Business West July 2012 by Star News Group

A STAR NEWS GROUP PUBLICATION | $4.95

■ ■ ■ ■

MELTON BUSINESS AWARDS WIN FOR AVALON ALAN KOHLER Q&A CONFLICT MANAGEMENT ISSN 1837-9869

9 123456 789013

CARBON PRICING AND YOUR BUSINESS

TAXING TIMES

ISSUE 18 JULY 2012

WE KNOW WHAT DRIVES YOUR BUSINESS

Realise your goals with our support, knowledge and experience. Call us for expert accounting advice.

1029467-SH18-12

Over 55 years experience advising Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s West

Collins & Co 127 Paisley Street, Footscray VIC 3011 T 03 9680 1000 F 03 9689 6605

CONTENTS 5

BUDGET BREAKDOWN What’s in it for the west?

BUILDING THE FUTURE CSR Gyprock’s breakthrough

FLYING HIGH Avalon airport boost

POSITIVE SIGNS Sunshine West’s Visual Exposure

MANAGING EDITOR Stephen Linnell stephen.linnell@starnewsgroup.com.au

SUCCESS IS CALLING Thriving at Telstra

GOING TO THE CHAPEL

Business of functions

SWEET IDEA Health scare leads to success

MEATY SUCCESS Melton Business of the Year

DYNAMIC LEADERS Sustainability leads to success

COVER STORY Taxing times

TALKING TAXES

“

I had a dream one night and I woke up and wrote the name…

The West speaks up

BUSINESS OF BEAUTY Home grown success

AWARD SEASON Calling Hobsons Bay businesses

REGULARS 4 FROM THE EDITOR 20 SMALL TALK 22-23 STRATEGIES Planning ahead Managing Conflict

Q&A Alan Kohler’s word on finance

26 28 31

OUT OF HOURS BUSiNESS WEST NETWORK CALENDAR

VINCENT D’ARGENT

11 18

EDITOR Tim Doutré tim.doutre@starnewsgroup.com.au EDITORIAL Charlene Gatt charlene.gatt@starnewsgroup.com.au ADVERTISING Charles Ferraro charles.ferraro@starnewsgroup.com.au Mobile: 0421 555 404 DESIGN Mark Dinnie mark.dinnie@starnewsgroup.com.au BUSINESS WEST Cnr Keilor Park Dve & Thomsons Rd Keilor Park 3042 Phone: 9933 4800 Fax: 9933 4844 Business West is a division of Star News Group Pty. Ltd. Celebrating our 102nd year as a family-run business. Proudly Australianowned and independent. Produced and published by Paul Thomas for Star News Group Pty. Ltd. ACN 005 848 108. Star News Group Trading Terms and Conditions can be found on www.starnewsgroup.com.au Find an electronic version of Business West online. Keep a copy for yourself or share with your contacts. Visit: www.businesswest.com.au

Cover FABIO CAMMARANO Picture DAMJAN JANEVSKI

BUSINESS WEST

FROM THE EDITOR Promote your business or service in BUSiNESS WEST… BUSiNESS WEST offers your business the opportunity to be seen by your target market; key business decision makers in the West! Stay tuned for the next edition of BUSiNESS WEST: coming out in August. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to promote your business or service to the business world of the West, call Charles Ferraro now on 9933 4800 to reserve your space. Advertising for the August edition of BUSiNESS WEST is now open. To register for BUSiNESS WEST visit: www.businesswest.com.au ■ ■ ■ ■ N ON IO ATIO CAT CA BLIIC UBL PU PUBLICATI UP P OU O R RO GR G GROUP A STAR NEWS

QUEST CONQUERING BOUTIQUE HIGH HEELS INVESTING IN PRINT THE NEW WAY TO SHOP

.95 4.9 | $ $4.95 $4

3 9 123456 789013

A STAR NEWS GROUP PUBLICATION | $4.95

■

IN CYBERSPACE

I WAS pondering how to begin this column for the Carbon tax edition, letting the mind wander as I did: Carbon Tax, carbon copy, copycat, cat in the hat… and after returning to earth it hit me: why not start with a joke? After all, if there’s one thing a discussion about the Carbon Tax needs, it’s a bit of humour. But being neither witty, nor creative, I took to Google and promptly entered in “Carbon Tax joke”. Wow, that was a mistake. There were 518,000 results. And while I can’t claim to have checked them all individually after a few pages I realised; these were not jokes, these were people describing the tax as a joke. This all led me to what I had already suspected, and I think Jim Carrey said it best in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: “Constantly talking isn’t necessarily communicating.” It’s not up to me to decide in these pages whether I like or dislike the tax, the fact is it’s here. What I can’t stand are the fallacies put up on both sides of the debate. They don’t do anyone any favours. So this edition we set ourselves a task to debunk the propaganda, make our way through the fog and find out exactly what the carbon tax is. My first priority was to get the name right. Carbon pricing? Carbon monoxide tax? Carbon resources tax? Big new tax? (Thanks Mr Abbott).

ISSN 1837-9869

SAV V Y

TO TAX OR NOT TO TAX

MELTON BUSINESS AWARDS WIN FOR AVALON ■ ALAN KOHLER Q&A ■ CONFLICT MANAGEMENT ■

means for them. Their responses differ but paint a vivid picture. For mine, I feel the Carbon Tax (or whatever you want to call it) is a lot like the Channel Ten series Masterchef. Everyone is talking about it, it is labelled a saviour or a destroyer depending on who you talk to and ultimately you have to claw your way through endless waffling before you can find any substance.

“

If there’s one thing a discussion about the Carbon Tax needs, it’s a bit of humour…

The one thing I have found is that no one is exactly sure how the tax will impact businesses and subsequently consumers. There is a lot of talk about benefits to low income earners and tax breaks for small businesses but until it comes in to effect, it’s only speculation. Time will tell and at least in the meantime here at Business West we can help tidy up some of the mess. If only we could do the same for Masterchef. [BW]

ISSN 1837-9869

9 123456 789013

CARBON PRICING AND YOUR BUSINESS

SUE 177 MAY 2012 ISSUE

TAXING TIMES

ISSUE 18 JULY 2012

In the end it is best to defer to the experts, which is why this edition we caught up with regular Business West contributor Fabio Cammarano from accounting firm Collins & Co. Fabio takes us through the tax step-bystep, including what benefits there are for businesses and how to best prepare yourself. Charlene Gatt also caught up with a handful of businesses in the West to find out what it

Tim Doutré Business West Editor tim.doutre@starnewsgroup.com.au

“ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS! Do NOT Even Think About Wasting Time & Money on Printing Until You Read This FREE Report That Reveals The 9 Costly Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Printing service... And How To Avoid Them!” If you’re like most people, you probably don’t realise that not all printers are the same. If you need to get printing done for your business, you need to know what and who you’re dealing with. Most business owners don’t really know what questions to ask or what things they should be aware of. When it comes to the success of your printed material it can be a wonderful thing if you pick the right printing company. But what if you’ve picked the wrong one?

We have prepared a FREE report called “The 9 Costly Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Printing Service... And How To Avoid Them”. To get your FREE copy of this report please call 1300 554 648, 24 hours for a recorded message, OR email freereport@carissprinting.com.au with your name, mailing address & phone number.

1034770-SH24-12

BUSINESS WEST

NEWS

BREAKING DOWN THE BUDGET WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE WEST: ■ $14 million Galvin Park Secondary College upgrade ■ $13.7 million Werribee Open Range Zoo and Melbourne Zoo works ■ $14 million West Gate Bridge upgrade ■ $12.5 million West Gate Freeway upgrade ■ $15.1 million Sunshine Hospital critical care services upgrade ■ $3.85 million Sunshine Hospital psychiatric unit upgrade

“I think it was an oversight to do the big cuts to TAFE and VCAL. At a time when you’ve got significant job pressure and people being driven out of jobs, you need the ability there to get into training and courses and develop skills so you make yourself more employable.” Victoria University was left outraged by cuts in TAFE funding that would remove differential funding for all 18 of Victoria’s TAFE institutes by January 2013. Meanwhile, the Federal Budget, which will deliver a $1.5 billion surplus for 201213, predicts the unemployment rate will be around 5.5 per cent in the next two years, while economic growth will be 3.25 per cent in 2012-13 and three per cent in 2013-14. [BW]

■ $4 million Laverton P-12 College regeneration of neglect possible, especially with the port being expanded,” she said. Williamstown MP Wade Noonan added: “The budget contains no new funding to deliver additional public transport services, reduce road congestion, create jobs, build new kindergartens, improve our green spaces and recreational facilities, support our community centres. LeadWest CEO Anton Mayer branded the budget an opportunity lost. 401241-SH18-12

BY CHARLENE GATT MILLIONS of dollars will be pumped into new transport infrastructure, health and schools across the West in a conservative 2012-13 State Budget. For businesses, the budget contained no increased taxes, WorkCover premiums cut by three per cent, increased VET funding over four years for apprenticeship courses, maintenance of small business programs and maintenance of the state’s AAA credit rating. Western Metropolitan MPs Andrew Elsbury and Bernie Finn praised the Coalition’s second budget. “In a particularly tough budgetary environment, money is tight, but we in Melbourne’s West are clearly on the Government’s radar,’’ Mr Finn said. The VACC, the peak automotive industry body in Victoria, believes small business should be encouraged by the budget. “Small business confidence in Victoria is at low ebb and business owners are feeling the pinch in an environment best described as patchy, VACC Executive Director David Purchase said. “Our first impression is that small business will be encouraged by this budget.” Labor and Greens politicians in the West weren’t as forgiving. Greens MLC Colleen Hartland was left furious the Government failed to include funding for the Truck Action Plan or any new rail freight infrastructure in the West. “Not bothering to build it is the worst type

BUSINESS WEST

NEWS

CSR CEO Rob Sindel and Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu at the opening ceremony of the refurbished CSR Gyprock manufacturing and state office facilities in Yarraville. Picture: MATTHEW LYNN

BUiLDING THE FUTURE By CHARLENE GATT CSR GYPROCK has positioned itself at the forefront of the construction and building industry after unveiling its new $168 million Yarraville plant in May. The upgraded facility, which has created 160 new manufacturing jobs on site, now provides CSR with the lowest cost plasterboard manufacturing and distribution capability in the region. As part of the major capital upgrade, CSR’s boardline capacity has been increased by around 45 per cent, while a new gypsum storage facility provides under cover storage to reduce dust emissions. The upgrade also provides additional

environmental benefits such as reduced gas and water consumption. This major upgrade affirms CSR’s commitment to manufacturing in Australia,” CSR Managing Director Rob Sindel said. “Gyprock is the leading plasterboard brand in Australia and this facility provides CSR a solid platform to leverage this position to build an even stronger manufacturing and distribution presence in the southern region, including Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.” Mr Sindel said CSR had been working with its builder customers and engaging building scientists to assist in this transition to build more energy efficient houses.

