Issue 13 October, 2012
Aussie Painting Contractor Achieving Work Life Balance #6 Be Organised, Work Systematically!
Do you want to Compete in the Pro Am?
SEAT at WORK
Why Wallpaper is Making a Comeback
Colour in My Home
BIG News‌ MATES in Construction is going National!
Join Aussie Painters Network and Receive... • Instant access to our pricing and estimating guides • Complimentary One page listing in our ‘Find a Painter’ section.
• • • • • • • • •
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
• Have your details listed in 5 postcode areas • Two tickets available in the Members Draw for next years State of Origin in Brisbane Qld
A Chance to WIN!! TRIP FOR TWO MEMBERS
5 day package
Compete in the Pro Am, Accommodation, a seat at the Championship Dinner and a ticket to the Corporate Marquee during the Championship. *Conditions Apply
$49.97 is all you pay for one year’s subscription
October Trade Sale
Purchase 60lt of any Premium Product and Receive 1 x 4L of Zylone Sheen or Lumbersider or Quick Dry (white base only)
for $1.00 (product can be tinted) (Maximum 1 per transaction – monthly limits apply – not to be used in conjunction with any other offer - while stocks last)
CONTENTS 6 Editor Editor Nigel Gorman
Deputy Editor Caroline Miall
CONTRIBUTORs Belinda Ross Caroline Miall Jennie Gorman Jim Baker Leanne Staff Michael Farrugia Mel Holzworth Nigel Gorman Stephanie Gadd Tamara Simon GRAPHIC DESIGN J.Anne Delgado
7
Member Consultant
12
TAX AUDITS
8 Achieving Work Life Balance #6 Be Organised, Work Systematically!
14
Do you want to Compete in the Pro Am?
18
SEAT at WORK
16
Cleaning up a dirty business
22 Systems for a Successful Business
25 Want to Move YOUR Business Forward with MasterMinding?
26
Why Wallpaper is Making a Comeback
32
Colour in My Home
30
35 36
38
42 43
Childcare Centre Murals
Painting the World Wide Web SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR PAINTING & DECORATING IN THE PACIFIC!
BIG News‌ MATES in Construction is going National! The Industry Idiots
Important Contacts
Hi all, What a month this has been! Lots of interesting stuff in the works at Aussie Painters Network. We have just confirmed a Joint Gold Sponsor of the Ipswich Jets Rugby League Football Club; through our involvement we will gain greater exposure, brand recognition and interface with multiple forms of media, whilst supporting a great local team. With this we will have a new Member give away – Two tickets to one of the State of Origin Games held in Queensland, 2013. More on this soon. Join now to be in the running! In the coming months we have more exciting announcements to make. Keep an eye out for updates on what we will be doing, who we will be working closely with, and our plans to bring you the most comprehensive information for industry. We are committed to this so that painters can take back their industry and start building their businesses.
From the Editor
Nigel Gorman To send me an email, CLICK HERE
0430 399 800
nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
I’m happy to report that I’ve been receiving calls from Members thanking us for quotes and work gained from the ‘Find a Painter’ area of our site. So, get your listing up there and enjoy the increasing web traffic viewing your details for free. With our online readership now well over 30,000 we are excited about what is coming next for Aussie Painting Contractor. Quarterly hard copy editions have been distributed throughout Australia to paint stores. Ask your local paint store if they have a copy, if they don’t contact me and I will make sure that they receive some. Don’t forget our other Member Giveaway; Victorian PGA Championship Pro Am on the 16th of January -Two tickets for a five day package, including participation in the event. If you want to go in the Members Draw Join Now so you don’t miss out.
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.
6 Aussie Painting Contractor
Welcome one and all This past month has been quite eventful here at Aussie Painters Network. We have welcomed many new members and will enjoy providing them their member benefits. With your annual Membership investment of only $49.97 the value you will receive will certainly give you a helping hand in running your business. Why not shout your apprentices a membership to Aussie Painters Network? For only $49.97 they will receive great tools such as Estimating Guide, Work Method Statement, Quotation guide and more. Christmas is fast approaching and these tools are a great way for the apprentices to learn more about how to Quote, estimate etc.. Eventually this could be of huge value to your time and the running of your own business. We will continue to send relevant emails to you and wish you prosperity and busy times with your business. Call us if you need a bit of information or help with finding workers (or work) and we can put a call out there for other painters who may be able to help out.
