Following the success of COMPRESSPORT® products in countries all over the world, COMPRESSPORT® has recently celebrated Aussie triathlete and team member, Melissa Rollinson taking out her first world title in Las Vegas after just one year of triathlon competion.
Mellissa Rollison, an Australian steeplechase and athletics champ is an avid COMPRESSPORT® user. Mellissa has been training in athletics since the age of 11 and since her first triathlon she has worn COMPRESSPORT® compression garments.
“I have found COMPRESSPORT® garments to work best for me,” she stated. “Not only do they provide good compression to my muscles but they are easy and comfortable to wear during all three legs of a triathlon - being lightweight, breathable and not having the whole foot piece allows me to swim in them with ease.”
COMPRESSPORT® offers a wide selection of sporting gear designed to cater for the needs and demands of professional athletes and amateur sportspeople. COMPRESSPORT® products are perfect for all sports and have been created especially to facilitate training, racing, and recovery needs.
The innovative technology utilised in COMPRESSPORT® products increases efficient venous feedback from your feet to your heart, reducing the accumulation of toxins while increasing oxygenation to the muscles, and improving recovery time so you can train more often. COMPRESSPORT® products use veino muscular compression technology to stimulate muscles while training. Products in the range are all designed differently, each with their own unique features that are sure to meet and exceed training needs.
The R2 product (Race and Recovery) reduces impact shockwaves and muscle oscillation helping prevent injury and reducing muscle fatigue. With this technology, COMPRESSPORT® allows you to go beyond on your limits and at only $65.00.
The UR2 (UltraRace and Recovery) is COMPRESSPORT’s first product to boast the ‘micro encapsulated textile’ technology. The microcapsules of organic essential oils are embedded in the textile and are constantly releasing their active ingredients onto your legs ensuring the continued wellbeing and protection of your legs. At only $79.00 you can perform at your peak without a massive price tag.
The new Miss COMPRESSPORT® is a stylish way to perform your best while running, pedalling or even during long haul flights or car trips. The range follows the R2 model while the special woven fibre of the calf sleeve enhances massage and optimises comfort to the calf. At only $70.00 each, you can get your friends together and train fashionably.
Due to the success of its current range of products, COMPRESSPORT® has designed a range of new pro racing socks. The PRORACINGSOCKS 3D.DOT have been engineered in 360 degrees to optimise an athlete’s performance during effort. These new generation socks offer both extreme comfort and biomechanical advantages aimed at optimised blood flow and posture hold.
Some of the key benefits include:
• Blood flow stimulation: The acupressure effect of the 3D.DOTS contributes to activating and stimulating the micro blood circulation in the soft areas of the foot where the skin is thin and microcirculation flush with the skin.
• Shock absorption: The external overwoven structure of the 3D.DOTS allows for absorption and dampening over the shock areas.
• Protection of the Achilles tendon: The 3D.DOTS at the rear of the sock protect the Achilles tendon thanks to their “cushion” effect thereby preventing friction and pressure from the sock.
• Protection of the malleolus on the TRAIL model
• Slip-proof: The multidirectional 3D.DOTS ensure maximum grip in shoes thereby preventing feet from slipping during effort.
• Ventilation: No heating, no risk of blisters as the air flows easily between the 3D.DOTS.
• Water extract: The 3D.DOTS do not retain water (rain, hydration, perspiration) and facilitate its discharge. Feet stay dry.
• Extreme comfort: The internal overwoven structure of the 3D.DOTS ensure extreme comfort and eliminate any risk of chafing thanks to its padding effect.
With COMPRESSPORT® superior training garments athletes are given the opportunity to train at their peak, exceeding performance levels through an innovative design that boosts their performance, avoids muscle tear and injury, and aid in fast recovery.
Pro Aussie Triathlete, Tim Berkel is also an avid user of COMPRESSPORT® products stating, “The PRORACINGSOCKS 3D.DOT socks are my first choice in foot support and protection for marathon competing. I am adamant about wearing not only a comfortable sock for the 42.2km marathon but one that will support my Achilles/sole area, which tend to get tight over the long haul of a marathon. I knew with this comfort and support it would hold me in good steed to go forth and do my best ever marathon time to launch me into another consecutive victory of Challenge Copenhagen.”
