About Business June 2016 by Profile Magazine

IN FOCUS

FAMILY LAW

MILESTONES

REAL ESTATE

DR SAM ROBERTS AND PAUL ANDERSON INTRODUCE US TO THEIR BUSINESSES

HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR LOVED ONES IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH

CHRIS SALES REFLECTS ON FIVE OF HIS BIGGEST LIFECHANGING MILESTONES

THE LATEST INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY ON OUR DOORSTEP

SONYA KEENAN ON LINE FOR SUCCESS

Digital guru, Sonja Keenan is passionate about helping business owners discover how an online presence can open up a whole new world for them

BLOKES ABOUT TOWN Female bosses, how do they measure up? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

PROPERTY ADVICE, BUSINESS TIPS, AND MORE!

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

SUCCESS IN BUSINESS: WHAT DOES IT TAKE? Australia has one of the highest percentages of business ownership in the world with over 230,000 micro businesses and 500,000 small businesses. These may never grow to be the size of a brand like Virgin, but it’s worthwhile looking at the secrets to what makes entrepreneurs like Richard Branson so successful.

CREATE GREAT EXPERIENCES.

LEARN TO TAKE AND MANAGE RISK.

hat do Steve Jobs, Richard Branson and Mark Zuckerberg believe were key ingredients that helped them create their businesses and how can you apply this to your business?

DO WHAT YOU LOVE.

Mark Zuckerberg was a programming enthusiast who at age 12, used Atari BASIC to create what he called “ZuckNet” connecting all computers to each other to transfer messages between the house and his father’s dental oﬃce. By age 20 Facebook was born.

Apple stores are one of the world’s best retailers, creating great emotional connections with their customers. To quote Jobs, “Apple is not in the business of moving boxes, they are in the business of enriching lives”. And how much has Facebook changed how we all share experiences?

Branson says, “You will live a much better life if you pursue your dreams. People who work on things they love usually enjoy life more than everyone else simply because they are chasing their dreams”.

THINK BIG OR AS JOBS SAID “PUT A DENT IN THE UNIVERSE”.

Jobs’ vision for Apple was to make a computer available to every single person! After seeing a crude graphical interface at Xerox, he saw the opportunity. Xerox scientists’ focus was on copiers so they never realised its potential. This is a great example of how two people may see the same thing but perceive it diﬀerently according to their vision.

Richard Branson said of the early days of Virgin Atlantic, “The inaugural ﬂight to the U.S. almost brought the group down ... on my return to London I was met by our bank manager at my house telling me my bank wouldn’t extend my overdraft to help the new airline. I had to move fast. Over the weekend I pulled in money from our overseas businesses to shore up the bank account and, as soon as I could, I changed banks. It taught me a good entrepreneur looks for solutions, not excuses. We’ve been doing that ever since.” Your vision may not be as big as Branson, Jobs or Zuckerberg but that doesn’t mean following these steps isn’t relevant to you. Remember anything is possible with the right mindset!

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. Branson put it this way, “If you aren’t proud of what you’re doing, why should anyone else”. Don’t get suckered into blindly pursuing profits and growth. If you stay focused on being the best at what you do, it’s more likely the rest will follow. WWW.CHRISCHILDS.COM.AU

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BUSINESS

ON LINE FOR

success WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

Digital guru Sonya Keenan chats with Profile about the future of the digital revolution and the essential role it plays in the success of your business.