Membership Consultant
Stephanie Gadd To send me an email, CLICK HERE
0433 724 794
We are Painters working for Painters, so until next time, Happy Painting
Cheers! steph@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
2012 September 7
8 8 Aussie Aussie Painting Painting Contractor Contractor
Achieving Work Life Balance #6
Be Organised, Work Systematically! Caroline Miall caroline@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
When things are stressful, it can be even more near impossible to maintain and balance your time and energy. So, often there’s no time to figure out what could help to simplify things – but sometimes even the smallest changes can be effective. Many of us are feeling the pinch on our time as well as our wallets and when getting enough work is the greater worry than whether you’re getting enough ‘me’ time, it’s difficult to see that some simple approaches to what you do can make a large difference. You can create more time for yourself and your families. It’s again about revising your work practices, and ensuring that you’re using time effectively. Be organized, and more effective. No one likes paperwork but even at this stage the paperless office isn’t a total reality for most of us. Have a system that means that you’re not spending more time on it than you need. Allow yourself the little time in the first place to put documents etc where you’ll find them later. Think about the amount of time you save by not searching high and low for things. Try being present, and aware of the value of your time. Think about how lawyers, or plumbers even, itemise their time in blocks… (like SIX minute blocks). Imagine if you were charging yourself
out by the quarter hour and see how your time would start to add up. If you want to know where the time goes, log it – you’ll find out if you fritter away your minutes like others do dollars. Are you spending it doing something worthwhile? How are you managing your electronic world? It’s important to recognise that our data, networks, websites, profiles, accounts, files all need to be managed in a way it doesn’t get totally unwieldy. Digital records are infinitely easier than anything before, but they still require a discipline or system as do paper ones. The online, digital sphere is becoming overwhelming for many, and it’s useful to recognise and retreat a little. Don’t recreate the wheel each time you do a task; adopt reusable templates, form letters, etc where by you’re just filling in the blanks and getting the outcome or info you need. The templates APN offer Members are a perfect example, and check out the Human Resources packages on page 24 too. For some great tips on where to go from here to streamline your business, keep reading for Tamara’s article on page 22. The beauty of these things is that once they’re in place, maintaining them isn’t hard. Get started, and do what you can with what you have now! 2012 October 9
Coming up again in October is
Safe Work Australia Week for 2012. From 21 to 27 October workplaces should utilise the week to highlight health and safety to their staff, and improve the quality of it in their practices,
in the aim of reducing death, injury and disease.
Safe Work Australia Chair Mr Tom Phillips AM recently launched the 2012 Safe Work Australia Week Safety Ambassador Program and called for nominations for the 2012 Safety Ambassador of the Year Award. The Ambassador Program is a great way for individuals and companies to get involved in the Week. “A Safety Ambassador is someone with a passion for work health and safety who is dedicated to making their workplace safer. They can be a worker at any level who is willing to lead by example and motivate their workplace to participate in Safe Work Australia Week.� Mr Phillips said. Safety Ambassadors also receive access to resources to assist them in planning involvement for their workplace. Leadership Forums, Workplace Health & Safety Symposiums and Community events are planned to coincide with the week.
Safe Work Australia Week
, to see photos For more information about of past events, or to find out about activities in your state or territory go to
www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au or see the Important Contacts section in the back of the magazine for your State Workplace Health and Safety site.
TAX AUDITS Melvin Holzworth
There is much said about why the ATO audits taxpayers and how they determine whom to audit. The process has changed over the years as non-compliance now is evident not just in Income Tax, but also in GST, PAYG and also Superannuation. The editors have asked me to make some comments on what is emerging as one of the tools the ATO uses to select whom they will select for an audit in your industry. Each year, when your accountant lodges your business tax return, no matter what the entity, they have to describe your business and assign a code. The Code is from a pick list supplied by the ATO. It does include “Painters & Decorators”, your industry. The ATO then collates over time statistical information from all those who lodge their tax returns based on the information in these tax returns for each industry. The ATO publish these statistics via their website. They are called “Benchmarks”. Below is a table of the benchmarks used for the 2012 year for your industry. Benchmarks are published as a range representing the ratios reported by businesses grouped either side of the average. Publishing benchmarks as a range allows for variations across financial years, regions and business models. The following benchmarks are made available as a guide for businesses to review their performance and business practices against similar businesses. The following expenses are not reported by every business, so one or more of these benchmarks may not apply to an individual business.