“CSR has also invested significant amounts of capital to develop new products to improve energy efficiency in the built environment such as low emissivity Viridian SmartGlass at Dandenong and a fully-automated double glazing facility at Clayton,” he said. Premier Ted Baillieu and Manufacturing Minister Richard Dalla-Riva attended the official opening. Mr Baillieu said the new facility would increase production capacity and strengthen the competitiveness of the facility to supply the construction and building industry in Victoria and nationwide. [BW]

tracy group 90./; 7(;/>(@ 90./; 7,9:65 90./; 16)

WE FIND THE MOST SUITABLE AND RELIABLE STAFF FOR YOUR BUSINESS find us online at www.tracys.com.au As a Job Services Australia provider, we are contracted by the Government to provide a range of training and recruitment services for employers, and many of them are free of charge. Call us for a no-obligation discussion about your recruitment or training needs.

MELTON

SUNSHINE

WERRIBEE

45 Bakery Sq. P: 8746 0400

24 Devonshire St P: 9243 0300

5 Duncans Rd P: 9742 8500

NEWPORT

WATERGARDENS

17 Hall St P: 8331 5000

399 Melton Hwy P: 9217 9800 523199-MD30-11

BUSINESS WEST

NEWS

Avalon Airport CEO Justin Giddings Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

BY CHARLENE GATT AVALON Airport is open to general aviation, in a big win for the Geelong and Wyndham region. Aviation Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips announced the move in April, adding that Avalon Airport’s strong domestic airline operation and plans to establish an international terminal positions the airport as one of Australia’s premier aviation hubs. “The closure of the Geelong Airport at Grovedale has driven a need to find a new home for commercial and private aviation in the region,” Mr Rich-Phillips said. “Avalon can now attract and service the

general aviation market and offer an accessible alternative for recreational users. “Private and commercial flight training, charter and emergency services will be able to use the airport.” Mr Rich-Phillips said Avalon Airport also played an important role in bringing tourists to the region and acting as a gateway to the Geelong region and the Great Ocean Rd. “The decision to open to general aviation reinforces Avalon’s position as a hub for tourism and as a destination for the aviation community.” Mr Rich-Phillips said a master plan for Avalon Airport was expected to be complete by the

end of the year and would set out the vision and future development of the airport over the next 20 years. Avalon Airport CEO Justin Giddings welcomed the move, saying that the addition of general aviation would complement plans underway to grow domestic and international services. “We have the size and the flexibility to be able to accommodate general aviation as well as domestic and international operations,” Mr Giddings said. “This announcement is another demonstration of what a great asset Avalon Airport is for the Geelong region and for Victoria more broadly.” [BW]

business news west

What’s new in the business community? Calling for entries for the 2012 Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards

crown, now is the time to register your interest for the awards, grab an information pack and sign up for an awards application workshop. What a great opportunity to put your business on the radar, don’t miss out! Nominations close on Friday, 20th July. For more information, visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/businessexcellence

Are you a business leader in your field? Want to be recognised and rewarded for the work your business does? Nominations are now open for the 2012 Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards. The awards are a great way to promote Hobsons Bay Business Workshops business excellence in Hobsons Bay and are a catalyst to promote local achievements in business. The next business workshop is Your Business Online. There are nine specialist categories, including new/start-up; Discover how to make the most of the internet. Learn how retail; hospitality; tourism; transport and logistics; to improve your online marketing strategy, increase sales manufacturing and industrial; professional services; not for and discover how to use social media. profit/community service; and home based business. This workshop is on Wednesday, 20th June at the Hobsons In addition to these categories, the judges will be awarding Bay Civic Centre. For more information, or to register, contact three winners from all entries to win the Environment and Sally Curtis on 9932 1000. Sustainable Business award, Good Access/Good Business award and the coveted Business of the Year award. A Mayoral Newsletter/eUpdate Award will also be presented. The Council publishes a free business newsletter titled The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Business Works. You can register to receive this and our Williamstown Town Hall on Friday, 7th September. regular electronic eUpdate by simply sending an email to the So, whether you’re a first time entrant or defending your address below. Subscribe today! 1034903-SH24-12

For more information please call Sally Curtis, Business and Tourism Ofﬁcer on 9932 1000 or email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

BUSINESS WEST

BUSiNESS PROFILE

POSiTiVE SiGNS GOING FORWARD>

“It was exciting at the time and scary taking on debt – I’d never had any debt in my life, I was always the sort of person if I borrowed $20 from you I’d give it back to you the next day, but to be in business, debt’s just part of the game, you’ve got to be in it if you like it or not. Starting off with two employees, the business has developed into a full service signage company, with clients including Crown Casino, all of Colonial Firsts State Property Management’s retail venues Australia wide, PEET property group, Lincraft, Melbourne Museum, National Gallery of Victoria, two of Australia’s biggest digital print companies, MMT and Omnigraphics and many more. Revenue grew by 40 per cent on average every year for the first five years, allowing Mr Harrold to keep on employing staff. He now boasts 18 employees. The billboard market now comprises about 10 per cent of Visual Exposure’s total revenue, but IOM remains their biggest single contract. Visual Exposure won a gold award at the most recent Australian Sign and Graphics Association awards for the work they did with Melbourne Museum on the Pompeii exhibition. This saw the business install the largest sticker sign that has ever been completed in Australia. Mr Harrold has also set up a sister company, Visual Technologies, that focuses on LED signage and lighting solutions. The business has outgrown their original Sunshine West premises, with Mr Harrold in the market for a property two or three times its size. [BW]

People @ Work Your Recruitment and HR Experts F[efb[ 6 Meha fhel_Z[ W YedikbjWj_l[ i[hl_Y[ je h[Yhk_j j^[ ceij ik_jWXb[ jWb[dj \eh oekh Xki_d[ii$

People @ Work: J[cfehWho F[hcWd[dj IjW\\ Ia_bb[Z" GkWb_Å[Z WdZ ;nf[h_[dY[Z Fhe\[ii_edWbi >kcWd H[iekhY[ WdZ 8ki_d[ii 9edikbjWdYo I[hl_Y[i

Apprentices & Trainees

Temporary & Permanent Recruitment

HR & Business Solutions

I^ef ," /&W MWjjed Ijh[[j" M[hh_X[[$ L_i_j ki Wj ]\ehY[$eh]$Wk eh f[efb[Wjmeha$Yec$Wk eh YWbb ki ed .-+* &'&&

BUSINESS WEST

1023987-SH10-12

Visual Exposure’s Mick Harrold. Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

By CHARLENE GATT IMAGINE getting your first client before you’ve even set up your business. That’s what happened to Visual Exposure’s Mick Harrold, who took the client’s interest as a, pardon the pun, good sign. The Sunshine West signage business has now been up and running for the past eight years. Mr Harrold got into the industry while taking a break from his engineering degree and working for a billboard company. He was promoted to manager but left after two-and-a-half years to complete his degree. Then the call came. It was from Independent Outdoor Media (IOM), which maintains a catalogue of 130 billboard faces across Greater Melbourne and are the second largest billboard owner company in Victoria. The boss from IOM offered Mr Harrold, who was 25 at the time, the contract for all their billboard sites. “I didn’t know what to say,” he said. “I had flirted with the idea of starting a business, I worked for my father growing up, who was a marine engineer, and he always wanted me to follow in his footsteps, but I preferred electronics engineering. “I’d always seen myself as one day owning a business and when I left the old boss, I flirted with the idea at the time of starting a business but decided I’m better off going to uni and finishing my degree – which I never did get. I’ve still got two units to go.

BUSiNESS PROFILE

SUCCESS IS CALLING BY CHARLENE GATT IF YOU had to define John Rovas in one word, that word would be ‘opportunist’. The Telstra licensee, who runs two retail stores in Watergardens and Broadmeadows, and a business centre in the heart of Niddrie, has built his career on capitalising on the opportunities that have come his way. Ms Rovas, 43, worked in civil engineering and retail before joining the telecommunications giant in 2005 with his first store in Broadmeadows. “I looked at the opportunity and understood that it was a business that was always evolving… for the last 10 or 11 years I’ve been in retail, and I saw Telstra as a great retail opportunity,” he said. Aligning himself with a brand was a nobrainer for Mr Rovas, who said of his decision to go with Telstra: “If you’re going to do something, you do it with the biggest and the best. Telstra has the best coverage, the best service.” He soon found operating a Telstra store was a very different experience from the retail environment he was accustomed to. Working in the telecommunications industry is all about adapting to constant change, Mr Rovas said. “Products change continuously, we have websites that keep us up to speed with what’s happening and every day of the week a product of some form will change.

But that didn’t deter him from expanding his reach and following up with another store in Watergardens in 2008. “With the massive growth out there, we saw it was an opportunity to expand the retail business and take that to the next level. The opportunity was too good to pass up.” Then, in 2010, Mr Rovas took the plunge and expanded once again with the Telstra North West Business Centre on Keilor Rd, Niddrie. The business centre is a one stop shop for small to medium sized business, and includes office phone systems, mobiles, wireless devices and digital business solutions. Mr Rovas, who employs more than 45 people, is based at the business centre and regularly visits the other two retail stores. Meanwhile, his brother Manny manages the Watergardens store, while his other brother James looks after the administrative side of the business. “It (the business centre) was more the evolution of our time with Telstra,” he said.

Telstra licensee John Rovas. Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI “It’s not a static business; it’s an everevolving business and you need to be on top of it and you need to have a team around you that understands that and moves with it. Technology doesn’t sit still.”

“What we saw was small business customers coming in to stores who were not being paid much attention in general and we saw it as an opportunity to tailor business-specific needs and in a business-specific environment to small business customers.” [BW]

Design and Build Delivery Commercial Retail Industrial Melbourne Ph: 03 9347 2611

Fresh Freight Laverton North, Victoria

Sydney Ph: 02 9502 4544 Website www.vaughans.com.au Email E: info@vaughans.com.au

Paciﬁc Brands Complex Truganina, Victoria

Community Chef Complex Altona, Victoria

Established in 1955 and with over 2,000 design and construct solutions, Vaughan Constructions has established an unrivalled reputation as the leader in professional and cost effective design and construction services. Vaughan Constructions has established a proven approach to meeting speciﬁc client needs, within budget and time constraints, “Building Customers for Life”. 401244-SH18-12

BUSINESS WEST

Windmill Gardens Reception’s David and Sophie Atanasovski.

