan is unlike anything you’ve probably seen in the mobile phone world and the founders hope it is the start of a change of mindset, where business really is for people and not just profit.

“As a people focused organisation, we aim to make decisions that benefit those who need it most. Our interest lies with the disenfranchised, and disassociated.

5% of your mobile bill can go towards charitable and community organisations.

Each of our store owners are invested in our vision and operate within their local communities to help bring hope. They may be locally situated, but their impact is felt across the world as we support programs together. It’s our individual parts that make the whole strong.”

CHARITY MOBILE – HOPE IS IN YOUR HAND Charity Mobile is a product of Network Communications, one of Australia’s largest Optus approved resellers. Network Communications was founded in 1992 on the three key principles of vision, love and faith. It exists to be a sustainable and expandable resource, to see hope restored and lives changed. However, its founders didn’t want to create ‘just another charity’, asking everyday people to give more out of their already generous contributions. Instead they wanted to be able to sustainably and consistently support charities already on the frontline doing amazing work. By combining their existing relationship with Optus, they created Charity Mobile and together, they have turned a product we all use and need every day into a tool for good. They describe it as ‘a product that doesn’t take more, but gives more’.

They say it is ‘a plan to make a difference’, because business is a fantastic way to ensure the needs of this world are addressed. This plan not only provides the goods and services everyone needs every day, but also develops a reliable and sustainable income for hardworking organisations to deliver their invaluable and ever needed work in our communities, our nation and the world.

ANY PLAN, ANY PHONE – POWERED BY OPTUS Want the latest Samsung or iPhone on the latest Optus Postpaid plan, AND have it make a difference in the lives of others? Ok! From the start Network Communications were very clear about what they didn’t want! They didn’t want customers to have to choose a different or stand-alone option as that would be just plain annoying. So they worked with Optus to allow Charity Mobile to be a nice little plus – at no extra cost. When you sign up to ANY Optus mobile Postpaid Plan, just tell the sales person in the Optus approved store and all you have to do is: ✓ Select the Charity Mobile Plan option ❑ ✓ Select an approved organisation ❑ Honestly, that’s it. That is all it takes to help make a difference to others. a

SIGN UP AT YES OPTUS SUGAR ROAD MAROOCHYDORE, NAMBOUR PLAZA OR NOOSA VILLAGE AND FIVE PER CENT OF YOUR MOBILE PLAN WILL GO TO CHARITABLE AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS. CHARITYMOBILE.COM.AU 24 ISSUE 75

Website Matters

DESIGNING YOUR WEBSITE – ABOVE AND BELOW THE FOLD The term ‘above the fold’ on websites refers to the area of a page that is visible to the user without them having to scroll. This article explores the relative importance of content both above and below the fold on your website. As users browse the web on a range of devices and screen sizes, the area above the fold will vary but the basic principles remain the same. Naturally, the top of your website is the most visible. What many aren’t aware of, is that the area above the fold commands 80 per cent of our attention. Therefore it is vital that this area communicates your core message or proposition and invites the user to explore your website further. Additionally, the user is subconsciously assessing your website and forming a first impression within moments of it loading. ‘If your website is not presenting well above the fold then you are missing out on a crucial chance, maybe your only chance, to engage your audience.’

MEL MYERS Jetpack Web Design

Going further down the page, most users will scroll to some extent but only 15 per cent to 25 per cent make it to the bottom of the page. The percentage of actual attention is even lower in these areas. The percentage of attention at the bottom of the page is usually below 10 per cent. If you have important content below the fold then you need to develop your page layout to encourage user scrolling. A common technique is to have images or paragraphs broken by the fold to force scrolling to see more information.

Naturally, the top of your website is the most visible. What many aren’t aware of, is that the area above the fold commands 80 per cent of our attention.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mel has been running successful online businesses for 18 years and has written numerous websites and online applications including manufacturing facilities, accounting systems, shopping carts, and even a search engine. Mel is the owner of Jetpack which specialises in creating amazing websites.

We DESIGN WEBSITES YOU CAN BE PROUD OF For Local Business To Large Enterprise

BUSINESS MATTERS 25

Wedding Matters

THE ANSWER WAS YES... NOW WHAT? The answer was YES and now you face the sometimes daunting task of planning your special day. This should be an enjoyable experience, so the key to success is being well organised, right from the start. Make a ‘wish list’ of everything you and your partner have talked about or dreamed of. A folder or book including pictures is a great place to start, as you can then flick back through it at your leisure and decide exactly what you want to make your day unique and special to you. There’s a lot of information out there, so don’t fall into the ‘overload’ trap where you end up with too many ideas on your Pinterest page which can be overwhelming. Just try to select things you ‘love’ instantly - that’s usually a good indication. You are best to create your own checklist and also include your expenditure, to keep an eye on your budget. If you are not an overly organised person, choose a venue that offers planning assistance or engage a close friend to assist. This will help to alleviate some of the anxiety for you. I enjoy assisting my brides with the pre-planning of their special day and venues should have an extensive list of local suppliers who offer excellent service and share the same ‘care factor’. Once your date is set, it’s important to next find the perfect venue. You should choose a venue that you both feel very comfortable with and ensure that their events team take your wishes into consideration.

KARYN SCANLON Surfair Beach Hotel: Conferences, Weddings, Events

Ensure you take the time to enjoy your special day and make special memories to treasure for the rest of your lives together.

If you don’t feel comfortable, move on and find somewhere that you do. Your wedding day is all about you and your venue of choice should share your dreams and visions for your wedding day. If you’re concerned about your guests travelling to and from the ceremony and reception, a venue that offers all of these facilities in one place is ideal. Couples that arrive with their family and friends not only enjoy their wedding day together, but celebrate both pre and post the wedding, as this is often the only time family and friends are all staying in one place, especially if guests are from afar. Above all, make sure you stop to take a deep breath and enjoy every minute of your special day with your family and friends. This day has been your main focus, but you’ll find it goes very quickly, so ensure that you take the time to enjoy it and make special memories to be treasured for the rest of your lives together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR After planning a celebrity wedding for special family friend Justin Hodges & wife Gyanne back in 2010, and then working for one of the Sunshine Coast’s leading styling companies, Karyn was pre-destined to step into the role of Wedding & Event Co-Ordinator when her family purchased the Surfair Beach Hotel in 2014. She is relishing this role and takes immense pleasure in assisting couples with planning to ensure their wedding day is exactly what they wished for.

Surfair Beach Hotel is the ultimate venue for your special day

with all the facilities you need in one location-the beach, sand dunes or lawn ceremonies, casual or formal reception options and of course –the recovery party. With an absolute beachfront location, we have it all here at Surfair Beach Hotel as well as wedding planning advice, and onsite accommodation for your guests. Talk to our wedding specialists about our new packages and we invite you to visit us and find out how Surfair Beach Hotel can make your day all you have dreamed of!

923 David Low Way, Marcoola, Sunshine Coast, Queensland 4564 | T. 07 5457 2555 E. functions@surfairbeachhotel.com.au | www.surfairbeachhotel.com.au 26 ISSUE 75

Building Matters

QUEENSLAND NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION - FAQ’S! What regulatory Act protects you when you are building? Residential building is under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (QBCC) which establishes the contractual relationship between builder and client. The legislation sets out the requirements around licensing and the scope of works that can be undertaken by the builder. The builder must give the owner a Consumer Building Guide in the prescribed form before entering into the contract and then on signing a copy of the contract, including plans, engineering and specification for the work. There are various provisions under the QBCC Act that affect the performance and payment of work under the contract such as cooling off periods; commencement notice, extensions of time and variation requirements, caps on deposits, QBCC insurance, and rules around handover and completion. How does an owner deal with a dispute that cannot be resolved directly with builder? In the first instance any disputes should be discussed between the builder and owner to avoid costly and protected escalation of the dispute that benefits neither party. However, the QBCC is equipped to resolve these matters. The QBCC have the right to intervene in most building disputes, particularly where the quality of work is in question to determine if it

PAT & PETRINA RYAN Ryan Designer Homes

meets standards and tolerances. The QBCC also administers an Early Dispute Resolution (EDR) service which is available to both the builder and the owner and is a presrequisite to action in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT). Ultimately building disputes will be determined in QCAT where the early dispute resolution fails. What if the owner wish to change plans or add material during construction While it will depend on the nature and extent of the change and how this affects the overall integrity of the work, generally the builder will issue a Variation document which must be agreed to in writing. This agreement can take the form of an email advising acceptance. The Variation must contain the full details of the materials and costs and any extensions of time required by the builder to complete the work. What protection is in the QBCC Act/contract for defective work after Practical Completion A. Structural Defects - Builders have to give 6 years 3 months structural warranty from when the work was completed eg leaking roof B. Non-structural Defects - 12 months from when the home is completed eg sticking doors The owner has additional 6 months to lodge a notice for breach of warranty if they have advised the contractor in writing. Note: This is a general information only and any specific issues require you to consult with your own legal representative.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Husband and wife team, Pat and Petrina Ryan have over 30 years in the building industry. Pat currently presides as Chairperson of H.I.A Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay region and sits on the Queensland executive committee. Petrina won the 2012 Master Builders Sunshine Coast Woman in Building award and currently serves on the QMBA committee on the Sunshine Coast. Ryan Designer Homes have also successfully qualified and won three national awards.

“It’s hard to believe that this beautiful home started out with mould on the walls and ceilings, warped doors, no windows and toads were living inside! From that to this!” Ryan Designer Homes team are here to listen, cost manage and plan for the success of designing, building and renovating your home. ‘Living Design’ is our philosophy!

Renovation Expertise QBC: 1306555

Contact Petrina Ryan Monday – Friday 5444 7799 or arrange a weekend appointment on 0413 621 879.

Expect the unexpected when you sit down to discuss the latest developments in homebuilding and renovating with the RDH team.

petrina@ryandesignerhomes.com.au

www.ryandesignerhomes.com.au BUSINESS MATTERS 27

Training Matters

STAFF TRAINING IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL! ‘All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talent.’ John F. Kennedy. Individual difference takes many different forms, and is not always instantly recognisable. In a workplace training environment, individual differences can impact the effectiveness and outcomes of the training being provided, not always initially identifiable. The types of individual differences that may be present can include: • • • • •

Physical Socio-economic Cultural Gender Literacy and numeracy

People have their own perceptions and opinions about difference. These ideas and opinions are formed as a result of each individual person’s background and life experiences. As a trainer and assessor, it is important to remain unbiased and professional, by promoting learning opportunities for all students. We refer to this practice as inclusive learning.

Inclusive learning: • Values and respects difference • Promotes learning • Supports and advises colleagues, learners and clients to encourage new and ongoing participation in learning opportunities • Explores the benefits of learning with colleagues and clients • Recognises and rewards learning and competency achievement in the work and/or learning environment • Provides opportunities to develop your own and others generic skills • Offers multiple pathways to achieve your own and others current and future learning goals The underpinning principles of inclusive learning are: • • • • • • • • •

TERRI CARR Ballinger Training & Consultancy

Providing equal opportunity for participation Fostering and advocating independence Ensuring co-operative approaches to learning Using learner-centered approaches to training Supporting, encouraging and valuing individual contributions Motivating learners Creating opportunities for participation and success Modifying procedures, activities and assessment Acknowledging current strengths and skills as a basis for further learning

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Terri Carr started her business, Ballinger Training and Consultancy, in July 2005. This year, she will celebrate 10 years of owning and running the Registered Training Organisation. Terri spent 15 years previous to starting her business as a Primary School Teacher, in Victoria and Qld. Ballinger Training specialises in business, management, and training and assessment courses, all developed in house, and delivered as both face to face, and as online, self-paced programs.

Check out my

BRAND NEW WEBSITE www.ballinger.edu.au

Quality online and face to face programs in management, business, work health and safety and training and assessment. RPL offered on all courses. P: 07 5445 1397 terri@ballinger.edu.au www.ballinger.edu.au

RTO Provider Number: 31252

28 ISSUE 75

CFO Matters

MOST BUSINESSES GOING BROKE DON’T EVEN KNOW IT They say the most difficult period for a business is during the startup phase. I believe there is a more difficult period that a business must endure; a period in which significant growing pains will be experienced…the Transitional period. During this period the business will probably be experiencing rapid growth and may be transitioning from a small to medium sized business. Typically at this point the business can start to outgrow the business owner and their internal accounts team, or the business owner is too stretched on operational matters to keep track of the finances. Unfortunately at this point in time, a lot of businesses fail unnecessarily. So what are the options? • Soldier on and hope the business can get by with the current manpower and intellect • Employ a full time Financial Controller (FC). The conundrum is the business can’t afford a full time FC at this point. So what happens? Invariably the business owner takes option one and soldiers on. This is a fatal mistake that leads to hundreds of businesses going broke every year. An alternative option many businesses are unaware of is outsourcing. So how does it work? • The Outsourced Financial Controller (OFC) is engaged on an ‘as needed’ basis. • They typically come in on a monthly basis and perform two main services: Manage the Finances ○ Take the financials prepared by the

DON LITTLER Is Founder and Principal of CFO on Tap

internal accounts team and convert them into a professional financial report. ○ The report would include the standard suite of financial statements, commentary on the results, KPI reporting and key Financial Ratio analysis. Help manage the Business ○ The OFC attends a meeting with the business owner on a monthly basis to run through the financial report, discussing operational and strategic issues. Action items are followed up at the next monthly meeting. What are the benefits of an OFC? • The business gets access to the finance and business acumen of a FC. • The service is a fraction of the price of a full time FC. • Allows the business owner to focus on working on the business. • Provides the business owner with peace of mind, knowing the business is growing in a controlled and profitable fashion. When do I engage one? • When the business is experiencing high growth. • When it’s transitioning from a small to medium sized business. • When the business owner realises they either don’t have enough time to focus on the finances and/ or understands that they simply don’t have the knowledge in-house to manage the finances properly. • Consider today whether you have the necessary skills in-house to manage the finances of your business.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Don Is Founder and Principal of CFO on Tap (your Outsourced Financial Controller) and BizLogic (your Small Business Adviser). A Chartered Accountant and an accomplished senior executive, he is an expert in the field of building successful businesses. Don has spent the past 15 years in Senior Financial Management roles in high growth, medium sized businesses.

ALL ABOARD THE CFO ON TAP GROWTH TRAIN

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THAT’S OUR STANDARD RATE

Accelerate your business with the support of a seasoned CFO who will help you transform your business; creating value and peace of mind.

