Aussie Painting Contractor August by Aussie Painters Network

Issue 11 August, 2012

Aussie Painting Contractor

2013 Victorian PGA Championship Achieving work life balance #4 Goal Setting for Work/Life Balance

The Cash Economy

What information should I include in my website?

Bathroom Colour

Join Aussie Painters Network and Receive... • • • • • • • • • •

Instant access to our pricing and estimating guides Quotation guide to assist you when quoting Work Method Statement and Risk Assessment Guide Special Pricing with Resene Paints (Lower Paint Prices) Personal service and phone advice Web Listing for prospective customers to find you easily Free targeted online marketing & advertising Back-links to assist you in SEO rankings Your own page on homepaintersinfo.com Painter Help section if you are looking for work or looking for painters to help

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August Special

• Purchase 60L mixed of Resene Paint at your normal discounted pricing structure • Receive 2 X 63mm Smooth Coat Wall or Cutting In Brushes, 2 X Drop Sheets (Plastic), 2 X Rolls of Packmate Blue Long Life Masking Tape 24mm AND a “Painters Kit” (assorted giveaways such as Caps, T Shirts, Stubby Coolers, Can openers, Fan deck, and much much more!!)

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CONTENTS

6 Editor Editor

Nigel Gorman

Member Consultant

Deputy Editor

2013 Victorian PGA Championship

Caroline Miall

CONTRIBUTORs Belinda Ross Caroline Miall Ian Scanes Jennie Gorman Jim Baker Leanne Staff Michael Farrugia Mel Holzworth Nigel Gorman Stephanie Gadd

Achieving work life balance #4

Goal Setting for Work/Life Balance

The Global Labor Pool at your Finger Tips

What or Whom are you 18 Tolerating Rather than Addressing?

20 The Cash Economy 22 What information should I include in my website?

Tamara Simon

26 The Benefits of Master Minding

GRAPHIC DESIGN

28 Bathroom Colour

J.Anne Delgado

Increasing Demand for Trained

Painters & Decorators in the Pacific!

Industry Idiots

Important Contacts

Dear Member and Readers, We promised some exciting news for the August edition, and now we’re proud to announce that Aussie Painters Network has just signed off as a Major Hole Sponsor of the 2013 Victorian PGA Championship, to be played at Forest Resort, Crestwick. The exciting part for Members is that we are offering the opportunity for two of you to win a once in a life time golfing experience. See page 8 for more info. What might be even more interesting for some though are the specials Resene have for the month; unbelievable ‘value adding’ with great freebies on offer. This is in addition to their commitment to the ongoing “Price Freeze” exclusively for our Members!

From the Editor Nigel Gorman nigel@homepaintersinfo.com 0430 399 800

If anyone was having a flutter on the horses on a recent Friday afternoon, you may have noticed our name popping up at the Ipswich Jets Leagues Club Race Day; with the “Aussie Painters Network Handicap”. To better represent our Members we’re seeking creative ways to get our name out there and well recognised; we want to become synonymous with the industry for contractors and consumers. I hope you enjoy August’s eMag, with a wide range of info from our knowledgeable contributors. You might also see a few hard copy glossies of APC around in paint stores soon, so grab a copy and flick through a real mag!

Opinions and viewpoints expressed in Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor, staff or publisher or any Home Painters Info staff or related parties. The publisher, Home Painters Info and Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine personnel are not liable for any mistake, misprint or omission. All information contained in Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine is intended to inform and illustrate and should not be taken as financial, legal or accounting advice. You should seek professional advice before making any business related decisions. We are not liable for any losses you may incur directly or indirectly as a result of reading Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine. Reproduction of any material or contents of the magazine without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

Hi and Happy New Financial Year to you all! Now that the new financial year has begun we are firing at full speed with Aussie Painters Network. We are always looking for fresh ideas that you may wish to share with your fellow painters. Membership with Aussie Painters Network will mean that you will be a part of the growing identity representing Painter and Decorators, Aussie Wide, whilst enjoying our range of Member benefits. We invite all Painters to join us; not forgetting apprentices who, in particular, will benefit from our Estimating Guide and Quotation Guide to support them as they advance in the industry. Go and have a look at the Direct Paint specials just for our readers. Click on the link below to see what they have to offer. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure you will be surprised by the prices. Keep up the great support so that we can continue to bring you updates on our industry. And keep an eye out for our logo in some auspicious places, as we become more recognised around Australia!