COMPRESSPORT® products are available in various stores all across Australia, or for added ease you can shop online at the e-store.
Visit http://www.compressport.com.au for more information.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
IT entrepreneur creates micro business accounting software after own start-up frustrations
In today’s society, technology is increasingly becoming one of the key industries changing the way we operate our daily lives. Each day, new innovative advances in technology are being created and mass-produced to the public. In turn this has created a high-tech world lead by technology as the key source of knowledge and power. One of the main benefits of technology is its ability to help individuals and businesses, and the reason why Uri Maimon decided to design his very own accounting software for micro-sized businesses.
Uri Maimon is the founder of Nominal Accounting Software. A self-proclaimed technophile, Uri has been programming since he was 10 years old, and still retains a passion for software and computing. Nominal Accounting is a specifically designed product designed to help micro and small sized businesses (sole traders, consultants, businesses with 5 or less staff) with required accounting needs in a simple and straightforward product. Nominal Accounting enables business owners to create invoices, purchases, expenses, reports, even submit BAS and integrate into PayPal accounts.
Born and raised in Israel, Uri has since been living and working in Australia for over ten years. Starting out in the IT industry as a customer support technician, he worked his way up to project management before starting out with his own IT consultancy business. As his business grew, Uri was shocked to learn of the limited number of accounting software packages available for small and micro business owners.
“The existing products all seemed to be over complicated, expensive and used ancient technology,” says Maimon. After exploring the options available, Uri decided to create his own software package. He based his design and features on the simple question – ‘Will it be simple enough for an Australian micro business owner to operate and provide full functionality and business insights in an easy-to-use format?’ and from there, Nominal Accounting was born.
One of the biggest challenges he has faced through his journey is creating a new category. “I wanted a micro business management software that broke away from existing software products dominated by the likes of MYOB and QuickBooks.” The key driver behind Nominal Accounting was to create something innovative, easy, simple and effective that was not already on the market.
A key challenge Uri has faced on his journey has been learning the ins and outs marketing a product like Nominal Accounting. “Positioning and branding is not about what you say or do but about what space you occupy in the mind of the prospect,” Maimon states.
“As a small company, finding your place in an incredibly competitive market is often a difficult task. Nominal Accounting has distinguished itself by targeting a niche market and emphasising the micro business aspect of the audience. We have created a new category and seek to be the leader in this category through understanding our audience and going over and above their needs.”
Nominal Accounting seeks to achieve an effective and simple solution for all micro business owners in Australia, using current technology and integrating with other systems used by small business, such as online payments.
“We provide simple accounting software that allows Australian micro businesses do their bookkeeping by themselves. Often micro business owners don’t know much about bookkeeping and don’t have time to invest in training, they also don’t need complicated features but still need to do things like submit their BAS, create payslips and keep GST records. Nominal provides a simple solution that makes it easy to get started and still includes all the features necessary for a micro business owner,” Maimon says.
Since developing Nominal Accounting, Uri has successfully expanded the business and now faces his own challenges as it continues to grow. For those aspiring business owners, or anyone currently involved in running their own business Uri believes that reading is the best tip to help up skill and learn new areas quickly.
“I have found that reading books in all departments of business helps you see and identify patterns that can often transfer to your own business situations. My initial naive thinking was that if a product A cost X and is of a certain feature and quality, and product B cost less and has better features and quality, than it should be easy to sell at least some product of B. The error of my ways soon hit me: No one is going to care about a product which is a little bit better and/or a little bit cheaper unless we find something they really care about.”
Awareness is a huge part of the marketing and growth strategy for Uri and something that he is largely focused on at this stage of the business’s growth.
“We have a very big awareness gap which we’re looking for innovative and cost effective ways to close. Our website has X visitors/month, out of which 10% download the trial version, out of which 50% try the software, out of which Y% actually but the software. Our main challenge is to increase both the X value and the Y value of this vital statistics of our business. Google Analytics has been an invaluable tool in growing Nominal to where it is today.”