CHAPEL By CHARLENE GATT AS A uni student, David Atanasovski would tell his girlfriend Sophie about his dreams to run his own reception venue. Thirty years later, that dream is now a reality. The husband and wife team have been running Windmill Gardens Reception in Plumpton for more than a decade after running cafes in the city, and are enjoying success thanks to an extensive renovation and a population boom. “When Sophie and I met at uni, I always used to say to her ‘one day, we’re going to have a venue that’s going to be on a big property and have a lake, have a chapel’,” Mr Atanasovski told Business West. “When the property came up for sale, I came down and looked at it and a couple of days later I told my wife I was very, very interested and brought her down and she said ‘you’ve walked into your dream’.” The 11 acre property had been running as a functions centre and restaurant, but was in bad need of some TLC when the Atanasovskis took over. To top it off, the previous owners had no website, no professional brochures or any other marketing material. Today, the estate boasts a 210-seat function venue set among landscaped gardens, a chapel, a two-storey windmill with rustic scenery and mill water wheel, a lake and waterways. “It was nowhere near as busy as it is now,” Mr Atanasovski said of their start. “What you see is not what we got. We did pretty much everything – refurbished inside, did

Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI

a lot of major works outside, a lot of renovations on the actual windmill itself. I probably spent more money on the actual refurbishments and adding things to it than what we actually paid for it. “I think we concentrated a lot on the aesthetics of the venue. “It was very run-down when we took it over. “There was no car park; it was all gravel. We built in waterfalls and so forth, we landscaped that whole area, we’ve done quite extensive work to bring it up to what I believe is a suitable enough standard. Marketing is probably another aspect. “We’ve gone out and done more professional brochures to what they had, established a professional website, just targeted specific media in the wedding industry. Catering-wise, I think we’ve significantly increased the standard of our catering. I think we’ve got one of the best reputations for catering.” Another challenge was getting people to come out to Plumpton. “It was a struggle. “Although people knew of the venue, it was a little bit of a struggle trying to convince them to venture out this way. “But we held in there. It took a little bit of time but we kept chipping away at it and we’re very grateful to those that bit the bullet and took our word for what we were going to do so by the time their functions or events did come through, what we offered, we actually delivered. Otherwise, it would have been a very big struggle.”

PKs Restaurant

$15 LUNCH SPECIAL $15 for a Main Course with a glass of Wild Oats Wine. 7 days a week 11.00am - 4.30pm

PKs Restaurant

Breakfast Lunch Dinner 265 Mickleham Road, Tullamarine 3043 Phone 03 9335 9300 www.qualityairporthotel.com.au

BUSINESS WEST

Now, the estate is in a prime position, located in a municipality that is one of the fastest growing in Australia. “It was one of the reasons why I bought the property,” Mr Atanasovski said. “Even then, 10 years ago, when we were considering buying the property, this particular corridor was one of the fastest-growing – even then. It’s accelerated a lot more with Caroline Springs and it’s been very, very good for the business.” Windmill hosts about 120 functions a year, including weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, communions and other events. The clientele is largely from the North West region, but occasionally the pair receives bookings from the other side of the city. “There’s still room to improve,” Mr Atanasovski said. “I think you still need to identify future trends and you need to keep your finger on what’s happening in the marketplace. “What couples and what brides wanted 10 years ago, they no longer want. They’re looking for something more current. For argument’s sake, 10 years ago it was unheard of to have black chair covers, now everyone wants black. It was unheard of to have square tables, now we have square tables. “You’ll find that if you listen to people, you can pick up on... what people have seen. [BW]

QUALITY HOTEL MELBOURNE AIRPORT Conference Packages starting from

$51.50 per delegate

Catering for groups from 10 to 200 people Minimum of 10

1023799-JF10-12

GOiNG

TO THE

BUSiNESS PROFILE

SWEET iDEA By CHARLENE GATT IT’S the supermarket that lets diabetics have their cake and eat it too. I’m Sugar Free is the brainchild of Vincent and Angela d’Argent, who discovered that it was close to impossible to find sugar free or no added sugar products in Australia when Vincent was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 34. Vincent went into a diabetic coma after his symptoms were originally misdiagnosed as a kidney infection. He now has to inject himself with insulin four times a day. To add insult to the injury, Vincent and Angela had trouble finding any food without sugar. “It was impossible for us to find sugar free products anywhere,” Angela said. “Everything the supermarket stocked had sugar in it.” Vincent added: “Then I had a dream one night and I woke up and wrote the name ‘I’m Sugar Free’. “I registered the business name that morning. Three years later, we opened up the business.” The pair opened up a shopfront along Ballarat Rd in Deer Park, stocking it with sugar-free products Angela had painstakingly sourced from all over the world. The location was a strategic one, with the suburbs of Deer Park and Ardeer home to the highest rates of diabetes in Melbourne.

79298_01 Horizontal _03 Vert

I’m Sugar Free’s Vincent d’Argent. Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

They started spruiking the business through newspaper and radio advertisements, and before long I’m Sugar Free took off, so much so that they expanded to a bigger store just down the road from their original location. The d’Argents also used the expansion to include a gluten free product line and food for people with allergies or intolerances to dairy, nuts, soy, eggs, wheat and fructose. The business stocks everything from sugar free chocolates, unsweetened carob, lollies, cake mixes, jams, sauces, jelly, mousses, biscuits, toppings, chips to toothpaste, pasta, soft drink. They even sell their own sugar free smoothies. Keeping with the theme, the d’Argents donated $15,000 to juvenile diabetes research last year. “We’ve had a really good response. What keeps me going is the younger kids that come in,” Angela said. “There’s a lot of allergies out there, so I try and get in things that people ask for. There’s new products in every week.” The business also takes phone and online orders, delivering all over Australia. “It’s probably the best thing that ever happened to me,” Vincent said. “There was a reason I became diabetic. I didn’t realise how many people needed us.” In type 1 diabetes the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach, stops making insulin. Without insulin, the body’s cells cannot turn glucose (sugar), into energy. [BW]

Melbourne Star Taxi and Limousine Services “We go anywhere, anytime with your safety as our number one priority!” 1300 22 10 18 Featuring:

• Corporate travel a speciality-privacy and discreet service at all times. Pre book by 6.00pm the night before for guaranteed on time pick ups.

info@melbournestarlimos.com.au

1029469-SH16-12

• Safe taxi transport for the aged, retired, infirm, injured. Caring well trained drivers who will always assist. Your safety is our number one priority • Families - Baby seats at no extra charge • Professional service for women travellers – text message on arrival Why use uninsured taxis and poor quality drivers when you can travel in comfort and safety at much the same price?

BUSINESS WEST

??MELTON BUSiNESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

ENJOYiNG MEATY SUCCESS Business of the Year Rainbow Meats Caroline Springs Best Retail Business Rainbow Meats Caroline Springs Best Trade and Construction Business Exclusive Homes & Developments Best Training Services Business Practical Outcomes Best Community and Not for Profit Organisation The Friends of Melton Botanic Garden Best Tourism and Hospitality Business Westwaters Hotel & Entertainment Complex Best Home Based or Micro Business Alison Cole Embroidery

Rainbow Meats Dean Stephens, left, and Frank Panzera. Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI

Best Trade and Construction Retail Business Melton Pool and Spas Best Property Services Business YPA Estate Agents Melton Best New and Emerging Business Little Legs Play Centre Leaders in Sustainability Ausdynamix Best Access for All Abilities Business Little Legs Play Centre Apprentice of the Year Frances Cowhig – Wallaby Childcare Centre Best Personal Services Business eyeclarity Best Franchise Business Nandos Caroline Springs Best Leisure, Health & Fitness Business Obsessed with Fitness Best Arts Business Alison Cole Embroidery Best Financial Services Business Platinum Accounting and Taxation Hall of Fame UFS Dispensaries Mayoral Achievement Award H’s Place Hair Studio

BUSINESS WEST

BY CHARLENE GATT DEAN Stephens and Frank Panzera have been grinning from ear to ear since taking out Melton’s Business of the Year award. Their business, Rainbow Meats in Caroline Springs, took out the top gong and was also awarded Retailer of the Year at the 2012 Powercor Shire of Melton Business Excellence Awards, going up against 42 other businesses for the coveted title. “To win the award was very exciting. To pick up the Retailer of the Year and the Business of the Year was great,” Mr Stephens, who is part-owner,” said. “It gives us that bit more exposure and it’s great for the staff. Everybody’s part of it, it’s not just us because we’re managers and owners. It becomes a bit of a team effort.” The judges praised Rainbow Meats’ commitment to technology, its excellent customer service, innovative marketing ideas, processes and procedures. The business has won multiple state and national awards over the years and is held up as an exceptional fresh food retail outlet model by Meat & Livestock Australia and the retail meat industry. The Rainbow Meats story started more than 33 years ago when Sam Russo opened up the first store in Chirnside Park.

His son Frank eventually took over and proceeded to open up three more stores in Chadstone, Camberwell and Caroline Springs. Mr Stephens, who started out as an employee 24 years ago, has worked his way up the ranks to manager and then partowner of the Caroline Springs store, of which Mr Panzera is manager. “It was (scary), because it was a bit out of the comfort zone… but the feedback from the general public was really good. The shop hasn’t looked back since day one, it’s growing all the time,” Mr Stephens said. Rainbow Meats tries hard to stay innovative in both its products and service. There’s the computer screen at the front that offers up tips and recipes for customers, plus new offerings such as the mid-week roast complete with roast potatoes and vegetables. “We try different things as we go along,” Mr Stephens said. “Not everything works, but its trial and error.” He believes Masterchef and other reality cooking shows also help to boost business. “You can always tell when there’s been a cooking show on, because you get a lot of ladies come to you and they’ll specifically ask for something they’ve seen on TV.” [BW]

MELTON BUSiNESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

DYNAMiC LEADERS By CHARLENE GATT AUSDYNAMIX are leaders in sustainability. So says Melton Shire Council, which gave the business the Leaders in Sustainability award at the recent Melton Business Excellence Awards. “It’s good recognition of the hard work we’ve done over the last 18 months to get to where we are,” Ausdynamix owner Frank Unferdorben said. The business installs and services a range of domestic and commercial solar power, solar hot water, emergency hot water replacements, energy efficient air conditioning and alternative energy solutions. Mr Unferdorben started up the business in his garage, taking the best aspects of other businesses he had worked for to run his own. “We very quickly concentrated on doing solar hot water. “We were doing about 90 per cent solar hot water and 10 per cent of solar power. That has pretty much turned on its head now. Mr Unferdorben said the move to solar

power had shifted the dynamics of the business, helping Ausdynamix to triple in size in the past 12 months and outgrow its Melton office.

Ausdynamix’s Frank Unferdorben. Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

He is looking at expanding more in the coming financial year, including doubling the size of his storage warehouse, putting on his permanent part-time staff to full-time plus taking on another three employees. He also plans to train his delivery driver to become a warehouse manager. Mr Unferdorben is currently working with his accountant to map out a strategy for growth. “One of the struggles in small business is when you grow big very quickly, you need to properly manage that growth. [BW]

2012 Gala Business Lunch Moonee Valley’s premier business event Tuesday, 17 July, 12 noon-2.30pm Inner Circle Room, Moonee Valley Racing Club, McPherson Street, Moonee Ponds $55 per person, includes three course meal Bookings close Monday, 9 July mvcc.vic.gov.au/businessevents

Guest speaker: Alan Kohler, one of Australia’s most experienced economic commentators and journalists, will provide an overview of the global economic climate, valuable insight to current economic trends and how this will affect your business. MC: Beverly O’Connor, journalist and broadcaster specialising in economics and politics.

