Lead Poisoning The Tube
is always trending
How to get Motivated after a Vacation
Surprising Stairs Combating the World of
All Fluff and No Stuff Rediscover Time with Your Family
www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
From the Editor
EDITOR Nigel Gorman
Hi all, Its Safety Month again; October show-cases events across the nation, highlighting occupational health and safety for awareness and safer environments for every worker, every day. For information on this year’s events, themed Work safe- Home safe go and have a read. I would like to welcome another new contributor to our magazine, Ash Shetty. Ash comes from multiple areas of the industry, from paint manufacturer to painting business owner. We are looking forward to your insights from both sides of the industry. One of our team members has been having some fun with the Facebook pages lately, posting some weird and wonderful memes, photos, jokes etc. For anything a bit off beat about painting, ‘like’ our page; you’ll have a laugh, we promise. There has also been some worthwhile discussions taking place on our Facebook group. Fantastic to see some lively conversations going on about products and practices. Keep it up! It’s another great forum where painters can meet and exchange ideas. Congratulations to Sharlene Kidd, Russell Turbill and Jarrod Wardle on their amazing efforts at the National WorldSkills Competition. Congratulations to all competitors on their involvement and the amazing work they achieved. See inside for loads of content relevant to our industry, including how sponsorships could work for your business, and posting your own professional videos on YouTube.
Enjoy the read,
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Caroline Miall CONTRIBUTORS • Anne-Maree Russell • Ash Shetty • Caroline Miall • Colin Thompson • Daniel Wurm • Jennie Gorman • Jim Baker • Leo Babauta • Monroe Porter • Nicholas McKay • Nigel Gorman • Robert Bauman • Sandra Price
Nigel Gorman
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
07 3555 8010
J. Anne Delgado
nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
Contents Page 06
Lead Poisoning
Page 08
Industry Skills Survey
Page 10
A Painters’ Biggest Catch
Page 13
The Tube is always trending
Page 14
The Right Business Structure is Key
Page 17
Stacking up savings with Bartercard
Page 18
How to get Motivated after a Vacation
Page 21
Taubmans Certified brings trustworthy painters and home renovators together
Page 22
NEWS from QBCC
Page 25
WHS harmony? Helping you comply
Page 26
National WorldSkills 2014
Page 28
Surprising Stairs
Page 32
Excel VS Xero
Page 34
Where are you in your life now?
Page 37
The Value of Sponsorship
Page 38
Combating the World of All Fluff and No Stuff
Page 43
Work Safe, Home Safe
Page 44
Rediscover Time with Your Family
Page 47
Painters Wanted
Page 48
The Industry Idiots
Page 49
Important Contacts
In the Chair Hi Fellow Painters, It’s wonderful to hear from most painters I talk that they seem to have plenty of work; hopefully your workload is steady. Don’t forget to use our employment page if you are looking for staff or for employment, and this month we feature a jobs section for vacancies that are current at time of publishing. I also hear a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding out there regarding Occupational Health and Safety. We thought it would be useful to collate a quick reference to clarify the regs and codes of practice for each state. You’ll find an intro to our new web pages housing summaries of each state’s OHS legislation and codes of practice, beginning with Working Safely at Heights. In future months, we will publish different sections of OHS legislation to keep you up to date on how these affect our Industry. We plan to cover topics such as Safe Handling of Materials and Obligations relating to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Storage of Flammable or Combustible substances and more. Quite a few painters have done themselves a favour and streamlined their workload recently by using our Take Off Services. If you’d rather someone else do all the figures, it just makes sense. Some plans take a little longer than others but we are mindful of the costs so we do try to get through them as quick as possible. Remember we only take off all areas to be painted but leave you to add your costs to the job as everyone will have different costs and overheads. Happy Painting Colin Thompson colin@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au Aussie Painters Network Your Partners in Painting 0433 724 794 07 3555 8010 1800 355 344
Opinions and viewpoints expressed in the Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor, staff or publisher or any Aussie Painters Network’s staff or related parties. The publisher, Aussie Painters Network and Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine personnel are not liable for any mistake, misprint or omission. Information contained in the 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.
Lead Poisoning Some of my thoughts on lead poisoning This short article is not meant to be all inclusive on safe lead management, but perhaps offer some additional comments to the excellent lead paint documents and fact sheets available, and often found within these pages. I mostly work on old period homes and of course there are always underlying issues with old lead paint. I have invested in a Festool dust extraction system, which comprises an electric sander and a vacuum hose attachment and safely removes dust into the vacuum. The dust bag is a disposable item with an end cap to trap the paint dust safely. This snaps over the opening to ensure the contents are safe. I find that homeowners are aware of the health risks of lead paint, especially if they have children. Reassurance offered to the homeowner that dust will be minimized by using the dust extraction system gives me an advantage when winning jobs. For many years I worked without a dust extractor and this has been a very good investment, however it seems already some of the damage was done... recently I visited my local GP for a check up and asked for a blood test for lead content in my body. A week later I received a call from the clinic about my results and they reported I have very high lead levels in my blood and suggested I should change my work habits. Anyone working with lead must be consistenly vigilant. I need to be careful and wash my hands thoroughly with soap and water several times a day. In addition I insist on buying better quality HEPA filter dust masks instead of the cheaper paper ones. Consider having a blood test particularly if you are in the older generation of painters.
by : Brian Carroll
Brian Carroll’s Painting Services
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2014 September Issue | 7
Industry Skills Survey
The Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council is currently redesigning the training package for the painting industry. This is your chance to have your say on what and how painters should be taught. The changes are due to come into effect in July 2015. Some of the recommendations being considered include more emphasis on teaching painters to create colour schemes, an increase in the amount of time spent on learning protective coatings, a reduction in the emphasis on some traditional decorative finishes, and the stream-lining of how safety and general construction skills are taught. The National Institute of Painting and Decorating is inviting Aussie Painters Network’s readership to help improve the training curriculum for the industry. To help us provide industry feedback we want to know what the industry wants the next generation of painters to learn. Do you think painters still need to learn traditional decorative finishes, or do you think painters should learn more about industrial coatings? What skills need to be taught and are in demand? Have your say in this 3 minute survey. Click Here! No personal or business information is collected by the survey.