here’s no doubt about it, without a digital presence, businesses these days are going to struggle against their competitors who have moved with the times and embraced technology. The good news is, it’s never too late to learn. Just ask Sonya Keenan, brand strategist with Omnichannel Media Group (OMG). A self-confessed advocate of the digital movement, Sonya is passionate about helping her clients discover how an online presence can open up a whole new world for their business and bring them into the 21st Century. “I have been passionate about digital since we had dial up,” says Sonya, both of us laughing at the memory of how long it took to search the web. I remember making a cup of tea while waiting for a page to load – how far we have come! “The barrier used to be cost, you couldn’t afford the CRM system or the servers. Now you can subscribe to a system for $100 per month,” she says. “When I was in the corporate world it would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to implement so it’s become much more accessible. We work with businesses who want to implement their marketing strategy to use digital to improve the productivity and profitability of the business.” Sonya and her business partner, Aussie icon, Deborah Hutton started OMG four years ago, when they discovered a gap in the market to help business owners who were looking to launch their business online. “When you meet people in small business, a lot of them are a bit beaten up and reluctant to try new things but they know they have to move forward. My job is helping them take that step,” says Sonya. “Whether you are a retail shop or online you still need digital; it’s how people find you now. If you are not online you are going to be irrelevant. It’s not that you have to be selling things online but you have to be seen online.” Sonya and Deborah first connected when both were working for the Hyatt Regency Coolum, Sonya as sales and marketing manager and Deborah as brand ambassador. “We were looking for a brand ambassador for the hotel and Deb’s name kept coming up. She represented luxury while still being down to earth and Australian,” says Sonya. “We also share a love of golf, so we continued our friendship after I moved to Sydney with Mirvac and I continued to do some work with her before going out on my own five years ago.”

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“Too often companies talk about the PRODUCT, they don’t talk about what’s in it for the CUSTOMER.”

SONYA KEENAN

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As fate would have it, the two crossed paths again when Deborah’s life took a major change of direction. Not only did she turn the big 5-0, she was also diagnosed with skin cancer. “So many people started contacting Deb after her story was told in the Australian Women’s Weekly asking her about her experience – how did she know, who her surgeon was, how did she cope, how she felt about turning 50, how she managed to be self-accepting? “We realised that so many women 45-plus were looking at what was next in their life, how they could reinvent themselves after being at home raising a family or how they could find that elusive work/life balance, so we developed a program called Balance, which brought together a team of expert coaches to help us unlock the key to a successful and happier life. What started as a website has now become a business in its own right.” While Balance is the duo’s business-to-consumer platform, OMG was created as a business-to-business platform to help small to medium enterprises reach their full potential by unlocking their story and connecting better with their clients through content marketing. “We created a model using the five P’s. Path – where they want to go? Purpose and Passion – what gets them out of bed every morning? Partnerships – what software they use, virtual assistants, etc and Persuasion – helping businesses tell their story through their website, social media, etc. “My job is to get the business to understand what it is. Few businesses can give you the old elevator pitch. Once we have established the five P’s we work on FAB – Features, Advantages and Benefits. Too often companies talk about the product, they don’t talk about what’s in it for the customer. You have to have your story but you have to be able to listen to your customers too.”

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Driving Sonya’s passion for helping businesses embrace the digital world is a love of learning and a desire to save her clients’ time and money while enabling them to achieve work/life balance. “I believe being online enables us to learn in a way we were never able to before. I heard Steve Jobs talk decades ago about how the future of computing would be learning and I believe it 100 per cent,” she says. “It’s all about you doing what you are good at in your business and hiring specialists to do the stuff you are not so good at,” she says. “If you are a retail store and your light fitting blows up, you are not going to go on the internet and learn how to do it, you are going to hire an electrician. The same can be said for marketing. “Digital is about allowing people to find their path to be able to do the thing they love that doesn’t feel like work. If they can take their passion and turn it into a purpose, they will be much happier.” june 2016

phone 1300 334 566 www.bcglaw.com.au

BrisBAne north • stAfford BrisBAne south • eight Mile plAins sunshine coAst • KAwAnA profilemagazine

IN FOCUS

WORDS TAYLA ARTHUR

DR SAM ROBERTS Dentist, Cooroy

hile injuring his two front teeth at 10 years of age might have been a painful experience, for Dr Sam Roberts of Hinterland Dental Group it was the unexpected catalyst that ignited his passion for dentistry. “I was fascinated with the processes involved in restoring my two front teeth,” he explains. “Ever since then it was my goal to work hard at school and gain entry into dental school.” Dr Sam moved to Australia from England nine years ago and fell in love with the country’s lifestyle and beautiful weather. For the past three years, he has been practicing at Hinterland Dental Group and recently bought the practice in a move he says has been incredibly rewarding. “It was the next stage in my career and the next goal I wanted to reach. “Taking over Hinterland Dental was a fantastic opportunity. It is a well respected and long established practice in the area and it was perfect for me to take over from the previous owner and continue developing it.” Leading a team of friendly and skilled staff, including three other dentists, one hygienist and nine support staff, Dr Sam prides his family-focused practice on its customer service and his staff’s dedication in getting to know all of their patients. “We treat all members of the family, from young children right through to grandparents. “There are always different challenges. No two days are ever the same. However, we aim to consistently provide great quality service in a friendly environment and give people a beautiful smile.” 48