1034768-SH24-12

BUSINESS WEST

COVER STORY BY CHARLENE GATT WHEN it comes to the Carbon Tax there seems to be just as much misinformation as there is information. Business West spoke to Collins & Co partner Fabio Cammarano for an insight in to what the tax is, and what it means for local businesses. Mr Cammarano, a fellow of CPA Australia with a Masters of Taxation and almost 20 years experience, said the first thing we needed to get straight was the name of the tax. “The centrepiece of the Federal Government’s climate change policy is carbon pricing, referred to in the media as the “Carbon Tax”,” he said. “The Carbon Tax becomes effective from 1 July this year, with a levy of $23 per tonne produced which will gradually increase each year until 2015. “From 1 July 2015, the system shifts to an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) whereby the market will determine the price per tonne of carbon.” Mr Cammarano described the tax as a “pricing mechanism” which would be used by the government to charge businesses per tonne of carbon dioxide produced. “Under the scheme, any business that produces at least 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year will be charged a levy per tonne of emissions. “It is anticipated the Carbon Tax will directly affect approximately 500 large businesses that produce over 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. “Whilst only these businesses will directly incur the Carbon Tax, indirectly every business will be affected by its introduction as price increases will be passed on to consumers through the supply chain.” The ripple effect of taxing the big polluters will see businesses big and small feeling some sort of pinch, but to what degree is still unknown with those in the know only speaking in estimates. “According to Treasury modelling it is estimated the Carbon Tax will increase gas and electricity pricing by approximately 10 per cent and will have an overall effect on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by an increase of 0.7 per cent,” Mr Cammarano said. The Federal Government has been spruiking benefits of the tax claiming residents and small businesses will be compensated for increased costs. Mr Cammarano highlighted an increased threshold for writing off assets and industry assistance for small businesses as examples. “To compensate small businesses for the effect of the Carbon Tax the Government has increased the threshold to allow for an ‘instant asset write off’ for assets purchased by small business.

BUSINESS WEST

“This threshold will increase from 1 July 2012 to be $6,500 instead of $5,000 however will only apply to businesses with a turnover of less than $2 million. “The government will also provide industry assistance to businesses that will be adversely affected by the Carbon Tax, under a number of programs such as the Jobs and Competiveness Program and the Clean Technology Program. The programs are designed to encourage businesses to invest in energy efficient solutions for their business.” But Mr Cammarano, who advises small to medium sized businesses ranging in turnover from $500k to $100m, said businesses needed to plan for the increase in costs.

“

Indirectly every business will be affected by its introduction as price increases will be passed on to consumers through the supply chain…

“Businesses that are unable to pass on these increases in costs will have to absorb the indirect cost of the Carbon Tax. It is important that businesses factor in the effect of the Carbon Tax when they review their pricing strategy for the next 12 months. “Some businesses, such as those in the transport industry, that receive fuel tax credits will see a reduction in current fuel tax credits over the next few years commencing 1 July 2012. “It is even more important for these industries that have relied on the fuel tax credits to review their pricing going forward.” So how can businesses reduce the effect of the Carbon Tax? Mr Cammarano, who is also the Treasurer of the Footscray Traders Association, said reviewing your business’ pricing strategy for the next 12 months was of the “utmost importance” to avoid absorbing the indirect cost increases brought on by the Carbon Tax. “You should also look for new methods of conserving energy and becoming more efficient with your business’ energy consumption, not only to reduce the carbon footprint but to reduce the costs of your business,” he said. [BW] Collins & Co’s Fabio Cammarano. Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

FABIO CAMMARANO

COVER STORY

TAXING

TIMES BUSINESS WEST

CARBON TAX

TALKiNG TAXES YOU’VE heard the spin, now it’s time to hear the word on the street. BUSiNESS WEST spoke to five business owners in the West to find out what the Carbon Tax means to them and how it will affect their businesses. Unlike the major mining companies, these businesses don’t produce enough carbon to warrant the $23 a tonne tax, but all of them will be hit indirectly in one way or another.

Grant Harrison – Managing Director, Melton Toyota

MELTON TOYOTA THE second-generation Melton Toyota brand is thriving as Melbourne’s oldest single-owner car dealer, with the business celebrating its 40th birthday this year. “In theory and in principle, if it was a world-wide situation, I think I agree with it,” Melton Toyota Managing Director Grant Harrison said. “However, Australia, being one of the only countries to implement

BUSINESS WEST

it, I tend to disagree. Business will certainly pay some tax, but it will be passed back to the consumer at the end of the day. “It will affect Melton Toyota because our utilities will get more expensive, our vehicles will cost more from Toyota, they will pass those charges onto the customer. “We’re just charging ourselves money and trying to save the environment while other countries destroy the environment. That’s what it comes down to.”

“

In theory and in principle, if it was a world-wide situation, I think I agree with it… GRANT HARRISON

CARBON TAX

“

It’s good that Australia’s doing something proactive for the environment…

It’s going to be a lot less effective than we’d like it to be… ANIA HAMPTON

FIONA McDOWELL

Steve Martyn – Managing Director, ABLE Industries Engineering

Jenny Sadler – Franchisee, McDonald’s

Fiona McDowell, Minuteman Press Footscray

MINUTEMAN PRESS MINUTEMAN Press specialises in an array of printing services, including document reproduction, copying and graphic design jobs. “It’s good that Australia’s doing something proactive for the environment,” Minuteman Press Footscray Franchisee Fiona McDowell said. “I think that the people that will be impacted the most directly actually should be, because overseas they are, and we’re lagging well behind in funding that could be going into fixing a lot of the environmental issues that are caused by these larger firms that are making mega profits. “It’s unfortunate that it’s passed on to the smaller mum and pop businesses like ourselves, however, wherever we can, we do want to have a positive impact on the community and on the environment.”

McDONALD’S JENNY Sadler runs three McDonald’s franchises in St Albans, Taylors Lakes and Avondale Heights. “I think it’s going to affect business and ordinary Australians negatively,” she said. “I can only speculate, but our energy costs will go up, and that will happen with our suppliers as well. “We still have things delivered to our restaurant, so if fuel costs go up, I can’t see how those costs will be absorbed by business. “It doesn’t seem to make sense. We’ve already had energy increases earlier this year… I just think it’s going to put strain on Australians. If businesses feel more pressure, then what will happen is people will lose jobs.”

“

I think it’s going to affect business and ordinary Australians negatively… JENNY SADLER

Ania Hampton – Director, Hampton Sustainability

HAMPTON SUSTAINABILITY HAMPTON Sustainability is an Environmentally Sustainable Design consultancy committed to delivering sensible, effective and viable building solutions. “It’s going to be a lot less effective than we’d like it to be,” Director Ania Hampton said. “I think, given the world and Australia’s current economy, the carbon price is probably going to be too high. “It will probably be good for my business, because I’m in the business of helping people reduce their energy use and hopefully people will want my help with that. “For my industry, there’s a lot of challenges and also a lot of opportunities.”

ABLE INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING ABLE Industries Engineering specialises in metal fabrication over a number of project areas, including the army, navy and airforce, energy and renewable energy, mining, rail, construction and the industrial engineering sectors. “It will affect us, that’s for sure,” Managing Director Steve Martyn said. “The reimbursement and subsidies… you’ve got to be a fairly large company and use a lot of energy to get those rebates. “It really depends on what the supply chain does, at the moment we deal with a lot of transport and a lot of metal suppliers and all of those things that attract heavy tax, and that will be passed on. “Customers will pay, ultimately. “What we see happening is the manufacturing environment in Australia will become less competitive, because it just adds to the cost of production. “It will put a lot of pressure on our industry.” [BW]

“

It will put a lot of pressure on our industry… STEVE MARTYN

BUSINESS WEST

BUSiNESS PROFILE ILE

C One Beauty’s Claire Miller.

Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

BUSiNESS OF BEAUTY BY CHARLENE GATT BEAUTY may be in the eyes of the beholder, but running a beauty salon requires a lot more organisation and finesse. Claire Miller, 24, has spent the past twoand-a-half years perfecting the art of the homebased business with C One Beauty, a beauty salon run from the garage of her parents’ Altona Meadows home. Ms Miller got her start in beauty therapy in high school when she scored a part-time job at a salon. After graduating, she completed her apprenticeship through the same business and spent five years in the industry before deciding to go out on her own. “I wanted to start something on my own,” she said. “I started looking around in hairdressing salons and gyms to maybe rent a room, but I was lucky enough that my parents let me build this in their garage.” On the outside, C One Beauty resembles a

BUSINESS WEST

garage. But don’t be fooled. Inside is a fully decked out beauty salon for waxing, tinting, manicures, pedicures, acrylic nails, relaxation massages, spray tans and facials. Ms Miller spent six months setting up the business before doing her first letterbox drop around Altona Meadows, Seabrook, Point Cook and Altona a month before Christmas. The timing couldn’t have been better. “I didn’t think it would be full-time straight away, I thought maybe part-time and I’d try to find a job in another salon – but I did the first mailbox drop and I got a huge response from that,” Ms Miller said. “I was very lucky from the start, I had lots of local business. “I just try and be as professional as when I was working in the other salons, because when people are here, some of them think it’s a real garage job, so that’s why, from the start, I did the brochures properly… the first lot of people said the brochures looked like they came from a shop and then when they read the brochure, they realised it was from a home.

“I try and keep all the advertising side professional. “I always wanted to give it a go and I thought home-based was the way to start, before getting myself into a shop or anything.” Ms Miller is keen to expand in the next two years and have a shopfront of her own, but is happy to stay put for now. “It’s just enough for me, so I could never have someone helping me out here. “It’s consistent enough for me, but not consistent enough to have another person on. “Especially around Christmas I feel like I need help, but I only have the one room so I can’t do it. “There are busy times of the year that I’d love some help – even to take the walk-ins and answer the phones – but I just don’t have the room at the moment. “I’ve always got my eye open for vacant shops and things like that. I’d definitely like to stay local – it’s taken two-and-a-half years to build up this clientele, I really want to try and keep that.” [BW]

NEWS

NO MONKEY BUSiNESS

Steve Martyn and his business, Able Industries, won the Hobsons Bay Business of the Year in 2011. Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

AWARD SEASON TOP businesses will again be recognised this year with nominations opening for the annual Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards. Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Councillor Tony Briffa said the awards had gone from strength to strength and had become a prestigious accolade for the local business community. “There are nine specialist categories, including new/start up business; retail; hospitality; tourism; transport and logistics; manufacturing and industrial; professional services; not for profit/ community service; and home-based business. “Judges will also award an Environment award and Good Access award across all categories, as well as an overall Business of the Year. I will also have the pleasure of presenting a Mayoral award.” The Mayor said the awards were a great way to promote business excellence, as well as encourage local business development. “These awards cover all aspects of local business, including those running their own enterprises from home, as well as the more traditional retail outlets. “Our business community is diverse and these awards celebrate and recognise local success stories.