Uri Maimon is the founder of Nominal Accounting Software. A self-proclaimed technophile, Uri has been programming since he was 10 years old, and still retains a passion for software and computing. Nominal Accounting is a specifically designed product designed to help micro and small sized businesses (sole traders, consultants, businesses with 5 or less staff) with required accounting needs in a simple and straightforward product. Nominal Accounting enables business owners to create invoices, purchases, expenses, reports, even submit BAS and integrate into PayPal accounts.
Born and raised in Israel, Uri has since been living and working in Australia for over ten years. Starting out in the IT industry as a customer support technician, he worked his way up to project management before starting out with his own IT consultancy business. As his business grew, Uri was shocked to learn of the limited number of accounting software packages available for small and micro business owners.
“The existing products all seemed to be over complicated, expensive and used ancient technology,” says Maimon. After exploring the options available, Uri decided to create his own software package. He based his design and features on the simple question – ‘Will it be simple enough for an Australian micro business owner to operate and provide full functionality and business insights in an easy-to-use format?’ and from there, Nominal Accounting was born.
One of the biggest challenges he has faced through his journey is creating a new category. “I wanted a micro business management software that broke away from existing software products dominated by the likes of MYOB and QuickBooks.” The key driver behind Nominal Accounting was to create something innovative, easy, simple and effective that was not already on the market.
A key challenge Uri has faced on his journey has been learning the ins and outs marketing a product like Nominal Accounting. “Positioning and branding is not about what you say or do but about what space you occupy in the mind of the prospect,” Maimon states.
“As a small company, finding your place in an incredibly competitive market is often a difficult task. Nominal Accounting has distinguished itself by targeting a niche market and emphasising the micro business aspect of the audience. We have created a new category and seek to be the leader in this category through understanding our audience and going over and above their needs.”
Nominal Accounting seeks to achieve an effective and simple solution for all micro business owners in Australia, using current technology and integrating with other systems used by small business, such as online payments.
“We provide simple accounting software that allows Australian micro businesses do their bookkeeping by themselves. Often micro business owners don’t know much about bookkeeping and don’t have time to invest in training, they also don’t need complicated features but still need to do things like submit their BAS, create payslips and keep GST records. Nominal provides a simple solution that makes it easy to get started and still includes all the features necessary for a micro business owner,” Maimon says.
Since developing Nominal Accounting, Uri has successfully expanded the business and now faces his own challenges as it continues to grow. For those aspiring business owners, or anyone currently involved in running their own business Uri believes that reading is the best tip to help up skill and learn new areas quickly.
“I have found that reading books in all departments of business helps you see and identify patterns that can often transfer to your own business situations. My initial naive thinking was that if a product A cost X and is of a certain feature and quality, and product B cost less and has better features and quality, than it should be easy to sell at least some product of B. The error of my ways soon hit me: No one is going to care about a product which is a little bit better and/or a little bit cheaper unless we find something they really care about.”
Awareness is a huge part of the marketing and growth strategy for Uri and something that he is largely focused on at this stage of the business’s growth.
“We have a very big awareness gap which we’re looking for innovative and cost effective ways to close. Our website has X visitors/month, out of which 10% download the trial version, out of which 50% try the software, out of which Y% actually but the software. Our main challenge is to increase both the X value and the Y value of this vital statistics of our business. Google Analytics has been an invaluable tool in growing Nominal to where it is today.”
Monday, September 12, 2011
Voting Commences for the 2011 Toyota One Hit Wonder - Who Will Take Home the Prize?
Voting Commences for the 2011 Toyota One Hit Wonder Down Under – Who Will Take Home the $10,000?
With the final curtain call on an awe-inspiring week of big-air style at Thredbo Resort, the competing athletes breathed a collective sigh of relief as the final day of shooting wrapped and there was only a Schuss Bar after party left to conquer.
During the week-long event we saw tricks from some of the world’s best freeskiers with only a few casualties - Chris Laker sustaining a shoulder injury after a triple cork attempt on day two and Elias Ambuhl still lost over the Tasman Sea.