Stephanie Gadd Membership Consultant 0433 724 794 steph@homepaintersinfo.com

Home of the Victorian

PGA Championship

2013 Victorian PGA Championship Aussie Painters Network

is a Major Hole Sponsor of the 2013 Victorian PGA Championship to be played at Forest Resort Creswick. The 72-hole event in mid-January will result in overseas-based Australian players teeing up before joining in the US PGA and Nationwide Tours.

The 2013 Victorian PGA — the first on the Forest Resort lay-out. An estimated 5000 spectators watched this year’s Victorian PGA, including more 3000 on the final day.

Here’s to another fantastic tournament in the Forest! January 16 - Pro Am January 17-20 - Tournament

We are offering 2 Members of Aussie Painters Network a once in a life time golfing experience.

What you will receive

5 day package (twin share accommodation), COMPETE in the Pro Am, a seat at the Championship Dinner and a ticket to the Corporate Marquee during the Championship. *Conditions Apply

Visit our website : aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au Call us at 07 30401234 0430 399 800 Send us an Email info@homepaintersinfo.com

Achieving Work Life Balance #4

Goal Setting for Work/Life Balance Our fourth suggestion to improve our ongoing wrestle between personal time and work is, if you don’t already, start setting goals. When you set goals, you can be giving yourself the gift of ambition to accomplish something – however small or large. Goal setting is really just the creation of that habit which drives you towards success. There’s no reason why your goals shouldn’t be as much of a personal nature, as a professional or financial one. Set goals for yourself and your company. Depending on what moves you, you could make them small enough that you know you’ll achieve them, which can be enough to motivate you further; or make your goals grand and bold, and let them inspire you to just get on this path (and often be surprised at how far you get).In the interim to success, list achievable targets, so you can check them off at incremental stages and feel genuine reward. Why not have vivid visualisations of how objectives might be achieved, and what it looks like to you once done? Maybe it sounds a bit flaky to the hardened trades person, but there is strong evidence to suggest that visualisation goes a long way to achieving the aim. On the work front, outline your goals carefully and print them out; share this with staff or partners that can help you achieve them and review them together, regularly. Involving your staff can be a huge morale boost for many, increasing their ‘investment’ in the business, and job satisfaction. On the subject of balance, think about incorporating goals in your business that consider the community; supporting charities or teams, taking on apprentices etc. This can turn out as lucrative to you as it is helpful to others. On a personal level, if you haven’t already a passion to pursue, setting goals might inspire a whole new pursuit or quality of life. If you’ve ever thought of joining a team, or a gym, or taking on fun runs or marathons, perhaps now is the time to consider it. For many of us an ongoing goal is to gain greater fitness and body shape; choose something you enjoy like cycling, and this can just be a great side benefit. Do something cerebral like taking an adult education course you’ve always been interested in; horticulture, cooking, computing… Creating space and time for these sorts of things, by setting yourself firm intentions, can only be good for your health, social life, and if it’s an activity you can share with your family all the better.

Sales Bulletin July 2012 (002)

ROLON to better support Retailers “It is ROLON’s intension to focus upon the supply and support to Retail Stores where ever possible.” Those painters geographically isolated from retail suppliers will of course continue to receive ROLON’s support and supply. This will allow ROLON to give better support to the following : 1. Retail distribution 2. Excel in the field of production and supply of quality painting accessories.

Why?

This batch may contain some rollers with a slightly fuller nap. Even the most pedantic painters may not spot the difference.