My Costing Guide ‘My Costing Guide’ is a fully automated program where all you have to do is add or change the variables and the total price will appear in an instant. It is simple to use and can be personalised to your own business. Personalise your own rates instead of using a recommended rate!
8 | Aussie Painters Network www.mytools4business.com/mycostingguide
2014 September Issue | 9
A Painters’
Biggest Catch
Painters and other tradies are inclined to brag and boast about how much they lost because a client neglected to pay them! Like a fisherman brags about his biggest catch. Or a washed up rugby player talks about his glory days… Once the grief of being ripped off passes, the story will live on eternally for all who will lend an ear. For the purpose of this article, I have rebranded the concept of not being paid large amounts of money after working long hours and wiping the blood, sweat, tears and paint off your face as a ‘catch’. The biggest catch that I have heard of is $250,000. I have met hundreds, maybe even thousands of painters, yet generally the stories I hear are more or less the same. They worked hard, did a perfect job and the evil client didn’t pay them whilst laughing ‘muahuhahaha’
10 | Aussie Painters Network
I know that there are always two sides to any catch story Of course, the client may actually be justified not to pay for a myriad of reasons, including a breach of contract or poor workmanship. However, it is well documented that some clients will continually and belligerently try to rip off tradespeople. Why? Because in many cases, they can get away with it! This is especially true for small businesses and start-up companies who often do not have the resources or experience to manage a legal battle. It is for this reason I offer the three most important practices that will minimise the chances of you acquiring your own persisting catch story.
1. Document Everything
a. Do not assume that a friendly conversation and handshake will result in prompt payment once the work is complete. Draw up a contract. Ensure the scope of the work is stipulated accurately. Everything, even the smallest of jobs should be included and thoroughly explained to the customer. Additionally, all correspondence should be done via email. The point is, if it is in writing, it can be used as evidence. After a conversation in person, or if you do happen to speak over the phone, write it down. The importance of proper documentation is paramount. I cannot stress this enough. b. Proper documentation includes photos and videos of your work progress. These should also be a given for marketing purposes.
2. Progress Payments
If you haven’t already, introduce progress payments. I have met painters that don’t even take a deposit! This is a massive risk, and quite frankly it’s a mistake. Contracts should very clearly state the progress payment schedule. Avoid ambiguous terms such as ‘On 50% completion of project, 50% payment is due’. What does that even mean? Who decides the 50% mark? Terms should be explicit, with no room for interpretation. E.g. ‘On completion of preparation and primer coat, 1/3 progress payment is due’. The contract should also state that failure to provide progress payments within the agreed upon timeframe will cease the work.
3. Touch Up List
My personal favourite is hearing
a painter’s final dues being held because they ‘missed a spot’. Applying a liquid substance to a range of surfaces perfectly can be near impossible to get right the first time. The client is well within their rights to request a touch up, however this cannot continue indefinitely. I once endured over a month of touch ups because the client would damage the walls whilst moving in furniture. At first, in an attempt to maintain excellent customer service, I obliged. But it did not end. At one point, I had a painter with a brush following him around in case he made more damages (not joking!). So when do you say enough is enough? Simply refer back to point one. Document Everything! Write down a final touch up list with the client as you walk through the premises. Provide an updated contract specifying the necessary touchups, once this is signed, obligingly fix them. There you have it, the three most crucial recommendations. This article was written so that you can learn from other painters’ mistakes (my own included!).
If you follow the above advice, you will make it harder for the crooks to take advantage of your services The moral of the story is summed up below: • Protect yourself with document proof for every project, every time. • State clear-cut and unmistakable payment terms. • Develop a touch up list and deliver on promises. If you need advice with contracts or need to finance your paint project. Please feel free to email me at ash@omegapaints.com.au
Ash Shetty Director Supply & Apply
- Director of Omega Paints (Paint Manufacturer) - Director of Apco Coatings (Paint Manufacturer) - Director of Supply & Apply (Painting Company) - Masters of Business Administration - Bachelor of Commerce
2014 September Issue | 11
The Tube is always trending Nicholas McKay
Developing your own videos Creating a YouTube account Uploading videos I am almost certain that anyone reading this has previously viewed a video on YouTube. As the single largest video community on the internet to date, I think it would be insanely difficult for someone not to have seen something from that particular site. However, have you considered joining the YouTube movement and uploading your own material? This idea is probably not as crazy as one might imagine. It is a fact that pictures and moving images garner more attention than plain text, so developing potential advertisements of a visual nature for your company would be beneficial, especially once linked to other social media pages. As with all Google run platforms, the user needs to have an active Gmail account, however, even before this stage, you will require recording devices. Videos are capable of being uploaded to YouTube in two distinct ways; either, you can create a video whilst offline, and then upload it, like attaching a file to an e-mail, or, alternatively, you can create a video on the site. YouTube comes equipped with its own editing software, making it more professional than some recording platforms available to buy.
Whether you are using the web software, or one’s you already own, your computer will require a camera, or, you can use handheld equipment, and then upload the files to your computer, before uploading them again to your site. Handheld devices are professional (I’m not talking about cameras in mobile phones, I’m talking about real video equipment that will cost an arm and a leg) than that which comes with computers. The picture quality and sound is almost always excellent, whereas computers are regularly grainy, dull, and are substantially lacking the ability to adequately record voices. Now, I’m not saying that they cannot record your voice – I’m saying that when you go back and play the video, you would be lucky to hear much; the sound of a cotton ball touching silk is ten times louder than what will inevitably be produced. On this note, I recommend a microphone like device, which occasionally comes equipped with programs, including Dragon Naturally Speaking, and other such software. Returning to the subject of YouTube, after creating a profile, you need to create a channel. You can have more than one (perhaps each channel represents different themes; or maybe one is about promotions and another is about useful information; the possibilities are endless), however, I might recommend that
your original shares the profile name you created. When I first created my YouTube page, the site refused to accept the channel name I supplied, and I eventually succumbed to using the name of my profile. When it comes to the uploading process, the system will often take a while to successfully ready the upload. During this time, you are free to edit the title, description, tags and the image, otherwise referred to as the thumbnail. On this note, neither the title or description should be immeasurably long; you need to accurately describe your video in as few short words as possible. Much like with other sites though, you should aim to use terms that are likely to be searched for, and the same goes for the tags. YouTube itself will help provide potential tags, but again, they need to be words likely of being regularly used.