Contact Don Littler today 0498 367 306 www.getontap.com.au BUSINESS MATTERS 29

Brokerage Matters

CA$H......LEAVE IT IN THE TILL! Many business owners handle large volumes of cash on a daily basis and the temptation to leave some out of the bank bag to avoid paying a slice to the tax man is often irresistible.

Bank the cash, pay the tax, sleep at night and enjoy a great result

Unfortunately though, not declaring the folding stuff is breaking the law and risking fines. Owners are also costing themselves money from the loss of goodwill should they have to sell the business.

Often business owners have exit plans in place to stop taking cash before they go to the market. Fabulous if you are one of the few that can choose when you sell.Unfortunately, every year thousands of owners are forced to sell unexpectedly due to illness, partnership breakdowns or general market conditions.

For example, a business may achieve a goodwill amount of 2.5 times the net profit. If the owners are taking $1,000 per week in cash, they have effectively devalued their business by $130,000. That is a similar amount to the tax payable on six years’ worth of the cash taken.

In these scenarios only the current financials will determine how much you achieve. This is why it pays to be prepared to sell your business at any time.

So, why risk it when you can increase the value of your business and legally take the money without the worry of an audit from the tax department?

ROD RUSSELL Savvy Business Sales

My advice - bank the cash, pay the tax, sleep at night and enjoy a great result when you are ready to sell your business.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rod’s unrivalled professionalism and years of experience have earned him the reputation as the Sunshine Coast’s most successful business broker. He continues to raise the standards in business sales.

businessSAVVY. savvy. BUSINESS yes WE we ARE! are. YES

Our motto is ‘raising the standards in business sales’

Our and motto the standards in business sales’ we is are‘raising fiercely committed to providing our clients the are very fiercely best opportunity to achieve maximum results and we committed to providing our clients in the sale and their business. the very best opportunity to purchase achieve of maximum results in the sale and purchase of their business

If you considering buying If you areare considering buying or selling busines, or selling a abusiness, call call the Sunshine Coasts’s the Sunshine Coasts’s most most experienced team. experienced team.

SAVVY IT’S OUR BUSINESS TO SELL YOURS

Calltoday todayT T075444 Road, Mooloolaba Call 54443300 3300114 114Brisbane Brisbane Road, Mooloolabawww.savvybusiness.com.au www.savvybusiness.com.au 30 ISSUE 75

Lending Matters

PAY OFF YOUR MORTGAGE FASTER Fortnightly instead of monthly Splitting your monthly mortgage payment into two and paying fortnightly will mean that you make 26 half-monthly payments a year instead of 12 monthly payments. This effectively results in 13 monthly repayments every year. Over a 30 year loan, this could shave over four years off your loan term. Make bigger repayments Most loan repayments in the first few years go against interest rather than principal. Making bigger repayments reduces loan principal earlier and can significantly shorten the loan term. Try to make loan repayments two or three percentage points above your interest rate. If this isn’t possible, just pay whatever you can afford. Use lump sums to pay off your mortgage Received a windfall? Instead of wasting it on stuff you don’t need, use them to make

RICHARD WEST Top Ten Home Loans

extra payments. Check your loan product features first to see if this is permissible. Consider an offset account A mortgage offset account helps put extra cash to work – even if you don’t use it to pay off the home loan itself. An offset account is a savings/ transaction account linked to your home loan. The more in your offset account, the less interest you pay. Money in a mortgage offset account, saves on tax and pays down home loans sooner. It can be used like a regular transaction account so paying your salary into this helps. Make the most of low interest rates With interest rates at all-time lows check out refinancing possibilities to get a lower rate. Remember if interest rates fall even lower it’s smart to continue paying at the higher rate. This strategy attacks mortgage principal and can significantly reduce the loan term.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Richard West is the owner of Top Ten Home Loans, mortgage brokers on the Sunshine Coast. He has over 25 years’ experience in the domestic and international banking and finance industry. Richard is a graduate of the University of the Sunshine Coast and holds a Diploma in finance/mortgage broking management.

en Home Loans Top Ten Home Loans

‘Your success Is Our Success’ uccess Is Our Success’

CONFUSED

let us help you...

Ask for a free Ask for a free Home Loan Home Loan Health Check Health Check

let us help you...

Richard West STRESSED ard West - Mortgage Broker Mortgage Broker NO TIME 0402 845 285 0402 845 285 HO?

HOW? W

RIGHT ake the right LOAN?choicemake the right choice

Richard West Mortgage RichardBroker West Mortgage Broker

0402 845285 T: 07 5446 1499 F: 07 5471 6744 M: 0402 845285 T: 07 5446 M: 1499 F: 07 5471 6744 W: www.toptenhomeloans.com.au A: PO Box 358, Coolum Beach 4573 W: www.toptenhomeloans.com.au A: PO Box 358, Coolum Beach 4573 Aussie Sunshine Finance Pty Ltd ABN: 62 725113 713

Richard West, Top Ten Home Loans (Credit Representative No. 403266) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence Number 389328.

Aussie Sunshine Finance Pty Ltd ABN: 62 725113 713 Richard West, Top Ten Home Loans (Credit Representative No. 403266) is authorised under Australian Credit Licence Number 389328. BUSINESS MATTERS 31

Commercial Real Estate Matters

COMMERCIAL CONFIDENCE IS ON THE RISE If you take a look around the coast at the moment you will see quite a few cranes scattered across a number of building sites. It wasn’t that long ago that there wasn’t any. You might be wondering what role cranes play in terms of commercial confidence. The answer is simple. Cranes mean building, development and growth and with that comes consumer confidence about the future. For the Sunshine Coast the reemergence of cranes started with the new hospital and, whilst it was the only major construction on the horizon for some time, we are now seeing other projects rising out of the ground with some of our best known local developers showing the way. Companies such as Aria, Evans Long, RGD Group, Reed Property Group, Walter Iezzi Property Group and Pratt Property are all demonstrating their belief in the area by pushing forward with developments. However, it’s important to note that it is not just during the construction phase that we see an economic return to the region. CEO of the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, Kevin Hegarty,

MICHAEL SHADFORTH Ray White Commercial North Coast Central

For the Sunshine Coast the re-emergence of cranes started with the new hospital and, whilst it was the only major construction on the horizon for some time, we are now seeing other projects rising out of the ground recently made a point about the new hospital that really hit home with me. He noted that up until this point we have been focussing on the construction of the hospital. He went on to say that the construction period is really only a short lived phase necessary for the creation of the project. Studies have shown that the real return to a region will be after the project is completed –and will last for decades. This is wonderful news for our great region as there are certainly exciting times ahead.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michael Shadforth, Managing Director of Ray White Commercial North Coast Central, has a proven history in sales, leasing, commercial projects and developments, offering strategic marketing solutions to ensure clients success.

Long Term National Tenanted Investment

113 Brisbane Road, Mooloolaba

Owner operator or Investor

4/180 Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland

• High profile location • 167m2 office space • Kitchenette • Onsite Amenities • Air-Conditioned • On-site car parking • Excellent signage opportunities

Tenancy 96, ‘Aqua Vista’, 64 Sixth Avenue, Maroochydore

• • • •

67 m2 retail space Long term national tenant, lease expiry Jul 2020 Zoned Tourist Accommodation Opposite beach front

Expressions of Interest close 5pm, 18th September 2015. Sale Property ID 1355284 Damien Poole 0414 457 022 damien.poole@raywhite.com Emily Pendleton 0402 435 446 emily.pendleton@raywhite.com Ray White Commercial North Coast Central

Lease Property ID 1352262 Damien Poole 0414 457 022 damien.poole@raywhite.com Emily Pendleton 0402 435 446 emily.pendleton@raywhite.com Ray White Commercial North Coast Central

Shop & Residence Investment Combination

4/61 Link Crescent, Coolum Beach

59 Perwillowen Road, Burnside

• Great location at Quanda Road industrial park • Modern, clean and well presented complex • Good parking (12spaces in complex) and plenty on-street • 89 sqm downstairs with kitchenette and bathroom • 18* sqm mezzanine office with air-conditioning

• • • • •

Convenience/Takeaway store plus residential premises Freehold 645 m2 block Currently returning $33,000 per annum gross Lease expiry October 2016, 5 year option remaining 5 minutes to Nambour CBD

Sale Property ID 1350860 Damien Poole 0414 457 022 damien.poole@raywhite.com Ray White Commercial North Coast Central

32 ISSUE 75

Sale Property ID 1270110 Damien Poole 0414 457 022 damien.poole@raywhite.com Emily Pendleton 0402 435 446 emily.pendleton@raywhite.com Ray White Commercial North Coast Central

• Use: Professional Massage/ Beautician services/ Medical Rehabilitation Clinic • Tenancy Area: 45sqm. • 3 Separate consultation rooms • Ground floor of Aqua Vista Resort • Toilet and Shower • Modern fitout • Use of resort gym and pool, Spa & Sauna Sale Property ID 1198675 David C Smith 0412 712 680 davidcsmith.commercialsc@raywhite.com Ray White Commercial North Coast Central

Brand New 1213sqm Concrete Tilt-Slab Warehouse Lot 4 & 5 Whalley Creek Close, Nambour • • • • • •

1,213sqm concrete tilt-slab building on 2,726sqm of land Electric 5M roller doors Quality aluminum joinery Kitchenette and Toilet Three-phase power Tenancies 4, 5A & B, and 6A can be leased individually or as a whole.

Lease Property ID 879937 David C Smith 0412 712 680 davidcsmith.commercialsc@raywhite.com Ray White Commercial North Coast Central

Franchise Matters

WHY A FRANCHISE? If the ‘HOW’ is stopping you moving forward then a franchise could be the answer The one question most people have when they think of starting their own business is HOW? • How do I get my name out there? • How do I set up the systems and processes, so that I start as I mean to go on? • How long will it be before I start earning money? If the ‘HOW’ is stopping you moving forward then a franchise could be the answer. A franchise can give you everything you need to start running your own business and a good franchise will also coach you along the way. When you consider all the things that need to be in place prior to running a successful business, a franchise is considered a cost effective way to start. It allows you to concentrate on what you do best because the branding, marketing and technology,

ASHLEY DANDO Regional Franchisor Jim’s Building Inspections

to name a few, have already been done for you. You may have considered starting your own business in the past and been deterred by the unknown variables but with a franchise these are few and the advantages are many. This is because of those before you, who started from a similar position to you right now and paved the way for your success, so you can hit the ground running. Being part of a franchise team allows you to call upon the experience of others, almost like having the benefit of hindsight. All franchise businesses in Australia must comply with the franchising code of conduct, which affords the franchisee (you) a greater level of protection. In general terms, this means less risk – so what are you waiting for?? In the next edition: ‘The difference between a good franchise and the rest’.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ashley Dando is a regional franchisor for Jim’s Building Inspections. He has amassed more than 25 years in the construction industry, is a licenced builder and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business Management.

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Contact Jims Building Inspections TODAY on 131 546 or www.jimsbuildinginspections.com.au

JIM’S GOUP FRANCHISES ARE THE MOST RECOGNISED BRAND IN AUSTRALIA BUSINESS MATTERS 33

Smart Business Matters

GROWING A SMART BUSINESS FOCUS ON YOUR CUSTOMER As business owners we all know the importance of delivering what the customer wants, when they want it and at a time and place that suits them. In today’s environment of increasing competition, businesses need to become smarter in how they understand, listen and then respond to the feedback customers provide. The challenge is how do you deliver a customer experience that means they will continue to come back, and at the same time recommend you to others. The Voice of the Customer (Past, Present and Future) Businesses need to move away from what they ‘think they know’ to what they ‘actually know’ about their customers. Understand Your Customer: • What is the profile of your current customer base, who are they, what do they buy, how often and how much do they spend? • Which of your products/services are popular and provide a significant amount of your sales? • Analyse the data collected from the first two points, is it what you expected? Is it what you want for now and in the future? Listen to Your Customer: • Why do they buy your products and services? • Why do they choose you instead of your competitors? • Is there anything they would like you to improve?

KEVIN BENNETT KB Business Solutions

• If they are not an existing customer, go and find out why not? When customers talk about their experiences, their response is typically based on the likelihood they would recommend you to family, friends and colleagues. (Reference : Net Promoter Score – NPS). The response is rated on a scale of 0 to 10: • Promoter (9 to 10) – loved the experience of buying from you and will actively tell others about the experience. • Passive (7 to 8) – ok with the experience, but there was something they were not happy with, usually will share experience when asked. • Detractor (0 to 6) – did not like the experience and are very likely to tell people about what was wrong before being asked. When you then start to ask your customer ‘Why’ they provided this rating, you are then really starting to listen and understand. However the next critical step is to then respond in the right way. As a business that wants to have a strong customer focus, your first objective is to have more customers rating you Promoter ‘9 to 10’ instead of Detractor ‘0 to 6’ This important feedback also provides an excellent opportunity to share with your staff and start focusing on ‘Your People are your best asset’ – see next issue.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kevin has over 30 years of experience working with international businesses identifying and implementing ways to become smarter and improve business performance. Practical, simple and effective solutions that really work.

IMPROVING YOUR BUSINESS WITH YOU Coaching and Mentoring Business Diagnostic and Assessment Facilitated Workshops Customised Improvement Programs GET SMART - CALL KEVIN on 0407 144 963 Email kb@improvingyourbusiness.com.au SERVICING ALL OF THE SUNSHINE COAST Join us on Facebook: KB Business Solutions

www.improvingyourbusiness.com.au 34 ISSUE 75

Accounting Matters

BUSINESS OWNERS CAN TAKE A FAMILY HOLIDAY – HERE’S HOW Okay, so we have used a bit of creative license with the headline but if you are in business and have not had a holiday because you don’t have the time nor the cash, you need to keep reading.

• Monitor and measure what’s important to succeed. Don’t rely on annual tax accounts to work out whether your business is working for you.

Over the past five issues, we have presented a series of articles on how business owners can improve their results. Correctly implemented, these recommendations will improve your results and cashflow and help pay for that long overdue holiday. To sum up our entire philosophy we offer the following checklist: • Know what you want to achieve from your business. Is it lifestyle, wealth, world domination? If this is not the opening question from your accountant then perhaps you should be thinking about their ability to help you succeed. Be honest with your accountant because these objectives will guide their advice to you. • Understand how what you do on a daily basis supports the achievement of your objectives. It sounds simple but we see many clients who, for example, say they want to work less hours but make no effort to implement efficient systems into their business to relieve them of some of their time burdens. • Be prepared to change what you do, don’t be stupid! Albert Einstein defined insanity and it’s true, you will only get different results if you do something differently.

