About Business April 2015

SUCCESS

ENTREPRENEUR

INSPIRATION

BLOKES ABOUT TOWN

ONLINE MARKETING STRATEGIST AMANDA STEVENS

TOM POTTER BUILDS EAGLE BOYS PIZZA EMPIRE

THE TALENTED VOICE BEHIND BLINKY BILL ROBYN MOORE

RUNNING A BUSINESS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

INTRODUCING

REAL ESTATE Read about current real estate trends and much more.

This marketing guru shares the importance of Word of Mouse in driving business growth.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COASTʼS LEADING LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE www.profilemag.com.au

JACK AND CHRIS CHILDS

WELCOME to the second edition of About Business.

We received such positive feedback after the launch of our first issue we couldn’t wait to give you more!

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his month we bring you a special feature on Amanda Stevens who talks about Word of Mouse and the importance of businesses turning customers and clients into advocates online and offline to drive fast and inexpensive business growth.

The shift from word of mouth to word of mouse will change the way you think about your business.

We also catch up with voice-over extraordinaire Robyn Moore who is the voice behind iconic cartoon character Blinky Bill, and wellknown television commercials and jingles such as Spray and Wipe and Mr Sheen.

Let’s not forget Tom Potter, the man who grew Eagle Boys Pizza from a single store in a country town to a pizza empire. His story of success is sure to whet your appetite.

Ingrid Nelson again joins Rachael Yurko from Insurance Works and Matt Yurko from the Canapé Project to host Blokes About Town where local businessmen talk all things digital and what it takes to keep your business current in an ever-changing technological arena.

We hope you enjoy this issue of About Business as we continue to share interesting and uplifting stories coupled with the latest tips and tricks from professionals – everything you need when it comes to all things business.

For any enquiries or to be involved in the next About Business magazine email chris@chrischilds.com.au

WWW.CHRISCHILDS.COM.AU

2 | ABOUTBUSINESS

GERRY MORRIS

I am one of the lucky ones, I love my job bringing some of the most outstanding and inspiring speakers and personalities to the Sunshine Coast for you all to enjoy.

A

nd do we have an impressive calendar of events for you this year, there is something for everyone with our breakfast, lunch and evening presentations.

When we asked what you want, the answer was simple – more local success stories, more inspiring people and more FUN! And boy have we delivered.

Last month we kicked off Lunch with a Legend with none other than Shane Webcke. This was an exclusive opportunity to intimately chat with the Queensland legend while enjoying a two-course meal at The Surf Club Mooloolaba.

This was backed up by the highly anticipated breakfast event with Aussie icon and stalwart of Australian current affairs, Mr Ray Martin. Speaking to the 200-strong crowd, he delved into the highs and lows of his remarkable career spanning an incredible 40-odd-years.

This month is just as exciting with the number-one voice-over expert in the country, Robyn Moore heading to Maroochy RSL. She will make you feel ten foot tall and bulletproof – interesting fact, she is also the voice of Blinky Bill!

In July, well-known journalist, presenter and co-host of The Today Show, Lisa Wilkinson is coming to town to share her experiences on the silver screen and the journey she took to arrive where she is today. This is an event not to be missed.

Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with all these great events.

For a full list of events and dates go to www.thinkspeakersandevents.com.au Email gerry@thinkspeakersandevents.com.au

CONTENTS

4 6 10 13 14 16 18

ROBYN MOORE Most know her as the iconic voice of Blinky Bill, but there is much more to learn about Robyn Moore. Meet the woman behind the many voices.

BLOKES ABOUT TOWN We catch up with the movers and shakers in local business to talk all things digital and what it takes to stay current in the technological arena.

AMANDA STEVENS Find out the importance of Word of Mouse and its ability to drive fast and inexpensive business growth.

FIONA ROBERTS Fiona Roberts talks about how your business can effectively maintain positive client relationships.

TOM POTTER The story of Tom Potter who grew Eagle Boys Pizza from a single store in a country town to a pizza empire.

PIPPA COLMAN Pippa Colman warns of the dangers of STDs – Sexually Transmitted Debt.

BRIEFCASE We chat with Beatrice Agnew from Tanawha House and Casey Drummond from Studio Collective.

REAL ESTATE

20 24

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N E W!

GORDON MACDONALD Auctioneer Gordon Macdonald shares his passion for growing the local real estate industry.

REAL FACTS Learn the trends and predictions for the year ahead.

BUSINESS

VENUE Maroochy RSL Maroochydore TIME 5.30pm for 7pm start TICKETS $65 per person (drinks and nibbles included) TO SECURE YOUR TICKIT VISIT thinkspeakersandevents.com.au

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BUSINESS WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Robyn Moore is quintessentially Australian, mega talented and one of the country’s most sought after voice-over artists and speakers. Ingrid Nelson discovers what’s in store for audiences when she visits the Sunny Coast later this month.

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ou may not be familiar with the name Robyn Moore, but you have most certainly heard her many voices bringing to life some very famous advertising voiceovers/jingles on television over the years as well as some of Australia’s most well known cartoon characters, including the iconic Aussie koala – Blinky Bill!

A talented actress, singer, comedian and one of Australia’s finest voiceover artists, Robyn has been entertaining audiences for over 40 years and loving every minute of it.

She was born in Tasmania, but grew up in the Queensland outback.

Robyn credits her idyllic upbringing for allowing her imagination to run wild and knew from a very early age, her calling was to be on stage in one form or another.

“It was present when I was four,” says Robyn. “I loved listening to the the wireless serials like Smokey Dawson and copying all the voices.

When I was at high school I did drama and I would record silly voices for sick friends.”

Robyn’s career started in the classroom as a primary school teacher, however her love of acting continued and as a first year teacher, she was asked to play “Nancy” in the musical Oliver. The Director, Di Drew (now head of Film and TV at NIDA) invited Robyn to audition as a voice-over artist for ABC Educational Radio Programs and the rest, as they say, is history.

“I stood in front of the microphone at the ABC on a Monday night at 7pm and it hit me! I thought this is the window to the world, this is what I want to do.”

Robyn’s voice has sold millions of dollars worth of products in iconic radio and TV ads over the years – remember the Spray n’ Wipe and Mr Sheen jingles? She also created all the female characters in the irreverent radio program How Green Was My Cactus, since its first recording in 1986. The political satire, still recorded in Sydney every week, has become the longest running series in the history of Australian radio.

But perhaps Robyn’s most recognisable voice is that of the lovable koala we have all grown up with - Blinky Bill!

“Blinky Bill was created by a New Zealand woman Dorothy Wall in the 1930s. He was brought to life by Australian animator Yoram Gross in the 1980s and he asked me to create a voice for him,” says Robyn.