Contact us for questions. Telephone: +617 3808 2868 Fax: +617 3808 8600
It is not a “fate complete” if you breach one of the benchmarks. You may not be targeted for an audit. But certainly if you continually breach key indicators, most surely you will be audited by the ATO. Your accountant should not only look at benchmarks from an ATO perspective, but also as a guide to conduct some business advises from. Of course, the bench marks do not account for the different regional factors and local pricing issues, but they are a guide to mark your performance against. The Cash Economy gets a new lease of life during tougher times when competition is higher and new players enter the field. It seems that everyone thinks that they can paint or do landscaping if they are retrenched from their normal work. So you have to be prepared to meet this challenge and doing cash jobs, non-disclosed not only is unlawful, but also not steadfast business practice. The customer is not always price driven, but also aligns quality and experience most highly. I have a client in this industry that does trade outside of one key benchmarks. He does not use discount or low quality paints at any time. He pays and only uses top quality paints and preparations. So his Gross Profit margin is slimmer than would be expected. But his ratio’s are constant in his own business from year to year. Also through us each year, they secure insurance against the costs of an ATO audit. So if one comes along, he has the professional costs covered and can show his quotes, invoices and expenses that justify his compliance. We strive to work closely with our clients as they conduct their business. We want them to be as profitable as they can be and keep them shielded from the ATO as best as we can. If we can help you or if you need some queries answered, please contact us.
www.holzlaw.com.au
2012 October 13
Do you want to Compete
in the Pro
14 Aussie Painting Contractor
Am?
We are offering 2 Members of Aussie Painters Network
A Chance to WIN!
Home of the Victorian
PGA Championship
5 day package COMPETE in the Pro Am! a seat at the Championship Dinner a ticket to the Corporate Marquee and accommodation during the Championship *Conditions Apply
Here’s to another
fantastic tournament in the Forest!
Visit our website : aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au Call us at 07 30401234 0430 399 800 Send us an Email info@homepaintersinfo.com
January 16 - Pro Am January 17-20 - Tournament
Join Aussie Painters Network
grab this once in a life time golfing experience. 2012 September 15
Cleaning up a dirty business The solvent distilling business is a messy one and no-one knows it more than Mark Rowen, Director and Research Manager of Planet Paints Pty Ltd. With twenty-five years in the waste industry and a degree in chemistry, he’s well aware that paint by-products cause environmental damage. In response, Mark has spent the last nine years developing and testing an incredibly innovative process that has turned the environmentally damaging task of paint by-product disposal into a clean and profitable recycling business. Planet Paints holds Australia Patent Number - 2004289703. New Zealand Patent Number – 547863 With a focus on recycling automotive paint, Planet Paints Pty Ltd has built up a clientele of well over 150 panel beating shops in Southeast Queensland. “Predominately we deal with the panel trade,” says General Manager, Julie Herridge. “Every time they paint a vehicle, they have to clean out their spray guns to change the colour. That’s the waste that we pick up; heavily pigmented solvent-based products. Other solvent distillers usually pick it up and put it in a drum filled with all different kinds of waste products; then they boil it at very high temperature to get all the solvent out, which can be reused. Then the residues that are left behind go to landfill.” Planet Paints uses a different process. By knowing where the waste comes from and focusing on its chemical composition, similar chemical types can be processed together. Mark says this allows the company to produce superior quality recycled solvent because the material does not need to be processed at such high temperatures. While the recycled solvent is distributed back to the panel trade, the paint solids that are left over are formulated into four different types of paint, leaving only about two to three percent of the original product to go to landfill. “The chemistry of the material used in auto refinish is really good 16 Aussie Painting Contractor
quality. I mean people wouldn’t stand for paint peeling off their car after five years, so it’s pretty tough, durable stuff,” Mark says. “One of the paints we make here can be used for pretty much anything outside, we’ve painted our truck with it.. I’d paint my house with it, but it does particularly well on steel and concrete.” The paint is called ‘Versacoat’ and it has been one of the best sellers out of the paints on offer. Maintain is the interior paint, the only difference between these two is the hardener. Versacoat has a UV inhibitor in the hardener. Both are long-lasting, can withstand heat and come in a small range of colours which can be found on our website under the DIY heading. www.planetpaints.com.au Julie explains that these are 2 pack paints, which means the paint contains both recycled and virgin material. “The virgin material is the paint hardener and tint,” Julie says. “So we’re looking at approximately 85 percent of the paint being made from recycled material.”