The athletes have all selected their final ‘One Hit’ tricks including;
- double cork 1440 tail grab by Gus Kenworthy (USA),
- switch double cork 1080 safety to truck driver by Jossi Wells (NZL),
- double cork 1080 with a tweaked mute grab by Chris Laker (USA) before his injury,
- switch 1260 mute to tail grab by Joss Christensen (USA),
- cork 900 tail grab by Jerome Lambert (FRA),
- switch double cork 1440 by Bobby Brown (USA),
- double cork 1260 shifty by Jordon Houghton (NSW),
- 720 mute grab by Anna Segal (VIC),
- switch double 1440 mute grab by Joe Schuster (CAN),
- double front flip superman by youngster Jesse Houghton (NSW).
Just as we predicted Aussie Anna Segal was on point against the guys, landing her first ever 900 and stepping up her ambition with every hit over the monster jump.
However, it was Jesse Houghton who bagged the NIXON Peer Performance Award, presented at the after party as voted by his fellow competitors. The consensus among the crew was that the youngest competitor left his quiet personality in the boot room when he guinea-pigged the jump on the first day, and continued to unleash a myriad of both technical and crowd pleasing tricks throughout the week.
“Last year I said it was the best jump I’d ever hit, but this year’s 100-footer killed it. I’m stoked to be voted rider of the week by the best in our sport - it’s a pretty big honor,” said Jesse.
Jesse takes home a $659 NIXON 51-30 watch, but is still in contention for the major cash prize.
It’s now up to YOU, the public, to get online and vote at www.onehitwonderevent.com for your single favorite athlete’s trick. The athlete with most votes will take home $10,000 in cash - the biggest first place prize on the Australian Alpine event calendar.
And what’s better than awarding someone else the grand prize? Each member of the public who votes will also go into the draw to win the ‘Ultimate Winter Package’ worth over $10,000. This includes an all-expenses-paid holiday for two to Hakuba Japan, staying at the luxurious Phoenix Hotel, a complete Salomon ski or snowboard package, Von Zipper eyewear, plus a GE DV1 HD Waterproof & Shockproof Video Camera to film the entire trip.
With the final curtain call on an awe-inspiring week of big-air style at Thredbo Resort, the competing athletes breathed a collective sigh of relief as the final day of shooting wrapped and there was only a Schuss Bar after party left to conquer.
During the week-long event we saw tricks from some of the world’s best freeskiers with only a few casualties - Chris Laker sustaining a shoulder injury after a triple cork attempt on day two and Elias Ambuhl still lost over the Tasman Sea.
The athletes have all selected their final ‘One Hit’ tricks including;
- double cork 1440 tail grab by Gus Kenworthy (USA),
- switch double cork 1080 safety to truck driver by Jossi Wells (NZL),
- double cork 1080 with a tweaked mute grab by Chris Laker (USA) before his injury,
- switch 1260 mute to tail grab by Joss Christensen (USA),
- cork 900 tail grab by Jerome Lambert (FRA),
- switch double cork 1440 by Bobby Brown (USA),
- double cork 1260 shifty by Jordon Houghton (NSW),
- 720 mute grab by Anna Segal (VIC),
- switch double 1440 mute grab by Joe Schuster (CAN),
- double front flip superman by youngster Jesse Houghton (NSW).
Just as we predicted Aussie Anna Segal was on point against the guys, landing her first ever 900 and stepping up her ambition with every hit over the monster jump.
However, it was Jesse Houghton who bagged the NIXON Peer Performance Award, presented at the after party as voted by his fellow competitors. The consensus among the crew was that the youngest competitor left his quiet personality in the boot room when he guinea-pigged the jump on the first day, and continued to unleash a myriad of both technical and crowd pleasing tricks throughout the week.
“Last year I said it was the best jump I’d ever hit, but this year’s 100-footer killed it. I’m stoked to be voted rider of the week by the best in our sport - it’s a pretty big honor,” said Jesse.
Jesse takes home a $659 NIXON 51-30 watch, but is still in contention for the major cash prize.
It’s now up to YOU, the public, to get online and vote at www.onehitwonderevent.com for your single favorite athlete’s trick. The athlete with most votes will take home $10,000 in cash - the biggest first place prize on the Australian Alpine event calendar.