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PAUL ANDERSON Licensed estate agent, Buderim

e may have been in the real estate game for just three years, but for Paul Anderson, his role as a licensed agent at Aspire Estate Agents is one that he says is the most rewarding position he has worked in. Paul started running his own agency under the Aspire brand in February last year, just five months after the local business began. Having previously worked for a national company in the industry, Paul was drawn to Aspire out of a desire to conduct business on a local scale, an aspect that later drew his wife Julie to join the agency. “I love being able to make decisions on the run – the freedom of being able to make decisions ourselves without having to get permission from principals or a head office in another state. We’re pretty autonomous in what we do and have a great principal in Alan Nash if we ever need any advice,” he says. The husband and wife team is focused primarily on sales in the Buderim, Palmwoods and Hinterland areas of the Coast, with Paul explaining that honesty and integrity are an important basis in the relationships he and Julie establish with their clients. “We give realistic expectations and work for our clients to achieve the best possible return on their most valuable asset. “We’re very much client oriented, not commission orientated. “Our aim is to keep our service personal. Every client we get, we are there for them, and that’s the great thing about working by ourselves; we’re true to what we say and don’t pass our clients off for other people to deal with.” Paul says he loves working with his wife and that as a team, they are more relatable to clients. “We’ve been married for 33 years and we work together really well,” he says.“It’s a good fit for real estate because no matter who our clients are, one or both of us can relate to them and offer a perspective that matches their situation. We really work together to achieve the best result.” But ultimately for Paul, his job is about meeting new people and helping them find what they’re looking for. “They’ve all got their different reasons why they’re selling, moving or buying, but it’s the satisfaction of helping people achieve their dreams that I love most about this industry.”

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IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH ANNELIESE MICKELBERG | PIPPA COLMAN & ASSOCIATES SOLICITORS

This month, Pippa Colman & Associates Solicitors look at how you can care for your loved one when they lose capacity, and what they can do for you if the tables were turned.

hat would happen if your husband or wife (or other special person in your life) suddenly lost the capacity to look after themselves? Do you know what they would want you to do for them? What would you want to happen if you lost your capacity? Who do you trust to make decisions for you? These are all things that most people don’t like to talk about, let alone prepare for such circumstances. Having an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) in place provides certainty as to what is to happen. What is an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)? An EPA is a document that gives an attorney power to act under certain circumstances. Before you make an EPA, you need to decide who you trust to make decisions on your behalf. Any adult can be your attorney, provided they are not your paid carer or healthcare provider, they are not bankrupt or insolvent, and they must have capacity to act as an attorney. What sort of powers do you want to give? There are three basic categories of powers: • Personal matters include day-to-day decisions and decisions about where you will live, what you will eat, what you will wear. • Financial matters include dealing with money, performing contracts, and real estate transactions. • Health matters include decisions for medical care or treatment.

You can give different powers to different people. For example, you could make your spouse your attorney for personal and financial powers, and your mother and father could be your attorneys for health matters. For personal and health matters, your attorney’s power starts only when you lose capacity. For financial matters, you can choose whether the power starts immediately, on a specific date, only after you lose capacity, or when you notify the attorney in writing. For example, you might go on an overseas holiday for two weeks and ask your attorney to act on your behalf while you are away. Act now! It is important that you think about making an Enduring Power of Attorney now – before the time comes that you need to rely on someone to make decisions on your behalf. If you lose capacity before you have appointed an attorney, then your family will be required to apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) to have someone appointed as your administrator or guardian – this will take time. If you are unconscious or incapacitated you won’t be able to have a say about who is appointed. The only way to be certain that your wishes will be given effect is to make an Enduring Power of Attorney while you are healthy, have the capacity to do so and before you need one. Ring your solicitor for an appointment to discuss an EPA now!