However - the whole lot will go at 15% less.

GoldStripe Rollers

15% OFF! Pick some up from your paint shop

What might I experience?

• Possibly a finer finish? • Maybe a very slight shortened life span?

TODAY!

www.rolon.com.au sales@rolon.com.au

The Global Labor Pool at your Finger Tips

I met with a business associate recently who told me that he had just undergone a steep outsourcing learning curve. He had spent $30,000 on getting an iPhone app developed by a team he had found on the internet from Pakistan. He had spent $30,000 and the app still had a few bugs in it which needed to be ironed out, although it was available on the iTunes store for purchase. I was quite stunned by that and wished he had met me before he started the development. In fact for that money he could have had it developed it here in Australia. That project was his first attempt at outsourcing. If he had come to me he would have spent no more then $5,000 depending on the complexity of the application. I would have found him a company to build it and would have negotiated the price on his behalf, saving him time and money. Successful outsourcing is about utilising the global labor pool to assist you in your business at a fraction of the cost without compromising on quality and reliability. Phone calls, ordering, invoicing, organising, bookkeeping and getting quotes are all jobs that can be done by anyone from anywhere, including the Philippines for $5.00 an hour.

Email : info@gotooutsource.com Skype : angelamariadepalma / gotooutsource Mobile : 0414 707 751 Address : 155 Lytton Rd, East Brisbane, Qld 4169

The workers from the Philippines are used to working with Australian companies, in fact they prefer Australian employers because it means they do not have to work night shift like they do for UK and USA based employers. So Australian employers get the pick of the best workers. The Philippines is one of the preferred suppliers for virtual assistants and telemarketers as they are only 2 hours behind us and they are very competent workers with excellent English. India and Eastern Europe are the preferred suppliers for software development. India is the preferred supplier for getting your tax done, bookkeeping and all accountancy work. In fact gotooutsource.com has a full accounting division which covers: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Australian taxation compliance work = Taxation returns and Financial Accounts A - IFRS Financial Reporting Self Managed Superannuation Fund Compliance Taxation Planning Business Structuring and Asset protection Accountants Taxation Advice and Services support Business Recovery Book Keeping Outsourcing = payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable etc Trust, Company, Self Managed Superannuation Fund Self Managed Superannuation Audit Company Audits Business Valuations

Our team in India are expertly trained by Australian accountants to handle all of the above. If you are interested in hiring a virtual assistant, saving money on your accounting bill, lead generation, telemarketing or getting some software developed (plus much more) find out how gotooutsource.com can help you save money by getting it right faster and quicker the first time round.

Insurance Premium Funding A lending facility for business clients who wish to spread the cost on annual insurance premiums over monthly instalments so that they can smooth out their cash flow.

Unsecured or secured by policies financed: finance is generally available without tying up the business and personal assets. In most instances no additional security is required. Directorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; guarantees are usually required when financing is $250k. Flexible financing term: terms of 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12 months, smooths out cash flow by breaking one lump sum into a series of payments over the year. Finance a variety of insurance types: bundle all insurance costs together, such as PI, Workers Compensation, general business insurance, motor vehicle fleet registrations etc. Budget with certainty: rate & repayment are fixed for the term. No ongoing fees: upfront documentation fee is the only fee applicable, competitive interest rates & fixed monthly instalments.

80% of your debtors in your hands Within 24 hours Worth thinking about!