And what’s better than awarding someone else the grand prize? Each member of the public who votes will also go into the draw to win the ‘Ultimate Winter Package’ worth over $10,000. This includes an all-expenses-paid holiday for two to Hakuba Japan, staying at the luxurious Phoenix Hotel, a complete Salomon ski or snowboard package, Von Zipper eyewear, plus a GE DV1 HD Waterproof & Shockproof Video Camera to film the entire trip.
World’s Best Freeskiers Fire Up All Engines on Day Three of the Toyota One Hit Wonder
No one but Al Roker could have predicted better conditions to get down and dirty in Thredbo on day three. When the athletes turned up under breathless sunny skies, they all knew this might be their last chance to put themselves in the direct path of the $10,000 cash. It was now or never and it was
time to throw down.
Progression was the word of the day with riders collecting new tricks for their bag of goodies. Defying all means of comprehension, these freeskiers were in their element and pushing boundaries
like their lives depended on it.
Gus Kenworthy left no opportunity untouched. Having hit the jump well into
yesterday’s late afternoon, today he showed the world why he is the current AFP overall champ, with effortless switch double cork 1440’s amidst a flurry of grabs.
We saw switch 1260 mute grabs from Canadian Joe Shouster, big cork 720’s from Frenchman Jerome Lambert and some massive rodeo 5 safety grabs from NZ hero, Jossi Wells. Victorian Anna Segal gave us true insight into why she is the only female finalist in this event. Not
only going bigger with every hit, from 3’s to 5’s and then landing her first ever 900, what loomed large yesterday was conquered and dominated today. She was our unstoppable Aussie and promising Sochi Olympic gold medalist.
It didn’t stop there as 2010 AFP overall champ and Salomon team rider Bobby Brown made us question our own eyesight and replay the take again and again. Stomping a switch right 1260 mute grab for the second time ever, he left the camera crew and his fellow athletes lost for words.
“Russ Henshaw dared me... enough said, it was time to mix it up and nail this trick,” Bobby said.
18-year-old Jesse Houghton played camera favourite again, sending his double front flip superman well into the carpark.
Jesse explained his game plan, “So far I’ve been trying to stomp both a technical trick as well as the crowd pleaser. It’s hard to know what the public are going to be looking for when it comes to voting.”
From Sept 12, you, the public, have three weeks to vote online at www.onehitwonderevent.com for your single favorite big-air trick. You will go into the draw to win the ‘Ultimate Winter Package’ worth over $10,000, and the winning athlete with the most votes will take home $10,000 in cold hard
cash, the biggest first place prize on the Australian Alpine event calendar.
More info and daily recap videos at www.onehitwonderevent.com
time to throw down.
Progression was the word of the day with riders collecting new tricks for their bag of goodies. Defying all means of comprehension, these freeskiers were in their element and pushing boundaries
like their lives depended on it.
Gus Kenworthy left no opportunity untouched. Having hit the jump well into
yesterday’s late afternoon, today he showed the world why he is the current AFP overall champ, with effortless switch double cork 1440’s amidst a flurry of grabs.
We saw switch 1260 mute grabs from Canadian Joe Shouster, big cork 720’s from Frenchman Jerome Lambert and some massive rodeo 5 safety grabs from NZ hero, Jossi Wells. Victorian Anna Segal gave us true insight into why she is the only female finalist in this event. Not
only going bigger with every hit, from 3’s to 5’s and then landing her first ever 900, what loomed large yesterday was conquered and dominated today. She was our unstoppable Aussie and promising Sochi Olympic gold medalist.
It didn’t stop there as 2010 AFP overall champ and Salomon team rider Bobby Brown made us question our own eyesight and replay the take again and again. Stomping a switch right 1260 mute grab for the second time ever, he left the camera crew and his fellow athletes lost for words.
“Russ Henshaw dared me... enough said, it was time to mix it up and nail this trick,” Bobby said.
18-year-old Jesse Houghton played camera favourite again, sending his double front flip superman well into the carpark.