CHRIS BURNS Complete Business Strategies

A customised management dashboard is easy and cheap. Without it you may as well be driving blindfolded. Use technology, develop appropriate Key Performance Indicators (including nonfinancial measures), and measure and monitor these regularly. • Look after your debtors, don’t let your customers use your money to pay for their holiday.

Know your business objectives, report and monitor your financial and non financial KPI’s, be prepared to change what you do to achieve a different outcome, and take care of your cash. Here’s How to Pay for That Holiday None of us likes ringing customers to ask for money but there are now many apps available that will automate the process. These Apps send reminders a couple of days before your customer payments are due, send gentle reminders out on the due date, and automatically send harsher emails where necessary. They are inexpensive (can actually be FREE), give you total control, and most importantly - they work.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Chris is a Chartered Accountant and a Director of Complete Business Strategies. During his 20 year career Chris has helped hundreds of clients improve their business outcomes and looks forward helping many more.

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BUSINESS MATTERS 35

HR Matters

EMBRACE COMMUNITY IN YOUR WORKPLACE CULTURE For the last 10 years, volunteering in various roles for the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network, keynote speaking, supporting community programs, and fundraising for different charities has returned great personal satisfaction in being able to, in some small way, give back to others in our community. Givers – gain. This is a philosophy that myself and my entire team share. Does the workplace culture in your business support community? How could embracing some small changes, make a big difference to the community, but also your team culture? Do you consider philanthropy only to be for the wealthy few? Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others, and yes of course, it’s expressed often by the donation of money to good causes. The reality is that any size business can encourage their team to take a philanthropic view (not necessarily monetary) in supporting the wider community by considering the welfare of others. This is an amazing way to bring your team together. If you ask your team, many of your employees would love to do more to help others. People want to work for a company they are proud of and one whose values they believe in. Giving your employees an avenue to give back is important to morale and builds a collaborative and inspired team. Here are some ideas to get you started: • Volunteer work locally – animal shelters, hospital, aged care facilities, school, charities and community organisations such as Meals on Wheels, Beautiful You, and Lifeline or similar helplines.

MICHALLE FAULKNER EastCoast HR

36 ISSUE 75

• Take up collections for victims of domestic violence or homelessness. • Support blood drives or regular team donations through Red Cross. • Annual fundraising support to events such as Biggest Morning Tea, Daffodil Day, White Ribbon Day, Red Nose Day, Jeans for Jeans day. • Team Collections for charities such as Red Cross, cancer council, SLSC. • Combine health and wellbeing with support to community sporting events such as team entry to triathlons, colour run, Sunshine Coast marathon, and walking events. • Volunteer support during annual local fundraising events such as Day for Daniel, Give Me 5 for Kids. • Join committees within the community such as local Chambers of Commerce, business groups. • Internal company donation boxes for the employees charities of choice on a rotational basis. • Coordinate with other businesses and make a difference. The benefits are tenfold for a business that embraces community to their work culture. It’s no secret that consumers consider corporate social responsibility when deciding which product or service to buy, so make sure you share your employee’s contribution and message of values around social contribution with current and prospective clients so it’s easy for them to choose your company to do business with.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michalle Faulkner knows people. In fact she bases her business on it! As a business owner herself, she can relate to the struggles and demands on your time when it comes to managing staff. A highly sort-after HR consultant and expert in human resources, Michalle believes; “invest in your people, increase your profit”.

Property Development Matters

PROJECT MANAGEMENT THE KEY TO SUCCESS FOR ANY DEVELOPMENT It is common knowledge that you make your money when you purchase the land or property, but the truth is that unless you have a project leader and closely manage the project you will never realise the potential profits. No matter whether you’re doing a small renovation, building your dream house or doing a big development, project management is essential! Most people start off with the best intentions to do the project but then life happens, and we all get caught up in day to day activities. It takes guts, commitment and above all dedication to see a project through. Before undertaking any project, understand your own timeframe and reasons behind doing the project.

The core components of project management are: • Defining the reason why you want to do a property development project, whether it is a simple renovation, building of a large house or a larger development? • Determining upfront the timeframe. Time can cost you thousands of dollars! • Capturing project requirements, specifying quality of the deliverables, estimating resources and timescales • Conducting extensive due diligence and financial feasibility to justify the investment

Why are you doing the project? Is it for money and financial freedom, is it to fulfil your dream to build a house, or maybe you want to secure education for your children? Once you understand the WHY you can start working on the HOW.

• Securing funding for the project

Most people are time poor and don’t have the necessary time and skills to ensure a successful project. Outsourcing the project management can be a great solution.

• Managing the risks, issues and changes on the project

Project management is the application of processes, methods, knowledge, skills and experience to achieve the project objectives. General A project is usually deemed to be a success if it

SUSAN LINDEQUE Linzen Group

achieves the objectives according to their acceptance criteria, within an agreed timescale and budget.

• Developing and implementing a management plan for the project • Leading and motivating the project delivery team

• Monitoring progress against the project plan • Managing the project budget on a weekly basis • Maintaining communications with stakeholders and the project organisation ‘To accomplish great things we must first dream, then visualize, then plan...Believe, act!’ Alfred A. Montapert

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Susan is the CEO and Co-founder of Linzen Group which is a multi-faceted and diverse property development group offering a one stop real estate shop all under one roof. Susan has more than 25 years of successful commercial and financial experience with a background as a registered Chartered Accountant and Real Estate Agent. Her extensive expertise allows her to recognise market trends, demands and conditions to accurately predict project outcomes.

NEED HELP WITH PROJECT MANAGEMENT? Our services are tailored to suit your individual or business needs and our delivery approach is guided by our expertise and your requirements • Property investment advise and strategy • Set up appropriate structures for asset protection • Specialised tax advice on income tax, GST and Capital Gains Tax • Land development and Construction • Dealing with Council, townplanners, engineers and other consultants

• Due Diligence and Financial Feasibility for all projects • Project management to ensure projects are on track • Joint Venture Partnerships with investors or land owners • Seek funding for projects

1 HOUR FREE CONSULTATION TO BM READERS! Enjoy a one hour complimentary consultation where we will assist you with: • Wealth Analysis • 5 year strategy and goals • Defining realistic time frames

Linzen Group • P.1300 766 261 • M.0413 887 850 • info@linzen.com.au • www.linzen.com.au BUSINESS MATTERS 37

Technology Matters

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR NEXT COMPUTER In the last edition, we asked the question ‘does the operating system matter anymore?’ It is debatable, however, if we follow current trends from vendors, where their licensing model seems to be following the device instead of the operating system, you have to expect that at some stage, the operating system will just become a bucket that contains all the applications you need, which in turn, will house all of your data, or intellectual capital. Microsoft has already said that Windows 10 will be the ‘last’ version of Windows, from here on out there will only be updates to the operating system. Apple has a similar model, with releases of OSX being a free upgrade, provided your machine meets the minimum specifications. So if you had a choice, who would you support? That is an overarching question that many people are grappling with these days, so here are my musings on the subject. Usable life – In these tight financial times, we are expecting more from the purchases that we make. Establishing how long a machine will be useful to you should be a primary consideration, as that will heavily impact your return on investment. Servicing – In a business environment, downtime costs money, so being able to ensure that you are able to get your machines serviced and repaired locally by authorised repair centres, would be important.

RALPH STEVENJENNINGS Smile i.t.

If you would like to get a minimum of 3 years lifespan out of your machine, ensure that you are able to get a warranty that will cover it for the duration. Warranties – If you would like to get a minimum of 3 years lifespan out of your machine, ensure that you are able to get a warranty that will cover it for the duration, this would avoid any nasty repair surprises....we don’t buy a car these days with less than five years warranty on them! Build quality – Choosing your devices should be based on their durability, but probably more important than that would be the specifications that your potential next acquisition has. If you spend a bit more now, buy a machine that has a decent processor (i5 or better) with a solid state hard drive and a reasonable amount of RAM, you have a machine that should be able to cope quite comfortably with the future upgrades that will be thrown at it. These are just some of the broader considerations, there are many more ‘personal’ (like Operating System) preferences but they should not affect its usable life as much as the points mentioned above. Happy shopping!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ralph started his career as a Microsoft systems engineer in South Africa, followed by work in the UK and Europe before moving to Dubai, where he purchased a share of a start-up managed service provider at the end of 2003. This business grew to cover three countries and over 70 staff, mostly supporting small and medium enterprises. Ralph moved to the Sunshine Coast in December 2013 to start a new lifestyle with his young family.

• Computer Repairs • Microsoft Office 365 • Xero Cloud Accounting • Education Solutions • Online Inventory

1300 716 840 | www.smileit.com.au 38 ISSUE 75

Care Matters

I CARE MATTERS We all know this is true when we are dealing with someone who genuinely cares about the service they are providing and vice versa, when someone clearly doesn’t. We experience a distinct difference when working with or employing someone who truly cares about their job, their organisation and their customers, and someone who doesn’t. Care is not something that can be faked, although people try. It’s either present or it’s not – we can generally feel if it’s genuine. The thing about care is that it benefits everyone involved. Desired outcomes are much more likely to be achieved, or at least a greater understanding gained of what is required to achieve it. So if the ‘payoff’ is so high why don’t we experience it all the time, in every business and in every interaction that we have? From my perspective, the reason is largely because as humans we often lose sight of what we truly care about. Negativity, limiting beliefs and thoughts can have us caring about less important things. For instance, we want to give someone constructive feedback, with an intention to help and bring about change. But we don’t want conflict. We worry about what other people think, there might be a lack of confidence, a fear of failure or a belief that we can’t or don’t know what to do. If we then decide not to do it, or put it off, in that moment we are caring more about these things than we do about our original positive intention for change. Which if looked at deeply, generally ends up with negative outcomes and feelings for everyone involved, the direct opposite to when there is genuine

GREG BEE Noosa Van Lines

care present for the ‘bigger picture’ outcome. These are challenges we all face in life, with varying degrees of success, so how do we create a business that genuinely cares? The starting point is with YOU. Whether you are a business owner, manager, employee or contractor, you can take the first step. As soon as you do, change commences. In my opinion there is probably no more powerful ingredient in business - and in life, for that matter - than I care . . . for someone, an experience and/ or something I want to create, change or improve. If there is something you want to create, change or improve maybe this will be of some help to you. I intention: A statement of intent, created from care, powered by decision and fuelled by willingness. Cc larity: Of what is truly important to you and what is getting in the way now. A alignment: Align your intentions, words and actions with what you truly care about. R r esponsibility: Take responsibility, in every moment, to be the change. E e nergy: It will no doubt take practice, perseverance and energy. Start with simple steps, making sure not to let any ‘BUTS’ stop you. You may want to seek some backing and support and enlist others in the cause. Often people are waiting for someone else to start. Go well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Greg is a Director of Noosa Van Lines and a Leadership Mentor. He has held a number of senior management roles, culminating in 10 years as a Group General Manager in one of Australia’s highest profile companies with a divisional work force of over 6500 employees. He is passionate about helping people succeed in business and in life and in helping develop leaders with this approach. More at www.noosavanlines.com.au/care-matters/

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BUSINESS MATTERS 39

Business Productivity Matters

6 REASONS TO OUTSOURCE TO A VA Your business is starting to grow and you’re thinking about taking on some admin staff to keep up with the chores that are bogging you down. But are you ready for the responsibility and commitment that comes with it? 1. Avoid the hidden extras of staffing Staffing costs go well beyond wages and include Work Cover expenses, superannuation, human resource management, Fair Work obligations, award rates, and penalty rates. How about supplies like tea, coffee, stationery, post-it notes (can’t live without those), staplers, email addresses, computer programs, antivirus and computer maintenance. Then there’s productivity downtime! Cigarette breaks, chit chats by the water cooler, and social media distractions. Add it all up - how much are you really spending each month? 2. Never miss a phone call Do you ever miss a call because you’re talking to clients? Do you ruin the flow of a sales presentation to answer a ringing phone? A virtual assistant (VA) can answer incoming calls as you need, answering them as your business name, and taking a message for you. In fact, a good VA will get to know your business, answer questions or schedule appointments for you. 3. Hire an expert in everything Got something that needs to be done that’s a little out of the norm for you or your staff? A quick call to your VA and you’ll find they’ve probably already fielded such a query before. Need some data, formulas or graphs for Excel? Easy! Need to create a Facebook event page but keep putting it off? Piece of Cake! Need trade quotes and want someone to negotiate a killer price on your behalf? Done!

THE CONCIERGE TEAM

Do you ever miss a call because you’re talking to clients? Do you ruin the flow of a sales presentation to answer a ringing phone? A virtual assistant (VA) can answer incoming calls as you need, answering them as your business name, and taking a message for you.

4. Image is everything You might be a one man show but you can appear to have a whole team behind you. Whether it’s deploying virtual phone numbers in major cities to have an ‘office presence’ nationwide or taking on a virtual PA team to handle those incoming call flows, it can be charged per call. 5. Scale your workforce as demand ebbs and flows Some days are busy, some days are quiet. Actually, some mornings are busy and that same afternoon can be quiet. A Virtual PA allows you turn on your work force with a flick of switch. Literally! 6. More time for the important things Work on your business, not in it! You are the driver of your business and the person responsible for taking it to the next level. Why waste your resources, expertise and creativity doing admin or other chores that can be completed by almost anyone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR The Concierge Club is a team of office administration and personal assistant experts based on the Sunshine Coast. They work on behalf of many businesses that outsource a variety of their administration and other business-related tasks (including incoming calls) instead of employing full-time staff.

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www.theconciergeclub.com.au/matters 1 3 0 0 6 6 7 7 3 5 | info@thecociergeclub.com.au | www.theconciergeclub .com .au 40 ISSUE 75

Office 365 Matters

TOP TEN MYTHS ABOUT MOVING TO OFFICE 365 IN THE CLOUD Office 365 is just Office tools in the cloud and I can only use it online The Office Suite, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint et cetera is installed on your device so it’s available even when you are offline but with the added benefit of being licensed, deployed, and automatically updated as a service.