“I based him on a favourite child I had taught at school, Scottie Howells. He was like a little Steve Irwin. He was mischievous, he loved nature and he loved life.”

A national patron of Make-A-Wish Australia, Robyn says she has experienced the magic of Blinky’s character through her work with Wish children, social workers, health professionals and parents over the years.

“I call it the Blinky bomb. It’s so healing, it’s what you do with the voice – his spirit has the power to sometimes change children’s emotions and physiology. After a Blinky call to Alysha, a five-year-old Wish child

with Cystic Fibrosis, the doctor said, ‘Her lung-function has increased dramatically!’ It’s really extraordinary!”

Drawing on her many years of experience in the arts, education, and her passion to change lives through the power of words, Robyn Moore is also recognised as one of Australia’s most sought-after speakers.

Her exuberance and authentic Aussie larrikinism is her trademark and she has been wowing audiences for many years with her inspiring and thought-provoking presentations.

“In my speaking, it’s a lot about timing. When to make the audience laugh and when to tell a story we can all have a cry about,” she says.

“Every 60 seconds I deliver what I call a ‘bugger me’ moment - where the audience stops, listens and gets the message. It’s a passion to hit them between the eyeballs and in their hearts and spirit.”

At 64-years-of-age, Robyn says it’s all about knowing what your purpose is … and hers is inspiring to say the least.

“Be an irresistible invitation to participate in life. Everything that comes out of my mouth is an invitation to participate in life and I have to make it irresistible,” she says.

“My Make-A-Wish children have taught me to live with urgency before the emergency. All of our best behaviours and characteristics come out when we are facing an emergency, otherwise we live a tepid life, where we are neither hot nor cold and just coast through life.

“It is so important to get authorship – the capacity to invent who you want to be right now. Little children get that faster than adults.

Children have shared with me that they will be kindness, enduring, clever…open-hearted etc.”

As Robyn and I share many laughs throughout the interview, it is obvious her love of humour is a big part of her message and indeed her success.

“When you laugh you turn up in your life. Humour is a great tool.

When people laugh I can go ‘wham’ and jam in a ‘bugger me’ moment, because people are present when they are laughing,” she says.

“People say my presentations are like a rollercoaster ride into themselves. My intention is to give people the gift called … YOU … so you can be your authentic self.”

I can’t help but replay my interview with Robyn in my mind throughout the remainder of the day. Those famous jingles and wellknown characters have a face to them now and I can’t wait to be part of the audience when she brings her magic to Sunshine Coast audiences later this month.

DON’T MISS ROBYN MOORE WHEN SHE VISITS THE SUNSHINE COAST ON THURSDAY, 30 APRIL. TO BOOK TICKETS, CONTACT GERRY MORRIS ON 54304714 OR GO TO WWW.THINKSPEAKERSANDEVENTS.COM.AU

5 | ABOUTBUSINESS

SCOTT ROBERTS

JAMIE GRIGG

BUSINESS

SIMON BUDDEN

DAVE PHILLIPS

SCOTT BURTON

GERRY MORRIS

blokes about town When I began my career as a young journalist, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter weren’t even part of the vernacular. In fact, the internet was so slow back then, I could make a cup of coffee while the information downloaded! Can you imagine if that was the case today!

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WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS WADE FUGE SPONSORED BY RACHAEL YURKO INSURANCE WORKS CATERING THE CANAPE PROJECT

t’s hard to believe Facebook, which is now regarded as part of our social fabric, was only launched just over 10 years ago, with Instagram following six years later in 2010. Both mediums have jettisoned many new businesses into almost overnight success, and let’s face it, there are not too many businesses today who could survive without joining the digital age. I recently sat down with a savvy bunch of businessmen over a delicious lunch created by talented chef Matt Yurko of the Canape Project to discuss how the digital age has affected the way they do business and the importance of being up to speed with the latest social media tools to enhance their marketing power and ultimately their bottom line. Co-hosting the lunch was Rachael Yurko, owner of Insurance Works, joining us was my partner in crime, Gerry Morris, of Think Speakers and Events; Dave Philips of Total Creative Constructions; Scott Roberts, CEO of IBN Direct Solutions; Scott Burton, senior account manager with Southern Cross Ten; Simon Budden, CEO of iManageIT and last but not least, Jamie Grigg of JGI Insurance. profile: Do you use social media as part of your business and is it important to you? scott roberts: It’s everything to us. In the finance world, we work with a lot of dinosaurs – people who have been in the industry for 50

years and don’t have a website. We probably use social media more than most but probably not to its full extent. It is growing though and we have plans to hire someone this year to coordinate our social media. Linkedin in particular has been a fantastic tool. It’s a big part of our business. We also use hootsuite. I would say 60 to 70 per cent of our business comes through our social media. We organised a charity golf day last year entirely through social media. dave: I have a Facebook page and it’s good. It gives you a chance to reach a lot more people. It gives you credibility. It lets people see what you can do at a glance and that you are serious about what you do. I think it also helps for word of mouth too. I started to post DIY building advice when I started the business but I have not had as much time recently. I do want to work more on it and I am interested in how to boost my posts to my targeted audience. scott roberts: With Linkedin, I can actually choose who I want to target, for example accountants in Sydney. I wouldn’t expect to get a lead from Facebook. It’s really just a landing page to direct people to your website. simon: I joined Facebook seven years ago to find out what my kids were doing. Then about three years later I hopped off because I found out and didn’t want to know anymore! About a year or so ago, the lightbulb went on as far as how it could work for my business.

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Facebook is a way of having a five-minute conversation with your client over a sixmonth period. It gives you credibility. It shows them you have knowledge. We are really starting to work it a lot more. I haven’t used Linkedin but want to look into it more. jamie: I find Linkedin far superior to the other networks because you are targeting people who are making the decisions. I have had requests from people who own finance and real estate companies, in an ordinary world you don’t get that connection. I am a one-man-band so I am everything in my business. It’s only in the last six months I have started to develop my social media knowledge and put more time and effort into it. scott roberts: If you don’t use social media you will be left behind. simon: We have employed someone to look after our social media full time. They are fantastic. If you are a client and you go to our oppositions’ websites, within two days, our ad will come up on your newsfeed! It’s amazing what you can do if you know how! gerry: Social media has been a huge driver for the Think Speakers and Events brand as we have been able to engage with an audience we just weren’t reaching before.

The help of people liking and sharing our posts has been invaluable as it really is the best form of word of mouth imaginable. profile: How has social media affected how you do business? scott burton: Certainly it has made an impact on traditional broadcast media including radio, television and newspapers.

But it’s probably only in the last year businesses are using social media and TV together. The Bachelor is a great example of this. It set records last year, viewers

“If you DON’T USE SOCIAL MEDIA, you will be left behind.”