Jesse explained his game plan, “So far I’ve been trying to stomp both a technical trick as well as the crowd pleaser. It’s hard to know what the public are going to be looking for when it comes to voting.”
From Sept 12, you, the public, have three weeks to vote online at www.onehitwonderevent.com for your single favorite big-air trick. You will go into the draw to win the ‘Ultimate Winter Package’ worth over $10,000, and the winning athlete with the most votes will take home $10,000 in cold hard
cash, the biggest first place prize on the Australian Alpine event calendar.
More info and daily recap videos at www.onehitwonderevent.com
Day Two of the 2011 Toyota One Hit Wonder Kicks Off in Immaculate Style
Day Two of the 2011 Toyota One Hit Wonder Kicks Off in Immaculate Style
With day one swept under the rug due to weather, the finalists could hardly be contained as overnight the rain turned to snow and they woke to a bluebird day at Thredbo Resort, and a perfectly groomed, seen-to-be-believed
jump.
As the athletes stood at the base and visualised their first hit off the 100-foot, four-storey-high Charles Beckinsale built behemoth, there was an audible murmur of nervous chatter and apprehension.
With speed checks underway and just a few warm ups on the 65-ft practice jump, the athletes wasted no time getting to work on producing some of the world’s most aesthetically pleasing tricks for the cameras.
Five invited young guns from Skiers Junction, all aged 15, joined in the warm up session alongside their local and international heroes who no doubt provided inspiration for Australia’s future freeskiers. The standout of the group was junior Salomon team rider, Ollie Immurs with his clean grabs and smooth style.
Local Jindabyne crowd-pleaser, Jesse Houghton launched into a dramatic, laid-out front flip and then later a double cork 1080 mute grab. Older brother and fellow Salmon team rider, Jordan Houghton equally impressed with his
double cork 1080 high mute grab. 2010 reigning champion, Bobby Brown nailed the trick-of-the-day with a switch double cork, 1440 mute grab to
Japan.
Day two was an unfortunate early end for Chris Laker (US), who came unstuck as he attempted a triple cork and was taken down the mountain with a serious shoulder injury. Yet it was Anna Segal - the only female competitor in the competition and Australia’s freesking princess - who was
the crowd fave, hitting the massive jump with a 360 mute grab to huge applause from spectators.
“The perfect conditions today meant we could all get out there and throw down our best...there is no doubt there is a lot more to come from all the riders throughout the next couple of days,” said Anna.
Jordon Houghton revealed his feelings on first arriving at the jump site. “The jump is massive. No one really wants to
go first but we all thought my brother Jesse being the youngest, could handle it. And he did.
”After the finalists have laid down their best over three days of hitting monster jump, members of the public will then have three weeks to vote online at www.onehitwonderevent.com for their single favorite big-air trick to take home $10,000, the biggest first place prize on Australia’s events calendar.
Each member of the public who votes will also go into the draw to win the ‘Ultimate Winter Package’ worth over $10,000. This includes an all-expenses-paid holiday for two to Hakuba Japan, staying at the luxurious Phoenix Hotel, a complete Salomon ski or snowboard package, Von Zipper eyewear, plus a GE DV1 HD Waterproof & Shockproof Video Camera to film the trip.
With day one swept under the rug due to weather, the finalists could hardly be contained as overnight the rain turned to snow and they woke to a bluebird day at Thredbo Resort, and a perfectly groomed, seen-to-be-believed
jump.
As the athletes stood at the base and visualised their first hit off the 100-foot, four-storey-high Charles Beckinsale built behemoth, there was an audible murmur of nervous chatter and apprehension.
With speed checks underway and just a few warm ups on the 65-ft practice jump, the athletes wasted no time getting to work on producing some of the world’s most aesthetically pleasing tricks for the cameras.
Five invited young guns from Skiers Junction, all aged 15, joined in the warm up session alongside their local and international heroes who no doubt provided inspiration for Australia’s future freeskiers. The standout of the group was junior Salomon team rider, Ollie Immurs with his clean grabs and smooth style.