Corporate spies, cyber thieves, and governments can access my data in Office 365 A top fear many businesses have about the cloud. You manage access, rights and restrictions, including smartphone access and options. You remain the sole owner: you retain the rights, title, and interest in the data stored in Office 365.

If our data moves to Office 365 in the cloud, IT will no longer have control Besides reducing your capital budget on servers for email and data storage, moving to the cloud means that IT spends time improving business operations, thinking strategically and supporting business managers responsively.

I have to learn all new tools to manage Documents and Files in Office 365 Moving documents and files just means maintaining one point of truth, allowing authorised employees to view files and documents from anywhere, at any time and on any device; learning is minimal.

Keeping data on-premises is safer than in Office 365 Security has grown into a full time job, requiring experts on big salaries. Office 365 has ‘military level security measures’ and Microsoft takes security to a scale most companies can only dream about. Data stored onsite will not survive a fire or flood! I have to move everything to Office 365; it is an all-or-nothing scenario Migrations start with a hybrid approach, moving a single application, like email, and growing from there. Cloud migration to Office 365 is too much for my business to handle Some people think ‘going cloud’ is too big a challenge. Applications available today are mature and the process is seamless.

TERRY O’BRIEN Netbase Solutions

Skype and Skype for Business are one and the same Skype is great for home use, Skype for Business lets you add up to 250 people to online meetings. Give presentations and attend meetings from one application—from anywhere, and integrated with your Office apps. Email isn’t any simpler in Office 365 Moving business email to the cloud reduces the maintenance burden on the IT team and ensures your critical email data is backed up, secure and accessible at all times. Continuously updating Office 365 will break critical business applications Many employees use business critical apps and add-ins with Office. Microsoft is committed to ensuring compatibility with the tools you use every day with Office 365.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Terry O’Brien has been working with ITC and business application for the past 28 years. He now specialises in Office 365, particularly working with small to medium sized businesses. Terry is a Microsoft cloud partner and Telstra partner and works assisting businesses with both set up and maintenance of all things Office 365.

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Servicing Brisbane and Sunshine Coast | www.netbasesolutions.com BUSINESS MATTERS 41

number business with Ted Fitzgerald

WANT THE RIGHT ANSWERS TO MARKETING PROBLEMS? Then, ask the RIGHT questions! Asking these questions What? How? Where? When? Who? and Why? helps shape the best way to market a business before using more conventional marketing tools. Print? Radio? TV? Online? Do I get professional help? Where will I get the best results for the least cost? When is the best time? Is the business cycle running down or up, and what will this mean to my efforts, my investment, and importantly, my strategy? And so to the WHO? and WHY? First, the WHO? As Peter Costello said...’demography is destiny’ and he was right, because they’re your customers. With few exceptions, there are commonly experienced stages in a life. Some transition points are living alone as a young adult, partnering, raising young children, living with adult children, empty nesters, and alone as an older person. Depending upon what stage people are at, how they spend money changes. The four largest spending groups across all stages are housing, food and non-alcoholic beverages, transport and recreation. Predictably, spending patterns have different emphasis at various life stages. For example, housing costs are 25 per

cent of spending of young couples, but just 11 per cent of older couples. For couples with young children spending on items of a more discretionary nature, such as recreation, eating out, alcohol, and personal care, are reduced with the arrival of children. However, this increases spending on food, child care, fuel and power, health insurance, nappies, children’s clothing and footwear.

Couples with kids between five and fourteen spend less on housing costs and more on education, and many older couples own their home outright.

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As the charts illustrate, compared to other areas in SE Queensland, the Sunshine Coast has an OLDER population. Some see this as a problem. I suggest it presents many marketing opportunities for businesses that cater to their needs, and particularly their wants, their indulgences! So back to the what, when, how, where, who and why. Before choosing a particular marketing tool(s), put aside time to test your ideas by asking the six questions given above. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good way to apply a reality check. c

Couples with kids between 5 and 14 spend less on housing costs and more on education, and many older couples own their home outright. For a number of reasons over the last 30 years, spending on food and non-alcoholic beverages, furnishings, equipment, clothing and footwear, fuel, power, alcohol and tobacco has dropped as a share of overall spending. Further, for empty nesters the share of spend on necessities (non-discretionary) declines and things such as alcohol, entertainment, recreation and travel increases.

Bartercard: helping businesses grow on the Sunshine Coast for over 22 years Thanks Bartercard for the last four years. I have bought so many fantastic things on Bartercard including tickets to motivational speakers, holidays, computers, even a pedigree kitten. I pay rent on Bartercard and just recently purchased a property paying the deposit on Bartercard.

The more we investigate the opportunities in Bartercard the more doors open, especially within the hospitality sector. Taking the time to better understand the Bartercard system has shown us how to access revenue previously lost in room nights that would otherwise have expired valueless.

I can honestly say it has been great for my business. Thanks again for your service and always smiling demeanour.

Bartercard for us simply means more business.

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BUSINESS MATTERS 43

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local business

with Michael Shadforth, Ray White Commercial North Coast Central

Enterprising Businesses Creating Growth Opportunities Local businesses across the Sunshine Coast continue to drive the region’s economic growth, using an innovative and enterprising approach that is changing the way we operate our businesses. Solo operators, who have previously worked from home for convenience or to save money, are seeing the benefits from collaborating in shared spaces with like-minded people who have a mix of backgrounds and experiences.

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The 90s’ concept of a serviced office has been turned on its head. You no longer get an office but a space in which to work or ‘hot desk’ from. What we are witnessing on the coast is an increase in the number of these collaborative co-working spaces and they are fast becoming a key identifier of the Coast’s creative industries, instigating and creating economic opportunities across the business community. The appeal of ‘hot-desking’ on a casual or project based capacity between similar synergised individuals is gaining momentum with five new shared space offices opening over the last five months. And while the benefits of reduced costs are enough to attract people to use these spaces, the real benefit comes from the support provided by the hub which can range simply from the provision of all the usual office machines and hi speed internet to opening doors to access seed funding. What I love about these hubs is that they are bringing to our attention so many talented, local individuals and businesses not previously heard of. We must give these burgeoning entrepreneurs all the support they need to become the next Apple or Microsoft because that will start a whole new chapter of growth for all of us. ca

Michael Shadforth is President of the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce, President of Sunshine Coast Chambers Alliance and Managing Director of Ray White Commercial North Coast Central.

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1300 25 50 75 // www.raywhitecommercialnorthcoastcentral.com BUSINESS MATTERS 45

IMPROVING YOUR BUSINESS with YOU as the key Steven Spielberg famously said, “The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” That requires not only an understanding of business, and of specific industries, but also a certain humility and a willingness to listen as well as talk. This is a role that Kevin Bennett readily assumes, bringing decades of experience in a range of high-flying jobs to those around him. Launching his own business, KB Business Solutions, was the natural progression to that role. “Our services are based around key strategies of customers, people, processes, improvement and coaching - how these are delivered are developed directly with the organisation and relates directly to the goals and outcomes they want to achieve,” he told Business Matters. “Our foundation is ‘Improving Your Business with You’, Linked to a core belief that successful businesses have a passion for customer service and developing the capability of their people, the foundation of ‘Improving Your Business with You’ was created.” Kevin certainly has the credentials to be a mentor, gathered from many different sectors in different countries around the world. Starting in the electronics sector as an apprentice working on smart telephones and telex machines, he quickly progressed through quality and project management roles to offshore for oil rigs and platforms, the automotive sector, and then the design, testing and manufacturing of door and window systems. Clearly a man who follows his heart as well as his head, Kevin accepted a temporary move of six months from London to South Wales, where he met his wife, Monique, and six months became nearly 20 years, and four ‘fantastic kids’ arrived. The move marked a transition into the education industry, as a senior manager for South West TAFE, providing internal strategy and improvement support for the executive team across four campuses; teaching management subjects from Cert III to Advanced Diploma, and becoming an Adjunct Lecturer for Charles Sturt University.

46 ISSUE 75

Since launching KB Business Solutions in 2012, Kevin has worked with many organisations across many sectors, including Bulla Dairy Foods, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Boxhill and Sunraysia TAFE (Vic) and Southern Grampians Shire Council. The proven methodologies, tool and techniques offered by KB Solutions are unique. They provide support to business through coaching and mentoring, facilitated programs and workshops and key note speaking. Kevin says. “Prospective clients need to have a passion for customer service, they need to be willing to be challenged, while at the same time staying true to the core values of why they started their business. They need to be open to being helped, but must also help themselves.” Married for 21 years this month, Kevin lives at Pelican Waters, and enjoys sport, fishing and ‘a good cold beer’! But he also enjoys ‘making a difference’ in other ways, too, and initiated the first 32 hour community challenge for businesses and individuals to promote awareness of the effects of drinking and driving. He is now focused on the war against ice addiction. www.improvingyourbusiness.com.au

powering business potential with Kimberley Lynch, CCIQ

What will we rely on for future economic growth and jobs? No one should under-estimate the importance of the knowledge economy to Queensland. The success of the local Sunshine Coast economy going forward must be directed at innovation and technology – the knowledge economy – if we are to compete with our Asian neighbours. The state’s mining and manufacturing industries can no longer sustain the necessary jobs and growth, so we need to focus our investment of time and money into creative thinking, both scientific and entrepreneurial. SMEs are doing amazing things every day. Innovation helps them deliver more value to their customers, open new markets both domestically and internationally and employ more Queenslanders, which helps everyone. Therefore, we are fully supportive of any new strategy aimed at investing in the state’s talent and keeping the bright ideas, innovators and entrepreneurs to benefit our economy, financially and in terms of knowledge. But what does this mean for jobs now and in the future? The type of jobs that will prosper will be outside more traditional industries known to Queensland. They will originate from start-ups and left-field ideas of our best and brightest entrepreneurs. Many of these jobs would not have even been on the landscape five or 10 years ago. But they are where the resources must now be channelled – areas such as computer science, robotics, medical research. Most significantly, it doesn’t mean

fewer jobs, just different jobs. Many people, not just politicians, have recognised that the only way we can compete with our Asia-Pacific partners is to be brighter, smarter ... and do things smarter than them. There are certain areas where the playing field is not level. We cannot compete on labour costs, we cannot match the cheaper materials, the prices of some goods and services. But we can compete on quality. CCIQ recognises the need to develop, attract and retain world-class talent, both scientific and entrepreneurial. There is a need to invest in priority industries and technologies with global growth potential. And, from our point of view, we are fully behind any moves to increase Queensland startups and support the growth of SMEs. Entrepreneurs and ambitious small businesses are, without doubt, going to be the key drivers of economic change and jobs growth in the future. Governments at all levels, schools, universities, business and industry groups ... all must now recognise the need to invest heavily and create those future-orientated jobs. Most importantly, they need to support new businesses, fresh new ideas, and a culture in which entrepreneurs can flourish. ca

Kimberley Lynch is the Regional Manager for the Sunshine Coast & Wide Bay Area for CCIQ, the peak industry body for businesses in Queensland. We exist to provide a powerful voice for small business and to power our members’ potential through providing access to essential tools, services, information and advice. Not a member? Join now. klynch@cciq.com.au // www.cciq.com.au

St Andrew’s Anglican College Walker Learning Approach Prep to Year 6 1:17 Staff/Student ratio in The Early Years Prep to Year 12 participation encouraged in over 200 Co-Curricular Opportunities

www.saac.qld.edu.au

40 Peregian Springs Drive Peregian Springs Ph: 5471 5555

China Exchange Longreach Mathletics Canberra Debating Outdoor Education Science Christian Values Instrumental Immersion Program Cross Country Walker Learning Gifted and Talented Program College Choir Music Eisteddfod Swimming Reader’s Cup Equestrian Book Week Cricket Netball Global Learning Rugby Piano Formal Uniform Chinese Spanish Junior Singers Book Club Language Competition Tennis Visual Art Drama Surfing Coding and Robotics Stage Band Da Vinci Decathlon Leadership Grandparent’s Day Music Recitals World Music Week Football Athletics Toastmasters Tournament of Minds UQ Young Scholars Program Kokoda Challenge New York Trip Wind Ensemble Friends of Music Year 9 Connections Program Melbourne Stradbroke Island Duke of Edinburgh Musicals Festival of Fitness Positive Psychology Nepal Mt Everest Trip and More!

Big enough to make a difference Small enough to care

BUSINESS MATTERS 47

mayoral business

with Mark Jamieson, Sunshine Coast Mayor

Our future is looking bright Two important appointments have to be made to our Sunshine Coast Economic Futures Board to further enhance the growth and prosperity of our region’s diversifying economy.

David has been with the Economic Futures Board since its inception in May 2014.

Former Suncorp Bank CEO David Foster, who successfully rebuilt the organisation at the height of the global financial crisis, has been appointed chair of the board and Mr. Howard Aron, who is Group CEO of Youi Insurance, has joined as a board member.

A professional company director and advisor across a range of industries including financial services, engineering and construction, education and government, he has extensive experience in business and financial management including distribution, marketing, risk, governance, finance and capital markets.

My thanks go to both David and Howard for taking on these positions as we seek to take a leading position as a major Australian urban and economic centre.

Howard is well known to the Coast, having been part of the team that established Youi here in 2007 and has grown the business to what it is today, employing more than 900 people.

I was honoured to be the inaugural chair of the board and, as always was intended, have stepped down at the appropriate time to concentrate on other Council initiatives.

Earlier this year, he announced that Youi would be establishing its global headquarters here on the Sunshine Coast, cementing its long term commitment to the region and its prosperity.

Along with their fellow board members, David and Howard will oversee the implementation of the Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS) and monitor its progress.