Though the waste collection and solvent recycling part of the business is going from strength to strength, Julie admits the paint has been a hard-sell at times, despite its quality and benefits to the environment. “It can be problematic getting it into the marketplace, because it’s different. But we have been advertising locally on both radio and TV and the word is getting out there. We also sell a lot of paint via the Bartercard network and word of mouth...possibly the best kind of advertising.” “The biggest issue we have in the market place is our limited colour range. Because the paint is mixed from pigmented products the paint comes out grey. We can add colour to that but it will always have a grey base,” Julie says. Interestingly the tougher the economy gets the more paint we are selling. It seems over the years colour has become less of an issue as long as the performance is there.
2012 October 17
SEAT at WORK: “One day I went to work and came home four months later in a wheelchair,” – Paul Bailey. An electrician for 17 years, Paul sustained paraplegia when an 850kg switchboard fell on top of him while he was doing what should have been a routine job at work. Later, Paul’s workplace was found guilty of numerous workplace health and safety breaches, which could easily have been prevented with foresight. Paul’s now dedicated to injury prevention and an integral member of the SEAT at WORK team – a group of men who have spinal cord injuries and who travel around Australia to share their personal experiences with the aim of motivating workers to stay safe. Married with two children who were aged just three and four at time of the accident (February 2007), Paul said his permanent injury had been a huge physical, emotional and financial challenge that would impact on him and his family for the rest of his life. “The fact is, I’m not a normal dad. If I could walk, I’d be down the beach with my kids every weekend. My boy would be standing up on a board by now. “Life would be different for sure.” Paul and his co-SEAT at WORK presenters have spoken to people from a wide variety of companies including Energex, NQX, James Hardie and DuPont, to name a few.
Spinal Injuries Association Chief Executive Officer Bruce Milligan said SEAT at WORK was valuable because there was no cure for a spinal cord injury.
The power of SEAT at WORK presentations is the personal stories told by the presenters who either sustained their injury while at work, on their way to or from work, or while forgetting about their safety in their leisure time.
“The spinal cord is the width of a finger and has the consistency of a peeled banana. Once it’s damaged by bruising, severing or crushing it automatically dies and cannot be regenerated.”
18 Aussie Painting Contractor
“Simple safety precautions practiced every day can save someone from a lifetime disability.� 2012 October 19
It is ROLON’s intention to focus upon the supply and support to Retail Outlet. Rolon will of course support and supply to individual painters when geographically necessary.
Ask your local Paint Shop or call us for information
07 3282 0086
Goldstripe Roller • • • •
A very reliable 15 year track record as the best performing roller ever! Goldstripe customers rave about them! For water based and oil based paints! For smooth to medium surfaces
Here’s what you will say... 1. “Loads up well” – saves time! 2. “Beautiful finish” – excellent quality finish and worth every cent! 3. “Low spatter” – paints the surface not me! 4. “Very easy to clean” – saves me time again! 5. “That fabric is bloody tough” – lasts much longer than those others!
GoldStripe Rollers Pick some up
TODAY!
www.rolon.com.au 20 Aussie Painting Contractor
sales@rolon.com.au
2012 October 20
2012 October 21
Systems for a Successful Business Is your business costing you $ rather than making it? Do you want a simpler and more profitable business? As Business Systems Specialist Tamara Simon explains, it’s easier than you think because by reviewing even just 5 areas within your business, you will be amazed at how much time and $ can be saved. Many businesses could become simpler and more profitable if they simply reviewed their internal business systems to ensure they were operating as effectively as possible. But as we know, many business owners/managers focus solely on the day-to-day activities rather than putting time aside to ensure that unnecessary and controllable costs have not crept into the business. But even once you’ve made the decision to work on your business – what then? Where is the best place to start? Often the areas costing the most - especially in terms of time – can be hidden and/or qualitative costs so here are 5 common areas to start reviewing within your business.