Local Jindabyne crowd-pleaser, Jesse Houghton launched into a dramatic, laid-out front flip and then later a double cork 1080 mute grab. Older brother and fellow Salmon team rider, Jordan Houghton equally impressed with his
double cork 1080 high mute grab. 2010 reigning champion, Bobby Brown nailed the trick-of-the-day with a switch double cork, 1440 mute grab to
Japan.
Day two was an unfortunate early end for Chris Laker (US), who came unstuck as he attempted a triple cork and was taken down the mountain with a serious shoulder injury. Yet it was Anna Segal - the only female competitor in the competition and Australia’s freesking princess - who was
the crowd fave, hitting the massive jump with a 360 mute grab to huge applause from spectators.
“The perfect conditions today meant we could all get out there and throw down our best...there is no doubt there is a lot more to come from all the riders throughout the next couple of days,” said Anna.
Jordon Houghton revealed his feelings on first arriving at the jump site. “The jump is massive. No one really wants to
go first but we all thought my brother Jesse being the youngest, could handle it. And he did.
”After the finalists have laid down their best over three days of hitting monster jump, members of the public will then have three weeks to vote online at www.onehitwonderevent.com for their single favorite big-air trick to take home $10,000, the biggest first place prize on Australia’s events calendar.
Each member of the public who votes will also go into the draw to win the ‘Ultimate Winter Package’ worth over $10,000. This includes an all-expenses-paid holiday for two to Hakuba Japan, staying at the luxurious Phoenix Hotel, a complete Salomon ski or snowboard package, Von Zipper eyewear, plus a GE DV1 HD Waterproof & Shockproof Video Camera to film the trip.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
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Need some statistics for an upcoming article? Wondering which mobile phone carrier has the best customer satisfaction, what the latest employment figures are, or where Australian businesses are more likely to spend their advertising dollars? The Roy Morgan Market Research Update is a convenient fortnightly email direct to your inbox that contains Roy Morgan Research’s latest findings on various industries, new product releases and upcoming events.
Roy Morgan Single Source conducts over 50,000 interviews annually in Australia and over 20,000 interviews annually in New Zealand covering findings from industries including;
o Automotive
o Banking and Finance
o FMCG and Retail
o Health, Fitness and Well-being
o Internet, Technology and Telecommunications
o Media and Advertising
o Politics
o Consumer and business confidence
o Societal Issues and Trends
o Tourism, Travel and Leisure
o Young Australians (based on our survey for 6-13 year olds)
It’s free to receive Roy Morgan Market Research Updates and once you become a subscriber you will receive a fortnightly e-newsletter complete with the latest findings from Roy Morgan Research, the latest Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence findings and the latest national polling.
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By subscribing to Roy Morgan Market Research Updates, you will be able to access research data that will boost the validity and influence of your feature article or interview topic, with top-line data from the largest annual survey of Australians. You gain access to the data that Australia’s top mainstream and industry media use for many front-page news articles.
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011
World’s best skiers en route to Thredbo for the 2011 Toyota One Hit Wonder Down Under
With the finishing touches being put on the gargantuan pile of snow that will form the biggest jump in the world right now, the best skiers on the planet are beginning to clear Australian customs to take on the best local talent in Thredbo for the most anticipated big-air event on the Australian skiing calendar.
After a month long audition process, the following finalists will have from the 6th-10th of September to land their single best big-air trick on the 100ft Charles Beckinsale built jump. The winner, as voted by the public, will talk home $10,000.
Bobby Brown (USA)
Elias Ambuhl (SWI)
Jossi Wells (NZL)
Gus Kenworthy (USA)
Joe Schuster (CAN)
Chris Laker (USA)
Anna Segal (VIC)
Jesse Houghton (NSW)
Jordan Houghton (NSW)
Joss Christensen (USA)
Jerome Lambert (FRA)
Dhanu Sherpa (NSW)
In a first for the Toyota One Hit Wonder, Winter X Games gold medalist and current slope-style World Champion, Melbournian Anna Segal, will face up against the men, showing off her prowess as Australia’s distinguished princess on the international contest circuit.