The experience they both bring to the board will ensure REDS key commitments are being delivered to drive economic growth and community prosperity for our region. c

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson keeps BM readers up-to-date on what’s happening on the Coast. www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

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48 ISSUE 75

Australasian Orthodontic Certified Australasian Orthodontic BoardBoard Certified

LOCALS

BUSINESS AND LIFE NAME: Phil Hoffman COMPANY: Clockshop Montville Clockshop Montville offers its customers a unique insight into the wonderful world of clocks and the area of origin in the Black Forest, Germany. Entering to bouncy tunes of folk music, delighting the senses with unexpected cuckoo calls, striking mantle, wall or Grandfather chimes, customers are offered a ‘WOW’ experience of quality items, traditional Russian Dolls, collector steins and Hummel figurines, and the famous Christmas Corner. Tip: Do to others as you would have them do to you. www.clockshop.com.au

NAME: Trevor Gilliland COMPANY: Caloundra Law Looking to sell a property on the Sunshine Coast? We offer high quality legal services at competitive prices. We specialise in residential and commercial conveyancing, leasing, wills and power of attorneys. We have over 20 years’ experience in these fields. Our guarantee to you is that ‘if your sale doesn’t go through, we won’t charge you’. www.caloundralaw.com.au

COMPANY: Caloundra RSL Services Club Inc There is a fantastic community project currently being undertaken at the Caloundra RSL. The project is a joint undertaking between the Caloundra RSL Sub-Branch and Meridan State College, with support from the RSL Services Club and Bunnings. The project is the painting of a mural, some 28 metres long, being completed by the Year 12 Art Class at Meridan State College. Supervised by Brisbane artist Jamie Maclean the concept was to incorporate the centenary of ANZAC Day this year, the 100th Anniversary of the foundation of the Returned Services League of Australia next year, along with some local significance. The students and Mr Mclean are succeeding magnificently, and an unveiling ceremony will be held at 11am on Wednesday 7th October. P: (07) 5438 5800 www.caloundrarsl.com.au

BUSINESS MATTERS 49

digital business with Greg Searle, Anypoint

The Operate – ing: Running the Business Remember what inspired you.

wait. Get help to bounce ideas, use your network.

Being overwhelmed Your Bank Manager called to ask for the next six months cash flow projections. Your Accountant is reminding you to give him last quarter’s Sales and Expenses so he can lodge your BAS. It is overdue. The Prospect that said they would trial your product are still interested, but have “a few things on their plate that they have to sort out before they can commit”. Your Investor wants to know “how your going” there is a hint of “not happy”, you were planning to go and see him to ask him for some more funds. Oh, a new Competitor just entered the market that seems to have a lot more backing than you, and your Partner is complaining that you’re never home and just reminded you of the ABSOLUTE commitment you made to go away this weekend together to the music festival. Welcome to the world of the Entrepreneur!

The Gotcha – Crossing the Chasm Strange as it sounds, the Achilles Heel of most startups are the very customers that helped them get up and running to begin with. As a new business owner you are driven by making your new clients happy and meeting their expectations with your new product. The result is you start to “burn” money on non-essential development cycles when you should be really focusing on attacking the mainstream market and organising Funding to do so. This is well explained in Geoffrey A. Moore’s book “Crossing the Chasm – revised, 2014” where he divided the market into four categories.

Action Plan What do you do when it is not quite going to plan? The first thing you need to do is break all of the issues you have down into three groups. The first must be done today, the second must be done, and the third, you would like to do sometime. Make lists. Then tackle the things that must be done today, everything else can

The Early Adopters, who are the technology enthusiasts and visionaries that take on your product even unfinished and help you knock it into shape. The Pragmatists, who can see the potential, but want to be comfortable that you are going to “make it” and that you understand what needs to be put into place to service the mainstream market. The conservatives that need to see a track record and know that they are purchasing for the medium to long term, and finally the Skeptics who may never buy unless they are forced to. ca

Contact Greg Searle directly on 04 7352 5945 or email gregs@anypoint.com.au. 1300 932 277 // www.anypoint.com.au

ARE YOU READY FOR A

WINE TASTING TOUR

TO SOUTH AMERICA?

Travel through Argentina and Chile in a fully escorted small group. Our local knowledge means that we have all planned and organised. Visit familiy owned boutique wineries in Mendoza and Salta at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Enjoy the unique scenery of the area with it’s rugged landscape. Learn the secrets of the traditional Concha y Toro’s cellar legend in the outskirts of Santiago de Chile. Explore the Colchagua Valley and identify different grape varieties including a Master Class. And after a day full of surprises YOU only have to decide amongst Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere or Chardonnay. Contact Stella and Horacio for dates and prices.

LATIN AMERICA GROUP TOURS 50 ISSUE 75

Office: 5492 5274 - Mobile: 0466 721 446 Email: latinamericagrouptours@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/Latinamericagrouptours www.latinamericagrouptours.com

W HA T DOES COMMUNI T Y MEAN TO YOU?

ber | Next Issue 2 November www.businessmattersmagazine.com.au // Publication Date 28 Septem YOUR SUNSH INE COAST LIFES T YLE MAG AZINE

NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR TEENA GER? THE SOCIAL RS EDUCA TOR, DR JAMILL A ROSDA HL, MAY JUST HAVE THE ANSWE 65. PAGE SEE YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE BEEN LOOKIN G FOR,

DIAMOND’S ARE CERTAINLY T H I S

opal miners best friend Adrian Shultz is not your ordinary jeweller. Originally from Germany, Adrian moved to the remote mining town of Lightning Ridge in outback Australia, at just nine years old. Since then, he has been an underground opal miner, a tractor driver on one of Australia’s largest cotton properties, worked 150 metres under Botany Bay as a pressure grouter, and operated 50 tonne dump trucks in Queensland coal mines. But Adrian is most at home as a jeweller and designer - no big surprise when you consider he is a third generation manufacturing Master jeweller and designer. He’ll proudly tell you that both his father and his grandfather were both German-trained Master Goldsmiths. Born in Idar-Oberstein, Germany - renowned throughout Europe as a gemstone cutting and jewellery capital where gems from all over the world have been collected and cut since the 1400’s being a jeweller was certainly in his blood. Completing his apprenticeship under his father - Master Goldsmith, Gemmologist, Diamond Grader Gerd Schulz - helped Adrian to focus heavily on advanced technical and theoretical 52 ISSUE 75

training, including design, sketching and rendering, manufacturing using traditional and modern techniques, gemsetting, casting, opal cutting, gemmology and diamond grading. During an apprenticeship in which many of his peers were expected to be generating their employers an immediate income, Adrian’s dad actually insisted that he spend the entire first year mastering basic techniques like correctly using the tools of the trade, then mastering all the basic techniques like sawing, filing, bending and soldering, not completing any customer jobs until almost the end of his second year. Adrian believes that this set him up for success from the start. Working in many different jewellery manufacturing businesses over the last 15 years has given him a unique insight into diverse manufacturing techniques. He has operated a trade-based jewellery manufacturing and repair service to many of the Sunshine Coast’s leading independent jewellery retailers over this time. After 15 years on the Sunshine Coast, Adrian now considers himself a local, with wife Sonja and two beautiful daughters,

aged five and eight. He is also the new owner of Diamonds of Distinction. He says, “Ever since first designing and manufacturing jewellery for the store’s original owner almost 10 years ago, I’ve loved the authentic and intimate feel of Diamonds of Distinction. When the opportunity arose to purchase the business, it wasn’t even a question! The unique, small country town charm of Buderim, with which I can identify due to my upbringing, made the decision even easier. Where else could you work in an environment like this, yet be minutes from the amazing Sunshine Coast?” Of course, there are many other jewellers so what sets Adrian apart? “In short, we go the extra mile. Obviously we pride ourselves on the quality of our work, and our absolutely exclusive and unique-to-you designs - we won’t replicate your original design for anyone - but putting aside our credentials and comprehensive skill set, we believe the difference between mediocre and fantastic is effort. We enjoy a challenge and no design or request is too difficult. “I’d like to think customers choose me because of my ethics and integrity. I was raised to treat people respectfully and I hope this comes across in the way I do business as well.” Clearly Adrian’s clients have an appreciation for quality, value-formoney, exclusivity and style.

“Ever since first designing and manufacturing jewellery for the store’s original owner almost 10 years ago, I’ve loved the authentic and intimate feel of Diamonds of Distinction. When the opportunity arose to purchase the business, it wasn’t even a question!” professional service and a final product that exceeded their expectations. “I’ve been fortunate enough to win several design and manufacturing awards,” he modestly told Business Matters. He sure has, including: • 2010 International Boulder Opal Jewellery Design Awards: 1st Place – Professional Jeweller/Designer category • 2009 International Opal Jewellery Design Awards: Finalist – Haute Joaillerie category • 2000 Opal Jewellery Design Awards: 1st Place – Freeform Pendant category • 2000 Opal Jewellery Design Awards: 1st Place – Conventional category

“Our clients are a broad but discerning group. They appreciate fine goods, which are ethically sourced through legitimate channels and the fact their jewellery is made locally.”

Awards aside, Adrian’s clients certainly seem appreciative of his fine work - last week he scored “two hugs and a lipstick kiss on the cheek for pieces we’d made, from people we had only just met through this job, so we must be on the right track!” e

Adrian hopes his clients always feel that they received courteous,

www.diamondsofdistinction.com.au

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Monday to Saturday 9.30 to 5 pm | Sunday 12.30 to 5 pm Ph: 5442 9409 Website: www.clockshop.com.au Address: 194 Main Street, Montville, QLD 4560 BUSINESS MATTERS 53

8 7

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SUNSHINE COAST COMMUNITY

BUY LOCAL SUPPORT LOCAL SPEND LOCAL SAVE LOCAL

6 1 BB Vitamin enriched foundation (Vegan Friendly, Toxic and Chemical Free) by Lust Mineral Cosmetics RRP $60 www.lustminerals.com.au 2 Daybed beanbag lounge, UV Stabilised & Waterproofed, $279 incl. free postage of covers www.beanbagsbrisbane.com.au 3 Sinchies reusable storage pouches for all your homemade goodness. By Sinchies Reusable Pouches. Starting from 99c a pouch www.sinchies.com.au 4 Fragranced Soy Candles by Burn Candles. Prices start at $4.95 - $30.00 0407 037 719 5 Chocolate Caramel Dream by Licious Cakes. RRP $100 facebook.com/licious.cakes.sc 6 Native Nut Natural Macadamia Soap by Native Nut. RRP $14.50 to $16.00 www.nativenut.com.au 7 Tank Top and Tights by JaycasFit. RRP $49 each www.jaycasfit.com.au 8 SKIP Resort Kids Clothing, Sunshine Coast www.skipclothing.com.au wholesale enquiries welcome 54 ISSUE 75

Celebrate Christmas in style at Novotel Twin Waters Resort Choose from one of our three exciting Christmas experiences!

Our Bollywood on the Beach

“Join a Party” Package is designed to provide businesses both small and large on the Sunshine Coast a chance to enjoy all the atmosphere and excitement of an incredible party!

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Book your Private Christmas Function Space! OR

Christmas Day Lunch

Enjoy Dinner on the Lagoon Beach, a formal event at Lily’s on the Lagoon or Tipi’s on the Lawn.

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Treat the family to Christmas Day at Novotel Twin Waters Resort! Enjoy one of our three Christmas Day Luncheon events: ● Family Seafood Buffet in Wandiny ● Gourmet Christmas Buffet in Nouveau Restaurant ● Unique Christmas at Lily’s on the Lagoon For more information and pricing on Christmas Day Lunch Email stay@twinwatersresort.com.au or Phone 1800 072 277

BUSINESS MATTERS 55

F4B’S TRAINING STUDIO

MEET THE TRAINERS!

What do you love about F4B’s and helping people with their fitness goals?

CONRAD

Seeing clients not only achieve their goals but doing things they never imagined possible when they first started on their fitness journey. F4B’s is the most supportive, client focused energetic and friendly environment.

NESS

My biggest love is changing people’s attitudes towards exercise and training. Once the body starts feeling good, the mind becomes more positive which breeds motivation. F4B’s caters for everyone and all training styles, while providing a friendly, supportive environment. Our Group Fitness classes create a culture and connection and a real ‘feel good vibe’.

LOUI

I love helping people shatter mental and physical limitations they falsely believe restrict them. I love how we are so young yet the word is spreading fast that we are the ‘new breed’ club to be a part of.

PHONE: (07) 5475 4568 EMAIL: info@f4bs.com.au ADDRESS: 14 Tinder Ave, Maroochydore QLD 4558

We’re one big fit family! Yvette Latham, Owner and Creator Tell us about F4B’s Training and why you created it?

F4B’s Training Studio is a training place to help and support our local people to reach and achieve their health and fitness goals, within an environment, free of judgement. F4B’s Training Studio was created because of my own gym experiences. I wanted to create a space where I was supported and my goals were understood and known by the staff. I wanted to have a place to train where people knew me by name and were as excited by my fitness goals as I was. F4B’s Training Studio has overcome all of that and created a supportive and inclusive environment for training.

What‘s different about F4B’s Training?

F4B ‘s Training Studio is a purposed built training studio that brings together all types of training styles, under the one roof. From our strength and weight room, functional training room, group classes’ area and Shake Shack to our new outdoor area, we make sure our members can achieve and hit their health and fitness goals around the clock, 24/7. We will also be limiting the number of memberships, so our members get the best help, support and service that they deserve.

Tell us about yourself and your goals?

I’m a big believer in the power of positivity and maintaining a positive train of thought and focus. Allowing any form of negative thoughts into your life can affect your mental, physical and spiritual health, so I try to be positive about everything I do. Maintaining a positive focus and training hard when competing has helped me reach goals, placing first, second and third in IFBB state and national competitions. I’m representing IFBB Australia at the Amateurs Arnold Classic Europe 2015 competition in Madrid, Spain this month – another goal accomplished! Additionally, I’m returning to University next year for my degree in Sport Coaching.

MEET OUR SUPER STAR MEMBERS!

Tell us about your results? Tell us what you love about being part of the F4B’s community? JADE

I have begun training with Loui and I can already both see and feel improvements and I am so keen to keep pushing myself. I feel comfortable and happy to work out alone but there always seems to be someone around to do a work out with! We’re one big ‘Fit Fam’ at F4B’s!

OFFER: Come down for a free workout!

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DYLAN

I have lost 22 kilos in a twelve week challenge and since joining F4B’s they have help me prep and compete in my first Body Building Show. I love that everyone here is so friendly, welcoming and always willing to help you out no matter what.