– Scott Roberts were interacting on the Facebook site and watching TV at the same time. Great from an interaction point of view. It has made an impact no doubt but it doesn’t replace what we do. rachael: I am definitely using social media in my business. I have already done some courses and am using the tips and tricks I have learned. It’s easy once you know how! I have someone who comes and helps me one day per week with various things including social media. It’s essential. scott burton: My partner started a business four months ago and has singlehandedly used Instagram to launch it. She has gone from 100 followers to 1200 in the space of three months. She has posted products to the US, Denmark and Hong Kong, and has had 30 to 40 sales across Australia. Her business would not have survived without it, it would not have sustained itself locally.

Twenty years ago it would have been unimaginable. gerry: Social media has been an incredible tool in describing the market we are speaking to and when it is the best time to communicate and engage with them. Then there is the instant feedback we receive, which again is just fantastic and it gives us our best chance to spread our reach and grow the events. Everything and anything is possible once you become a part of people’s social interests.

DUCK AND WATERMELON SALAD

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BUSINESS

profile: How have you educated yourself in social media? scott roberts: I spend a great deal of my time on a computer so from the time I get into the office until I finish late at night, the computer is on. I am a self-learner, I haven’t done any courses. I have staff who run my general business, so I get to be able to play with a lot of that stuff. I have learned a lot along the way too. My wife Fiona is actually much more savvy than me. jamie: You have to keep learning too because there are going to be even more mediums and networks … this is not the end. scott roberts: Instagram is the second biggest social forum in the world now. They started with $30,000 capital.

We catch up with insurance expert Rachael Yurko to answer some frequently asked questions for our readers. profile: What is the difference between direct insurance versus retail? rachael: Like most things – these days consumers have a number of different avenues to pursue when looking for life insurance. You can buy direct, through your Industry Super Fund, your bank, or an insurance broker or financial planner. When it comes to insurance held through industry funds, many of us don’t even know it exists – and the vast majority of Australians settle for the default level of life insurance offered (one recent study reported 65 per cent). profile: What’s wrong with that? rachael: When you consider that the level of cover is often well below $200,000 – and the average cost of a family home on the Sunshine Coast is sitting around $500,000 – it’s nowhere near enough. But it’s not just the minimal amount of cover offered as a default – each super fund has its own trust deed attached, and the ways they administer their insurance differs vastly. For instance, many funds do not commence insurance coverage until the time that your first on-time employer contribution is received. This can be up to three months after you commence employment – and not all employers pay on time. Super funds can deduct insurance premium payments from your account (putting it into a negative) before you are actually covered.

Many funds will reduce your level of cover as you get older. Just because you start with one level of insurance, don’t assume you will continue to have that much cover as time goes on. While initially the price of income protection, or salary continuance cover can seem appealing through an industry super fund – it often works out more expensive when compared to cover through a retail fund.

The default waiting period is often 60, or even 90 days before you qualify for a payment. This means after four months of being off work due to sickness or accident, you will receive your first payment, replacing just one month’s pay. Bet your bills didn’t stop, did they?

The above differences are just a starting point – and while some industry funds do offer good value, at the end of the day – it pays to seek advice. Many brokers don’t charge a fee to look into your insurance for you, and any recommendations to make changes should always come with a comparison of existing versus recommended cover. Life’s full of surprises … are you ready?

After last month’s incredible selection of dishes lovingly created by Matt Yurko of the Canape Project, I didn’t think it could get much better … however the clever Sunshine Coast chef pulled out the goods to delight us all yet again, this time with an Asian twist.

Each mouthful of food was a gastronomic explosion in the mouth. Using only the freshest, local ingredients, Matt created a combination of flavours that jumped off the plate.

The trio of courses perfectly complementing each other.

Kicking off with an Asian taste plate, the beautifullypresented morsels were melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I must admit, although I am not usually a fan of duck, the main dish of shredded duck and watermelon salad changed my opinion – fresh and light, the flavour was incredible. My sweet tooth was more than satisfied with the pandan sticky rice dessert, and judging from the clean plates around the table, the Asian-infused dish was a hit all round. I can’t wait to see what Matt has in store next time!

ASIAN TASTE PLATE

Moreton bay bug, betel leaf, kaffir lime and coconut cream Mooloolaba prawns, Hunan salt, gunpowder sauce Steamed pork shumai, chilli jam Salted pork, tamarind caramel, lettuce cup Swordfish skewer, red curry sauce MAIN

Duck and watermelon salad, cashews, herbs, hoisin dressing DESSERT

Pandan sticky rice, with mango, palm sugar and coconut TO BOOK YOUR NEXT EVENT, CALL THE CANAPÉ PROJECT 0432 503 282 WWW.THECANAPEPROJECT.NET.AU

8 | ABOUTBUSINESS

BUSINESS

“I was very driven and very hungry to learn. One of the keys to business is to always be learning always developing, always growing, always improving.�

WORDS CARLY REES PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Amanda Stevens is a “pocket rocket” dominating the marketing world, sharing the stage with the likes of Richard Branson and Bob Geldof. Carly Rees delves into the life of the marketing and sales guru.

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eading the words, “thank you for saving my business and my marriage”, from a happy client recently reinforced the work Amanda is doing in helping to boost our economy and push local businesses into the next era. This business owner who recently attended one of her conferences emailed her saying he was ready to shut up shop after 15 years until he heard her speak.

How does she describe this feeling of knowing she has saved someone’s business?

“Amazing. Amazing. Absolutely amazing,” says Amanda.

“He (the business owner) was jaded and ready to shut the door and now he feels reinvigorated and re-inspired. It is a real rush, I have got to tell you. It is something I do not take for granted.”

Amanda grew up in Noosa and attended Noosa High School. She then followed her dreams of a marketing career excelling at university in Brisbane and in the last year of her degree was employed by a local marketing firm while completing her study.

“It was a really cool time for me and a great opportunity where I was travelling with international experts like Jay Abraham,” says Amanda. “I was headhunted for a 12-month project in Sydney and my original plan was to only stay for 12 months.”

Her journey was to change however, and by the time her contract finished she was also working with five steady freelance clients and decided to branch out on her own to see where it would lead her.

At the age of 21 Amanda grew her business SPLASH to a point she was taking on her own staff and managing accounts for some of the biggest businesses in Australia and the world.

“I had no idea what I was doing when I started but I don’t regret it and my advice to people is always just start,” says Amanda. “I don’t think it matters how old you are, business is all about failing fast and learning. I think the younger you are the better.”

In 2000 Amanda was named Young Business Woman of the Year

by Sydney Business Review and in December 2002 won the Young Australian of the Year Award for Career Achievement in New South Wales. In 2003 she was awarded the prestigious centenary medal by the Governor General for business innovation.

These awards set Amanda on her next course in life sharing her

knowledge in Australia and across the world on her research in understanding customer behaviour and building customer advocacy.