Rod and Ian Scanes Phone: (07) 3278 0825 Fax: (07) 3278 0894

Mobile: 0421 383 314 (Rod) 0421 383 315 (Ian)

Email: rscanes@firstcharteredcapital.com.au

ABN 37 128 508 494 434 Anzac Av, Kippa-Ring QLD 4021 PO Box 446 Kippa-Ring QLD 4021 P: (07) 3283 8848 F: (07) 3283 8847 E: admin@austplanfs.com.au

Maintain your family’s living standard

If you have a financially dependent family, you should ensure you have enough Life insurance. If you have a home loan (or other personal debts), you should consider Life, Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) and Critical Illness insurance. What are the benefits? By using this strategy, you could: • Provide a lump sum payment to clear your debts, and • Pass on the full value of your assets to your dependants if you pass away. How does this strategy work? If you’re like most people, you’ve used debt to fund a range of purchases, including your home. However, if you die, become totally and permanently disabled or suffer a critical illness, the loan repayments will still need to be made, even though the salary your family has relied upon is temporarily or permanently unavailable. In the event of your death, your lender may even require the outstanding loan to be repaid immediately, and sometimes the only way to do this is to sell the family home. To avoid these potential problems, you should consider Life, TPD and Critical Illness insurance. These insurances can provide a lump sum payment that could be used to clear your debts.

What or Whom are you Tolerating Rather than Addressing? Are there things or people within your business that you are avoiding? If so, how much time and money are these issues costing your business? At a time when businesses need to ensure all costs are minimised, Business Systems Specialist Tamara Simon, has a few simple tips to manage staff and reduce business costs.

There are many tangible expenditure items which can be reduced, even in the short term, to help you through the Global Economic Crisis (GFC).

This is not the time for carrying people as it should be all shoulders to the wheel. Remember, there is no I in TEAM.

However for those with staff we know this is the big ticket item which could be examined and reduced.

So let’s be really honest and REFLECT

For business owners, a way to reduce expenses can often mean reducing hours and/or staff numbers; and believe me, owners think long and hard to do this especially in regional communities where the effects of this decision can felt not just on the office but everywhere. So the GFC could be an opportunity to release any ‘deadwood or drifters’ who may exist in your organisation, or at least address performance issues to see where this path takes you. Generally no owners like addressing conflict/performance issues with staff. Business owners are great people with kind hearts but unfortunately by not addressing unacceptable behaviour as soon as it occurs, this behaviour continues which creates resentment and reduces productivity across the organisation.

• Are you tolerating negative/unhelpful/ unproductive behaviour? • What mixed messages are you giving your staff? • Do you have favourites who can do no wrong? • Do the ‘rules’ apply equally to everyone? • What business systems or lack of them are creating issues for your staff? • Is the knowledge of your business in your head with staff constantly TOLD what to do; or is it documented for them to easily follow? Communication is an essential key to any successful business and although staff are sometimes told too much information from owners which can lead to gossip and innuendo; telling staff nothing also creates the same problems.

TAKE ANOTHER LOOK

So keep staff informed, particularly in such uncertain times so they start to understand the reality of running a business – because by making the choice to have staff, you are reducing profit which is money not in you and your family’s pockets. So in these tough times, please make sure you are paying for the best! Finally, for those businesses which have great business systems but still having problems with staff, remember this. Generally, well developed systems break down for four (5) reasons:

Tamara Simon was a Queensland Finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. With extensive experience in more than 10 industry sectors including building design, training, auditing and marketing, she is passionate about helping build profitable and sustainable service-based businesses.

CALL TAMARA AT :

0438 262 727

• Leadership (or lack thereof) – owners need to support systems implementation • Communication – people not communicating with each other • Choice – people make a choice not to follow the system • Assume – we assume people know what/how to do things rather than actually telling them (with written documentation to back it up) • People not Positions - Systems have been developed by how the people in the position NOW are doing the role, rather than how anyone in that position should undertake tasks for the business. For help in explaining the reality of the GFC to your staff, email info@takeanotherlook.com.au for a copy of a great email from a small business owner who did just that. So remember, unless these issues are addressed, they will be costing your business money somewhere.

The Cash Economy Businesses that rort the system by paying cash in hand are now more likely to get caught.

‘The cash economy’ refers to the practise of companies paying employees cash in hand, thus enabling the company to circumvent their tax and superannuation obligations. This not only proves challenging for those charged with the task of catching them, it also puts competing businesses that fully comply with their taxation requirements at a distinct competitive disadvantage. It was largely for those reasons that the Federal Government took the decision last year to allocate substantial additional funding to the Australia Taxation Office (ATO) to assist in its efforts to identify those rorting the system, in turn helping to create a level playing field across all business.