BY CHARLENE GATT A NEW corporate program has swung into action at the Werribee Open Range Zoo. The zoo has launched its Race Around the Zoo corporate program called Gorilla Mission, which challenges teams to find the five stations around the Pula Reserve using a puzzle piece and team building questions to unlock their station box. Each station box has a clue inside to find the next station. While racing, the teams must pay attention to their surroundings and answer a series of questions to earn points to help them win. Every member of the team has a role to play within the race to help solve the 90-minute Gorilla Mission. Throughout the race there are several twists and turns for the teams. Once all the puzzle pieces have been collected, teams work together to find the solution. Each participant is given a team development kit at the end of the race. Meanwhile, the humans will be on display for the gorillas as they scramble around their exhibit on the African River Trail. Program co-ordinator Phoebe Lynch said the new corporate training workshops provided organisations with unique team building experiences, staff professional development activities and incredible opportunities to compare human and animal behaviour and group dynamics. The professional development activity is founded on Bruce Tuckman’s model of team dynamics and team development throughout the Gorilla Mission. “We were getting quite a few enquiries from local businesses and organisations who wanted a site for conferences, and we didn’t actually have anything in place, so with that interest we decided to develop a program around our gorillas,” Ms Lynch said. “Melbourne Zoo also runs a corporate program that has a team building aspect and is also a race around the zoo, and we thought it would be good to align Werribee and Melbourne with the team building products.” Melbourne Zoo has been running their corporate program for the past two years. Werribee Zoo is offering the program twice daily from Monday to Friday. To find out more, call Tamara Hunt on 9285 9248. [BW]

“The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Williamstown Town Hall on Friday, 7th September, so nominate now.” To help businesses with their nominations, the Council is hosting a series of free workshops to provide entrants with advice and tips on how to put forward an award-winning application. These workshops will be at the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre. For details on dates and times of the workshops, as well as information on nominating for the awards, contact Sally Curtis on 9932 1000 or email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au Nominations for the awards close on Friday, 20 July. In other news, nominations for this year’s Wyndham Business Awards have opened. The awards, now in their 18th year, recognise Wyndham’s finest businesses from a number of categories including retail, tourism, manufacturing, franchise and service. Last year’s Business of the Year went to Werribee Open Range Zoo. Nominations close on 29 June. The finalists will be announced at midday on Monday 2 July, with the winners announced at the Awards Gala on Friday 10 August 10. [BW]

Werribee Zoo’s Christie Trerice, Chris Kemp and Phoebe Lynch. Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

BUSINESS WEST

SMALL TALK CASHING IN ON CORN A MANUFACTURER producing bioplastic packaging from corn starch for some of Australia’s biggest retailers will increase its output by 400 per cent, following the expansion of its manufacturing facility. The Minister for Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet, opened Plantic Technologies Ltd’s expanded Altona site recently and congratulated the company on the extensive upgrades aimed improving efficiency and productivity. “Plantic ticks many of the boxes for the future of clever manufacturing in Australia and demonstrates how collaboration between research and industry can pay off,” Mr Combet said. “They have taken Australian research from the Cooperative Research Centre for International Food Manufacture and Packaging Science and used it to develop commercially attractive packaging products, create local jobs and export internationally.” Plantic Technologies has produced plastics from organic materials since the early 2000s. The bio-degradable products are derived from a natural, renewable crop – corn – cutting the use of emissions intensive fossil fuels.

LEADERS UNITE

HIGH FLYING

FUCHS EXPANSION

MELBOURNE Airport’s patronage is on the rise. International passengers grew by 2.2 per cent in April, while domestic figures were down 1.7 per cent compared to the same time last year. The strongest growth came from Argentina, which was up 47.1 per cent, and Greece, up 45.6 per cent. Chinese passengers were up 31.2 per cent. Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff said an earlier Easter holiday in April had affected domestic passenger numbers.

THE global CEO of Fuchs Petrolub Stefan Fuchs visited Australia recently to announce a significant investment and expansion of the Melbourne and Newcastle facilities. Mr Fuchs detailing plans for a $5.5 million expansion of the Melbourne facility, which is based in Sunshine, and a major redevelopment in Newcastle. Part of a global investment program by the Fuchs Group, the announcement of additional investment into the region follows the launch last year of a world class Regional Lubricant Laboratory and Technical Centre in Melbourne, boosting local and regional lubricant development and sales.

MASSIVE WAREHOUSE SALE A TULLAMARINE warehouse has sold for $7.3 million. The 103-121 Western Avenue property has a leasable area of 6120 square metres and features a 4500 square metre high clearance warehouse with seven roller shutter doors. It is located on a site of 16,550 square metres. The building, which was bought by a private investor, was sold by Peet and is leased to CEVA Freight Pty until 2017 with and annual rent of $766,256 per annum. The sale was handled by CB Richard Ellis.

BUSINESS WEST

“

THE Melbourne’s West Leaders in Business Roundtable is a new initiative powered by Executive Accelerators in collaboration with councils across the West to provide a series of ongoing roundtables for business leaders in the region. Each roundtable consists of 15 to 18 CEOs, MD’s or General Managers from noncompeting businesses and non-commercial organisations. They are chaired by a dedicated experienced facilitator, and will occur once a month, usually over breakfast. The roundtables are aimed at connecting, inspiring and vitalising business leaders in a small, confidential and supportive environment. They will revolve around business model innovation and acceleration of business potential by focusing on the four pillars of Strategy, Leadership, Collaboration and Innovation and will work as an independent sounding board and source of new strategies and ideas.

Plantic ticks many of the boxes for the future of clever manufacturing in Australia and demonstrates how collaboration between research and industry can pay off… GREG COMBET

SMALL TALK ST ALBANS DEVELOPMENT

WILLIAMSTOWN OIL SPILL

UNIVERSITY RESTRUCTURE

DEVELOPER Cedar Woods has paid $12 million for a seven hectare residential in-fill site at St Albans. The site is walking distance to the St Albans train station and has the potential to accommodate 200 dwellings. The acquisition is on two-year deferred payment terms, reflecting the developer’s strategy of acquiring in-fill sites for development in the medium-term. The St Albans development will consist of a mix of houses and town houses that will sell between $350,000 and $500,000.

AN OIL spill at Williamstown’s Gellibrand Pier has cost Singaporean-based Teekay Navion Offshore Loading $200,000. The company pleaded guilty to one charge in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for permitting an environmental hazard in August 2009. The court heard that while discharging crude oil into Mobil’s Gellibrand Terminal an incident occurred in high winds causing oil to discharge freely onto the pier and upper deck of the MT Leyte Spirit, owned and operated by Teekay Navion. During the subsequent clean-up operation, approximately 180 kilograms of liquid crude oil was recovered from the water around the pier and more than 3000 kilograms of oil-contaminated soil was recovered from St Kilda beach. The spilt crude oil caused a costly and difficult clean-up operation with discharged oil continuing to come ashore at St Kilda beach during a period of six days.

VICTORIA University will be broken into eight colleges and a specialised TAFE facility in its biggest restructure since the university opened 22 years ago. The structural change to VU means that the faculty model will be replaced with eight colleges in line with the university’s distinctive specialisations – business; creative industries and creative arts; education and early childhood; engineering, science and the built environment; health; law, justice and government; social science and communities; and sport science. Courses will be structured to encourage seamless pathways from TAFE to Higher Education and all courses will be reviewed in line with the new structure. Meanwhile, a Victoria University Trades Academy will be established at the new training centre at Sunshine to focus on the delivery of apprenticeships, preapprenticeships and VCAL. A target has been set for VU to be world renowned in Sport, Exercise and Active Living by 2016, world renowned in at least another three areas and a national leader in at least five industry clusters by 2020. The restructure will be implemented by 1 January 2013.

BUILDER BUSTED AN UNREGISTERED builder who took nearly $18,000 from consumers after he abandoned two projects has been ordered to pay compensation and undertake 250 hours of community service. The 28 -year-old has been convicted on five charges of breaching Victoria’s domestic building and fair trading laws on home and commercial projects. He was ordered to pay $10,700 in compensation to a Burwood family and $7000 to a Sunshine North business. “(The builder) entered into a contract to build a retaining wall for a Burwood family, the first stage in a legitimate home building project with a registered builder. But when he failed to do much more than dig a few holes, all construction had to be put on hold, causing a major disruption to the project,” Consumer Affairs Minister Michael O’Brien said. “(His) next victim was a Sunshine North business looking to expand its warehouse, but after entering into the contract and taking $7000, (the builder) failed to start work or respond to communication.”

BUSINESS WEST

STRATEGIES

PLANNING AHEAD

“

Make sure your business gets off to a flying start by ensuring that any application you make includes all the necessary supporting information…

ROSS BARDIN is director at Bardin Planning Co-ordination Pty Ltd. The business provides professional advice and comprehensive town planning submissions for land use and development proposals throughout Melbourne. Ross is a town planner with more than 30 years’ experience in local government (including the City of Werribee, now Wyndham City) and private practice. He is a corporate member of the Planning Institute of Australia and a Certified Practising Planner. He was recently involved with the Torquay North Outline Development Plan, approval of the new Melbourne Seafood Centre in West Melbourne and the relocation of Precast Concrete Systems from Laverton North to the Paramount Estate in Derrimut.

BUSINESS WEST

ROSS BARDIN

IF YOU are thinking of starting a new business then you would be well advised to first seek professional advice as to whether or not the nature of your business requires a town planning permit from your local council. If you are going to construct a new building then all works associated with that new building along with any alteration or extension to an existing building in a shopping centre or industrial area will definitely require town planning approval from your local council. When the council planning department assesses your proposal they will be considering a number of matters, such as: ■ The setback of buildings from the street frontage and other boundaries ■ Building height ■ Vehicle access ■ Provision of car parking ■ Landscaping In many areas you may also be required to provide information about building materials, paint colours and finishes and any new advertising signs. Council can more quickly make a decision about what you want to do and whether or not it satisfies the requirements of the local planning scheme if all the necessary and relevant planning information is shown on your plans and provided as part of a package of information with your application. A town planning permit can also often be required even if your new business simply involves just a change in the use of the floor space of an existing building. An example of where this might occur is in an industrial area, where a warehouse building is proposed to be used for some sort of industrial or manufacturing operation. In these situations the council can consider whether or not the industry or manufacturing you propose to undertake is suitable having regard to the requirements of the particular industrial zone in which you are located, the nature of adjoining businesses and how close you are to any residential areas. Another example would be a change in the use of retail floor space from a shop to that of a cafe or restaurant. While such a hospitality type use can be permitted in a shopping centre in a business zone, the council nonetheless has to consider a number of

matters, including the proposed number of seats, the hours of operation, whether or not a liquor licence would be obtained and once again the provision of car parking for the new use. New advertising signs can also be an issue in shopping areas and although planning schemes generally allow a reasonable level of advertising, many councils have their own special controls in local polices. It is best to be aware of these polices before you erect or display any new or additional signs. A town planning consultant can provide you with the right advice about what permits and approvals you might need and make sure your business gets off to a flying start by ensuring that any application you make includes all the necessary supporting information. A planning consultant can lodge your application, work with the council planning department and manage it through the often difficult approval process. If your proposal is complex and raises issues such as traffic engineering, the provision of services and other government agency approval in addition to the basics of satisfying the requirements of the local planning scheme, an experienced planning consultant can readily identify those issues and put together a project team and manage the engagement of any specialist consultants that may be required to deliver a successful outcome for your business.