She now imparts her knowledge at more than 80 conferences each year across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

“When I was named Young Business Woman of the Year I was asked to speak at a lot of different events and I was terrible,” remembers Amanda.

“I hated it. I would be physically ill five minutes before I would go on to speak but I just saw the power of inspiring business and giving them ideas, perspective and values. The better I got at it, the more I enjoyed it and the more I enjoyed it, the better I got at it.”

By 2007 Amanda sold half of her business to an investor and by 2011 sold the remaining half to a multi-national and went to the United States for a year. Amanda spent her time in Chicago co-writing a book, speaking and consulting across the United States.

At a recent Think Business conference, Amanda spoke on the topic of Word of Mouse where she shared five keynote topics that could be mixed and matched to different themes focusing on increasing customers.

“There is a real shift going on right now for customer advocacy and there is a real shift going on from word of mouth to word of mouse,” says Amanda. “It is an area where big brands are either asleep, too

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BUSINESS

AHEAD of her game

BUSINESS

“I had no idea what I was doing when I started but I don’t regret it and MY ADVICE to people is always JUST START.”

nervous or too caught up in their red tape to fully be able to take advantage of it. If a business can create and turn their existing clients into advocates both online and offline it basically means fast and inexpensive business growth.”

A common threat that puts a business on hold with expanding in the online environment is the fear of not having enough time. Amanda has found that businesses are already overwhelmed with the everyday running of business. “There are so many really cool technology tools available now so that it (expanding online) doesn’t have to be an arduous thing,” says Amanda.

Audiences have described Amanda as a “pocket rocket, a “breath of fresh air”, a “whirlwind of ideas” and “worth attending a conference for”. It is her comedic approach that makes her stand out and allows her to reach out to business owners and get the facts to sink in.

“I was very driven and very hungry to learn, one of the keys to business is to always be learning, always developing, always growing, always improving,” says Amanda. “I think the mistake a lot of business owners make is trying to maintain the status-quo and not changing anything. If you are doing that you are actually going backwards.”

Amanda is confident in this economic climate there is an opportunity for small business to create what she calls the “one per centers”.

“This means doing things to create great customer experiences, leveraging technology and also innovating. If you can get those three things right you have got a real competitive advantage.”

Next on the horizon for Amanda is her fifth book all about customer service and how small business can “create world class customer service”.

She will be jet setting off on a world tour for the study where she will work with a few places that are known for their superb customer service including the Disney Institute, Amazon and the Trump organisation.

For now Amanda is enjoying falling in love with her hometown Noosa all over again after making the sea change back home a year ago.

“I feel like I have come full circle and I am really lucky with what I do now that I can be based anywhere,” says Amanda.

“It’s really nice to be home … when you grow up in a place like Noosa you have no idea how beautiful it is because you have nothing to compare it to, so it’s nice to be back falling in love with the area in a whole new way.”

WORD OF MOUSE FIVE KEYNOTE TOPICS 1. Your existing customer base is your most underutilised marketing asset. Turning your existing clients into unpaid, walking advertisements for your business is the quickest, most cost effective way to grow your business.

2. Know who your strongest advocates are likely to be.

The research shows that if women have a great customer experience, they’re 5-10 times more likely than men to engage in positive, active word of mouth. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t try to turn your male clients into advocates, but just know that you’ll generally get a greater level of advocacy from women (because we talk more!)

3. Never strive for ‘satisfied’ clients. Way too many businesses strive for customer satisfaction, which is not enough to drive advocacy. When was the last time you raved about a business that you left feeling completely ‘satisfied’?

Only through exceeding expectations, surprising and delighting your customers will you get them talking about you at dinner parties, at barbecues and on social media.

4. The little things are the big things.

Creating memorable customer experiences that lead to raving fans starts with doing the little things well. Look at what other world class brands are doing in other industries and look at how you can replicate it in your business. It’s the five-star touches you add to your service offering that people will remember and talk about.

5. Social media is not a strategy – it’s merely another vehicle. Social media provides you with a medium that amplifies word of mouth so it becomes word of mouse. But you have to give you clients and customers something to talk about. It has to start with the experience.

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BUSINESS

ALL ABOUT AWESOME FIONA ROBERTS | ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE

It is absolutely essential to nurture a superior culture of customer service within your business and team. Happy clients assist with the growth of your company through repeat visits and greater spend, and word-of-mouth referrals are hard to beat. Small business mentor Fiona Roberts addresses the importance of customer service and how your business can effectively maintain positive client relationships.

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n our businesses we are supported by some wonderful professionals who we outsource certain aspects of our operations to. Mainly things like bookwork, IT, legal, accounting – essentially, the things we aren’t experts at or we don’t have to control. We love these guys, because they let us focus on what we are great at. Outsourcing just makes sense.

On the whole, I can (and do) recommend these professionals as shining stars in their field. But recently something tarnished my glowing opinion of one of our support professionals. One team member, in one of the companies we outsource to, began to exude a “not my job” attitude and was incredibly difficult to deal with … and unfortunately, it affected my relationship with an otherwise amazing company. It was nothing huge, and was easily rectifiable, but it did get under my skin, and I wasn’t happy.

Fortunately, I was lucky enough to have an excellent relationship with several other team members in this company, and when I picked up the phone, they were: a) embarrassed by what had happened; and b) proactive in terms of finding a solution. And if we are being completely honest here, THEY were lucky too. Because of the strength of our relationship and how they handled the situation, they retained our business and our respect.

The awesome thing about having something like this happen, is it gives us the opportunity to reconsider our own attitudes in similar circumstances. And I’m all about awesome. No-one can escape the reality that poor customer service will damage a business. And unfortunately, clients who have had a bad experience, will usually talk about it. Never ever forget that your clients pay your salary and make your job possible.

So, ask yourself some questions: Do you LISTEN to your clients?

Do you treat them as individuals and make them feel appreciated?

Do you look for ways to help them and anticipate their needs? Most customers will listen to their heart over their head – they buy good feelings and solutions. Treat them as individuals, make them feel loved, and above all, be sincere. Everyone values sincerity. People know when you are just going through the motions.

Do you give your clients more than they expect? Do you have systems in place to ensure all of this happens? And – in the worst

“Excellence is not a skill – it’s an attitude” ~ RALPH MARSTON case scenario – do you know how to apologise and take ownership of an issue? Saying sorry is easy, and customers appreciate it. Make sure you deal with any issues immediately, and let the customer know what you’ve done to fix the problem. Like it or not, when things go wrong, it gives you an opportunity to improve and raise the standards of your business. Value customer complaints for what they are – pure gold.