ABIS
Phone: 1300 887 959
www.aubis.com.au 2014 September Issue | 13
The Right Business Structure
IS
KEY
As a Small Business Owner you always need to find ways to pay less tax, because what you don’t give to the taxman will boost YOUR profits and create YOUR wealth, not that of the Commonwealth. Getting your business structure right is definitely key to maximise your tax savings and boost your bottom line. It seems incredible that some small business owners pay more tax than others although they produce the same income, yet it’s true. I have seen it more than once in my accounting practice, and have been on a quest to reduce my client’s tax bills ever since.
The company tax rate is 30% which is more attractive than the 46.5% (including the Medicare levy) which is paid by individuals in the top marginal tax bracket. The 30% tax rate makes setting up a company a potentially important tax planning strategy. The core roles in a company are the director, secretary and shareholders. In small companies these roles can be performed by the same person.
However, it takes a bit more than tax knowledge and needs more of a holistic approach. Let me tell you why: I firmly believe that a big part of my job as an accountant is to get to know your business, understand why you’re in business, where you want to go with it and what kind of wealth aspirations you are aiming for with your business profits. You see, when I take a holistic approach to look at your business venture and engage with you in year round tax planning, the tax saving opportunities just pop up and are easy to implement and identify. That way, when we work with you we know which critical questions to ask that arise at different times in the life cycle of your business, like when you’re first starting out or as your business grows. One of the BIG questions for any business is: “What structure should my business have?” If you’ve been in business for a few years you may have outgrown your current business structure and could benefit hugely by setting up a company for your business. So let’s find out about the pros and cons of a company structure.
• A director is an officeholder that runs a company. • A secretary is appointed by the directors and is responsible for administering and maintaining the records and correspondence of the company. • Shareholders each own a portion or share of a company
A company is a separate legal entity altogether from its members and its directors. Therefore, in a legal sense, you are not your company and your company is not you. A company will have its own assets and pay its own tax. A company should also have its own bank accounts separate to the accounts of the owner(s).
© 2014 Robert Bauman.
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A company structure can provide many beneficial tax deductions but it is not always the optimal structure. A good tax plan will weigh up the options effectively. There is often a loss of tax benefits under a company structure, in particular when your company disposes of an asset such as goodwill, shares or business premises. Even if a company holds an asset for more than 12 months, it is not entitled to the 50% discount on capital gains which is available to individuals and trusts. Please Note: Many of the comments in this article are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information’s applicability to their particular circumstances.
A D Hamilton & Associates www.adhamilton.com.au
Contact Graco Australia: 03 9468 8500 | 0417 723 360 darren_jones@graco.com
2014 September Issue | 15
16 | Aussie Painters Network
Stacking up savings
with Bartercard “I love Bartercard – it gives me great value and access to a new market of customers.” Andrew Barter, Andrew’s Painting Services It’s not always easy making the right financial decisions in business, but Bartercard has proven to be a smart choice for Andrew Barter, who uses it to attract new clients and pocket approximately $10,000 in cash savings each year. Andrew, who has a carpentry background, built his business on Bartercard 10 years ago. Working in retail sales at the time, a friend asked him to do some plastering work for a Bartercard client which he agreed to, working part time on weekends and afterhours. “When I finished the job the client gave me referrals for more work,” Andrew said. “I quickly saw the value in Bartercard, packed up my retail job and started a full time painting and maintenance business which is where it all started.” Andrew said he’s used Bartercard to attract new clients which make up around 10 per cent of his Cairnsbased business Andrew’s Painting Services, and saves thousands of dollars.
“I’ve used Bartercard to buy a builders trailer, timber decking, and have saved $50,000 in cash by using it to renovate a house in Brisbane - this included fitting out a new bathroom, installing fans, lights and covering the cost of all electrical work, painting, plastering and polishing floor boards - all without spending cash.
“Whenever we’re quiet in the cash economy, Bartercard has always kept me busy.” “I’ve taken jobs lasting two to three months, some paid 100 per cent with Bartercard dollars, others a mix of Bartercard and cash, but both leading to referrals in the cash market. He added that in the current economy, the option to source products and services without spending money makes sense. “I’m looking to spend my trade dollars on a property investment next,” he said. “I’m open to suggestions, but I’m aware of the incredible savings you can make - up to 25 per cent of the cash cost. I’ve also use Bartercard to cover lifestyle expenses. It’s paid for dining and accommodation whenever I travel along the east coast for holidays or work.”
He added that Bartercard is something he would recommend to other business owners. “When I initially looked at joining I studied the system and spent time with my trade coordinator. What I found is that it’s all about networking – Bartercard is an avenue that gives you access to extra clients when times are quiet and lets you keep more money in your bank account. Operating from 70 offices spanning 7 countries and continuing to grow, Bartercard members trade approximately $1 billion in extra revenue each year. This modern network is improving business owners’ profits and their lifestyles by providing access to a world-spanning marketplace that allows them to use their downtime and fill their spare capacity.