Sunshine Coast Family Law Solicitors DIVORCE & SEPARATION PROPERTY SETTLEMENT CHILDREN & PARENTING RELATIONSHIP AGREEMENTS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WILLS & ESTATES

working together P. 07 5458 9000 E. reception@pippacolman.com A. 12/64 Sugar Road, Maroochydore W. www.pippacolman.com june 2016

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BUSINESS

BLOKEtS

Abou

TOWN

THE GENDER GAP

what do men think about it? WORDS INGRID NELSON PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY VENUE THE VELO PROJECT, MOOLOOLABA

Being the empowering women issue, I thought it only fair to get the blokes’ opinions on women in the workforce. Over a delicious breaky at The Velo Project, Mooloolaba, the lads opened up about the gender gap and how they think the fairer sex measures up when it comes to management.

am strong, I am invincible, I am woman. Australian singer/songwriter Helen Reddy was ahead of her time when she penned the iconic 1975 hit, I am Woman, which became the anthem of the women’s liberation movement. Fast forward 40 years and we have come a long way from the days when women in many industries, including banking and the airlines were forced to resign when they fell pregnant and the number of women in CEO and senior roles were pretty much non existent. Recent studies show that women’s participation in the workforce has never been higher in Australia, with an increasing number

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of females stepping their stilettos into roles that were traditionally reserved for their male counterparts. But that’s not to say we don’t have a long way to go, with recent research showing female managers are currently earning around $100,000 less than men in the same role. To discover how the lads felt, I posed some thought-provoking questions to the Blokes About Town for their take on gender equality in the workforce and how they felt about working for a female boss. Joining me for breakfast was Luke Bell, owner of Fresh Holistic Health Centre, a fabulous new holistic health clinic at Forest

Glen offering everything under one roof including doctors, physios, naturopaths, dentists, yoga, pilates and lots more; David Giles, owner of Grill’d Maroochydore, famous for changing the unhealthy stigma associated with burgers, with his team well known for serving up delicious healthy burgers with an emphasis on awesome service; Chris Woodland, owner of Statewide Drafting, a business he has run successfully for over 25 years; and last but not least Craig Levitt, marketing manager with Think Money who also has a passion for human behaviour and runs goal setting and mindset programs for clients. profilemag.com.au

profile: Gents how do you feel about working for a female boss? craig: Things have changed nowadays but in my era, women felt they had to be ballsy and tough to succeed, and I feel it affected their natural performance as a manager. I would encourage women as bosses to keep that softness and female intuition. I believe wholeheartedly that when people act and behave as their true self, they will excel. When people are just themselves they thrive and add so much more value to a business. Women bosses should just be themselves. chris: I’m not opposed to it at all. I respect anyone who is good at what they do, full stop. If the CEO of a company is female, as long as she has the knowledge, that’s all that counts. I work well with people who have done the hard yards and are there because they deserve to be. That’s why I struggle with politicians both male and female – it has nothing to do with their gender. I do think it’s still a man’s world in many ways. david: Most of my professional career was in IT and it was very male dominated; it was very rare to have a female boss. Personally, I respond well to confidence. If I can learn something from someone and they know what they are doing then their gender doesn’t matter to me. The time I did have a female boss was fantastic, she was a very smart, driven woman. I’ve worked under a lot of male bosses who had nowhere near the confidence and ability she had. Basically a good manager is someone I can follow as a leader. luke: I have had five female bosses in different industries throughout my career. I have found them more hard working than guys. My current boss, my wife, just doesn’t

DAVID GILES

“It’s my belief that when the world is finally run by WOMEN it will probably be a much kinder, emotional and thoughtful place.” – CRAIG LEVITT

stop, she is amazing! I don’t think it’s even about gender anymore, so long as you can do the job, it doesn’t really matter. profile: Do you think males and females manage differently? david: I have three managers at Grill’d, two female and one male, and none of them were chosen based on their gender. If I see ability I will nurture that ability as far as it can go, irrespective of gender. I do find women are often better communicators, they know what to say and when. craig: I think women tend to read people better than men do. They tend to be more intuitive. It also depends on what industry they are in. For example there are quite a lot of female managers and CEOs in marketing because marketing is about the science of

CHRIS WOODLAND

human behaviour and women are very intuitive, and determining people’s needs and wants comes naturally to them. The science will tell you there are clear differences between the male and female brain. Apart from nurture, nature made them differently. chris: I think it’s a generational thing too. If you look at kids finishing school these days there are a lot of similarities between the genders. Guys are doing home economics and girls are doing woodwork. Perhaps a more mature woman, who has grown up in a different era would manage differently, they might be a bit more nurturing and have a softer approach.