“Fortunately, most employers do meet their obligations,” says John Leonard, the Assistant Commissioner for Employer Obligations at the ATO. “In terms of the level of non-compliance, there is always a certain level of non-compliance and it is true that in these tighter economic times that we’ve been through recently, there has been a bit of pressure on some businesses to cut their costs. “Paying in cash can be seen as a way of doing that. It’s not only the tax and super consequences, it can be the State Revenue, Work cover and other commitments that fall by the wayside too.” It should also be noted that the standalone practice of paying employees in cash is not an offence in itself provided that PAYG (Pay As You Go) tax withholding and super contributions have been met.

Which industries does it affect?

Something else that happens reasonably often, The worst offenders are generally those industries particularly in the building trades, is the practice where jobs are more transient and where employees of paying employees through the books during are more likely to be vulnerable, for example, young the week but in cash if they work on the weekend. workers or people with lower English language skills. A high incidence rate occurs within the hospitality industry. The construction industry is also known to be responsible for widespread cash in hand payment practices.

How the ATO catches businesses

The ATO’s cash economy taskforce, which operates mainly in the small business area, has produced a number of industry benchmarks to help identify businesses that pay cash-in-hand.

“The construction industry has other complication factors and those can be wages or employment relationships dressed up as contractual ones,” says Leonard.

The benchmarks include the business inputs and what the ATO would expect to see as a reasonable amount for a return. They also look at tax returns across the industry, comparing cost to profit, etc. If businesses submit returns that are outside of “When someone engages an individual to do a those parameters, the ATO will investigate. job, it’s either going to be on a contractual basis or an employment basis. We do have instances In addition to industry benchmarking, other avenues where people who are genuine employees are used to catch non-compliers range from the treated like contractors by the people paying ATO’s tax evasion referral centre – where people them.” can volunteer information about noncompliance – to referrals from people who are applying for an “In order to address that, we’ve got an electronic ABN when they are an employee, which can be an decision support tool that will help someone engaged indicator of employment income being treated as in labour to work out the correct tax treatment. contractual. We encourage anyone who is in doubt about that status to use that tool.” Find it on the ATO website: “We also look at things where the numbers just www.ato.gov.au don’t match up,” says Leonard. “For example, where a company employs 50 people and the amount of tax withholding is more representative How businesses pay cash in hand Leonard cited an example of one business that of employing 10 people. was found to be paying some of their already highly paid employees ‘contract payments’ on top of “From my experience, most of the people that we their regular income, which basically amounted audit would be down to our own methodologies, to the same individuals receiving two pay packets, but that’s not to say that the whistle blowers with significant amounts involved, and no tax being can’t be a good source of information.” paid on the ‘contract payments’. “In that particular case, there wasn’t any question of the business, which was a reasonably sophisticated operator – not knowing what was going on,” says Leonard.

info@zebraweb.com.au

What information should I include in my website? Websites are an essential marketing tool these days. They don’t necessarily need to sell a product. People use the internet as an information tool and a way to gather useful information about a product or service. Here are some suggestions to help you put the basics together. Firstly you need to identify what product or service you are providing. You need to connect with your customers by showing them that you can solve their problem or provide what they need. Keep your language simple and effective so that everyone can understand what you are trying to say. Secondly you can provide a solution. Emphasize how your solution differs to others in competition with you. What benefit will your customer get by using you? Where possible, provide your customer with an example of how you have solved an issue or resolved a problem to a customers satisfaction. Thirdly give the customer a way to get in touch with you. Contact us, request a quote, ask us a question, sign up for our newsletter. There are many options, pick one that suits your style of business. Make sure that you include this on every page of your website and that it’s clear and easy to follow. You need to consider these steps for every page of your website. Once you have followed through on these, you need to be able to complete the process at the other end!! What to do with the email requests, newsletter sign ups or quote requests!! But that’s a whole other story….