Contact Bartercard today 1300 BARTER (1300 227 837)
bartercard.com.au 2014 September Issue | 17
How to get
Motivated after a vacation I open the door to my house after a long flight and drive home from the airport, and Eva and I and the kids throw our bags down and immediately want to sleep. We’re jetlagged, tired from traveling, worn from all-day walks around foreign cities. We flop onto our beds and have a difficult night sleeping. In the week following, I struggle to get back on track with my work. Jetlag, sleep problems, a sick kid, and a general lack of motivation color my days following a vacation. How do I get motivated after a vacation, or any kind of long break? It doesn’t come naturally. Here’s what I’ve been learning.
Get Some Rest Probably the biggest reason I have trouble getting motivated is that I’m tired. Really tired. You might think that I’d be well rested after a vacation, but we spend a lot of time hiking through mountainous areas, exploring cities by foot, being active on the beach, and are generally more active on vacation than we are at home. So I’m tired — and being exhausted makes it hard to get motivated. So my prescription: rest as much as possible for a few days at least. Sometimes a week. Take naps, sleep in, take it easy for a little while. That doesn’t mean you do nothing, but rest should be a top priority in the days following a long break or vacation.
18 | Aussie Painters Network
Find a Purpose If I’m not motivated, it’s usually because I don’t have a driving purpose that makes me want to do some work. I don’t have a reason to get cracking. So my prescription: Find something, anything, that helps other people. That will change their lives in a meaningful way. Really think about that change, about those people. If I feel the pain they’re going through, or see how they’re stuck in some way, I feel motivated to help. My post vacation rut seems less important. We’re all like that. We all want to help people, even if we have more selfish tendencies much of the time. Tap into this, and find a reason to get moving.
by Leo Babauta, a successful ‘simplicity’ blog-
ger & author from California, is the creator of top 25 Blog, Zen Habits, chronicling his insights from acting significant changes in his personal and working life.
4 /1311 Ipswich Rd, Rocklea, Queensland, Australia 4106 1800 355 344 info@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
2014 September Issue | 19
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TAUBMANS CERTIFIED
brings trustworthy painters and home renovators together
September 2014 (Sydney, Australia) – Leading Australian paint brand, Taubmans has launched an innovative solution that helps Australians who are planning a home renovation project to connect with trustworthy painters in their local area. The industry-first, interactive online service, Taubmans Certified operates in NSW, ACT, QLD and VIC, with WA and NT to follow soon. A badge of quality and professionalism, membership of the Taubmans Certified program recognises painters as qualified professionals, certifies workmanship and ensures they are fully licensed and insured. Housed online at www.Taubmans.com.au/certified qualified painters have their own profile with photos and information which consumers can review. Included in the profiles are business details, areas serviced, business history and examples of past work. Consumers can rate their experiences of painters and read reviews by others to find the best painter for their job. As well as ensuring that consumers can find a painter they trust to give them the best result, Taubmans Certified is designed to reward the top Taubmans painters with a raft of unique benefits. The program is open to residential painters nationwide, and unlike other industry programs is free to join. To qualify painters must use seventy percent Taubmans products, and of these seventy percent must be ultra premium products. To help connect painters to potential customers, Taubmans Certified provides a
wide range of marketing support to its members. The program is promoted to consumers through newspaper and radio advertising, letterbox drops, and digital marketing, driving visibility and lead generation for members. A comprehensive support kit also helps members to showcase their program accreditation and credibility with vehicle signage, on-the-job signage and polo shirts. To make quoting even easier, the kit also includes an online quoting tool, fan decks, product portfolios and easy reference guides. Trevor Lowder, Head of Marketing at Taubmans for the Trade segment says, “Taubmans Certified helps to separate top painters from their competition by increasing visibility and driving leads, ultimately supporting them to build and support their business. “As a member, Taubmans Certified painters are recognised as not just a painter - they’re a professional with a proven track record of quality workmanship, industry knowledge and job reliability.” To find out more about becoming a Taubmans Certified painter, visit www.Taubmans.com.au/certified
For more information visit:
www.taubmans.com.au 2014 September Issue | 21
We would like to advise you about the introduction of the Minimum Financial Requirements policy which will replace the existing Financial Requirements for Licensing policy. The QBCC is taking a single, streamlined approach to cut red tape and costs and from 1 October you will no longer be required to submit financial reports or information at the time of your QBCC licence renewal. Turnover limits for contractors in self-certification categories 1 and 2 will be doubled to allow small independent businesses to grow. This is the first time these limits have been increased since 2006. The new Minimum Financial Requirements policy aims to enhance security of payment, as
licensees must pay their debts within agreed or trading terms, or risk having their licence suspended or cancelled. These changes form part of the Queensland Government’s Ten Point Action Plan to strengthen and grow Queensland’s building and construction industry. If you have any questions about these changes, you can call the QBCC’s 24-hour customer service centre on 139 333 and speak with a customer service centre representative or visit our website. Sincerely Steve Griffin Commissioner Queensland Building and Construction Commission
Make someones day with a beautiful hamper 22 | Aussie Painters Network
2014 September Issue | 23
Through Aussie Painters Nertowk, consumers can now...
Request-a-Quote
www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au info@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au 1800 355 344 | 07 3555 8010
How much does your business need to earn to cover its expenses?
24 www.mytools4business.com/myhourlyratecalculator | Aussie Painters Network
WHS harmony? Helping you comply
Most people in the construction industry would know that over recent years the government has made substantial efforts to bring into line all of the country’s Occupational Health and Safety laws, to achieve harmonisation. Presumably with the goal of simplification and understanding for those affected, for more effective application of the guidelines and safer workplaces. Indeed, consultation towards this end began in the 80s! However, the process hit many roadblocks along the way, and as it does, bureaucratic red tape, lack of consensus across a range of issues, and other factors have meant that a national code of practice hasn’t really been achieved. The result has inevitably been a fair amount of confusion for contractors and compliance becomes problematic. We thought it would be useful to add a summary to our site of the practices and hazards that affect our industry. A quick reference if you like, for each state to access. We’re beginning this resource with Working Safely at Heights; key to our daily work, and an area where misinformation is rife relating to the use of scaffolding, platforms and harnesses.
aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au/Working-Safely-at-Heights 2014 September Issue | 25
National WorldSkills
2014
500 of the country’s most skilled tradespeople across nearly 50 skill categories competed in the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition, held in Perth from 18- 20 of September at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Australia’s largest trade and skill competition brings together an incredibly diverse range of professions; automotive, building and construction, computing and business, client services and hospitality services industries. Worldskills showcases Australia’s best young Vocational Education and Training (VET) students, apprentices and trainees. It is estimated that the National Competition attracted an economic impact of approximately $15 million dollars to the City of Perth which included over 4000 bed nights, approximately 1350 return flights from every corner of Australia to and from Perth and over 21,000 meals. Winners may go on to compete as part of the Skillaroos, heading to Brazil to represent Australia and their industries at the 43rd WorldSkills International Competition in São Paolo in August 2015.