STRATEGIES

MANAGING CONFLICT

“

I was able to establish common interests and show him respect, which are the building blocks for establishing rapport…

THERE I was, face to face with big bad Bubba, a very angry prisoner. He was threatening to tear me apart, limb from limb. He had the red wire plugged into the green socket and the ship was about to hit the sand big time. My heart was pounding through my chest as my body prepared itself for battle. As Bubba came towards me with his fists clenched and his arms raised ready to strike, I noticed a picture on his cell wall that appeared to have been drawn by a small child. I pointed to the picture and said: “Do you have kids?” He immediately turned and looked at the picture and yelled, “What?” I replied in a calm relaxed way. “Do you have kids?” He said: “What the f#@# has that got to do with anything?” I said: “I can’t imagine what it must be like to be locked up in prison away from your children.” He stopped approaching me but maintained his rage and began to vent his anger at the prison system, jacks/cops and life in general. Even though he was still angry, he was no longer angry with me. I was able to identify with a higher value (his child). This in turn shifted Bubba’s focus, bringing him to a more manageable place within himself. Asking questions about higher values, things people like; their children, sporting club, car, or dog, anything which you believe will move their thoughts from the Right Prefrontal Cortex which is a more combative part of the brain, to the Left Prefrontal Cortex, this area is stimulated by respect, mutual interest and compassion. When I entered the prison cell Bubba saw me as a member of the dog squad, a figure of authority trying to tell him what to do. That all changed when he looked at the picture that, as it turned out, was drawn by his daughter. We were now two fathers talking about the difficulties of being separated from your children. Instead of getting angry with him, I empathised with his plight and saw him as a caring father who missed his kids. I was able to establish common interests and show him respect, which are the building blocks for establishing rapport.

KEVIN COLLISTER If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at begin to change. In order to change the behaviour of a colleague, friend or family member you need to first change the way you look at them. Reframe the behaviour which bothers you, for instance ‘he is so self-obsessed, he really irritates me’, to let’s say, ‘it must be difficult for John to have to continually talk about himself, to validate who he is’. Instead of seeing him as a jerk, I will see him as a good person, just trying to get people to like and respect him. This shift in my thought process will in turn change my body language and tonality in a positive way, enabling me to communicate with John in a much more meaningful way. Words have no deep structure, it is what you are thinking and feeling which gives your words their meaning. Now imagine that your life consists of three buckets: a stress bucket, which sits inside an anxiety bucket, which is inside a depression bucket. By reframing and seeing things in a more positive light, you will reduce your stress levels, which will in turn assist in preventing your stress bucket from overflowing into the anxiety bucket and so on. In summary, these are the tools of assertive communicators who possess the confidence and presence of mind to talk about their feelings, needs, rights, opinions and beliefs with empathy and without anger or prejudice. They focus on issues, not behaviours. They don’t take themselves too seriously. They know they’re not perfect nor is anyone else. Assertive communicators respect themselves and others, regardless of how other people behave. Having regard for others as a principle of your actions is the safest and most effective method of dealing with conflict and aggression.

KEVIN COLLISTER has extensive experience, including military service, Victorian Corrective Services, being a dog handler and member of the Security and Emergency Services Group, a prison emergency response unit with state-wide responsibilities dealing with some of Australia’s most dangerous criminals. Kevin has witnessed and worked drug searches, high security escorts, escapes and riots. His clients now include government departments, corporate companies, and small to medium businesses and not for profit agencies across Australia. Kevin can be contacted on 03 5276 1153, 0438 821150 or info@ totallyproactive.com.au You can also visit www. totallyproactive.com.au

Th is an excerpt This from “School of Hard fr Knocks” Kevin Collister’s K autobiography. Business au West has two signed copies W ffor o Business West readers. To T o enter the draw, send aann email with your contact details and the subject de ‘Business West competition’ ‘B by August 1 to Info@ totallyproactive.com.au to

BUSINESS WEST

Trust Distribution Resolutions

A BUSiNESS WEST PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

ATO CRACKDOWN EACH year the trustee of a trust is required to make a resolution as to whom the profit will be distributed to. This trust distribution resolution is required by the trust deed of every trust. In the past, these resolutions were prepared after 30 June which was permitted under the ATO’s rulings. DEADLINE FOR PREPARATION OF TRUST DISTRIBUTION RESOLUTIONS The ATO has been focusing on trusts since 2010, and following a number of court cases they have been tightening their approach to the way trustees may apply the rules. They have recently stated that it is no longer acceptable to prepare the trust distribution resolutions after 30 June, and have withdrawn their rulings accordingly. Income Tax Rulings IT 328 and 329 stated that the Commissioner of Taxation would accept that a payment or application of income made within two months of the end of an income year could give rise to a present entitlement as at the end of that income year. It is these two rulings that the Commissioner of Taxation has withdrawn, as foreshadowed in the Decision Impact Statement on the case of Colonial First State Investments v Commissioner of Taxation (2011). Therefore the ATO’s administrative concession of allowing the trustee’s resolution to be finalised by 31 August has been removed, and such resolutions now need to be finalised by 30 June.

More importantly, the ATO has confirmed that it intends to conduct random checks in July 2012 to ensure that trust distribution resolutions for the year ended 30 June 2012 have been prepared prior to 30 June 2012. Refer ATO link: www.ato.gov.au/content/ 00318706.htm WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES? Where trust distribution resolutions have not been done, the distribution of profits would revert to the rules laid out in the trust deed; in many cases this would mean the trustee will be assessed on the income under section 99A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 resulting in tax payable on all of the income for the year at the highest marginal tax rate of 46.5 per cent. Alternatively, depending on what the trust deed provides, the trust’s default beneficiaries will be assessed on the income of the trust. In the majority of cases, either of these options would not be the best outcome. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO? To ensure you are prepared for a potential ATO check, trust distribution resolutions should be prepared before 30 June 2012. As there are a wide variety of trust deeds with different requirements for trustee resolutions, there is no standard format in relation to trust resolutions. The trustee will need to tailor their trust resolution to the trust deed and establish, in one or more beneficiaries, a present

entitlement to the trust income by 30 June in any income year. A written record will also be essential if you want to effectively stream capital gains or franked distributions for tax purposes. This is because new tax legislation provides that a beneficiary can only be “specifically entitled” to franked dividends or capital gains if this entitlement is recorded in writing in the records of the trust for franked dividends (by 30 June) or capital gains (by 31 August). The trustee’s resolution does not need to specify an actual dollar amount for the resolution to be effective in making a beneficiary presently entitled, unless the trust deed specifically requires it. A resolution is effective if it prescribes a clear methodology for calculating the entitlement. For example, the entitlement can be expressed as a specified percentage of the income. Alternatively, if the trustee knows with certainty that the income of the trust will be at least a certain amount, the trustee may choose to make one or more beneficiaries presently entitled to the certain amount, and other beneficiaries entitled to the balance, whatever amount that may be. Peter Mayall - Principal, Accounting and Business Advisory at the WHK Werribee office. This is information only and readers should not rely or act on the information provided without first obtaining professional advice on this issue. This information was accurate at 23 May 2012.

Financing Your Business Are you looking to buy or expand a business? Require new equipment? Need eed to consolidate co onso olidaate t or restructure debt?

18 Synnot St, Werribee 3030 T: 9742 8444 E: werribee@whk.com.au Advice is provided under licence of WHK Financial Planning Pty Ltd ABN 51 060 092 631 AFSL 238 244. Lending services Credit are provided Australian Lending advice is provided under WHK Pty Ltd Australian Licenceunder number 389 054.Credit Licence number 389 054. May 2012

BUSINESS WEST

www.whk.com.au

1034907-SH24-12

To achieve optimal results, call Chris Humphrey or Trent Walerys in our Lending team ding te eam m now w for forr experienced, strategic, professional broking advice and to negotiate a loan n on your yo our behalf. behalf beh alf. lff.

Q&A

INSIDE WORD ON FINANCE ALAN KOHLER is one of Australia’s most experienced commentators and journalists. He started his career as a financial journalist in 1970. He edited the Financial Review and The Age, founded investment newsletter Eureka Report, and Business Spectator, a 24-hour free business news and commentary website. He also hosts Inside Business, a half-hour Sunday program on the ABC, and is the finance presenter on the ABC News. He will be the keynote speaker at Moonee Valley City Council’s upcoming Gala Business Lunch on 17 July at the Moonee Valley Racing Club. 1. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WORKING DAY. I generally get up at 5am and write something for Business Spectator, which takes until 7am or so, and then I have breakfast and go to work. I have a bunch of meetings until 3.30pm and then I go to the ABC, prepare my piece for the nightly news, then I go home and have dinner and do some work after dinner. 2. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, AND WHAT SKILLS DID IT GIVE YOU TO GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? My first job was a cadet journalist on The Australian. They advertised for a copy boy. I was an office boy and would make coffee and do filing and stuff like that, so I did that for a while and then I got a cadetship. Being a copy boy teaches you humility. 3. WHY DID YOU BECOME A JOURNALIST AND WHAT ATTRACTED YOU PARTICULARLY TO FINANCE? When I was at school, the only subject I was any good at was English. I failed everything else. I was a cadet on the finance section, and basically my entire cadetship was spent at the stock exchange. When I answered the ad in the paper, I didn’t realise it was the finance section, so I didn’t specifically choose to go into finance. To be honest, finance journalism pays better than most other journalism – because no one else wants to do it – and I could never get out of it, because I would’ve had to take a pay cut. 4. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST INTERESTING STORY YOU’VE COVERED AS A FINANCIAL JOURNALIST, AND WHY? It’s a toss-up between the takeover battle for BHP between Robert Holmes à Court and John Elliott and the GFC 2008. It was something new every day – it was fantastic. (Finance) is not humdrum. The thing about finance is money is most people’s greatest passion and finance and business is also all about people and what they do and how they behave. If you follow economics, you really are just following humanity. A big business is the same as a small business, just with more noughts on the end of the numbers. 5. IF YOU HAD TO INVITE FIVE PEOPLE TO A BUSINESS LUNCHEON, WHO WOULD IT BE? Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, John Elliott, Lionel Barber (the editor of the Financial Times) and Rupert Murdoch. 6. YOU HAVE FOUNDED TWO BUSINESSES OF YOUR OWN – THE EUREKA REPORT AND BUSINESS SPECTATOR. WHAT WERE THE LIGHT BULB MOMENTS BEHIND THESE TWO IDEAS?