LUKE BELL

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BUSINESS

THE VELO PROJECT It might be tucked away in the backstreets of Mooloolaba, but The Velo Project is one of those places you can’t ignore, its reputation for delicious, wholesome food in a warm and eclectic setting making it one of the most popular spots for brekky on the Sunny Coast. And after my recent visit for breakfast with the lads, I can understand why.

“Life is not as SIMPLE as it used to be and a lot more women who might have stayed at home need to work to keep up with financial commitments.” - CHRIS WOODLAND

craig: My kids don’t see any difference at all, in fact a lot of women think they are stronger than the guys these days! profile: How do you see the future for women in management roles? craig: It’s my belief that when the world is finally run by women it will probably be a much kinder, emotional and thoughtful place. I firmly believe that. david: We are seeing more and more women focused on career and being involved in the workforce. It’s a generational thing. With more women in the workforce there are naturally going to be more in management and at CEO levels. chris: I think it’s also a financial thing too. Life is not as simple as it used to be and a lot more women who might have stayed at home need to work to keep up with financial commitments. luke: In 20 years this conversation probably won’t even be on the table.

A hive of activity on the day of our visit, the atmosphere at The Velo Project is lively and welcoming. Quaint and homely, the rustic decor consists of mismatched tables and chairs, with lots of vintage pieces and interesting little knick knacks making it feel like a home away from home. Owners David and Sarah Nash have owned the quirky restaurant for two years and pride themselves on supporting local farmers and producers whenever possible. There is a lot of love and attention to detail that goes into each and every dish and it certainly shows on the plate. The Velo Project’s breakfast menu is their speciality and it’s sublime. Delicious options include eggs benedict with local butcher’s bacon, Tasmanian salmon, or roasted pumpkin and wilted spinach; bacon and egg turkish with local butcher’s bacon, fried eggs, spinach and tomato chutney; or my absolute favourite, avocado smashed with fresh red onion, roasted garlic, corn, lemon juice and fresh herbs served on ciabatta toast, with the option of two eggs cooked to your liking – yum! They also offer delicious crepes, made with buckwheat and topped with an array of toppings including fresh banana, toasted pecan, butterscotch and chantilly cream – divine! Or if savoury is more your thing, try the smoked salmon, spinach, roasted tomatoes and fennel or grilled crispy bacon, banana and Canadian maple. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Kiddies are also welcome with a great menu to suit and they offer a huge selection of smoothies, coffees, teas, and fresh juices. No wonder it was my venue of choice for a delicious Mother’s Day brekky last month. THE VELO PROJECT 19 CAREELA STREET, MOOLOOLABA PH: 5444 8693

VELO PROJECT OWNER, DAVID NASH

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NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE evenings to inspire FrIdAy 1 JuLy

Lake kawana Community Centre reD Carpet event anD Dinner

sunshine Coast, it’s time to ‘frock up’ and walk the red carpet in style at an ‘evening to inspire’ with the incredibly talented natalie Bassingthwaighte. on arrival enjoy drinks and canapés in the courtyard followed by a delicious two course dinner, while natalie shares her inspirational journey through television, stage, music and now as a mother and successful business owner.

TIckETS ArE $149 ANd muST BE prE-BookEd Limited vip Lounge tickets for a personal meet and greet and photo with natalie, are available for an additional $79.

Don’t miss out on this fantastiC opportunity for a first-CLass evening with your frienDs.

Book your TIckETS NoW AT www.premierSpeakersandEvents.com

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WildflOWer restaurant and Bar friday 29th July 2016, 11.30am - 2.30pm come dreSSed glam in your Jimmy Jams fOr BuBBles & CanaPes, fOllOWed By a 2 COurse lunCh. enJOy Prizes, raffles and lOts Of fun.