26 | Aussie Painters Network
Gold medal winning competitor Sharlene Kidd of WA told Aussie Painters Network that competing was one of the most amazing experiences of her life so far. A big shout out to the employers that donated their time, going above and beyond to assist apprentices in attaining such a high level of commitment and skill. Results from the Painting and Decorating comps are: GOLD: Sharlene Kidd, Perth North – WA SILVER: Russell Turbill, Adelaide – SA BRONZE: Jarrod Wardle, Hunter – NSW Also a significant triumph for the industry itself was winning the Skills for Sustainability Award, presented to the Painting and Decorating Industry for the most economically, socially and environmentally sustainable category in the competition. http://www.worldskills.org.au/keeping-green/ See more at: http://www.worldskills.org.au/2014national-competition-results
Sharlene Kidd
Russell Turbill
Jarrod Wardle
2014 September Issue | 27
Surprising Stairs How about giving the treatment to something a little mundane in a home, with a little colour and style? Stairs - usually a functional element of a home that gets little more than passing consideration, apart from getting one from one level to another. For something different, consider what some attention to the risers could do for your home! Have a look at some of these beauties for inspiration. I love the colour graduation in this stairwell. Pup is seriously cute too.
Wallpapered risers! I love this! Seriously love this one too! Stencilled! Perfect beach house stairs.
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French conjugation lessons as you climb! “I climb. You climb. He climbs. We climb.”
Love how they have not touched the treads …. just added the pretty risers.
And if you STILL can’t get enough of chevron. Blackboard risers … for the hidden poet in all of us … … or orders at your children as they head upstairs?
2014 September Issue | 29
I think these are my favourite. Beautiful mosaics.
Anne-Maree Russell
What are your thoughts on coloured/stencilled/ wallpapered/tiled stair risers?
a-m@capecoddesigns.com.au
Love them, or leave them?
Call 0403 766 822
30 | Aussie Painters Network
Click HERE to visit her website
Advertisements are placed for free!
2014 September Issue | 31 www.mytools4business.com/howtobecome
Excel vs Xero
You are no doubt up close and personal with Excel spreadsheets, as a small business owner. Over the years business owners spend hours, days, weeks trying to create the ‘perfect’ spreadsheet for managing and recording their finances. And for the most part it probably worked. However, Excel is not without its limitations. Limitations which Xero can help emancipate. One glaring issue with Excel is that a fairly complex knowledge of using formulas is necessary in order to produce even simple records. Cloud based accounting systems such as Xero do the hard work for you. You enter your data and leave the complex stuff to them. This helps minimise the inevitable human error that often comes with creating large spreadsheets. Similarly, reporting capabilities of web based accounting systems such as Xero far outweigh those of Excel spreadsheets, which are less dynamic and whose data is much harder to manipulate. The stand-alone nature of Excel means importing external data is complicated, if not impossible, but Xero allows you to link other cloud based data such as bank records with your financial data. This helps create a single point of reference for your business information. Excel spreadsheets certainly serve a purpose and there is a time and place for their use, however, utilising web based accounting systems like Xero take your business to the next level of record keeping.
www.pricebookkeepingsolutions.com.au 4/1311 Ipswich Road Rocklea QLD 4108
32 | Aussie Painters Network
Sandra Price Price Bookkeeping Solutions
Where are you in your life now? Our lives are like the seasons and/ or lessons to learn. If you understand where you are at, you can be supported to move through the process more easily. For me personally, I have both my personal life and my business in the season similar to winter at the present time … this is when we need to stop, contemplate, ponder and wait quietly for spring to come. This is the time we are reaping what we sowed. We need to ask ourselves, what is the lesson or season and have we learnt it? We are all on a journey and if you are a business owner it is not easy to have yourself and your business in winter at the same time. If you find yourself, as I am experiencing now, know that it will change and you will come to the spring when the time is right. There is no particular time length for any season, and we can move through them fast or slow, dependant on what is happening around us. The only thing we DO know for certain is that all the seasons will come around in not only our business but also in our life. We need to be prepared and ready to handle them when it changes, especially if you are experiencing one of them in all areas at one time. Jim Rohn, in his innate wisdom, was the first to speak about the ‘Seasons of Life’ giving business owners the insight to understand how they could support themselves, during these times. For me MasterMinding and my personal
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friendships have been the catalyst to support me to move through more easily my ‘winter’. How long I am there will depend on how I handle it. I have been able to get the support from friends and fellow masterminders to stop and listen to what I am meant to be doing before the next season starts! Understand that we start out in ‘spring’, and hopefully we learn to take advantage of the opportunities that come with it. Just as the animals come out of hibernation ready to start again, you have this chance too. This is your time to plant the seeds that will move you forward so you can become who you want to be. Life starts again, and by having watched nature in the past, you can recognise this as you will be energised. Take full advantages of the opportunities that come your way for your higher good. You are given the chance to springboard into something new and exciting. Learning how to bring the people around you to support yourself create your future is done at this time. Join a mastermind group to help you do this by setting in place the people and tools you need for your future. Once ‘spring’ has gone and you move into ‘summer’ you need to become protective of the seeds you have sown. This is when you reap the benefits of what you created in the ‘spring’. If you do not protect
what you created it can be easily destroyed or ruined. This is the fun time of your life as you start to relax from the work done in your ‘spring’. Is not this the time we take holidays, have fun and take time out? Eventually though we will move into ‘autumn’ when things start to slow down and we start to gear up for another ‘winter’. During ‘autumn’ though it is necessary that you take responsibility for what you have created in the last season. Whether these things have been good or bad is irrelevant. Just learn the lessons from the experiences. Keep building on the seeds you sowed in ‘spring’ as these will be what will help you through your ‘winter’ when it comes. This is the time when you make sure you have everything cemented into place. And as you will realise, ‘winter’ always comes, and if we can recognise it, we can deal with it. Just as we change our wardrobe to be comfortable in every season we need to be ready for ‘winter’ when it comes too. This can be easier if we prepared for it, just like the squirrels do. Be prepared to handle the ‘winter’ with all its challenges when it comes. Let your network support you until you move into ‘spring’ again. If you need support contact me at
jennie@jenniegorman.com.au
www.connexionsunlimited.com.au
www.consolidatedi.com.au Phone: +61 7 3292 1100 | Fax: +61 7 3292 1110 Email: contactus@consolidatedi.com.au I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU for referring me to Consolidated Insurance Pty Ltd. I spoke to Scott about our Business Insurance and with little time, Scott emailed me back a comprehensive package for our Business and we saved over $1,000.00. Thanks again Aussie Painters Network for the great referral and all your ongoing help. Sonya Baker www.bakerbrosmasterpainters.com.au
2014 September Issue | 35
The Aussie Painters Network App Just search the App Store or Google Play for Aussie Painters Network.