With the Business Spectator, it was about the media moving online. Online journalism requires a completely different approach to traditional journalism, so what I tried to do was to create something from scratch that was purpose-built for online. 7. YOU HAVE YOUR OWN TWITTER ACCOUNT. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND CAN IT BE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR BUSINESS? Social media, by which we mainly mean Twitter and Facebook, are about individuals talking to each other. Businesses are trying to muscle in and sort of use them in some way. It’s very difficult for businesses to do that, it’s not impossible, but it’s hard because it’s to do with people, not companies. They can be reasonably effective but they’re not that effective. People don’t trust corporate-type marketing on social media. 8. WHAT DOES THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE MEAN FOR THE WEST? To the extent that the West is industrial, manufacturing – manufacturing in Australia is in trouble, there needs to be a recognition of that and a shift of emphasis and focus away from the manufacturing towards services, which is growing. The current economic climate is resources boom, high dollar. Obviously the dollar is going up and down at the moment, but you can’t rely on the currency, therefore the future is all about things that do well when the dollar is high, which is not manufacturing. 9. IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO AN ENTREPRENEUR STARTING UP A BUSINESS, WHAT WOULD IT BE? You need people who are going to be able to do the other things, such as finance, administration, because the biggest danger for an entrepreneur starting up their business is that they’re good at whatever the business is – the business might be a restaurant and you’re a fantastic chef – but you’ll get swamped by the administration. 10. HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM WORK? I read and watch TV, I take the dogs for a walk and spend time with my family.

“

Being a copy boy teaches you humility...

The Eureka Report, the light bulb was about that smaller investors deserve to get the same quality of advice and content as the big investors. This is what I’ve been trying to do.

BUSINESS WEST

DODO Australia CEO Larry Kestleman enlightened business owners with his tale of success at a Westgate Calder Business Forum held at the Pound Cafe. Mr Kestleman oversees 300 employees to provide dial up, wireless and broadband internet, mobile and fixed telephone services, gas and electricity services and home security monitoring.

OUT OF HOURSS

1 Albright & Wilson’s Denise Van Gessel. 2 Max Johnstone from Max Johnstone Real Estate. 3 ECT’s Jodie Van Boxtel, left, Ryan Mitten and Gerry Miliani Pictures: JOE MASTROIANNI

WESTGATE CALDER BUSINESS FORUM

MOONEE Valley City Council hosted a Get Connected Green business breakfast at Ascot Vale’s Riverside Golf Course recently. Attendees were treated to tips and advice on how to save money through environmentally sustainable practices and green initiatives. Guest speaker Ralph Plarre, businessman and co-owner of the Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses franchise, discussed his passion for business sustainability and shared his inspiring success story.

GET CONNECTED GREEN BREAKFAST 26

BUSINESS WEST

2 1 Best Practice Certification’s Terry Dold, left, Ferguson Plarre Bakery’s Ralph Plarre and Moonee Valley Councillor Ange Kenos. 2 Specialised Light Solutions Paul Stewart and Moonee Valley City Council’s Sandra Mack. Pictures: NICOLE SULTANA

OUT OF HOURS THE Women in Business Network celebrated Mother’s Day in style with a long lunch at Werribee Mansion. Business women enjoyed a two course meal at The Mansion’s Joseph’s Restaurant.

3 1

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 1 Women In Business president Anna Hancox. 2 Jordan Consulting Services’ Linda, left, and Wendy Jordan with Sadler Nursery’s Michelle Sadler. 3 MatchWorks’ Sal Chaouk, left, with Engage Evolve Recruitment’s Alison Licciardello. Pictures: JOE MASTROIANNI

QUEST CAROLINE SPRINGS OPENING QUEST Serviced Apartments in Caroline Springs celebrated their official opening with drinks and canapes recently. Owners Natalie Bui and Ricky Singh, pictured with Melton Councillor Justin Mammarella, took over the site in February and spent $1.2 million to upgrade the kitchenettes and repaint the property. THE Committee for Wyndham hosted a members and guests breakfast forum recently at Cafe Aroma on Watton St, Werribee. Guest speakers included Terry Rawnsley, left, and Gareth Williams, right, pictured with Committee for Wyndham Executive Director Nik Tsardakis.

COMMITTEE FOR WYNDHAM BREAKFAST

Picture: NICOLE SULTANA

BUSINESS WEST

BW NETWORK Business West Network â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a growing directory of local businesses ready to do business with you. You can join the Business West Network by registering online at www.businesswest.com.au to make sure you receive your personal copy of Business West AND receive a free onetime 30-word listing for your business in a future edition. AA CARWASH HOLDINGS P/L 277 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook 9310 2005 Automobile cleaning and vehicles. ADEPT SMALL BUSINESS IT 38/114 Mason St, Newport 0411 088 817 www.adeptsbit.com.au Adept Small Business IT offers fully managed solutions or occasional support. With 10 years of experience, we let you focus on your business while we worry about your IT needs. ADVANCED DOORWARE & BATHWARE 212 McIntyre Rd, Sunshine North 0418 377 737 Supplier of door and bathroom fitting taps sanitary products (toilet, basin, bath) ALAN MANCE MOTORS 435 Barkly St, Footscray 9396 8000 www.alanmance.com.au Selling of new Holden, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki vehicles, servicing of all makes and models of vehicles. Leasing of all makes and models of vehicles. ALINK NETWORK SERVICES Unit 6/37 Keilor Park Dve, Keilor Park 8331 3208 IT managed services and support. AUSFORK PTY LTD 5A Concorde Crescent, Werribee 1300 30 80 10 www.ausfork.com.au A national forklift driver training company. Head Office in Werribee and the best Forklift driver training centre in the West, located at 193 Maidstone St, Altona. We also do on-site training for forklifts and other plant and equipment, including construction induction training. AUSTRALIAN JOBNET 9 Hugh St, Footscray 9687 5586 www.australianjobnet.com.au Australian JobNet is a recruitment and labour hire service agency. We specialise in many different industries such as transport/logistics, warehouse distribution, etc. Please contact us if you have any staff enquiries. BOOKKEEPING & SMALL BUSINESS ESSENTIALS 9 Tenterfield Place, Tarneit 0407 327 619 www.bsbe.com.au BSBE is a full service bookkeeping and virtual assistant service. We can look after all of your administrative needs. Please give us a call.

BUSINESS WEST

BTI LOGISTICS 62-66 Western Ave, Tullamarine 8336 9000 www.btilogistics.com.au BTI Logistics is specialised in Global Import and Export Air/Ocean Freight, Customs Agency, Warehousing and Distribution, 3rd Party Logistics, Motorcar Imports/Exports, Customs Tariff Audits, Local Transport. BRENDAN GRIMES ERGONOMICS & SAFETY PTY LTD PO Box 451, Yarraville 9687 5266 Brendan Grimes Ergonomics & Safety Pty Ltd is a privately owned, independent company, providing best practice ergonomics, safety and injury management services for all types of industry. Our focus is to assist companies achieve and maintain safety and injury management systems of the highest quality, which help protect their people, integrate safety and injury management into their core business and meet legislative requirements. Based in Yarraville, we are perfectly placed to assist businesses in the west meet their OHS requirements and manage injuries at work. Our company is a registered provider of occupational rehabilitation within Victoria. BUYAUSTRALIANMADE.COM.AU 33 Lakeside Dve, Sanctuary Lakes 9395 3036 BuyAustralianMade.com.au promotes Australian made products and services. Making it easy for shoppers and businesses to find the Australian made alternative. Keeping jobs, skills and infrastructure in Australia. CARE CONNECT INC 94 Empress Ave, Kingsville 9314 6252 Aged Care/Disability Case management agency which also provides home care services. A national organisation with offices in all Sates along the eastern seaboard. CATHERINE WHELAN & ASSOCIATES PO Box 261, Brunswick East 0404 577 535 Small business consultants with bigger business ideas for small business growth. Marketing - Business Skills - Planning - Strategy.

C ONE BEAUTY 20 Pollywoodside Dve , Altona Meadows 0422 151 384 www.conebeauty.com.au Home based beauty salon in business now for almost three years. Services include waxing, tinting, tanning, massage, facials, body scrubs, manicures, pedicures, shellac nails. COSTA LOGISTICS PO Box 626, Sunshine 0466 150 087 Costa Logistics, part of the Costa Group, is a high quality, high tech provider of leading edge supply chain solutions to FMCG and Retail customers across Australia. CVA 18-20 Russell St, Melbourne 9654 2587 www.cva.net.au We concentrate on local and state-wide commercial/retail/Industrial properties. DEEWR Level 11, 414 La Trobe St, Melbourne 0408 334 230 Broker business, community, civic and government partnerships in NW Melbourne to generate new job opportunities, stimulate the local economy, and ensure there is a rapid response to helping workers who are made redundant. DESIGN REALITY PTY LTD Unit 22, 22-30 Wallace Ave, Point Cook 9369 8812 We provide professional services to launch products quickly and efficiently. Our experience and expertise helps get your products to market on time, looking their best and complying with regulatory requirements. DRWAIN PO Box 3321, Caroline Springs 1300 364 288 www.drwain.com.au Small Business IT Specialist committed to fulfilling all your IT requirements. Providing technical advice and information to empower your business. Think of me as your own part-time IT Manager.

CIVIL MARRIAGE CELEBRANT 17 Saltbush St, Sanctuary Lakes 0429 777 179 Accredited in 1995 and have solemnised nearly 600 weddings and an equal number of naming ceremonies. Member of the Australian Civil Celebrants Association of Victoria.

EZYCLEEN WEST PTY LTD 3 Mulwala Gardens, St Albans 0409 931 636 www.ezicleen.com.au Minimise your carbon footprint by restoring glass rather than replacing. Glass scratch removal and surface protection. Cut your cleaning by up to 90 per cent. Up to 10 year warranty.

COMITTTEE FOR WYNDHAM INC PO Box 2296, Werribee 9731 4541 CFW operates as a facilitator and catalyst to help shape our community in a strategic and consultative manner and robustly represent relevant interests to ensure potential for Wyndham as a preferred place to live, work and recreate, is realised.

FIRST NATIONAL WESTWOOD 1 Synnot St, Werribee 0412 374 603 www.westwoodfn.com.au When selling, buying or leasing property, our family owned Real Estate business offers an excellent service with a proven performance record in the residential and commercial sector.