$59 per ticket

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tO BOOK yOur tiCKets Call 5491 8777

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HOME WORK Paul Anderson from Aspire Estate Agents shares his top tips for making your house more popular with buyers when it comes time to sell.

june 2016

hen selling their house, most people leave it completely up to their real estate agent to work their magic. But what many often don’t realise is that there are plenty of little things they can do to make their property more appealing to potential buyers. Paul Anderson from Aspire Estate Agents knows all too well the difference a little extra effort can make to the sellability of a property. “Presentation is key,” he says. “Make sure the house is nice and clean, get your carpets cleaned, and put some effort into landscaping. If you can do those few things to start, the sale will be much easier because people can see it in the best light.” Paul also says that many people overlook cleaning the outside of their property. “A clean roof and driveway really make the property shine and create a good first impression,” he says. In terms of low-budget areas to focus on, Paul recommends ensuring kitchens and bathrooms are in top shape by cleaning the grout and repairing any cracks in tiles, as these rooms in particular are big sellers — but he also says that people shouldn’t underestimate the power of a good coat of paint. “Keep it neutral so buyers can imagine their furniture in it,” he says. Finally, Paul suggests decluttering the property, as this will make rooms appear more spacious. “We can even have your house styled for sale, as modern furniture and prints can give it a totally different feel that is more appealing to buyers,” he says.

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REAL ESTATE

DO YOUR

Live or invest

STUNNING OCEAN VIEWS WITHOUT THE PRICE TAG

8 exclusive residences with an envious outlook

*Artist impression only

For your free information pack CALL 07 5451 1080 www.thinkinvestmentrealty.com.au

TAkE IN ThE VISTA Of COASTAl VIEWS frOm yOur luxury rESIdENCE IN ThE hEArT Of budErIm

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APArtMent feAtUres: • Enjoy every season with ducted air-conditioning throughout • Private terraces, decks and balconies for entertaining • Highset ceilings and open living areas • Quality stainless appliances • High quality finishes

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Situated in the heart of Buderim, The Observatory is just a short walk to shops, restaurants, parklands and Buderim State School. Enjoy a relaxed and luxurious atmosphere with breathtaking ocean views from your own private terrace or balcony.

buderim ranks as the most popular suburb on the Sunshine Coast hotspotting report: By Terry ryder, director, hotspotting.com.au

BUderIM

The Sunshine Coast is one of the strongest up-and-coming regional markets in Australia — and Buderim has an enduring record as the most popular suburb for buyers. Buderim is an elevated inland precinct that attracts residents because of its village atmosphere, quality dwellings, relaxed lifestyle and outstanding views (the suburb sits on a 180m hillside). Its popularity is quite extraordinary. In the past 12 months there were 640 house sales and almost 200 apartment sales. The next most popular Sunshine Coast suburb for houses recorded 280 sales in the same period. The appeal for investors is enhanced by solid rental yields – the median yields are 5% for houses and 5.5% for units – and low vacancy rates. Vacancies have been consistently below 4% for the past four years and, according to SQM Research, are currently 1.4%. Buderim residents have easy access to all the infrastructure of the Sunshine Coast. It is, for example, about 10 minutes drive to Sunshine Plaza, eight minutes to the expanding Sunshine Coast University, 10 minutes to beaches and 12 minutes drive to the Sunshine Coast Airport But Buderim is a self-contained community with ample services and amenities on its doorstep.

be quick! Only eight exclusive apartments available

They include the Sunshine Coast Private Hospital, Buderim Tavern, the Buderim Marketplace shopping centre, which has a Woolworths supermarket, and an array of good restaurants. Buderim is serviced by Sunbus Sunshine Coast, which operates a transfer station at Buderim Marketplace and connects commuters to Maroochydore, Caloundra, Nambour and other centres of the region. The area is well-served by state and private schools, including Buderim Mountain State School, Buderim Mountain Primary, Immanuel Lutheran College, Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Montessori International College, Siena Catholic College and Sunshine Coast Grammar School. Buderim is part of the Sunshine Coast economy, which continues to expand with new infrastructure spending; $2 billion University Hospital (under construction); the Maroochydore City Centre project incorporating commercial, retail, residential and tourism elements (early site works under way); the $450 million upgrade to the Sunshine Coast Airport (in planning); $1.38 billion in upgrades to the Bruce Highway (under construction); and a $350 million expansion of the Sunshine Plaza shopping centre (approved).