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1800 355 344
THE VALUE OF
SPONSORSHIP Do you have children? Do you play sport? Are you involved in a community group? Do you go to church? Are you a member of a club?
All the above have potential job leads for your business.
project the winner requires. This could be enough to paint one room. The exposure of selling tickets to hundreds of people is worth much more than the cost you will have to outlay. The time I did this, a great deal of excitement developed from the ticket purchasers and people were talking about it for weeks. There is also the chance of the winner wanting more work done as well (which is one of the reasons for doing this).
There are many ways to advertise. You don’t have to rely on Google, Yellow Pages, Online Trade Sites, referrals or vehicle signage alone. Diversify a little and try some sponsorship. By this, I don’t mean handing over money for an advert in a newsletter or a diary. I have found that this does not really generate any leads. For sponsorship to work effectively, you have to be involved by donating some of your own time. When our two sons were only seven years old we introduced them to basketball. Because my wife and I attended all their games, we were happy to donate our time in the helping and running of the association. We truly believe that by being a part of your children’s activities, it will have a positive outcome in their growing up. They are 21 and 25 years of age now and we feel that this philosophy worked as they have turned out to be excellent young adults (as parents we may be slightly biased on our opinion). An effective method to advertise your business through a club or organisation is to fund-raise, which could be in the way of a sausage sizzle. It may cost you $150-$200 but so what? Let people know who you are and what your business is all about. Have your sign displayed and hand out your business cards. You will be doing two important things; raising funds for the club (which people will respect you for) and raising awareness of your business. Another way to promote yourself that I found very effective was to raffle a free paint job. Supply material and eight or sixteen hours of your labour for any paint
Since 2001 through this one club we belonged to, I have quoted $351,000 worth of work with $168,000 of that being accepted. This was all from meeting people directly and indirectly from it. In total sponsorship money that it cost me in that time would have been less than $3,000. If you look at it, it’s very cheap advertising; on average around $230 a year! So on a closing thought let me ask you one question! Do you take much notice of a fixed sign or banner? Nine times out of ten I would say you wouldn’t. But if someone was next to that sign, promoting themselves and their business, helping a good cause by raising funds, would you take notice then? Definitely! Jim Baker
www.mytools4business.com 2014 September Issue | 37
Combating the World of
All Fluff and No Stuff I don’t spend a lot of time on social media but I do use it to communicate with family, friends, and high school buddies etc. Recently, I saw a “who you might know” photo from an old client come up. This guy always struggled to make a living as a contractor and after a few years, he just gave it up. Curious as to how he is doing now, I clicked to see. Well, he is a sales trainer and motivational speaker. I laughed so loud I almost fell out of my chair. Here is a guy who couldn’t keep 3 people employed to make a living but now is an expert. For years, someone with a pick-up truck, ladder and shovel can be a contractor. Now with an 8 by 10 glossy and some slick verbiage, you are an internet authority. While social media and a web presence is a must, just because someone has an online profile doesn’t mean they are a real contractor. One of the real difficulties with social media is that it measures customer service but it does not do a good job of measuring the quality of long term craftsmanship. A clean cut person can show up at your door, be courteous and prompt but two years later the project fails. If you go to a restaurant and have a nice meal, you can rate that restaurant on line for instant satisfaction. That meal does not make you sick two years from now when it fails.
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One way to combat the all fluff and no stuff contractors is to do a good job of emphasizing past jobs and longevity in the marketplace. Don’t just take a photo of job you recently completed; show a 7 years old job that still looks good. When talking to customers about product, emphasize different parts of your job that ensures it will last a long time. For example, caulking might be a small part of the overall project but you can easily explain to the customer the difference between a caulk that might fail in two years and one that is guaranteed for 25 years.
release to the media. You can also take some photos of your effort and post them to your webpage or email past customers. Too many contractors act as invisible forces within their community. Many go to work before the sun comes up and get home after dark. Except for customers, no one knows who they are. Consider joining Rotary, Lions or other business community groups. Be a real and tangible force in your community.
Don’t just list a few customers with quotes. If you have been in business for 10 years and 50 houses a year, show a small print list of the 500 addresses you have painted. If you work a lot in the same neighborhoods, shows dots on a map that emphasizes your density. Emphasize trade associations you are members of and any manufacturer certifications you might have.