LIVING MATTERS

BY GARY MARTIN ND. LIVING VALLEY SPRINGS

Butter is better For centuries butter was a staple for many vibrantly healthy populations. It’s rich in vitamins A, D, E and K and provides the cofactors needed to optimise absorption of these. Butter contains manganese, zinc, chromium and iodine, and is rich in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Women with the highest levels of CLA in their diet have a 60 per cent lower risk of breast cancer than those with the lowest levels. CLA has also been found to support the immune system and encourage muscle building while resisting weight gain. Butter offers high amounts of the beneficial fatty acid, Butyric acid, or butyrate, which is the primary fuel for the colon walls, supporting the function and integrity of the gastrointestinal tract. It is also used extensively by the brain to produce GABA, the brain’s natural calming agent that helps turn off stress reactions. The by-product of butter is water. Accordingly, a reasonable daily intake of butter will assist in proper hydration of the bowel and produce healthy, regular bowel movements. Butter also provides sustained energy and doesn’t create weight issues. Carbohydrate foods, on the other hand, provide quick energy but can tend to dehydrate creating a need to drink more water. Butter has properties that protect the heart, unlike margarine and other fabricated fats. Stearic acid, found in butter, is actually a preferred food for the heart. This is why the fat around the heart is highly saturated. A study published in the 1976 issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared two populations in India (northern and southern), where the notable difference in the diet was the type of fat consumed. Those in the north consumed meat and clarified butter as their main sources of protein and fat. The southern population used margarine, didn’t eat meat, yet had a heart disease rate 15 times greater than the northern group despite the fact they had lower cholesterol levels. A follow-up study was completed 20 years later and reported similar statistics. Butter supports cholesterol metabolism. Cholesterol comprises an integral part of cell membranes. It is necessary for repair, maintenance, hormone production, brain function, immune function, eye development, transportation of antioxidants and elimination of fat-soluble toxins. Cholesterol is also necessary in the metabolism of serotonin, the ‘feel-good’ brain chemical. This explains why low cholesterol levels have been linked to poor moods, depression and aggressive behaviour. Butter is indeed better and can be eaten with confidence. Organic butters are available in most supermarkets. I recommend the unprocessed solid block butter. Spread it over vegetables and add it to cooking. However you use it, enjoy this God-given delicacy and reap a multitude of health benefits. References available on request to newstart@lvs.com.au

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gary Martin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Living Valley Springs - Australia’s premier health retreat – for over 25 years. Backed by a team of natural health professionals, Gary has played a pivotal role in transforming lives and is passionate about advancing a major health revolution in Australia! 58 ISSUE 75

to find out more on how we make

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EYEBROW MATTERS

BY SARAH CHAPMAN, ALLURE MEDI SPA & BEAUTY LOUNGE

Reclaim your morning and get 280 hours of your life back! Women worldwide are giving up one of their most precious possessions - time - in exchange for their looks. It’s for this very reason cosmetic tattooing is taking the world by storm, as women globally reclaim their mornings! Polls show, on average, women spend 30 minutes per day doing their makeup which equates to 14 hours per month and a staggering 40 weeks over a lifetime!

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It’s hardly surprising then that 58 per cent of those polled said they make a point of leaving their make-up on all evening, in case unplanned guests ‘pop over’. Worryingly, nearly one in five women said they would refuse to open the front door if they didn’t have a face full of make-up on. In fact 38 per cent are so reluctant to take it off they admitted to frequently going to bed with their make-up intact! Just imagine what you could do with your 40 weeks of freedom, and fresh skin!? Imagine waking to clean skin, beautifully arched and defined brows, luscious eye liner and delicate lip tone. Imagine bringing out your best features and having perfect makeup year round?! Cosmetic tattooing may be the answer. Admittedly good quality cosmetic tattooing does come at a cost, Although with research finding the average woman spends $198 on cosmetics in a typical year and has around 13 items in her make-up bag, it’s hardly surprising the trend is taking over! With a lengthy list of pros including being able to swim and sweat without fear of mascara running, women globally are taking to the needle. And with the latest colour trends allowing freedom to choose from endless pigments, tattooing is becoming a less and less feared option. With Queensland summer just around the corner it may be time for some morning beach trips.

Imagine waking to clean skin, beautifully arched and defined brows, luscious eye liner and delicate lip tone. Imagine bringing out your best features and having perfect makeup year round?!

Friendly staff and amazing service. They always go above and beyond for you. I travel all the way from Yeppoon to get my eyebrows shaped. They are fantastic!! Ruth Horell, September 24, 2014 Amazing place. Friendly staff and lovely atmosphere. Anyone after amazing eye brows I would highly recommend. The best place on the coast! Gemmy Reibelt, April 28, 2014 Thank you Sarah for my eye brows! I highly recommend to everyone to try this beauty salon! Very professional, friendly and passionate about their job! Zsofia Popplewell, November 5, 2014 Amazing, amazing, amazing!! What a lovely bunch of ladies, all under the one roof! Sarah with her brilliant brow work and Ashley with those magical hands!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for all the beauty needs! Amanda Poole, January 16, 2014 Would NEVER go anywhere else for my eyebrow shaping :) Sarah is amazing! Brooke Tierney, September 9, 2014

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Chapman is the owner of Allure Medi Spa and Beauty Lounge. Sarah is passionate about the difference that perfect eyebrows can make for both men and women.

www.allurebeauty.com.au 1/22 Beach Road, Maroochydore BUSINESS LIFE MATTERS 59

EDUCATION MATTERS

BY STEPHANIE SCARLETT, PACIFIC LUTHERAN COLLEGE

does your child love learning? So do we.

Social Media Building Community and Connection While social media can be used by schools to attract new families, it’s most powerful use is to build connections with existing students, their parents and the wider community. In today’s digital world, an important component of any marketing and communication strategy is the inclusion of social media. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter provide the opportunity for schools to have two-way, real time conversations with their families and ultimately build a sense of community. It is a way of inviting parents into the daily life at schools; they can view student work, learn about classroom activities and important information can be communicated to them immediately. The collaborative format of social media provides an increased level of engagement and has, in effect, altered the traditional relationship between students, parents and schools. From a parent perspective, the informal setting of sites like Facebook and Twitter, actually invite interaction, providing a platform for them to give feedback, write comments or voice concerns. Parents are able to like, respond or share Facebook posts and become engaged in their child’s learning journey. This type of effective communication forms a strong foundation with parents and maintains positive partnerships with them. Further, the parent/student relationship can benefit greatly. Social media posts give parents something meaningful to talk to their children about and spark discussions about their learning and classwork.

Pacific Lutheran College is a supportive learning community, with a strong academic focus and exceptional sporting, cultural and outdoor programs. Our curriculum is designed to support a seamless transition from Kindergarten to Year 12, and then to life beyond school. Fostering thinking skills, curiosity and deep understanding, Pacific helps each child develop their own passion for learning.

The reach of social media is massive and as such, schools have the opportunity to connect with a much wider audience then ever before. In this way, social media has become an important public relations tool. In what’s considered a ‘soft’ approach to marketing, schools have the ability to promote the innovative work of their teachers, highlight the achievements of their students and direct their followers to any media coverage they may have gained. Sites like Facebook also provide an insight into the community perception of the institution. As with any marketing tool, clear social media guidelines and policies need to be in place to educate members of the school community about safe and effective use of the online environment. Connection and community are important for personal wellbeing. While social media isn’t the only way for schools to enhance relationships with their community members, it is an important element to include in the mix. Sources: Education Queensland’ Parent and Community Engagement Framework, The Guardian’s article ‘How Are Schools Using Social Media’, both cited Friday 4th September.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephanie Scarlett is the Community Liaison and Communications Coordinator at Pacific Lutheran College, a co-educational Lutheran school for students from K-12. Stephanie has worked in the marketing industry for five years and has a strong passion for writing and communications. 60 ISSUE 75

www.pacificlutheran.qld.edu.au PHONE Chris Henschke, College Registrar on 5436 7321

LOCATION Woodlands Boulevard, Meridan Plains 4551

YOUR CAT MATTERS

BY TANIA BARTON, HOBBITS KNOB CAT RETREAT

Your cat and the Ageing Process Being a cat owner is a very rewarding experience and because they become a beloved family member, it can be very heartbreaking when they fall ill, age or pass away.

IT’S A CATS LIFE...

at Hobbits Knob Cat Retreat

Pamper your cat in a luxurious holiday sanctuary exclusively designed for providing optimal health and wellbeing whilst offering peace of mind to family.

It’s a good idea to prepare your family for your cat’s ageing, long before it takes hold. As a pet owner, my number one suggestion is to diagnose the problems early. If you know or feel that your cat isn’t themselves, don’t prolong taking your cat to the vet for a proper diagnosis. This may mean the difference between suffering and living a long, quality life. As your cat ages, you will need to make adjustments: • As a cat gets older, their nutritional requirements change. The kidneys are usually the first organs to show signs of ageing, preventable through a managed diet. • Your vet will suggest the best health management plan for your cat through medications and supplements to prevent, or aid in the management of disease or illness.

• Inspections welcome

• As a cat ages, they may show signs of arthritis, deafness or blindness, which directly impacts the way they move around their environment. Small, simple adjustments like moving obstacles, providing steps onto the bed, or preventing them from going outdoors may be all you need to do.

• Visiting your cat welcome

• Throughout your cat’s life, you played with them, groomed them and watched them climb trees for their entertainment. Now, as they age, their need for happiness will vary as they can’t do the things they used to do. You will need to discover what it is that makes your cat happy now that they’re older and work out ways to provide a rich environment for them.

• Friendly, caring, professional staff

• Cats won’t show signs of weakness and illness until it’s at the extreme because in the wild, they would become prey. Luckily for cats, they age very well...

If you know or feel that your cat isn’t themselves, don’t prolong taking your cat to the vet for a proper diagnosis.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tania Barton is a qualified Veterinary Nurse with 19 years industry experience. Tania loves sharing her passion, knowledge and experience in the animal industry and works closely with all Veterinary clinics and community organisations on the Sunshine Coast and beyond.

• Climate controlled with heating and cooling • Piped music • Grooming, playtime and cuddles included • Great discounts • Central Sunshine Coast location NEW Pick up and Drop off Service From various locations around the Sunshine Coast, including Brisbane and Sunshine Coast airports NEW A la Carte Menu Including a variety of Royal Canin, Hills Science Diet, Holistic Grain Free, and wet treats

e accommodation from 5 levels of secure, comfortabl ious discounts including $22 to $40 per night, with var same home, Senior card and more than one cat from the g stays over 2 weeks. carers card holders and lon

Contact our friendly staff for a detailed information pack including a personalised quote or arrange an inspection time.

129 Dales Road, Chevallum | Phone 5478 9882 www.catretreat.com.au BUSINESS MATTERS 61

JEWELLERY MATTERS

BY ADRIAN SCHULZ, DIAMONDS OF DISTINCTION

A girl’s best friend

DIAMONDS OF

D ISTIN CTION

Diamonds, diamonds, diamonds! Undoubtedly the most famous of all gemstones, the glitz and glamour surrounding this magical mineral are second to none. And while its allure is beyond question, obtaining one of these dazzling specimens can often lead to more confusion than it should. One of the reasons for this in the new millennium marketplace, is availability. The sheer amount of diamond ‘dealers’ around these days, particularly online, are enough to make a seasoned diamond connoisseur shudder. So how to sort fact from fallacy? There are two main areas to consider. The first is personal and regards ethics. We are probably all aware by now of the supply chain regarding diamonds used to fund conflicts. In 2003, the United Nations introduced the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), to which buyers could become signatories. These signatories are the merchants that reputable Jewellers purchase their goods from, which are then guaranteed to come from legitimate channels. The second area of confusion is the actual quality of a diamond. For those not familiar, the four C’s of diamonds are: Colour, Clarity, Carat and Cut. In recent times, the latter has become the main focus with ‘branded’, specially named cuts becoming more and more prevalent. Generally speaking, the majority of these are simply trademarked names for the same thing, i.e. a diamond with an excellent cut, excellent polish and excellent symmetry. A stone like this is simply known as a triple EX. Ask your Jeweller for some triple EX diamonds to see the difference.

The four C’s of diamonds are: Colour, Clarity, Carat and Cut. In recent times, the latter has become the main focus with ‘branded’, specially named cuts becoming more and more prevalent.

Exclusive Sunshine Coast Stockist of Pink Kimberley™ Argyle Diamonds

Manufacturing Master Jeweller and Designer Wedding / Engagement Ring Specialist Unique, Custom Handcrafted Designs Remodelling and Restorations Quality Repairs Certified Diamond and Gem Stone Stockist

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adrian Schulz, owner operator of Diamonds of Distinction in Buderim, is a third generation, award winning Master Jeweller and Designer with 25 years of experience in the design and manufacture of Fine Jewellery. Trained by his father, a German trained Master Goldsmith, he has a passion for creating unique and exquisite designs that feature a point of interest for the wearer and admirer alike. 62 ISSUE 75

MANUFACTURING MASTER JEWELLER AND DESIGNER, ADRIAN SCHULZ.

29 Main Street (Middy’s), Buderim • (07) 5445 5709 info@diamondsofdistinction.com.au www.diamondsofdistinction.com.au FIND US ON FACEBOOK

PURE FOOD MATTERS

BY PETER DE JONG, PURE FOOD ESSENTIALS

How to ‘eat clean’ Avoiding processed foods is a big step in the right direction! The general rule of thumb is that if it has a label, it is processed. However, some processed foods are completely acceptable and may already be in our fridge or pantry - wholegrain pastas, natural cheeses and yoghurts, rice or wholegrain crackers and organic wholegrain breads. The trick is to read the label. If there is an ingredient there that you don’t know or can’t say, don’t buy it! Eating clean food isn’t complicated. It is really the simple practice of basing our diet on fresh, whole fruit and vegetables, whole grains, grass-fed meats and dairy, free range eggs, nuts and seeds. Clean eating provides us with proper nutrition, halts the build-up of toxins in our bodies, assists with weight loss, helps manage and prevent diseases, while improving energy levels and our overall sense of ‘wellness’. In our busy lives this can sometimes seem like an overwhelming task but with a little planning and forethought we can create delicious, healthy and economical meals that benefit ourselves and our families.

Organic Food and Spices Pure Food Essentials is a LOCAL importer and wholesaler of organic spices and dry foods. ‘Good physical and mental health is everything’ Pure Food Essentials source ONLY clean, chemical free, non-GMO and pesticidefree food Organic and Fair Trade farming principles ensure the farmers and their families, and the environment all benefit.