And one last thing to consider – how do your clients interact with your business? Do they have more than one person who they can speak to? In my case, there were at least two other people I felt comfortable talking to – which allowed me to raise my issue, rather than remain frustrated. Do your clients have alternatives?

Asking these simple questions of yourself and your team, and actioning the answers, can help your business really excel. And while you are asking yourself these questions, consider your team. Showing your team appreciation and respect is probably going to improve their attitude towards customer service. Make them feel important too! Let’s face it – the easiest customer to find, is the one who you already know – all you need to do is make them feel special!

Fiona has many hats. She and her husband Scott own IBN Direct: Alternative Funding Solutions, a small business mentor, blogger, celebrant, wife and mother.

Check out her website www.allaboutawesome.com.au

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BUSINESS

SLICE WORDS CARLY REES PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Tom Potter is of the opinion that it doesn’t matter “whether you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth or the thumb of one of your hands”.

The man who came from little and grew Eagle Boys Pizza from a single store in a country town to a pizza empire, certainly proved this to be true. Carly Rees sits down with Tom Potter to talk business.

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TOM POTTER

hen Chief Brody spots the great white shark Jaws in the classic horror film and says, “You’re going to need a bigger boat” to the captain, Tom Potter couldn’t help but liken this to his first day behind the counter at Eagle Boys Pizza.

With 15 staff on board and his mother Barbara as partner, Tom, aged 23, wasn’t prepared for the success this pizza shop in Albury, New South Wales instantly achieved and knew he needed a “bigger nest”.

“It was very exciting with high levels of energy and excitement and lots of fun,” says Tom of his first day. I was extremely motivated to succeed for various reasons, including the fact your mother is your partner and you don’t want her to be financially disadvantaged.

“But I also think that you carry a much higher risk profile in your own nature when you are that young, and I know now that I am 50, I look at things differently, and a whole lot more carefully, and a whole lot more strategically.”

He said he expected it to be busy but not like it was on the evening of 11 February, 1987 when he opened the doors at 4.30pm and the phone didn’t stop ringing, all the while the line increased onto the street in the steamy summer heat. He likens the instant success not to the delicious taste but to the first two rules of business, “number one; be first and number two; be best.”

Fast-forward to 2014/15 and Tom found himself semi-retired in Brisbane enjoying golf, AFL and raising his five-year-old son, Max, after selling his company that grew to become

14 | ABOUTBUSINESS

USI

NES MA ST IPS STR KE S U ATE RE GY YO IS R UR IGH H T AVE AP OIN  MA TO K FD THE E SU IFF “GU RE Y ERE NCE TS” OU H AN AV D“ E DR IVE ”



ESS

SUR “Number one; BE FIRST and number two; BE BEST.”

one of Australia’s home-grown retail and franchise successes, in 2007.

Looking back he has a long list of achievements associated with the growth of Eagle Boys Pizza including being named Australian Young Business Person of the Year by the Australian Financial Review and being awarded a scholarship to attend Harvard Business School. He graduated Class Valedictorian and gave the valedictory speech.

Now Tom dedicates his time to helping other businesses find the success he did as a director on various boards and as a speaker at functions across Australia, New Zealand, the United States and South Africa. He is a motivating and powerful speaker who leaves audiences wanting more, ready to encounter their business problems and empowering them to move forward.

“When you have done it for 30 years, you have made a lot of mistakes and you have learnt a lot,” says Tom. “I think the biggest thing for me about what I do (public speaking) is that it gets you back in the community. You get to see a lot of people in new business doing new and interesting things.”

Tom has three pieces of solid advice for anyone starting a business: One; make sure you have a solid point of difference. Two; make sure you advertise it. Three; be prepared to evolve and change the business model to constantly stay ahead of the game.

From 1987 to 1991 Tom says business was solid but slow in growth and they opened about five stores a year. Then once the ‘90s took off, Eagle Boys Pizza started opening about 10 to 20 stores a year before pumping out the same amount in New Zealand. It was at this point when the store started competing against new businesses, with the same concept under the heat of the price wars, Tom started to prepare for a change in the new century.

Once the 2000s rolled in, Eagle Boys Pizza changed its face forever and Tom and his team invented the two-minute pizza and drive

through. Looking back Tom says, “this was a real crossroad for us that took us into a hugely different direction”.

One thing Tom wants to make sure all businesses he supports have established before taking the leap, is to make sure their strategy is thoroughly developed. Even with all the ups and downs he encountered, he stayed true to his strategy and sure enough his business and others he has advised have continued to succeed.

“It is all about strategy. You can get up and run a business with a strategy, but the strategy has got to be right,” says Tom. “Everyone talks about business plans and I agree, but business plans are irrelevant unless the strategy is right. If the strategy is right, you have half a chance of getting a decent business plan to put into play.”

In the beginning it was difficult for Tom to get top-notch advice in the community he lived in. He remembered talking to his father, Ron who owned a small soft drink business for many years in Beachmere, Victoria, who struggled for the first few years and had no one to turn to for advice. When Tom made the move to Brisbane, he found he was surrounded by advice from associations and brought a board of directors into the Eagle Boys Pizza business, allowing the company to again evolve.

“My number one tip is for people to surround themselves with some good quality advice,” says Tom. “And use mentors, or more to the point use people who are going to help them and advise them without any hidden agenda. If you have a look at a lot of these guys who are coming through hard (in business) now, they have two or three people behind them who have done it 20 years before.”

“It is ALL ABOUT STRATEGY. You can get up and run a business with a strategy, but the strategy has GOT TO BE RIGHT.”

If you want to explore more about Tom check out his book, which sold more than 10,000 copies, The Eagle Boys Pizza Story, which tracks the 20-year story of Eagle Boys Pizza.

15 | ABOUTBUSINESS

BUSINESS

ʼS B

OU PL A T N



R GO OUND OD ITʼS QU YOUR ALI THE NOT T Y SELF W AD B U ALL VIC ITH S I N AB E



TOM

PROFILE

PIPPA COLMAN SOLICITOR Pippa Colman & Associates Solicitors

STEP-PARENTING and blended families Some parents – having survived death, divorce or separation – find a new loving relationship and remarry or form a blended de facto family.

The problem is that blended families or step-families generally don’t “blend” quickly.

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I

f the parents first lay a foundation and apply some common sense, then the blended family has a greater chance of success. From what I have seen over the past 40 years working and dealing with blended families, these things can make or break a blended family: Go slowly. Try living in two separate households before you blend the family.

Regardless of whether the marriage or relationship ended by divorce, separation or the passing of one of the parents, give the children on both sides time to grieve.

If your blended family is not working, don’t be afraid to seek some professional help and support from a counsellor or psychologist. You can obtain a referral from your family doctor.

Aim low and avoid disappointment. You may have an expectation that your family will be like the Brady Bunch. However, the reality is that your new partner’s kids may not like you. Your partner may not like your kids. The love and affection that you hope for may not come for a while.