Sometimes, employee who gives the best interview and has the prettiest resume is not the best fit. Be willing to investigate potential hires. If an employee looks too good to be true, they probably are:
If you are going to play the social media game, have a process where you encourage your customers to post something about your business. It is all about the law of averages. The more the merrier. Many contractors are great public citizens but do a poor job of promoting their generosity. The next time you help a charity or do some type of public event, send a press
All fluff and no stuff can also be an issue when hiring employees.
• During the interview process ask questions that force the person to think in talk. “Tell me about the first job you worked.” “What did you like and dislike about your last job.” “When I call your former employer, what do you think they might say?” I asked an interviewee this once and her reply was “Well, what happened is really not normal. When my husband came to work with a gun, he had not been taking his meds.” • Check all employee references to make sure they are real. If I was in prison for embezzlement or drugs, I would probably fake my resume.
• Look on line and see what you can find out about the applicant. I had someone apply to a job but when I looked on line, they were falling down drunk in almost every Facebook post. • Perform some type of skill testing. For the office, give them an old fashion typing test. For field people, watch them perform some type of skill. • When hiring immigrant workers, have an application form in their native language and see if they can fill it out in front of you. Don’t just listen to what the employee has to say or presents, see what they can do. In some cases, consider hiring them for a day or two to see how it goes. Do everything you can to judge that person on facts. Fighting all fluff from when buying from vendors can also be worthwhile. Finding good salespeople with something to offer and companies that have a unique buying proposition can be really tough. There are a couple of strategies that can be very entertaining and financially successful. First, when someone calls on you, be nice and
listen. Then tell them to send you an email with specific things they can do for you other than offer a lower price. Let them know that on time delivery and inventory does not count. They are supposed to be on time. They are supposed to have the product they sell you in stock. You want to know specific dollars and cents facts on how they are a better buy.
more value. Don’t be surprised if all they can do is give you a couple of percentage point discounts. You see reps do have value. They are an opportunity to gain a lower price. You can’t negotiate with the internet or with a product on a store shelf. The reality is if that rep can’t deliver value, they are just another added cost of doing business or a way to lower your price.
Another amusing exercise is to bring in your largest supplier reps. Tell them you love their company and price. Curiously, ask them how big a typical rep’s territory size is and their average annual sales volume. Next, say that is what you thought. Now do some calculations on how much volume your business represents. If the average territory is 5m and you do 500,000, you represent 10% of that reps volume. Are you getting 10% of that rep’s time or value? A reps cost may be 1-4% of the cost of what you buy.
When I was a child, I found Winnie the Pooh was stuffed with fluff but offered much wisdom and stuff. Oh my, where is Winnie when you need him?
Tell the rep you need more value or you would rather not have a sales rep and would like to become a house account. Ask the rep to come back to you with specific things he or she can do to bring
Monroe Porter is president of PROOF Management a firm that teaches seminars and runs networking groups for painting contractors. Several Aussie painting contractors travel to the US each year to participate in his programs.
www.proofman.com 2014 September Issue | 39
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2015 Lead-Safe World Calendars can be ordered now! Please ‘LIKE’ your favorite entries to vote for
People’s Choice Award Prizes 1. The 13 winners will receive a prize of 5 copies of a colour printed Calendar/Catalogue in which their artwork is featured (one per month). This prize has a value of $100. 2. All 13 winners will have their work printed on the LANDSCAPE orientation A4-sized top half of an A3 page-opening, where the A4-sized bottom half shows a month of the year, in a 2015 catalogue/calendar. 3. All entrants’ works will be accessioned into The LEAD Group Art Collection and will have their work archived at http://www.volcanoartprize.com/vap-archive. 4. 30 finalists will be given the option to have their own entry, entr or another entrant’s entry, printed on a Pictureproducts mug – either white ceramic or white plastic – with the VAP logo. 5. The Peoples Choice Award will be a Cash Prize of $500. 6. The Peoples Choice Winner’s image will appear on the cover of the 2015 Calendar/Catalogue for the 2014 Volcano Art Prize and be archived at http://www.volcanoartprize.com/vap-archive
2014 September Issue | 41
42 | Aussie Painters Network
WorkSafe Home Safe Safe Work Australia Month (Safety Month) is held around Australia throughout the month of October. Safety month encourages people to get involved in and concentrate on safety in their workplace to reduce death, injury and disease. This year an App has been developed to support the events. Safe Work Australia’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Michelle Baxter is encouraging employers and workers across Australia to prepare for Safe Work Australia Month (safety month) in October by downloading the free 2014 safety month app.
“Safety month provides an opportunity for us all to focus on health and safety in our workplaces and to make lasting improvements,” said Ms Baxter “This year’s theme Work safe, Home safe is a reminder that the most important reason for staying healthy and safe at work is not at work at all—and we all want to return safely home to our friends, family and loved ones. “One of the ways you can get involved in safety month is by attending one of the events hosted by the work health and safety authorities, industry groups and unions or by participating in Safe Work Australia’s own online events as part of the Australian Strategy Virtual Seminar Series (VSS).” The VSS is a free online event run throughout October showcasing the latest thinking, developments, innovation and research in work health and safety from business leaders, regulators, experts and academics. “The safety month app contains the details of these events and is a great way to quickly search for something in your area. It also allows you to watch or take part in the VSS from your mobile device,” said Ms Baxter.
Along with the search function, the other key features of the app include the statistics section—which gives you bite size statistics at your fingertips—and the fact or fiction feature. Other ways to get involved in safety month include raising the profile of your workplace’s health and safety by becoming a Safety Ambassador (which you can do through the app) or by entering your organisation in the inaugural Workplace Participation Reward. http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/media-events/safety-month/pages/swam For more information about Safe Work Australia Month, the Australian Strategy Virtual Seminar Series and the many ways your workplace can get involved visit
www.swa.gov.au To download the 2014 safety month app visit the Apple App store or Google Play and search for ‘Safe Work Australia Safety Month’. If you have the 2013 version of the app you can go to the app store and install an update.