Tamara Simon was a Queensland Finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. With extensive experience in over 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
TAKE ANOTHER LOOK
22 Aussie Painting Contractor
ISSUE
PROBLEMS
SOLUTIONS
Lack of documented procedures
• consistency and quality • poor induction • different/lack of understanding of requirements • bad habits • no back up when people are away • inefficiency
• develop flowcharts and documented tasks for each position/work function • ensure at least 1 extra person trained in each position/work function • develop templates to streamline work and ensure consistency
Being too nice to your clients
• being available 24/7 • clients running your business not YOU! • little or no holidays/time with family and friends = NO LIFE! • starting work without $
• not always being available for clients but rather having blocks of time for client meetings and phone calls • categorise clients as A. B or C and determine processes for each • start work ONCE deposit paid • charge for variations to agreed brief/fee proposal • don’t give away the world for $0 • review hours and priorities to regain work/life balance
Only verbal advice or • different or misunderstanding – instruction to your clients I said/they said and/or team • no written back up – legal ramifications • reliance on memory – yours and theirs • communication problems
• write it down – email follow up • using email or tracking software to keep clients informed about their work • develop client information about what will happen on a job/expectations – client phone calls and emails • support verbal instructions/advice with written back up • put FAQs on website
Lack of attention to detail • rework • productivity • profit • attitudinal issues • domino effect on other jobs
• professionalism performance management • get it right the first time • instil pride in work • educate team re true costs of rework = profits jobs • checking is everyone’s responsibility
Not charging enough ie Inaccurate hourly charge out rate
• gain advice from accountant re actual business costs – not just estimate eg 20% • Using excel spreadsheets or Fee pro calculators www.feepro.com.au to accurately calculate hourly charge out rates as well calculating budgeted hours and costs for all parts of a job (including your time and administration) • know break even figure as well as profit (not just turnover) • review business costs to reduce where possible eg stationery, fuel, incidentals • review charge out rates when salaries change
• rate not covering all business costs • rate not including profit • just charging market rate rather than at least break even figure • rate not including PI insurance run off figures
2012 October 23
24
Want to Move YOUR Business Forward with MasterMinding? Every business owner wants to succeed in their business endeavours. Most want to develop and continually grow their business in order to catch up with the rapidly changing business world. But it is inevitable to encounter problems and trials that would test the strength of your business. In order to be prepared to face those upcoming problems, it is recommended that you join a MasterMind Group.
The group meets twice a month, and in every meeting they discuss with each other their progress and development, as well as follow through with the topics discussed on the previous meeting. The group discuss their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and business threats. In this way, they brainstorm on what to do and organize activities that would help them and create a win-win situation for every member.
So, what is a MasterMind Group, you may ask. It is a group of business owners who come together and talk about what they do best, doing business. The unique thing about a MasterMind Group is that every member would want nothing but to help you grow together with your business. The group objective is to guarantee that you will all succeed in your business.
Having a group of people who are committed to support you will surely push you nowhere but up. Being a part of a MasterMind group is not only a good strategy for your business, but it is also a good way to have good emotional support. You can discuss, share and compare experiences about your business. The best thing about Masterminding is that others in the group know exactly what you mean and feel, as you are all in the same situation of growing and learning.
Commitment is one of the most valued qualities of a MasterMInd Group. Every member should be committed to join and attend all meetings and activities. In this way, no one would miss out on the progress and development of every member in the group. To make sure each group would function well, a selection and screening is being made prior to joining the group. In this way, each member of the group would have more things in common and establishing connection would be easier.
Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of a MasterMind group. For more information, go to www.businessmastermindgroups.com.au and find out more about what they are, where they are and how they can support you to move your business forward. Copyright Š 2012 Jennie Gorman
2012 October 25
Why Wallpaper is Making a Comeback
Wallpaper is headed back to Australia in a big way – blame TV decorator shows, blame interior decorators, whatever, but it is coming back. It is a great way of adding colour and personality to a room in a few hours! However, there are very few Australian companies making wallpaper, reflecting it’s European heritage and US sensibilities.
Most wallpapers sold in Australia are either European or American and don’t always suit our tastes. They also have long lead times if people want them. Moore & Moore is a new company, only established for about a year, but we have always felt that Australians would appreciate designs that appeal to our climate, culture and decorating trends. It seemed as though there was a real opportunity to provide a quality product made in Australia.
CALL : 0404 013 270 26 Aussie Painting Contractor
All our designs are created especially for us on Australian-made paper – the only company to use locally made paper. The paper is FSC accredited and uses water-based inks. Because we manufacture the wallpaper ourselves, we can also offer our customers custom colours and even custom designs. Also, because our products are made locally we have short lead times and can fill orders quickly.