16 | ABOUTBUSINESS

Let the children set the pace in becoming close to a new parent. Shy children may need a chance to warm up to a new parent.

If you are consistent, patient, interested and caring, most children will give you a chance.

Try to walk a mile in the other person’s shoes. These kids you are wanting to parent may not want you. They may still be tied to their old family and resent you.

Hang in there. Treat each other with respect, take it easy and be realistic. Within two years, you may have a successful blended family.

Make rules. You and your partner must have common rules and clear boundaries for your new family.

Discipline. The children must be disciplined by a natural parent, and not a step-parent. The natural parent must be the enforcer.

Choose your battles wisely. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Have fun. Make sure you make time to have some fun in the new family.

Date nights. Nurture the relationship with your new partner and keep it special.

Have some date nights with your partner.

If your blended family is not working, don’t be afraid to seek some professional help and support from a counsellor or psychologist. You can obtain a referral from your family doctor.

Like all great things in life, blended families need some effort and the rewards are endless.

BUSINESS PROMOTION

backup your business EAN HUNGERFORD

T

he reliance on computer systems has become an integral part of modern day life. Most small to medium businesses would not function if their computer system was offline for any length of time.

The single most critical component of any IT system (whether it be SME (small to medium enterprises) or simply home users) is a wellplanned and secure backup solution. Every computer user is made aware that this is the case, but many take it for granted that their backups are being done. Many times people only find out that it has not been working or not done at all when it is too late.

When there is a catastrophe with the system, the main computer (usually a file server) will need to be up and running as quickly as possible. These catastrophes can be outside events (fire, floods, etc) or computer failure (hard disk drive failure, accidental deletion of data, etc). If there is no full backup of the main part of the system, it can take days to restore it to the same status as when the problems occurred. Most businesses cannot afford this type of interruption which will result in major costs in both setup and lost business.

Another important feature of a structured backup solution is that the backups are regularly checked to ensure that they are actually running and have backed up the correct data. Simply checking the backup logs is not adequate. Most backup software enables test or dummy restores to be performed to prove that the data is being backed up.

There also needs to be an offsite storage plan, which retains a secure copy of the most recent backup completely offsite. This can be backup tapes, portable hard disk drives or USB drives. The offsite solution also needs to be regularly checked to ensure that the data has been successfully saved. There are also a variety of online offsite solutions offered by reputable companies. The best suited offsite plan will usually depend on budget considerations.

A well planned backup solution (particularly for SMEs) will include: ✓

A facility to reinstall the main system as quickly as possible

✓

At least a daily backup of the critical data

✓

A test plan to ensure that the backup is working

✓

Offsite storage of backups

✓

A recovery procedures plan for emergency restores

All computer users hope they will never need to use a backup, but ensuring there is a well planned solution in place will result in much less pain if they do.

Check your backup plan! Is it being performed correctly?

To discuss any of the issues raised in this feature, contact Ean Hungerford at SafeData Solutions.

Call 0419 703 114, email info@safedata.com.au or visit www.safedata.com.au.

17 | ABOUTBUSINESS

BRIEFCASE

WORDS ANNA RAWLINGS AND NICOLE FUGE

beatrice agnew

Casey Drummond

Tanawha House Location: Tanawha

B

eatrice Agnew breathed new life into Tanawha House when her family relocated to the Sunshine Coast from the south coast of New South Wales two years ago.

As an interior designer for over 10 years, Beatrice brings to the table a wealth of experience in commercial, retail and private homes.

Beatrice’s portfolio earned her a stunning reputation in her hometown of 30 years and she wishes to continue creating beautiful interiors on the Sunshine Coast.

“The family move to the Sunshine Coast gave me the opportunity to expand the design business. Finding Tanawha House gave me the perfect location to not only set up a design studio but to also incorporate homewares, soft furnishings, giftwares and even an elegant tea house.”

“The biggest joy from my work is seeing them happy with their space” Beatrice and her husband, Grant and their children now live in the private residence, which was once part of the old store, and have renovated an industrial space on the property to become the interior design store and tea house.

“I was brought up in a warm and welcoming home and love taking care of my guests. Visiting the store at Tanawha House is like coming into my home,” Beatrice smiles.

“There are three parts to our store; the interior design services, the continuation of the original antiques and furniture business with the addition of soft furnishings, fabrics, homewares and giftware, and of course the tea house, complete with high tea and group bookings.

The tea house is proving to be a popular choice for special events.”

Beatrice has also recently launched Tanawha House Workshop Series, providing creative classes to teach people everything from styling, crochet, flower arrangement and decorative paint application.

“At the moment our Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint classes are very popular. A 100 per cent natural paint that can go on just about anything with little or low preparation.

“I adore working with clients and creating a home or room that they fall in love with. A visit to Tanawha House will be sure to delight.

“Experience Tanawha House and let’s discover your style.”

G

Studio Collective Location: Maroochydore

rowing up, Casey Drummond had a passion and appreciation for all things creative. Now in adult-life she has drawn on that passion to co-create her very own interior design studio.

Casey says as a designer and business owner of Studio Collective, she strives to be recognised for being approachable and fair, with an approach that is stylish and considered.

“Studio Collective is, first and foremost, focused on people and their experience of a space,” she says. “As a firm, we are never focused on one definitive style. We love to strip things back to their essence, striving for dignity and character.

“... be involved in something you love, follow your instincts and enter unselfconsciously.”

“Our goal is to grow our business organically through being great at what we do and building long-term relationships with our clients. Eventually we would love to have offices in major cities like Brisbane and Melbourne.”

From an early age, Casey worked in her family’s business as a decorator.

“My grandmother began In Curtains & Blinds over 30 years ago, working alongside my mother,” she says. “Watching their warm interaction with people, creative style and their leadership skills have really set the bar for me. I feel that this is a driving force for me to succeed in my own venture.”

Now, standing on her own two feet, Casey says her best advice for people wanting to follow their dreams and start their own business is to believe in themselves.

“The most important thing is to be involved in something you love, follow your instincts and enter unselfconsciously,” she says.

“There will be many people with varying opinions but you need to have the confidence to believe in what you feel is right.”

18 | ABOUTBUSINESS

REAL ESTATE 20 24

PEOPLE

Auctioneer Gordon Macdonald hits the right note

REAL FACTS

Learn the trends and predictions for the year ahead

19 | ABOUTBUSINESS

PEOPLE

THE RIGHT NOTE

GORDON MACDONALD. SHOT ON LOCATION AT SOLBAR, MAROOCHYDORE

WORDS NICOLE FUGE PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

When Gordon Macdonald resigned from his musical career, the showmanship of an auctioneer proved to be attractive.