2014 September Issue | 43
Rediscover time
WITH YOUR FAMILY!
This holidays, rescue your family bond from the daily grind and the digital world with a bit of thought and planning. My goodness, the school holidays are here again already! I’m not prepared at all and the Mummy guilt of not creating a magical break of discovery for my little ones is somewhat overwhelming. The dreaded grind of daily life can be so pervasive that we really do forget the important things; to make plans to spend memorable times together, to make the effort to stop and take a breath and appreciate and nurture your family unit. It’s significantly more of a struggle to achieve this if you’re struggling with financial difficulty, insufficient work, the stress of beginning a new business, ill health, or other issues. Suddenly those steps you took ‘get by’ the tough times become poor habits that are
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hard to shake, putting us in a rut. Ben Franklin said ‘If we fail to plan, we plan to fail’, and this goes every bit for having a successful contented family. The sad fact is that most of us are flat out day in, day out dealing with our schedules, that of our kids and the general chaos that ensues. We’re all feeling overburdened and fatigued and, coupled with the reality that many (most?) kids would happily spend eternity on a computer or smart device, lazy parenting becomes a real challenge to avoid! To spend quality time doing anything means really committing and planning for it to happen, but it doesn’t have to cost much so there’s little excuse. If your family are like strangers passing each other in the halls and swiftly coming and going from one activity to another, then it’s time to slow down, take control, and schedule in family time to foster a well-balanced and all-around happier life.
Here’s a few suggestions as to how: First make the time. It might sound silly, but really the hardest part is clearing the schedule and making the plans. If what you want to do requires booking, make sure you’ve done that. Get other families onboard? Invite them to plan. Choose activities to do with your family that tick a lot of boxes. You can feel even more accomplished by doing things that involve the stuff you know you need to be doing. If like most of us you need more physical activity in your life, do something vigorous like bushwalking, bike-riding, even trampolining (and wear out hyper children for a harmonious bedtime!) Or you might decide on activities that develop life skills; teamwork, learning to win/lose, share and technical skills. Use these activities as opportunities to try new things like bowling, ice-skating and fishing. Continue to Page 46..
plan financial services
Phone: (07) 3278 0825 Fax: (07) 3278 0894 Mobile: 0421 383 314 (Rod) 0421 383 315 (Ian) rscanes@ďŹ rstcharteredcapital.com.au
2014 September Issue | 45
Rediscover time with your family! Put away the devices for a while. Both adults and kids are guilty of gluing their noses to the tablet or smart phone when they could be paying attention to each other. There’s no doubt that the technology available to us is extraordinary and indispensable but limitations on its use prevents it becoming a problem and really makes their use that much more valuable. It’s a struggle to balance, but once over the initial grief, my kids are so much more enjoyable to be around when the television is off and the iphone is out of sight. Sad but true! Eat together. We hear this a lot, but there is no doubt that the simple act of sharing a meal together is good for a family. It helps you to stay connected, especially once children move into their teens and provides valuable time for discussion and problem solving. Designate a family night. Make one day a week the evening that you spend together. It really doesn’t matter what you do, but it means you will do it together, and devices will be away. There’s no need to plan for this, do anything spontaneously... Make pizzas from
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www.paintershrpolicies.com 46 | Aussie Painters Network
scratch together, go to a drive in movie before they disappear completely! Pop some corn and watch DVDs that you’d all like.. barbeque at the park. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, or even take a lot of your time, but you do have to have the presence of mind to have the thoughts and make the plans. Having a spouse plop in front of the television, a teen playing video or computer games, or young kids relegated to a back room does nought for family togetherness. Do things together, and discuss the coming week’s activities over the dinner table to build enthusiasm and momentum for family time.
Painters Wanted Marchant and Sons Pty Ltd.
Roll on up painting
Simcoat Painting & Decorating & Property Maintenance
Planet Painting Services Pty Ltd
Pyrmont NSW 2009 Phone : 02 9518 4081 marchantandsons@gmail.com ……….....................................................
Po Box 2070 HORNSBY WESTFIELD, NSW 1635 Office 94760572 Mobile 0429234235 Fax 94823258 simcoat@optusnet.com.au www.simcoat.com.au ……….....................................................
Coogee Sydney 0411664060 rollonuppainting@hotmail.com ……….....................................................
Redcliffe North Qld 4020 0425310710 sam@planetpaintingservices.com ……….....................................................
Ken Smyth Painting Pty Ltd
Norman Park Qld 4170 0412575226 Kennethsmyth1@bigpond.com ……….....................................................
Supply & Apply
(division of Omega Paints pty ltd ) Mount Druitt, nsw 2770 Phone : 1300 372 468 ash@omegapaints.com.au ……….....................................................
Alan Murray Painting Services Oxenford, QLD 4210 Phone : 0431 557 184 alanmurraypainter@gmail.com ……….....................................................
Urban Painting Pty Ltd Brisbane PH: 0422 397 541 Fax: (07) 3808 1494 urbanpainting@htmail.com
2014 September Issue | 47
The Industry Idiots
48 | Aussie Painters Network
Important Contacts Aussie Painters Network www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
Ph. 0430 399 800
Master Painters & Decorators Australia www.masterpainters.asn.au Ph. 08 9471 6662 National Institute for Painting and Decorating www.painters.edu.au Ph. 1300 319 790 Australian Tax Office www.ato.gov.au
Award Rates www.fairwork.gov.au
Ph. 13 72 26 / Ph. 13 28 65 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
Phone (02)62073000 13 10 50 1800 019 115 1300 369 915 1300 365 255 1800 136 089 1300 307 877
Cancer Council Australia ACT NSW NT QLD SA VIC WA
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
(02) 6257 9999 (02) 9334 1900 (08) 8927 4888 (07) 3634 5100 (08) 8291 4111 (03) 9635 5000 (08) 9212 4333 2014 September Issue | 49
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