The Benefits of Master Minding Mastermind groups are nowadays common in various formats. Some groups are open for anyone to attend when they wish and others are closed groups, which engender trust and accountability. Its popularity has been growing since many people want to find their success by sharing inputs and ideas with other individuals, creating visions and goals, and encouraging a positive mindset. Being involved in a mastermind group is also a great way to offer and receive support as they work to attain a specific purpose and goal. It helps individuals connect with others who share the same desires, interests and visions. They offer their ideas to others while receiving solutions and perspectives from the most unexpected individuals at the same time. Masterminding became popular when Napoleon Hill had written about it in his book, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Think and Grow Richâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, as part of his research work and inspired by Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie. This book was first published in 1993 and has become a classic known for its motivational personal development and self-help.

So, what is masterminding and what are its benefits? Napoleon Hill defined masterminding as the, “coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.” To make it simpler, a mastermind group is a union of two or more individuals dedicating themselves to fulfil a specific goal. It can be as small as two individuals and as big as your ability can manage. Mastermind groups also have two basic types: one focusing on an individual’s success and vision, and the other one focusing on helping everyone in the group. • Mastermind groups have also many benefits and advantages. • It helps you to succeed because you have a group of people are able to help you. • You also get the benefit of being able to hear different feedbacks, inputs and opinions, as well as share your own. This is somewhat, a give and take relationship on the process. • A mastermind group is also about growth and development. • It helps you enhance your skills as well as requiring you to expand out of your comfort zone so that you will get the outcome that you truly want and need. • It allows you to have a bigger and greater vision which gives you the motivation to achieve your goals. • You will gain more confidence and help by borrowing on the experience and skills of others. • It also adds a supportive network.

There are still many more benefits to masterminding and you’ll experience it once you join a mastermind group, sharing with others your visions.

So, for you, to have these benefits and experience the power of masterminding – join one now and see the difference. Go to http://www.businessmastermindgroups.com.au to find out more. Copyright © 2012 Jennie Gorman

Wow! This one might be tricky… Sooo many things Look for tiles with straight edges, they are a bit to consider in a bathroom, Paint is really the last harder to lay, but they can sit much closer together, thing, the very last thing we need to think about. eliminating the wide grey grout lines. Always! Always! Always, sort out the hard surfaces first. They are everywhere in a bathroom, bathtub, shower base (solid), basin, vanity unit, floor tiles, wall tiles, feature tiles.

Then we have the vanity cabinet which can be constructed in various materials and shades of white from vinyl, laminex, formica etc. If you want your whites to really match up perhaps 2 pack cabinets are the way to go, at least by doing this Let’s start with the basics for bathrooms, and I we can aim for consistency in paint colour. hope some Architects read this (ie. don’t forget the towel rails!!!) At least we can have coloured towels if you like or if more white is what you like then go for it. Once Bathrooms always look fresh in white colours, right? again though, how many shades of white are there?

Yes, but then we have to keep them that way.

Neutral bathrooms can be lovely, natural stone

Bathrooms look great in neutral colours, right? comes to mind here, one of my personal favourites is Travertine. Travertine looks chalky (but isn’t) Yes, but where do we add colour? and comes in shades from white, ivory, cream to Bathrooms look wonderful in full colour, right? coffee and chocolate. It’s very easy then to add some feature work with cut stone either vertically Yes, but what colour to choose. or horizontally. Understanding the space in the Tiling - Will we tile the bare essentials (ie. shirting room, smooth clean lines and focal points are key tiles and up to 1800 in the shower) or will we make to knowing where to add features. more of a statement and take it to 1800 all round, or for that matter will we tile right up to the cornice? Somehow people expect different shades when If you are really brave and have a pretty good they are working within the neutral palette. So budget what the heck why not use Bisazza tiles and choosing stone, tiles, cabinetry is made somewhat even do the ceiling, they have a gorgeous range of easier and somehow more forgiving. stunning tiles with coloured grout to match check it out… http://www.bisazza.com/ Coloured bathrooms – wow where to start. Blue White bathrooms or at least shades of white - try and White, Black and White, sunny Yellow, Orange, not to mix it up too much or it looks messy. Bright Green, Heritage, you name it, if you love it, this is white bath, vanity, toilet pedestal, wall tiles, great where you can make your mark. floor tiles even in white always look different because the tilers usually want to use cement based grout – Remember your bathroom will last anywhere from which is Grey – Blah! Standard tiles have a curve to 10 – 20 years, so think of your favourite colour and the sides, which cannot be laid too close together. think real hard.