But what started as a way of feeding the performer within has swelled to see him look at the bigger picture and give back to the industry that has served him so well.

T

he crowd is gathering and excitement swells in the air. It’s almost time for Gordon Macdonald to go on. With his weapon of choice in his right hand, loosely hanging between his thumb and middle finger, it’s instrumental in Gordon’s performance today.

“Ladies and gentleman,” bellows through the crowd and they gasp in anticipation, some are so excited they’re already waving their hands in the air.

Gordon’s career as a successful auctioneer has the ability to make him feel like he’s lapsing into the days of being a musician – both roles see him command the attention of a crowd and both give him a great sense of satisfaction.

Gordon, now living on the Sunshine Coast, was born and raised in Glen Innes where he says he had the best of living

in a small town and the benefit of growing up with a farming background.

“My mum’s a musician and an artist so I grew up in a very creative household, I gravitated to music and the guitar, so that’s where I started my guitar journey,” he says. “She taught me to play when I was young, about 12.

He went on to study guitar full time at Southern Cross University at Lismore and played the live music circuit in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. Gordon was halfway through his degree and by that time, fully immersed in the local music industry, but he came to a crossroads – to continue down this familiar path or venture onto the road of the unknown?

Then aged in his early 20s, Gordon went home where his mum encouraged him to buy a house for $38,000.

20 | ABOUTBUSINESS

“I got a first home buyer’s grant, so it cost me $31,000, that enabled me to purchase my first home,” he reflects.

“The principal of the agency I bought the property from at LJ Hooker offered me a job and I instantly said yes, left Lismore and came back to my home town.”

And his timing couldn’t be better, it was early 2000s and the beginning of the property boom. “It was very exciting, but as I’d also just arrived in the industry it was all I knew, so I thought this is great!” Gordon enthuses.

“Investors were buying property in Glen Innes because it was so affordable and they were yielding great returns. I was selling land for $3000 and $4000 and homes for $60,000 to $80,000 and we were renting them out for $170 a week, so they were good investments.”

During this time Gordon grew hungry to nurture his interest and began investing in real estate, buying and selling and conducting small developments like splitting blocks and building secondary homes.

Even when he wasn’t working, he couldn’t stop working and while on a holiday to the Sunshine Coast, Gordon bought a house in Buderim with his older and younger brothers. Having been used to buying smaller and cheaper investments, this was a big deal.

“I lived with my younger brother, then we ended up selling it, which leveraged into further investments,” he says.

Upon his move to the Coast, Gordon began working with Ray White for a few years and developed his career by calling more auctions.

“I always wanted to be an auctioneer,” he says with a grin. “My first principal was an auctioneer within a Stock and Station Agency, so there were always stock auctioneers around and I really gravitated towards that.

“I started auctioneering conducting clearing sales. We would auction farm machinery, stock, household goods, the liquidation of a whole farm – we would do a couple of those a month. It’s great for an auctioneer to cut their teeth in this space.”

After calling auctions for a while with the Ray White group, he came to yet another crossroads – to call auctions full time or continue general sales. On the day he made the decision to continue as a full time independent auctioneer, he crossed paths with Jason Andrew, the owner of a successful national auction company.

Almost five years and thousands of auctions later, Gordon conducts auctions nationally and in New Zealand.

“Being an auctioneer has lead me to witness our industry in great depth. Dealing with multiple market places, servicing agents of all walks of life, from rookies to the highly experienced and the pleasure of dealing with their clients on auction day,” he says.

“We can sell a multi-million dollar home in Noosa at 10am and then at 11am I’m addressing a crowd looking to purchase a $200,000 unit in Marcoola.

“On a Saturday I’ll call auctions on the hour from 9am to 5pm and could start in Caloundra and end up in Noosa, via the Hinterland.”

Because Gordon is “in the trenches” every day, he has seen “the very best and the very worst” of the industry and compiled it into a training package.

“We are all about the betterment of our industry,” he says, “if agents want to become an auctioneer, we’ll train them. If they want to be a better agent we provide a platform for change through events, training and coaching.

“This is the industry that I love and it’s been so good to me and I’m grateful for that. The real estate industry is changing at a rapid pace and I’m happy to be helping to be fuelling that change.”

But no matter how fast paced Gordon’s day is, he always finds time for a quick strum of the guitar.

“I’m a believer, which I learnt from my mum, to always have a guitar in as many rooms of the home as possible and to always have it out of the case,” he says. “If it’s out and you sit down, you pick it up – you don’t have to play much, but if it’s accessible you will play.”

So with the sharp crack of the gavel keeping rhythm and the bluesy roots strum of the guitar on loop, Gordon’s playing to a whole new beat.

21 | ABOUTBUSINESS

PEOPLE

“We can sell a multi-million dollar home in Noosa at 10am and then at 11am I’m addressing a crowd looking to purchase a $200,000 unit in Marcoola.”

A fast-paced industry with strict legal processes and large investment dollars at stake – property management can seem like a daunting world.

But it doesn’t need to be.

Seeking honest, no-nonsense advice and engaging a trusted property management team with the right processes is a crucial step not only towards better returns, but safeguarding your investment and yourself.

This column aims to educate present and potential owners who are considering renting their properties in an easy to understand format. We have left all the complex real-estate jargon at the door so everybody feels at home.

The 5 Ps of marketing your rental property Marketing your rental property doesn’t need to be a daunting or stressful experience. Just follow these 5 Ps and you will be on the path to success

T

he first step to securing a tenant and leasing your investment is the marketing. Ensuring you have everything covered is easy when you follow the 5 Ps! Presentation The presentation of the property will determine the quality of the applications you receive. If your investment needs a coat of paint,

new window furnishings or new bark in the gardens then now is the time to do it. Fix the hinges on the cupboard doors that squeak, replace that blown bulb in the hallway and make sure the fly screens are free of holes and scratches. You’ll be surprised at the impact and potential tenants will be sure to notice!

Photography Engage a local professional to photograph your property. The cost is tax deductible and they will have the equipment to show your freshly refurbished property in the best light possible. You’ll be able to re use the photographs for future tenancies and the high quality photos will stand when advertising.

Price Research is key – make some time to attend inspections of comparable local properties and see where you sit in the market.

It is important to be realistic and reasonable when deciding on the weekly rent – $10 can mean the difference between weeks of vacancy or a quick tenancy.

Remember that tenants have access to the same information as you do. They will have done their homework to make sure they are

“In the case of Henzells, Tracey makes a strong contribution to your reputation as the best property management agency in Caloundra. She knows her tenancy laws.

Her political nous is excellent and she’s really good at negotiating outcomes. She listens, and her advice is well thought through, clear and on the money.”

Ian and Kathy Campbell, Landlords

getting the best value for money.

If your investment is overpriced they will move on and apply for somewhere else.