BW NETWORK FULL ON FASHION 94 Sanctuary Lakes South Bvd, Point Cook 9395 4381 www.fullonfash.com www.fullonfash.com - “FULL ON FASHION” - Special occasion dresses and gowns. Dress to impress for a fraction of retail prices. Great quality and variety.

LINKING MELBOURNE AUTHORITY PO Box 2472, Footscray 8562 6800 Linking Melbourne Authority is a government body which oversees the planning and delivery of major infrastructure projects.

HAMMER AND NAILS HOME IMPROVEMENT 844 Old Calder Hwy, Keilor 9390 6773 Hammer and Nails specialises in outdoor project. We build al fresco areas, outdoor rooms, pergolas, gazebos, carports, etc.

LITHOCRAFT 3 Permas Way, Truganina 8366 0211 Lithocraft is a service orientated company with a unique end to end print and design solution, (incorporating design, creative, print, warehousing and distribution services).

HIPCHICKONLINE PO Box 1032, Werribee Plaza, Werribee 0449 599 665 The hipchickonline jewellery range is handmade, highlighting the beauty of silver, hemp fibre, gemstones and crystals. Inspired by the strength of the stones.

MANAGED CONTENT WEBS Unit 1, 22-30 Wallace Ave, Point Cook 1300 853 557 www.mcwebs.com.au Managed Content Webs (mcWebs). Our specialty is potent websites which are proven to work. A formal reporting process shows exactly how, why and where your website makes you money.

HIRE A HUBBY POINT COOK 96 McIntyre Dve, Altona 0424 090 546 Professional home maintenance, both inside and out, around the home, factory or workplace. Obligation free quotes. Small jobs are specialty. ICON.PR 132a Gwynne St, Richmond 9642 4107 iconpr.com.au icon.pr is a new style of public relations and communications agency. We break through the everyday to deliver fresh, effective PR campaigns that get people talking. IMAGE IDENTITY PO Box 4003, Deer Park East 9325 8300 Image Identity is a branding and marketing consultancy offering strategic and creative solutions for traditional and online marketing and website design - concept to print solutions within your budget. INFORM BUSINESS ACCOUNTING 37-39 Aberdeen Rd, Altona 9315 0320 www.informba.com Providing financial controller and accounting systems services to small and medium sized businesses. CPA qualified accountant. MYOB certified consultant. Registered tax agent. JAS STEPHENS REAL ESTATE 104 Somerville Rd, Yarraville 0418 547 938 www.jasstephens.com.au Fourth generation family business. Selling Real Estate in the inner west of Melbourne since 1923. Open seven days a week. Call us for a free market appraisal on 9316 9000 JTOPIC HOME IMPROVEMENTS 264 Sanctuary Lakes North Blvd, Point Cook 0421 030 695 Specialising in decking and landscape structures included, but not limited to; pergolas and veranda, decking, privacy screens, feature walls, retaining walls, landscaping, install rocks, mulch and pathways, carpentry, etc.

MAX JOHNSTONE REAL ESTATE PTY LTD 37 Perth Ave, Albion 0413 992244 Max Johnstone Real Estate is a small agency dealing in big property mainly dealing with Industrial Real Estate in the Western Suburbs. But is not restricted to these dealings only. MELTON TILE & SLATE CENTRE 1/31 Norton Drive, Melton 9743 8302 www.meltontiles.com.au Melton Tile & Slate Centre provides retail and trade supplies, technical advice and design ideas to make tiling projects unique. The local tiler referral service includes our in-house licensed tilers. MERITUM FINANCIAL GROUP Level 15, 60 Albert Rd, South Melbourne 9284 3709 I provide sound financial advice in the areas of retirement planning, superannuation, investment planning and personal risk insurance. Call today to make an appointment and plan for your future. ML&C NINETY-ONE PTY LTD 1 Ellis Close, Point Cook 0417 576 313 Refrigerated transport business doing courier work picking up and delivering products, fresh or frozen between clients. MEERKIN & APEL LAWYERS PO Box 2207, Prahran 9689 8933 Areas of practice include litigation of complex commercial, building and general disputes, family law, commercial and business structures, probate and estate planning, property development, banking and finance and associated services. NEWPORT TRADERS ASSOCIATION PO Box 1003, Newport 0414 290 582 Representing the Traders of Newport, Victoria.

ORGANISING YOU 7 Canterbury St, Moonee Ponds 0409 967 166 www.organisingyou.com.au Professional Organising and Decluttering Service for businesses or homes. What is it you are too busy to do? Making the time to get yourself organised will be a sound investment! RE-CREATION HEALTH CLUB Unit 114,22-30 Wallace Ave, Point Cook 8360 3228 www.recreationpc.com.au A combination of superb surroundings and exceptional service makes exercising fun at ReCreation Health Club. We pride ourselves on having the latest in resistance and cardio equipment, les mills classes and child-minding. RHENUS CONSULTING PTY LTD 14 Parker St, Williamstown 8340 0407 www.rhenusconsulting.com Rhenus Consulting is a strategic, purchasing focused management consultancy which offers everyone an individual program or advice which is tailored to your needs. Simply - “Your Guide to Better Business” SIMPLE PROPERTY INVESTMENT 130 Sanctuary Lakes South Blvd, Point Cook 0478 202 919 www.simpleinvestment.com.au Working in conjunction with financial planners, investment finance specialists and accountants, Simple Property Investment provides a complete range of property investment advice and support to new and seasoned investors. THE CHEFS TOOLBOX 85 Wolviston Ave, Hillside 0409 125 375 www.chefstoolbox/my/josiecampese Group leader of a team of independent consultants who hold MasterClass cooking parties and sell cookware knives and bakeware. UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE 79 Goegan St, Werribee 0413 580 735 Lecturer in personal finance and real estate. QUEST CAROLINE SPRINGS 234 Caroline Springs Blvd, Caroline Springs 8361 3888 www.questcarolinesprings.com.au Our 4 star property offers onsite conferencing facilities, secure car parking and a range of 80 beautifully appointed and spacious studio, one and two bedroom serviced apartments. WYNDHAM CITY COUNCIL PO Box 197, Werribee, Victoria 9742 0777 Planning for the future whilst also managing for today. Managing the development of one of Australia’s fastest growing municipalities, whilst balancing social justice, economic development and environmental protection.

ORANGES AND LIME - WEBSITES PO BOX 3540, Caroline Springs 0433 757 908 www.orangesandlime.com We help small to medium businesses design and develop websites, maintain websites, upgrade and repair websites as well as promote websites through search engine optimisation and marketing.

BUSINESS WEST

Find me online

www.capturerecruitment.com.au

TEMPORARY STAFFING AND PERMANENT PLACEMENTS, priding ourselves on our ability to understand and meet the expectations of our clients, working with and recruiting for Warehousing/Logistics, Trades/Construction, Manufacturing/Process and Clerical/Administration. Our name reflects what we are here to do, and that is to Capture our customer’s needs and candidate knowledge. Only by listening and asking those “VITAL” questions of you, can we ensure your service needs are Captured. With locations in Point Cook Somerton and Geelong open 7am-5pm, with 24 hour after hours service. Inquiries: 9369 4459 email info @capturerecruitment.com.au

1018392-MD6-12

Capture Recruitment

A BUSiNESS WEST PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

BUSiNESS SERVICES BUSINESS SUPPORT

MARKETING Don’t Waste Marketing Dollars. Get Expert Advice Before You Spend!

Keeping organisations healthy – specialising in business process we can work with you to resolve an immediate organisational issue or to assist in forward planning and strategy to add value. Ph 1300 602 880 www.complianceessentials.com.au Essential Compliance and best practice for every business

C418042-JM36-11

531585-SH41-11

Call 0419 546 159 now apmarketingworks.com.au

To advertise your services to the business community phone: 1300 666 808

Don’t keep

BUSiNESS WEST a secret… Share the success of the West’s own business magazine with your business colleagues. After all, isn’t that what friends are for? 30

BUSINESS WEST

A STAR NEW S GROUP PUBL ICATION | $4.9 5

■

MELTON BUSINESS AWARDS WIN FOR AVALON ■ ALAN KO HLER Q&A ■ CONFLI CT MANAGEMENT ■

ISSN 1837-9

869

9 123456 7890 13

CARBON PRICING AND YOUR BUSINESS

TAXING T IMES

ISSUE 18 JULY 2012

1034769-SH24-12

DESIGN SOLUTIONS

FFOR OR YOUR DIARY

JULY Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

30 31

Saturday

Sunday

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Western Region Network Meeting Famous Blue Raincoat Cafe, 25B Vernon Street,t, Kingsville. 7am-8.30am. Call 0412 513 412 to book.

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Driving Workplace Dr Performance Through Leadership seminar Wyndham City Civic Centre, 45 Princes Highway, Werribee. 6pm-9pm. Free. Call 0459 069 162 to book.

Wyndham BizNet meeting Werribee Racing Club Rooms. Bulban Rd, Werribee. 6.30pm9.30pm. $40 members, $50 non-members. Call 0418 533 806 to book.

Networking Seminar Caroline Springs Civic Centre. 6pm-8pm. $20. Call 9747 7157 to book.

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Gala Business Lunch Moonee Valley Racing Club, McPherson St, Moonee Ponds. $55. Call 9243 1092 or go to www.trybooking.com/bhwl to book.

Western Region Network Meeting Famous Blue Raincoat Cafe, 25B Vernon Street, Kingsville. 7am-8.30am. Call 0412 513 412 to book.

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Business Planning Basics Seminar Call 9932 2001 or go to www.business.vic.gov.au/ workshops. Interesting in Buying a Franchise seminar Caroline Springs Civic Centre. 6pm-8pm. $20. Call 9747 7157 to book.

Small business mentoring sessions Moonee Valley Civic Centre, 9 Kellaway Ave, Moonee Ponds. 10am2.30pm. Free. Go to mvcc.vic.gov.au/business events to book.

Manufacturing Breakfast Briefing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Workplace Law Sunshine Golf Club, 475 Mt. Derrimut Rd, Derrimut. 7.15am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8.45am. Call 9249 4630 or go to ecodev@brimbank.vic.gov. au to book.

BUSINESS WEST

Werribee Hyundai is a third generation family owned & operated business situated in the heart of Werribeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CBD. Since 1962, our family has been dedicated to meeting the automotive needs of the community & developing genuine customer satisfaction with all our customers. We continue to do so with a professional sales, service, parts & administrative team, all of whom are committed to providing you with the highest level of quality service & the latest Hyundai technology.

If your looking for a new vehicle for personal use or as part of your business ďŹ&#x201A;eet call 9741 4444 and speak to Jim or one of his team who will only be to happy to assist.

1036245-SH24-12

~ Paul Hopper Dealer Principal