I wouldn’t put any hard and fast rules here, just be aware of the lines in the room, the size of the room, and who is going to be using it. Checkerboard floors are fabulous in the right place. Tiles on the diamond are also wonderful, in the right place. Just make sure your place is the right place before you take the plunge, you’ve gotta like it for a loooong time. With regard to paint in the bathroom, I would always consider using a paint specifically designed for bathrooms and/or kitchens, they have built in mould inhibitors, antibacterial components and other goodies essential for healthy bathrooms. NEVER use flat paint in a bathroom. NEVER use the ‘goes on pink dries white’ in a bathroom! More often than not, with my clients I suggest a shade of white that goes from the ceiling all the way down to the edge of the tiles. If my client wants a coloured wall then I will suggest a white(ish) ceiling. More often than not, I suggest a Semi-gloss rather than a low sheen, I think it is more in keeping with a tiled surface and is easier to wipe down with a cloth when steam streaks appear. So, a lot about bathrooms, not so much about paint! Bathrooms are expensive rooms to get right, we have to love them for a long time, so it pays to do the homework. If in doubt, call a professional. Happy reading, chat next month.

If you are in South East Queensland call me on 0413 464 289 07 3886 4488

Increasing Demand for Trained Painters & Decorators

in the Pacific!

The painting and decorating industry still struggles to be recognized as a trade in the Pacific, when someone needs a painter they usually call a local builder. These builders use unskilled cheap labour and most refuse to train their people. The only chance for change is that the market and customers demand the best quality and refuse to use companies APTC has had graduates in P&D from Papua New who insist on using cheap unskilled labour. Slowly Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Fiji. It it can be seen that this is starting to happen leading currently has enrolled more students from those to an increase in demand. countries plus some from Nauru, Samoa, Kiribati, APTC is trying to assist students in starting their Tuvalu, and Tonga. own small business by including the elective Mr Mavuku, the APTC tutor for painting and investigate micro business opportunities into the decorating was approached in one week alone program they deliver. by three different companies enquiring about getting some of the painters that are currently Jimmy Bolatini a paint representative from Dulux, engaged for training with APTC, to work for them. who also runs his own contracts made this One of the companies based in Kiribati (said observation “I find that it is not hard to compete on “Keera,bus”) contacted Mavuku to arrange for price when I use professionally trained people. The four Ikiribati (the term for a person from Kiribati speed that the contract gets completed and having said ee,Keera,bus”) students three female and one fewer defects to be worried about balance very male to work for them as soon as they return to well against the increased price of the labour.” Kiribati. Another company in Fiji requested Mr Tokona, the proprietor of Onetalk painters 10 painters to start immediately. explained “it is a false economy using cheap unskilled Pradip Prasad of Sharnik construction based in labour, I always try to use the most skilled people Fiji is putting into his tenders for contracts that he I can get, this saves me a lot of anxiety and in the only uses painters trained by APTC. He had this to end my quotes are no dearer than my competitors. say “I have won very large contracts on the basis The reality is that using unskilled cheap labour of the fact that my painters are trained.” This is in does not necessarily equal a cheaper price.” spite of the fact that some companies refuse to train workers saying that people only care about National Institute of Painting and Decorating (NIPD) the cheapest price. We are pleased to see that is supporting the Australian AID initiative, APTC, by assisting in the development of learning resources. this is not true. There is growing demand for skilled Painters and Decorators in the Pacific. To meet this need the Australian-Pacific Technical College (APTC) an Australian AID project is in its fifth year of training Painters & Decorators in the member countries of the Pacific Nations Forum.