The papers have been tried and tested with Australian tradesmen and experienced paper hangers. In fact, one paper hanger said it was the best paper he had ever laid, which reflected the time we put into to make sure we were producing a quality product. Also, because we manufacture locally, we can react quickly to local and overseas trends and adapt global trends to an Australian aesthetic. We work closely with our partners to provide a quality product. This collaborative approach seems to produce a better product.
2012 October 27
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.
28 Aussie Painting Contractor
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. Directors’ guarantees are usually required when financing is $250k. Flexible financing term: terms of 6 – 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
2012 October 29
Childcare Centre Murals Local kids in Ipswich had a change to swing a few brushes recently. Early Learning and Development centre, The Karalee Childcare Centre, has been upgrading their facilities to give the children the most up to date learning environment. As part of the upgrade the Year 9 Art students from Ipswich State High School and their teacher, Ingrid Struthers, came to create bright, bold murals on the new fences. It was a resounding success and looks great. The centre thanks Resene Paints and Aussie Painters Network for their generosity making the project possible, providing the opportunity of bringing together the school students and showcasing a fun real life-skills working environment.
30 Aussie Painting Contractor
2012 October 31
Colour in My Home The other day our washing machine died - goodbye! I get out of that for a few days, whew :) It was only when two big burley men removed it that I realised that our laundry had not been painted since we moved in over five (5) years ago, and that in fact our laundry was 2 different colours… imagine that! Yikes! Well you know what they say, the mechanics car; the electricians’ loose wires; the firemans’ hose, oh sorry… The colour consultants’ laundry! THEN, I realised after all this time the dryer had been sitting on the bench taking up valuable space, and after discussing with my husband, the frame that had been sitting on top of it for the last 8 years (both here and at our previous address) was in fact the one required to hang it on the wall over the new washing machine……… oh yeah, hang on a minute, he threw it out because he didn’t know what it was! Now, I decided I can either paint the laundry the same colour Dulux Neutral White as the rest of the house, ceiling and walls (as in the bathroom and WC adjacent), or I could do a colour. Let’s face it, a laundry is usually pretty small, functional (hopefully), and a place where we spend a reasonable amount of time, sorting, stacking, washing, drying, ironing, folding, hanging (the clothes). Well my favourite colour is blue and I know in the Dulux range there is a colour called Angora Blue P38E1, and I have to tell you I love it, it fits within my colour profile perfectly (not everyone will love this colour, but those who share my profile will). I am quite sure in the other paint brands there will be an equally delightful shade of blue, just take a look. 32 Aussie Painting Contractor
It works well with Natural White, it works well with the coffee coloured tiles on our floors, the blue is quite uplifting and bright. I think I’ll do it. Wherever there is a space where you know you will be spending quite a lot of time, take time, to find the best colour for you, to harmonise you with the space you are in. I found a great racking system with hanging space at my local hardware and pretty soon (after I purchase a new hanging bracket for the dryer) my laundry, although small will look and be an amazingly functional, pleasant work space. Another win, yeah! Heavy sigh, Oh bugger, knock at the door, here’s the new washing machine.. Nooo… I haven’t painted yet!!
HOT TIP FOR PAINTERS • Why not offer “FREE” colour consultancy for your clients. • Tee it up with your local colour consultant. • Add the consultants fee into your quoted price and hey presto, you get the job, the client gets the right colours, and the colour consultant has work too. • The colour consultant should (I do) recommend the customers purchase test pots to ensure they like the selections prior to confirming with you. • The colour consultant would email a copy to you and the customer. • The colour consultant may even (depending on the fee) offer to meet you on site if there are any significant features of the building.
There are many benefits of this type of arrangement: 1. Most significantly it keeps colours, you and your customers at arms’ length. 2. Have you ever been caught out by a client who said “you told me to use this colour and I don’t like it”? 3. Have you ever had to do a costly repaint because of that? 4. If you have a large quantity of paint left over from another job, discuss it with the consultant, they may be able to use it for you on one of your upcoming projects. Otherwise, eBay is good.
If you are in south east Queensland and require the services of a Colour Consultant please contact me
on 0413 464 289.