*Artist impression only

For your Free inFormAtion pACk CALL 07 5451 1080 www.thinkinvestmentrealty.com.au

lINdSAy rOAd

TAkE IN ThE VISTA Of COASTAl VIEWS frOm yOur luxury rESIdENCE IN ThE ObSErVATOry

budErIm STATE SChOOl

EET

PublIC SWImmING POOl

POST OffICE, rESTAurANTS ANd ShOPPING

Tr IN S

IGA, buTChEr & bAkEry

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G IN PP

Ay AW

Parkland

170m

Woolworths

350m

School

450m

Tavern

500m

University of The Sunshine Coast

OurT

150m

ThE ObSErVATOry

*rESIdENTIAl

S, NT rA

Buderim Centre

ST T ET

AW kE

TA S, NT rA bu

60m

GEr C

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IGA Supermarket

Maroochydore Centre

50 m

4km

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rES rC NGE bAllI

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hen we opened our office in Peregian we hung a sign on the wall. It was to remind us why we are in business and this is what it says:

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Living up to this credo is particularly important for those of us in the real estate business. But it’s true for whatever type of business you’re in. The more you think about what your customers want, the less you have to worry about what your bank manager thinks.

The team at Star specialise in property sales from Noosa to Mount Coolum. Vicki Cooper is Principal of Star Noosa call 0418 231 955.

We come to you water, power & equipment onboard Call Waves Detail Pro on 0488 255 313 or 0498 801 791

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MILESTONES

Laying business

FOUNDATIONS

PHOTOS CHESTERTON SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

Chris Sales represents the Sunshine Coast’s next generation of business people. He believes in a healthy work/life balance, giving back to the community and creating your own luck through hard work and perseverance. In February, his business Luxe Commercial celebrated its first birthday – an impressive milestone for the startup, which prides itself on doing things a little bit differently.

LIFE CHANGING MILESTONES

I started my first business, trolley collection, after graduating from Siena Catholic College in 2002. I was 18 at the time and wanted to take a more hands-on approach to business, rather than pursuing a university degree. I saw an opportunity to improve the trolley collection service and increase profitability through improved systems and procedures. I learned on the job and within three years went from having 12 to 125 staff and an annual turnover of $3 million.

SIGNING UP TO KAWANA WATERS NIPPERS, 1990

I love the Sunshine Coast lifestyle and everything that comes with it; the water and the weather. I’ve been involved with surf life saving since I was five years old. Now I’m a patrol captain at Kawana Waters. I volunteer as much as I can at the club as a way of giving back and supporting my local community.

STARTING MY FIRST BUSINESS, 2003

BUYING MY FIRST PROPERTY, 2007

Buying my first property at 22 was a leap of faith. It taught me a lot about goal setting, responsibilities and the property industry. The Warana house was across the road from the beach and I spent a couple of years enjoying the lifestyle before undertaking a full renovation. It was a steep learning curve on how to manage a job and that you really do get what you pay for.

LOSING MY MENTOR BRIAN BARR, 2011

Sunshine Coast GP and cosmetic surgeon Brian Barr and I met through triathlon training. He could out-swim, ride and run almost anyone, regardless of age. Despite our 40-year age difference Brian became my mentor and a confidante. He taught me 66

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CHRIS SALES

about training, business and life. When he died from an aggressive form of cancer only four months after he was diagnosed, I was at a loss. It taught me how precious life is and to make the most of every opportunity.

“I volunteer as much as I can at the [Kawana Waters Surf] club as a way of giving back and supporting my local community.” 5

LAUNCHING LUXE COMMERCIAL, 2015

Launching Luxe Commercial in February 2015 wasn’t a decision I took lightly. I was determined to do business differently and it was always going to be a risk to try something new and untested. In February this year, we celebrated 12 months in business, having gone from a two-person start-up to a full-service sales, leasing and property management agency servicing the entire Sunshine Coast. Luxe employs seven full time staff and we’ve completed 73 successful transactions to date. The work is as hard as it was 12 months ago but it’s humbling to achieve results for clients who have put their faith in us. It’s what drives you on to bigger and better things. profilemag.com.au