Point of difference Your property is going to be advertised in competition, not isolation. If there are two other properties advertised in your street for the same price, but one has air conditioning, most tenants will likely apply for that one seeing better value for money. Something as simple as including fortnightly gardening in the rent could be the point of difference to win you the tenant.

The better you take care of your investment now, the better it will take care of you in the future “Tracey has always been very professional, helpful and friendly. Any questions or problems we had, we never hesitated giving her a call knowing she would be able to sort it out.” Matthew, Landlord

Process Have a look at other properties currently for rent to get an idea of how you would like to write the description for your property. Keep it short and simple – the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and car spaces to start with and then add the most beneficial attributes (air conditioning, butler’s pantry, internal access from the garage to name a few).

Most potential tenants will use a mixture of online and printed media to search for available properties so it is important to use both to maximise your property’s exposure.

Advertising on websites such as www.realestate.com.au and www.domain.com.au, which are the two major websites visited by potential tenants, will give you great online coverage. Consider advertising your property in your local community paper or in the Sunshine Coast Daily as well to keep costs down and reach a larger number of potential tenants.

Tracey Rossow Investment Manager

49 Bulcock St, Caloundra 0448 616 055 trossow@henzells.com.au

The latest St.George-Melbourne Institute Household Financial Conditions Report shows people who have paid off their mortgage, especially tradespeople and para-professionals, are feeling more confident about their financial position because of an upswing in the housing market. Financial conditions for homeowners rose 15.4 per cent in the final three months of 2014 – the biggest rise in 20 years. The report suggested job prospects were better due to a growing construction industry and low interest rates were conducive for paying off a mortgage. The survey also indicated 17.6 per cent of households – the highest number in two years – were cautious about spending and intended to reduce their debt despite the low interest rates.

REAL FACTS Whether you’re looking to enter the real estate market or are already a seasoned home-buyer, it pays to know the trends and predictions within this often-fickle industry. Profile keeps you in the know for all things real estate.

HOUSE CONSTRUCTION TO HIT RECORD House construction will peak this financial year and begin to taper over the next two years, according to Housing Industry Association forecasts. Work on around 196,000 dwellings is expected to have started by June, an eight per cent increase from the previous financial year. Dwelling starts grew 12 per cent in 2013-14 (FY2014) and 11 per cent in 2012-13 (FY2013). The HIA forecasts a six per cent decline in new homes for the 2016 financial year and a further five per cent in the following two years. Residential construction has helped offset a fall in other construction. In 2014, $67 billion was spent on commercial construction compared to $82 billion in 2013.

$67 BILLION

The amount that was spent on commercial construction in 2014

GROWTH PREDICTED IN 2016 TO 2017 The Reserve Bank of Australia has become cautious about the economic outlook, lowering its 2015 growth forecasts from three per cent to 2.75 per cent. It expects unemployment to reach 6.5 per cent which is higher than previously thought. The bank also says, "the housing market would need to be watched carefully," as further cuts in the cash rate could accelerate a sharp rise in property prices. The lower forecasts reflect a slower-than-expected pickup in non-mining investment, consumption, and production of liquefied natural gas. However, the RBA expects economic growth into 2016 and 2017, "in response to rapid growth in LNG exports and the lower exchange rate and interest rates".

15.4

REAL ESTATE

HOME-OWNER FINANCES IMPROVE

The percentage in which the financial conditions for homeowners rose in the final three months of 2014 – the biggest rise in 20 years.

INVESTORS CONTINUE TO RISE Investment in Australian property increased from $7.6 billion in December 2012 to $12.6 billion in December 2014, a record high, according to Corelogic RP Data research analyst Cameron Kusher. This represents a rise of 66 per cent over two years and is the largest rise over a two-year period since December 2003. ABS data showed loan commitments for investor housing increased six per cent from November to December 2014, and 18.8 per cent from December 2013 to December 2014. All states demonstrated an increase between 2013 to 2014, with rises of 34 per cent recorded in New South Wales and 30 per cent in Victoria.

24 | ABOUTBUSINESS

Images is set in the highly desired and emerging community of Bli Bli. Central to the Sunshine Coast’s employment hubs, beaches, lifestyle options and airport.

As an owner you are never far from all the coast has to offer. As an investor you are well positioned to benefit from the high demand rental market and any future growth.

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New Newhouse houseand andland landpackages packages

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Hotspotting report: Bli Bli

Site plan

By tErry rydEr

6

Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 326m2

12

Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 300m2

Vehicle Turn Around

Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 323m2

11

Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 307m2

Visitor Park

5

4

Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 300m2

10 Visitor Park

Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 307m2

3

9

8

Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 321m2

Image Lane

2

Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 306m2

Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 307m2

1 Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 320m2

Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 300m2

7

Envelope 150m2 Lot Size 328m2

The outstanding characteristic of the Bli Bli residential property market is its consistency. The market has recorded between 34 and 48 sales every quarter for the past three years – with the exception of a spike of 61 sales in March 2014 Quarter. this is a standout performance because the Sunshine Coast market overall has not always been consistent over the past three years – but Bli Bli certainly has.

Hotspotting research shows that suburbs with a high level of consistency are solid long-term performers. they tend to show good price growth over time.

Suburbs like Bli Bli attract steady levels of buyers for clear reasons. usually they’re markets that are both well-located and affordable. Bli Bli certainly has those attributes as well as lifestyle qualities. It’s centrally located on the Sunshine Coast, within easy reach of the Maroochy river, beaches and the shops/services of Maroochydore.

Most of the current statistics suggest a solid market in Bli Bli. According to domain, homes typically sell in 80 days in Bli Bli, compared to the Sunshine Coast average of 130 days. discounting is low at about 6%.

Median prices for Bli Bli are $440,000 for houses and $355,000 for apartments (units are a minor part of this market), which attracts buyers for affordability reasons.

Bli Bli has had price spikes (between 5% and 10% annual growth) regularly over the past 10 years, including in 2007, 2010 and 2013.

Visitor Park

domain data suggests the median house price ($440,000, based on 157 house sales) rose 7% in 2014.

Vacancies in the Bli Bli postcode are low, around 0.7% according to SQM research, and have been below 2% throughout the past two years.

Bli Bli Road BUS STOP 70 METRES

SCHOOL 1.2K

PARK

500 METRES

the median weekly rent is $420, with typical rental yields around 5.5%. these latter factors, low vacancies and strong rental yields, provide appeal for investors. About 25% of residential properties in Bli Bli are rented. overall, Bli Bli presents an attractive package to investors: well-located, well-connected, affordable, low vacancies, good yields and a good track record.

VErSAtIlE 3 BEdrooM & 4 BEdrooM dESIgNS

SINglE lEVEl ANd douBlE StorEy HoMES

For more information call JACK CHILDS

0418 794 512