If you are interstate and require my services I am more than happy to travel to you and your clients. Belinda Ross September 2012 © 2012 October 33
info@zebraweb.com.au 34 Aussie Painting Contractor
Painting the World Wide Web A lot of Aussie contractors may have wondered in recent years what to make of the Social Networking phenomenon and the online world, and how in relation to their business, they could best be utilised. How much you want to engage with modern marketing methods and an online presence will largely depend on your goals, and either your aptitude with technology or the amount of money and/or time that you want to invest.
In the very, very least, old school or not, your business needs to be contactable by email, and should ideally have some sort of solid website. It is from there that you can build and interact with whatever social networking sites you may be interested in reaching your audience by- Google, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, blogging etc. etc..(the list goes on, and on) You could get really immersed and learn how to build your own site; there are plenty of resources available to do so and programs that make it within your reach. Simple options could be utilise Facebook for a business profile, or build a site using a template type page like blogger.com. If you’re not experienced in this area, you’re probably wise to find someone skilled to build a solid basis for a good web presence from which you can extend in whatever other direction you may later choose, with all components pointing back to your site. Make sure you’re talking with the people who are creating the site and they know what you want it to achieve. Consider looking at your site from the outside in. Is there information that is useful to the consumer? Your content should provide not just contact details,
but also assist the customer to understand more about their job’s requirements; answer their questions and help them to know what to ask. A bit of research into Search Engine Optimisation is highly recommended. Great websites are created all the time that nobody ever sees! Have your site built with good SEO. Engage a web development company that will assist you in understanding how it works, and how you can maintain it to continue to rank higher in searches. Keywords in your site will be fundamental to being picked up by searches. Have a master keyword list that you keep handy, change around, add to and keep current. Keeping your site up to date and making regular changes, additions to content is crucial if you’re serious about driving traffic to your site. Search engines like Google trawl the web with internet ro-“bots” that analyse files from web servers, detecting frequently updated sites as current, higher quality information hence they will appear higher in search results. So, what to put on your site? Photos and descriptions of your work for starters; Testimonials, Projects, Community involvement, if you’re a bit of a storyteller, you could always publish your own Painters blog with entertaining anecdotes as well as your best professional tips. Contractors who think they have nothing to write about need only take just about any question that a customer has ever asked, and write about it. And there you have it – web content! Keep an ongoing list of these FAQ’s and you’ll always have fodder to update your site.
2012 October 35
SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR PAINTING & DECORATING
IN THE PACIFIC!
What does a painter working in the Pacific Region, (or Australia for that matter) need to survive and be professional? I am really concerned with people being employable when they finish training here in Fiji for the Pacific Islands. After all, here in the Pacific earning money for the family means food and medicine. If I don’t do my job properly then people suffer. Standards are defined in the Certificate III training package for painting & decorating. The people I am teaching have English as a second language. The weight of the measurements is against standards that don’t make much sense even if English is your first language. 36 Aussie Painting Contractor
Here is an example from the training package: “Work instructions and operational details are obtained using relevant information, confirmed and applied for planning & preparation purposes.” What does that mean? Well it is a long winded way of saying “a person knows what they are doing!” Through partnership with Edubytes, the National Institute of Painting & Decorating and Mac IT a new assessment tool is being developed for recognising and measuring a person’s existing skills and identifying where further training is required in easy to understand language and relative benchmarks.
The tool will be utilised on an iPad but later we will have it available in other formats such as Android, smart phones, and PC. Work is being carried out here in Fiji, with painters that come from all over the Pacific. These students have English as their second language and in most situations have no computer skills at all. If the assessment tool is not understood by them or it is hard to use, then we go back to the drawing board. No bells and whistles, just basic software that is practical and easy to use, even if a person has never used a computer or is not very good with English. It is anticipated that the release of this tool will occur in Late October this year. It will be available for all painters in Australia as well as overseas to download for free and can be used to collect evidence to present for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). It will not be released through a Training Organisation. It will be in the hands of the painters so that they drive the way Training Organisations train and assess. Great news from your brothers on the brush in the Pacific!
Michael Farrugia
Based in Fiji and training painters from the Pacific region
www.painters.edu.au
2012 October 37
BIG News… MATES in Construction is going National!! In July the Federal Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler, announced the allocation of $5.24m to Mates in Construction Queensland to replicate the MATES in Construction program in other States. This is because the MATES in Construction model has been found to be most effective and capable of being copied in different States and even in other industries.