Eliminating refined sugar is another step in the move to clean eating. There are plenty of other options available, including rapadura, honey and maple syrup. Rapadura replaces sugar cup for cup and while it still comes from sugar cane, the drying process is nothing like that of refined sugar. Slow evaporation of the sugar cane juice leaves a nutritious sweetener with all of its nutrients still intact. Refined sugar has no nutritional value at all. Instead of buying meals in boxes, frozen or otherwise, cook them from scratch. This really is easier than it sounds. Chopping and sautéing nutrient dense vegetables and meats makes a satisfying and delicious meal that can be combined with rice or couscous. Adding the sautéed vegetables to a good quality coconut milk with curry powder or paste is another great option. Remember to use only unrefined salt like Himalayan or sea salt. Make sure meals are balanced by combining protein with carbs or carbs with fats like coconut oil, olive oil or flax oil. This will help provide fuel through the day and conquer hunger pangs. We also need to ensure that there is plenty of wholesome food available to beat those sugar cravings and the ‘4 o’clock munchies’. Fruit, nuts and seeds are ideal. When we’re on the run, small containers of dried fruit and nuts, and fresh fruit, are great for sustaining energy levels. Feeding ourselves and our families with healthy, clean food will ensure loads of energy, a strong immune system, help to keep weight in check and improve our state of mind.

It is really the simple practice of basing our diet on fresh, whole fruit and vegetables, whole grains, grass-fed meats and dairy, free range eggs, nuts and seeds. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Purchase online today www.healthfoodshoppingonline.com.au

BUSINESS MATTERS 63

MUSIC MATTERS

BY MARK AND ELISSA HIGGINS, SHAKE IT UP MUSIC

Music soothes the soul We love music, there’s no doubt about it! Music touches our soul’s like no other.

THE SUNSHINE COAST’S FAVOURITE MUSIC STORE ...Creating musicians for the future...

Playing a musical instrument is not just about the music itself - it’s so much more. Playing music is a gift that every human being can have. You’re never too old or young to learn, everyone deserves the enjoyment of playing music. At some point in your day you are listening to music which always grabs a memory, a feeling or an ambition. Whether you’re singing the words or tapping your foot (hopefully in time!) the music is always stimulating you in some way or another.

Drums ● Guitars ● Keyboards Pianos ● Brass ● Woodwind ● Orchestral ● Violins ● Hi Tech Live Sound ● Ukuleles ● Amplifiers ● Accessories & More ●

●

People often say, ‘I’ve always wanted to learn an instrument but I never have the time’ and our reply is ‘You do have time! If you have the passion, you just need commitment’. This applies especially to adults, with discipline these goals can be achieved with as little as 30 minutes per day. What other stress relief and therapy would be better than music! Playing music is enjoyable and will give you a sense of accomplishment and pride as you achieve your musical goals, while enhancing and enriching your life, happiness and general mental well-being. If you love music like we do, you’ll play every moment you can get, as music is so rewarding and fulfilling in all aspects. Music can assist in improving social skills by playing music in a duo, group, team or band situation and building life-long friendships. Music brings families together, music brings communities together, music bridges barriers that spoken word sometimes cannot. So keep your brain active and give yourself a rewarding challenge that brings out the big kid in you. And let’s just put it out there, playing an instrument is just plain cool!

Playing music is a gift that every human being can have. You’re never too old or young to learn, everyone deserves the enjoyment of playing music.

Music School Layby Terms RentPlus

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Music Matters, Shake It Up Music Mark Higgins who together with his wife Elissa Higgins own and manage Shake it Up Music in Nambour. Mark and Elissa live, work and breathe music! Their huge Nambour store boasts three floors packed with everything related to music and musical instruments. They also have four sound proof music tuition rooms shared by 12 music specialist teachers. 64 ISSUE 75

Call: (07) 5441 5454 Email: sales@shakeitupmusic.com.au Shop 4, 186 Currie St, Nambour QLD 4560

0423 384 119 0479 154 920 www.socialeducator.com.au jamilla@socialeducator.com.au www.facebook.com/socialeducatorJR

Straight From The Source

A revolution on an age old shopping concept!

The Source Bulk Foods provides a relaxed old school environment where there is always time for a chat and the sharing of ideas and information is welcomed. The old corner store of yesteryear is where connection within the community happened every day. The Source Bulk Foods wants every customer to experience this. “We want to ensure all our customers leave our stores happy! A business with soul is what we are all about!” says Sheree. The Source Bulk Foods is heavily involved in the community and believes in supporting local issues and charities. They have a keen awareness about the environment and do what they can to minimise their footprint on the Earth. The Source Bulk Foods is proudly plastic bag free and they encourage you to bring your own containers, bags and bottles to refill. It’s waste free grocery shopping at its best! “We scour the country looking for the best products available! We love to support boutique suppliers and we go out of our way to support Australian producers and growers wherever we possibly can”, says Sheree. SUPPER CLUB is a concept created by Sheree. It’s a hands on cooking class and dinner feast, using the best clean, raw and wholesome foods. It is a monthly event, usually on the second Friday night of the month, in conjunction with the Ocean Street Markets. Why not come along, expand your recipe repertoire and meet likeminded people in a welcoming community experience.

he Source Bulk Foods Maroochydore brings back personal service and provides a fun and interactive no waste shopping experience. You can choose from an amazing selection of bulk wholefoods and health foods, including a huge range of paleo, gluten free, organic and vegan products. Sheree Johnson (owner) and her team are passionate about healthy food and healthy living. “We have a huge range of organic and gluten free products as well as superfoods and some hard to find health foods. We always encourage our customers to be aware of what they are eating and buying. Although we think a special treat every now and then is great, the health of our customers and their families is our main priority. Our passion is providing less processed and more nutritious wholefoods to foster healthier communities”, says Sheree.

For details of the next SUPPER CLUB, to book your spot or to find out more about The Source Bulk Foods, drop in or call one of the friendly team today. Shop T3 Big Top Market Fresh, 12 - 20 Ocean Street, Maroochydore T (07) 5443 4441 e maroochydore@thesourcebulkfoods.com.au

the coolest skylights on the coast AND INSULATION

66 ISSUE 75

Contact Gary Hallam for through the roof customer service 0419 773 700 | gary@goskylights.com.au facebook.com/goskylight www.goskylights.com.au

EZYFIT

HEALTH CLUB: Where fitness and friendship meet! Joey and Adam Mogg are the new owners of EzyFit Health Club, the Sunshine Coast’s largest and most exciting 24 hour health and fitness club. Apart from being the only 24 hour club on the Coast offering over 70 classes per week, Joey and Adam are passionately creating a family of likeminded fitness enthusiasts. You are never just a member at EzyFit Health Club, you are welcomed as a friend and part of a community where getting fit is fun and enjoyable! Business and Life Matters caught up with Joey and Adam to find out what the EzyFit Health Club Community is all about: Ezyfit is more than just a gym to us, we want to create a lifestyle for each and every member. We both work, have two young children, a house and now a business to look after, so we understand what’s it’s like to make time to exercise and eat well. It can be really hard! Just like washing your clothes or brushing your teeth, it’s one of those responsibilities we just have to accept - the key is finding an activity you enjoy. It might not even be the activity itself you enjoy, perhaps it’s the feeling afterwards- either way, that’s your focus.

Why is creating a fitness community important to you? More than ever before, the importance of good health is wide spread. We understand not everyone is thrilled about exercising and those that think that way are actually in the majority. It is when we can find something we enjoy, it becomes less like a chore and more like a hobby. Strength comes in numbers as well as support and admiration, so associating yourself with likeminded people can encourage you to succeed and remain committed long term. Often, wonderful friendships are formed and there is so much to learn from everyone; we all have a story and usually you will find, you are never alone.

Phone: 07 5493 5099 Kawana Way, Birtinya QLD, 4575

w w w.ezyfithealthclub.com

JOE Y AN D AD AM MO new owners of EzyFit GG Health Club

Who would benefit from being part of the EzyFit Health Club community and why? As cliché as it might sound, everyone! You are never too late, old or young to start. For us, it’s about making our members enjoy their time with us. We want everyone to feel they can come into the club, forget about work, emails, phones and just ‘clock off’ for a while. When you enjoy being somewhere you’ll want to return and it’s those small, repetitive and consistent visits that bring lifetime changes and long term results. With huge floor space, classes and variety, we have something for everybody!

What exciting plans can you share with us? Oh gosh, where do we start? Understanding that people can either like or dislike change, we are mindful of doing too much, too quickly but it’s easy to get excited with the amount of space we have to play with. Plans in motion are state of the art music, sound and visual for the gym floor, a functional floor space with cross fit style equipment and agility training, a re-vamp on our ladies only area and an exclusive Eating Psychology Coach available in the club. We recently had our first official Open Day and offered an unbelievable offer to all new members. We would like to offer this again to all Business Matters readers for the month of October. ✓ NO Joining Fee (saving $99) ✓ NO Admin Fee (saving $59) ✓ NO 24/7 Access Key (saving $59) ✓ $14.95 per week on a 12 month plan.

first cab off the rank with John Lobwein, Suncoast Cabs

A spring in our step Spring is important to all of our cabbies. Not only is it the second best time to be on the Sunshine Coast (running a close second to summer), it also marks the official end of our quiet period for taxis.

People who book on the app can see exactly where they are, get notified when a cab takes the job, access a quote, and entering the destination will also ensure the shortest route is taken by the driver!

We have worked hard over the past few months to try and get ourselves in the best possible position to handle our extreme peaks and so far the report card seems to be fairly positive.

The best part is the waiting – inside with another drink or a coffee is far more civilised than standing on a footpath with no idea whether the cab will be five minutes or 35 minutes.

We are not silly enough to think that we can meet everyone’s demands every time, but we try hard to!

The app enables to you walk out as the cab is coming up the road!

Our new app has proven to be a game changer in peak times. Usage in the 10pm Saturday to 2am Sunday has increased by nearly 400 per cent and complaints have fallen by a similar percentage.

We only get better if you tell us what needs to be improved - I’d love to hear from you. ca

The funny thing is, the wait times are similar (and yes, we are working on them), the difference is the quality of the wait.

Download the App now!

John Lobwein has extensive experience in the Taxi industry in Australia. Having worked in the Finance and Credit fields for more than a decade, John changed industries in 1996, having held a taxi licence since 1989. Firstly as a taxi owner driver, John found more challenges lay ahead in the management arena. Taking on the role of Managing Director of the largest taxi company in North Queensland at the age of 34, John quickly established the largest serviced taxi area in Australia. After nearly a decade, John moved to Suncoast Cabs where he has continued to improve his knowledge of the taxi industry whilst moving the company into a solid financial position. 5441 8899 // cc@suncoastcabs.com.au

SCENE @

BM Launch Business Matters advertisers and readers got together to enjoy the launch of issue 74 at Open House Kawana. The food, atmosphere and service were all second to none.

Guest judge Amanda Parer 2015 Glamourous Guests, Local Finalist Anna Rubin & Ant McKenna

Julie-Ann Fenwick-Symons & George Symons ( Julie-Ann Boutique)

Ashley Dando ( Jim’s Building Group), Wes Manuta & David Horne (BarterCard Sunshine Coast) 68 ISSUE 75

Jodie Chapman (Advanced Wellness & Behavioral Centre), Angel Miles(RACQ Care Flight), Roz White(White’s IGA Group)

Nicole Cliff & Gisella Alford (Living Valley Springs)

Local Finalist Rex BackhausSmith and Judith Laws

VIPs preview the Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2D exhibition The media were invited to join Mayor Mark Jamieson, partners and sponsors for a special VIP preview of the 2015 Sunshine Coast Art Prize Two Dimensional Award at Caloundra Regional Gallery on Wednesday, August 19. Forty finalists were vying to win a $15,000 cash prize and $5000 artist residency at Montville Country Cabins. There was also a Highly Commended $5000 cash prize award sponsored by the Proost De Deyne family and the People’s Choice artist received a $2500 cash prize sponsored by the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce.

Ron’s Update

Modern transmissions and why you should care! I remember when front wheel drive cars were only a small percentage of car sales and ‘the real drivers’ would prefer a rear drive car. Look at us now, the rear drive cars are the smaller percentage of cars sold today. So whatever the car manufacturers make, we will buy, and they dictate what the car fleet will look like out on today’s roadways. Why did it all change? The front drive car has a compact power train and is far more cost effective to produce. There is no change in direction friction loss from the crankshaft to the front wheels such as in a rear drive car and that equates to a fuel saving with a front drive package. The next wave is dual clutch transmissions and while they have had a few teething problems which shows up as jolts and bumpy gear shifts, they are pretty much sorted now. They may be called D.S.G. (direct shift gear) or D.C.T. (dual clutch transmission) and they are basically automated manual transmissions with either a dry or wet computer controlled input clutch as part of the flywheel. The whole system is computer controlled and hydraulically operated with transmissions generally lasting 100-200,000 kilometres. As you can imagine, repairs are expensive ($5,000-$10,000) with a huge liability for the repairer or dealer. The secret to extending the working life of this new wave of transmissions is yearly or biannual transmission oil change. C.V.T. (constantly variable transmission) also benefit from regular servicing or will suffer the same fate as above. ‘Take transmission maintenance into your own hands’ and forget ‘sealed for life’ nonsense if long term ownership is what you want.

Ron and Dell Hill

From the workshop Hi, my name is Thomas. I was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast and I’m a loving husband and father of two. Growing up, what started out as tinkering with old mowers and tractors soon developed into a passion for cars. In my spare time, I am adding the finishing touches to my AE71 Toyota Corolla which I have spent the last seven years rebuilding into a drift car. I hope to have it out on the track in no time. I started my apprenticeship here at Ron Hill Automatics in 2008 and am now a fully qualified mechanic. I have enjoyed working here due to the people and also the challenges that the job brings which in turn leads to further learning. The great thing at Ron Hill Automatics is we attend yearly seminars which keep us all up to date with new advancements in the Automatic Transmission Industry.

ul of rking on an overha Thomas O’Leary wo d ile fa y’ er ov rover Disc a late model ‘Land . ng ici rv se ion miss due to lack of trans

a dr ill’s R n Sa d B FFE an O BM

The automatic transmission is very much forgotten when it comes to vehicle maintenance which can lead to premature wear of the gearbox and very costly repair bills. It is very important to do regular servicing on your transmission or these breakdowns could happen to you. We recommend service intervals of 20,000km, or every twelve months.