Daniel Wurm, spokesperson for the National Institute of Painting & Decorating (www.painters.edu.au) said, “It is very pleasing to see that in most countries the trained painters are engaged in the industry, improving their lifestyle and contributing to the economy as a result of the training done by APTC. The board of NIPD have all agreed to support this organization in anyway it can.” Daniel Wurm had spent time working on projects in the Pacific and has a keen interest in anything that supports people in this region. He added, “I have a special fondness for Pacific Islanders, and I would like to see them get ahead, I am also keen to see the professional development of the industry in the Pacific. A future goal will be to see Green painting programs start in the Pacific as well.” It is exciting times ahead for the industry in the Pacific, as we continue to see the demand grow for skilled Painters & Decorators.

www.pacificpainters.com

Mr Tokona training decorative finishes to (from Left) Caroline from Solomon Islands, Vicky from Vanuatu, Veniaki from Fiji

Michael Farrugia, trainer for APTC with (from left) Lynette from Vanuatu and Luisa from Fiji. Michael is here demonstrating the relationship between vanadium stain & moisture, this is a big problem in the Pacific. Both Lynette and Luisa graduated, both ended up as leading painters in their respective countries for construction companies. This entailed them supervising other painters, mostly male.

How To Become A Really Successful Painter My name is Jim Baker. I have been a painter for 42 years and have run my own successful painting business in Brisbane for 27 years under the name of James W Decorating. At the Dulux National Conference in 2004 and 2006, I won the title of Dulux Accredited Painter of the Year for Queensland. I have also been a finalist in the Action Coach My Business Awards for Best Small Business in 2008, the Dulux Accredited Business Professional finalist in 2011 and the Micro Business Queensland Telstra Business Awards finalist also in 2011. When I was first in business, my main concern was to be cheaper than my competitors’ price. Experience has taught me that this is not what a client is looking for, which is the reason I wrote a book, “How To Become AReally Successful Painter”. If you are in business, or one day want to start up a business, then my book can help you. I can show you how, using a series of 8 easy steps, your business will be one jump ahead of your competitors and more profitable. It doesn’t matter if you want to be a one man operator or have 50 people working for you. The outcome is the same. Success for your business!

My book has been thoroughly approved by Dulux, Master Painters, Be Constructive Qld. and TAFE teachers from various colleges around Australia. 1200 books are being given out by Dulux to every final stage painting apprentice and Post Trade graduates in Australia each year. It is also being used as a reference book by Dulux in New Zealand and a TAFE College in Fiji. If you are looking for improvements in your business, then “How To Become AReally Successful Painter” can really help you. A copy of my book is available by emailing your name and address to jimbaker@notjustapainter.com.au http://www.housepainteradvice.com.au Regular retail price: $25.50 (inclusive of GST and postage).

What I have learnt through trial and error, attending seminars, observing how others run their business and being in the trade myself for 42 years, will be of huge benefit to you. I will show you how to: • Advertise efficiently without spending a fortune. • Get more exposure. • Increase the number of your potential clients. • Win the job even though you are the highest quote. • Improve quote acceptances. • Be more of a business person rather than ‘just a painter’. • Make your quotes more appealing. • Design graphs to help keep track of calls and clients. • Get and keep that competitive edge over other painters. Just one small detail could mean either a Yes or a No on a job acceptance. By following even a few of my proven ideas, I assure you that you will have more success in winning a job over your competition. This is not done by lowering your prices. From feedback I receive from my clients, I am often the most expensive and I am usually booked 3 to 4 months in advance.

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The Industry Idiots