The funding was the result of the construction industry’s united approach to the Department of Health and Aging, asking the department to help ensure that good suicide prevention programs were running in the construction industry in all States and Territories in Australia.
The CEO of MATES in Construction Jorgen Gullestrup said “This new funding for the national delivery of our services is amazing when you think that only four years ago we were feeling our way forward with a new way of handling potential / threatened suicide interventions! “
MATES in Construction has been operating in Queensland since October 2008 and in Western Australia since January 2012. By the end of this year MATES in Construction will be operating in New South Wales and South Australia as well.
“It is great that in our industry, when we discovered we had a problem, we found our own solution which suits us. A solution that does not rely on experts in fancy titles, but on ordinary construction workers each playing their role in improving mental health and wellbeing in our industry!”
While each State Branch of MATES in Construction will be totally independent, they will work closely together nationally and all implementing the same model. This national organisation will undertake some fund raising through a proposed national brand partnership with organisations in various other industries and product fields. 38 Aussie Painting Contractor
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Look Out for Season 2013
Even low levels of lead are harmful Paint Contractors, Parents, Renovators, Child-care Centre Operators,Teachers, Landlords, Agents, Pet-owners: Find out if paint, dust, Soil, drinking water, toy paint, Plastics, ceramics, jewellery, and other items are safe for humans and pets.
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You take the samples, and send them to Sydney Analytical Labs. The lab analyses the samples, and we explain the results. 40 Aussie Painting Contractor
www.lead.org.au
How To Become A Really Successful Painter My name is Jim Baker. I have been a painter for 42 years My book has been thoroughly approved by Dulux, Master and have run my own successful painting business in Brisbane Painters, Be Constructive Qld. and TAFE teachers from various colleges around Australia. 1200 books are being for 27 years under the name of James W. Decorating. given out by Dulux to every final stage painting apprentice At the Dulux National Conference in 2004 and 2006, I won the and Post Trade graduates in Australia each year. It title of Dulux Accredited Painter of the Year for Queensland. is also being used as a reference book by Dulux in New I have also been a finalist in the Action Coach My Business Zealand and a TAFE College in Fiji. Awards for Best Small Business in 2008, the Dulux Accredited Business Professional finalist in 2011 and the Micro Business If you are looking for improvements in your business, then “How To Become AReally Successful Painter” can Queensland Telstra Business Awards finalist also in 2011. really help you. When I was first in business, my main concern was to be cheaper than my competitors’ price. Experience has taught me A copy of my book is available by emailing your name that this is not what a client is looking for, which is the reason I and address to jimbaker@notjustapainter.com.au wrote a book, “How To Become A Really 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 www.housepainteradvice.com.au series of 8 easy steps, your business will be one jump ahead of Regular retail price: your competitors and more profitable. It doesn’t matter if you $25.50 (inclusive of GST and postage). want to be a one man operator or have 50 people working for you. The outcome is the same. Success for your business! 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.
Grab a Copy Today! 2012 October 41
The Industry Idiots
42 Aussie Painting Contractor
Important Contacts
Aussie Painters Network www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
Ph. 0430 399 800
Australian Tax Office www.ato.gov.au
Ph. 13 72 26 / Ph. 13 28 65
Award Rates www.fairwork.gov.au
Ph. 13 13 94
Fair Work Building & Construction www.fwbc.gov.au
Ph. 1800 003 338
Mates In Construction www.matesinconstruction.com.au
Ph. 1300 642 111
Workplace Health and Safety Contacts STATE ACT NSW NT QLD SA VIC WA
Website www.worksafe.act.gov.au www.workcover.nsw.gov.au www.worksafe.nt.gov.au www.deir.qld.gov.au www.safework.sa.gov.au www.worksafe.vic.gov.au www.safetyline.wa.gov.au
Cancer Council Australia STATE ACT NSW NT QLD SA VIC WA
Website www.actcancer.org www.cancercouncil.com.au www.cancercouncilnt.com.au www.cancerqld.org.au www.cancersa.org.au www.cancervic.org.au www.cancerwa.asn.au
Phone (02)62073000 13 10 50 1800 019 115 1300 369 915 1300 365 255 1800 136 089 1300 307 877 Phone (02) 6257 9999 (02) 9334 1900 (08) 8927 4888 (07) 3634 5100 (08) 8291 4111 (03) 9635 5000 (08) 9212 4333
2012 October 43
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