FREE CAR WASH with every 4WD Transmission Service* *Mention this Business Matters article to redeem offer

Owners Bill and Sandra Olah

40 YEARS

Est. 1975

Located at 44 Kayleigh Drive, Maroochydore 5443 4444

go to: ronhillautomatics.com.au

SUPPORTING LOCAL GR0WERS AND PRODUCERS FOR OVER 22 YEARS!

ers Fresh Flow

$20

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per do zen

Nomadic Pastured Chook Eggs

Today Robertson Flower Farm has a strong reputation for quality cut flowers Australia wide, for growing Asiatic and Oriental Lilies, Gladiolus, Celosia and Sunflowers.

Walker Farm Foods located in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland at Cambroon ten kilometres from Kenilworth and 28 kilometres from Maleny.

Asiatic Lilies are unperfumed and come in white, cream, yellow, orange, pink and red. Oriental Lilies compared with Asiatics have large exotic blooms and a strong sweet perfume. They come in white, pink and yellow.

So what does ‘Nomadic Pastured’ mean? Well, very simply our animals are free to move!

In the Chinese language, Lily symbolises ‘being forever in love’. The name Gladiolus comes from Latin and refers to ‘sword’. The flower itself is sometimes called Sword Lily. These beauties come in white, pink, salmon, yellow, purple, red, orange and green. Glads are also associated with fortieth wedding anniversary Because of their bright yellow colour, Sunflowers are the happiest of the flowers. Facing the sunrise, they symbolise loyalty and longevity.

The laying hens are free to roam in paddocks on our farm. They are allowed to eat as much fresh grass as possible. The ‘girls’ live in either a ‘Chicken Caravan’ or a converted caravan which houses their laying boxes or roosts. The hens are allowed to eat whatever takes their fancy from ad lib grain to shell grit. Their food is custom formulated to be free of artificial yolk colorants, and other nasties such as steroids and antibiotics. The eggs are sold as a mixed dozen, so some small and some large, weighing in total 650g.

Strawberries! The Stothart family has been growing strawberries for over 40 years, starting with 2,500 plants and growing to 800,000 plants over fifty acres today.

The Bosma family (BFresh owner/ operators) came to know of the Stotharts when living around the corner from them about 25 years ago. Anthony Bosma has memories of his dad loading up boxes of strawberries and distributing them to local businesses down Morayfield way. This was just the beginning. With the opening of BFresh twenty years ago and each strawberry season since, the Stothart farm in Bellmere, west of Caboolture, has always been our first choice for strawberries for our customers. This season the quality of berries is at a premium, with the weather conditions perfect for producing sweet juicy fruit. If you’re like the team at BFresh you’d better grab a second punnet, as the first one doesn’t make it home. a

business PSYCCESS with Dr Peter Gibbon

Finding the happy balance to a happy family Tolstoy famously observed that all happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Whilst this is a generalisation, unhappy families do tend to see their situation as unique and often believe that only the family can solve its issues. Fortunately, that isn’t necessarily the case, as family therapy can provide fresh insights into family dynamics and help break seeming deadlocks, allowing families to thrive. Families are small communities, which, like all communities, provide security and space for members to live fulfilled lives and to grow as individuals. Sometimes families experience periods during which relationships become strained or a family member no longer seems to be living in harmony with others. These situations can arise as children grow and strive towards young adulthood, partners grow apart, or because family structures or family membership changes, for instance after

divorce or with the formation of blended families. Some individuals, and some families, cope better with change than others, but with the right skills and support all families can learn to adapt and ‘regroup’ to become more effective and fully enjoy life. Family therapy treats families as micro communities in which each member possesses unique attributes that contribute to effective family functioning. Where the family or individual members are not experiencing optimum enjoyment of life, family therapy assists families to regain equilibrium and effective functioning. If your family is functioning less effectively than it could, or if a member is experiencing personal difficulties, a course of family therapy will provide the skills and support to reintegrate your small community and to create a mutually supportive, cohesive family unit. ca

Dr Peter Gibbon (BA (Hons), PhD, MAPS) is a Psychologist with Psyccess, a psychological services provider located at Suite 8, Buderim Professional Centre, 100 Burnett Street, Buderim. He provides individual, couples and family therapy and accepts private clients and referrals from General Practitioners. 5452 9895 // www.psyccess.com.au

OM PRICED FR GHT N A I JUST $125 Introducing Gary and the Team at...

Sunshine Coast Coffee Roastery JERAKALA BED & BREAKFAST

Accommodation with a touch of peace and tranquility in outback central Queensland. With 360˚ views of the rolling countryside, it’s easy to forget that you’re only a two and half hour drive from the Sunshine Coast.

It’s a great family getaway destination and the children are going to love the farm animals. We have cows, horses, pigs, dogs, chickens and ducks too! JERAKALA FARM 20024 BURNETT HWY, MUNDUBBERA PHONE (07) 4165 4909

www.jerakala.com.au

Quality, all-inclusive 3 day escapes, tailored to suit the individual

We do all the organising so you can just

CLICK • PACK • RELAX

Experiences are always the best gifts Giftalongweekend Vouchers available on our website 0432 992 782

- Bespoke / Contract Roasting - Fresh, Locally Roasted Coffee - Custom Blend Development - Quality Blends & Single Origin Varieties Call/Email us now for a list of our current coffees. Delivered direct to your business Address: 7 Page Street, Kunda Park, QLD 4556 Phone: (07) 5476 8400 W: www.sunshinecoastcoffeeroastery.com.au E: enquiries@sunshinecoastcoffeeroastery.com.au

First Aid Services First Aid Training First Aid Kits and Supplies 12/21 NICKLIN WAY, BUDDINA QLD 4575 PH: 07 5444 4171

www.assistfirstaid.com.au BUSINESS MATTERS 71

LOCALS

BUSINESS AND LIFE NAME: Elissa and Mark Higgins COMPANY: Shake It Up Music Nambour Shake It Up Music is a three level music retail store located at Shop 4, 186 Currie St Nambour. Our music school has 12 teachers and over 300 students. SHAKE THAT UP! Personal Tip: Set Daily Goals. Breaking your workload down into smaller goals helps you to move forward and gives a sense of reward as you complete each task. www.shakeitupmusic.com.au

NAME: Michell Mercer COMPANY: Edge Espresso Bar We are a funky little cafe situated across from the gorgeous Bulcock Beach boardwalk in Caloundra. At Edge, we pride ourselves in providing great coffee, great service and a relaxed atmosphere where you can feel at home. You will be well catered for with plenty of gluten free and vegetarian options on our menu and lots of yummy treats. Pacific Resort, 5a Esplanade Bulcock Beach, Caloundra

NAME: Stacey Hollands COMPANY: Lust Mineral Cosmetics

NAME: Vikki Done COMPANY: The Give Back Campaign

Lust Mineral Cosmetics founder Stacey Hollands developed this range when her late father was diagnosed with cancer. A range free from toxic chemicals, Lust is natural, pure, vegan friendly and Australian made and owned. Salons exclusive! Stock Lust! Email info@lustminerals.com.au.

The Give Back Campaign assists charities and organisations raise both awareness and much needed funds - at absolutely no cost to the charity, organisation or their supporters, at any time. Tip: All of a sudden life makes sense now that I’ve found my why! Don’t give up ‘til you find yours! Vikki.done@givebackinternational.com.au

Qualified accountant specialising in bookkeeping  Registered BAS agent  Payroll & PAYG  Xero Certified Partner MYOB & QuickBooks  Accounting software setups  Mobile service John Pickering, the accountant who is passionate about bookkeeping.

Call John Pickering on BookkeePing and aCCounting ServiCeS

The accountant specialising in bookkeeping

0401 717 630

V.I.S.A. boasts a 99% success rate for our clients’ visa applications Talk to us about all Australian Migration visas including:

Professional advice explained in terms you will understand.

 Student visas  General Skilled Migration  Employer Sponsored Migration  Temporary Working visas  Business visas  Family visa stream

 Specialising in assisting employers who may require overseas workers for specialised projects  Fees are fixed with NO hidden additional costs  Priority processing for Employer related working visas

First Aid ♦ CPR ♦ Advanced Resuscitation ♦ Low Voltage Rescue White Card ♦ WHS Representative ♦ Traffic Control Fire Safety Advisor ♦ Fire Warden ♦ Fire Extinguisher

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MENTION THIS ADVERTISEMENT AND RECEIVE A MIGRATION ASSESSMENT (45 mins) AT OUR DISCOUNTED RATE OF $88.00 (inc GST). 72 ISSUE 75

0407 930 929 sue@visa.net.au

www.visa.net.au

1300 662 156

www.safetywave.com.au

NAME: Sharon Hirt COMPANY: Skip Clothing Travelling the world to an exotic, hot destination with children? With functionality, comfort and style in mind, Skip offers resort wear for children ages three to 12, created by a local designer on the Sunshine Coast. Cool cottons and cotton blends, in a palette of assorted colours, are perfect for brightening up a cloudy day or celebrating an iridescent blue sky. Tip: Find your joy, be in love with what you do and it will never feel like hard work. www.skipclothing.com.au

NAME: Yvette Latham COMPANY: F4B’s Training Studio I’m the owner of F4B’s Training Studio which is a purpose built training studio amalgamating all types of training styles under the one roof. We make sure to help and support all our members. Love and be passionate about what you do and you always will be happy and successful in your own time. info@f4bs.com.au

NAME: Tammy Burns COMPANY: Cloud 9 Picnics We set up beautiful and unique picnics on the stunning Coast. Your picnic will be staged to the nines, guaranteed to impress your loved one, family or friends. You are welcome to bring your own picnic hamper or we can pack one for you. We all have special occasions but why not book a picnic….just because… www.cloud9picnics.com

NAME: Zoey Jorgensen COMPANY: Holistic Eye Holistic Eye specialises in the wonderful science and art of sclerology by viewing the lines, colours, markings and gels in the whites of the eyes to determine individual’s current health status. These lines and markings show stress and congestion within specific parts of the body, as well as genetic tendencies to weakened organs or systems. Tip: Passion and Confidence - if you are passionate about what you do and are confident in yourself and your ability, success will follow. Contact: www.holisticeye.com.au

FORTY FIVE 51 IS YOUR LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT VENUE! • Live music from Tuesday through to Sunday • Great local musicians • Supporting up and coming music acts • Locals busking night every Tuesday

Enjoy live music with our delicious tapas and drinks right here at Forty Five 51!

P: 07 5341 8374 | A: 115 Bulcock St, Caloundra QLD 4551 E: tapas@fortyfive51@com.au www.facebook.com/FortyFive51 BUSINESS MATTERS 73

THANK YOU SUNSHINE COAST

STATION LISTENED TO MOST: 10+

OVERALL

BREAKFAST MARK & CAROLINE

DRIVE TODD & SAMI

19.2% 20.0% 20.3% OVERALL

BREAKFAST BARRAT & JESS

SEA FM DRIVE

15.2% 14.4% 14.3% EON BROADCASTING REACHES OVER 141,000 PEOPLE EACH WEEK! 92.7 MIX FM

91.9 SEA FM

92.7 MIX FM

91.9 SEA FM

STATION OVERALL

STATION UNDER 40’S

IN BREAKFAST

UNDER 40’S

Source: Xtra Research Survey 1 2015. Sunshine Coast. Station listened to most and cume. #1 refers to ‘station listened to most’.

Richie believes your car buying experience should be personal, enjoyable and convenient! Proposals // Date Nights Ladies High Teas Kids Party Picnics // Birthdays

Just Because... 0478 411 168 www.cloud9picnics.com

Richie specialises in • Home, business and evening appointments • Personal and reliable service • New and pre-owned models

Owning a Mercedes Benz may be a lot more affordable than you think!

Settings from

$65

megyn@rejuvenatemarketing.com.au

www.rejuvenatemarketing.com.au

Social media, blogs and website updates all with S.E.O. for a flat monthly fee!

“Attracting your various Target Markets is our specialty”

Mercedes Benz Sunshine Coast Contact Richie on 0403 142 969 richie.leech@mbsunshinecoast.com.au www.mbsunshinecoast.com.au

Megyn Carpenter

RIGHT

PEOPLE.

RECRUITMENT. TRAINING. HR SERVICES.

RIGHT lifestyle community living

RIGHT

CAREERS.

CHOICE. www.hrmcc.com.au

T 1800 024 915 (Freecall) E customerservice@irt.org.au W www.irt.org.au

07 5436 1000 ask@hrmcc.com.au EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE AND PROVEN RESULTS

I’ve got qualified buyers that are ready to purchase now!

Business matters but… life matters too!

END ESCAPE RELAX AND ENJOY A WEEK

BM READER OFFER JUST $135 per night (two night min)

MENTION THIS AD 0408 751 863 www.pagopagonoosa.com.au

If you are ready to sell, you know who to call NEXT

VICKI COOPER 0412 802 215 1300 400 777

nextpropertygroup.com.au P R O P E R T Y

G R O U P

The all new GLE CoupĂŠ and new GLE. Make the best of every ground. Introducing two SUVs made to be followed. The all new GLE CoupĂŠ is a bold new concept for Mercedes-Benz, combining the authority of an SUV with the heart and soul of a sports car. While the GLE boasts cutting-edge intelligence, supreme safety and some serious power that really lets you take control, both on and off the road. Find out more from Mercedes-Benz Sunshine Coast. www.mbsunshinecoast.com.au

65-73 Maroochy Boulevard, Maroochydore. Phone: 5409 0100. www.mbsunshinecoast.com.au

CMB0305

Issue 75 Business Matters Magazine

Articles inside

First Cab off the Rank

Ezyfit Health Club

Jewellery Matters

Music Matters

Your Cat Matters

Eyebrow Matters

Education Matters

F4B’s Training Studio – we’re one big fit family

Living Matters

Meet the new owner of Diamonds of Distinction Adrian Schulz

Mayoral Business

Digital Business

Powering Business Potential

Local Business

Improving Your Business by KB Business Solutions

Business Productivity Matters

Office 365 Matters

Care Matters

Property Development Matters

Technology Matters

Smart Business Matters

HR Matters

Accounting Matters

Commercial Real Estate Matters

Franchise Matters

Brokerage Matters

CFO Matters

Training Matters

Building Matters

Website Matters

All about Money Symposium

The Future Belongs to those with the Vision – meet the owner of

Top Ten Ways to Build Communities ‘On Line and Off

Strive And Thrive With The Launch Of Zoe Sparks New Book

Community Feature – Support Our Local Community

Weddings Matters

Business for People with Charity Mobile