“I know Jordan was feeling pretty confident until he found out that Anna is in the mix, but there is no reason she can’t step it up and throw down with the guys. I’ve got no doubt her style and finesse will impress the public voters,” says Event Director, Tim Myers.
After the finalists have gone head-to-head in the monster jump, a virtual grandstand, made up of anyone connected to the Internet, will then have three weeks to vote online at www.onehitwonderevent.com for their single favorite big-air trick to take home $10,000, the biggest first place prize on the Australian events calendar.
Each member of the public who votes will also go into the draw to win the ‘Ultimate Winter Package’ worth over $10,000. This includes an all-expenses-paid holiday for two to Hakuba Japan, staying at the luxurious Phoenix Hotel, a complete Salomon ski or snowboard package, Von Zipper eyewear, plus a GE DV1 HD Waterproof & Shockproof Video Camera to film the trip.
As well as the people’s choice champion, the athletes themselves will vote at the end of the week to decide the NIXON peer performance award, who will take home a $659 NIXON 51-30 watch, to be awarded at the Schuss Bar after party on Saturday the 10th of September.
More info on the athletes at www.onehitwonderevent.com/athletes
After a month long audition process, the following finalists will have from the 6th-10th of September to land their single best big-air trick on the 100ft Charles Beckinsale built jump. The winner, as voted by the public, will talk home $10,000.
Bobby Brown (USA)
Elias Ambuhl (SWI)
Jossi Wells (NZL)
Gus Kenworthy (USA)
Joe Schuster (CAN)
Chris Laker (USA)
Anna Segal (VIC)
Jesse Houghton (NSW)
Jordan Houghton (NSW)
Joss Christensen (USA)
Jerome Lambert (FRA)
Dhanu Sherpa (NSW)
In a first for the Toyota One Hit Wonder, Winter X Games gold medalist and current slope-style World Champion, Melbournian Anna Segal, will face up against the men, showing off her prowess as Australia’s distinguished princess on the international contest circuit.
“I know Jordan was feeling pretty confident until he found out that Anna is in the mix, but there is no reason she can’t step it up and throw down with the guys. I’ve got no doubt her style and finesse will impress the public voters,” says Event Director, Tim Myers.
After the finalists have gone head-to-head in the monster jump, a virtual grandstand, made up of anyone connected to the Internet, will then have three weeks to vote online at www.onehitwonderevent.com for their single favorite big-air trick to take home $10,000, the biggest first place prize on the Australian events calendar.
Each member of the public who votes will also go into the draw to win the ‘Ultimate Winter Package’ worth over $10,000. This includes an all-expenses-paid holiday for two to Hakuba Japan, staying at the luxurious Phoenix Hotel, a complete Salomon ski or snowboard package, Von Zipper eyewear, plus a GE DV1 HD Waterproof & Shockproof Video Camera to film the trip.
As well as the people’s choice champion, the athletes themselves will vote at the end of the week to decide the NIXON peer performance award, who will take home a $659 NIXON 51-30 watch, to be awarded at the Schuss Bar after party on Saturday the 10th of September.
More info on the athletes at www.onehitwonderevent.com/athletes
Nominal Accounting. The simplest way to manage your micro business
Whether you are just starting out or you are looking for better ways to manage your existing micro business, one of the key factors to making it a success is to manage your business financials and track your business health. Nominal Accounting Software makes it super simple for businesses with up to 5 employees to stay on track.
Accounting is a fact of life for any micro/small business, whether you’re a contractor that bills to one customer on a weekly basis, or you’re in retail and need to keep track of the profitability of different products or the conversion rate of your online store. Each micro business is different and yet they have the same financial needs.
There are various ways and means to keeping your financials in order such as;
- Pen and paper; The dollar cost is very low but at the same time it is complex and time consuming. Wouldn’t time be better spent working ON your small business?
- The Shoe Box; All documents, invoices, receipts are collected and then sent off to your accountant. This is probably one of the most expensive ways to do your accounting and it fails to give you any insight to your business.
- Desktop accounting software; Such as the well known MYOB or QuickBooks. They usually require some kind of training to begin using them or at least a basic understanding of accounting concepts.
- Online accounting software; Such as Saasu, Xero and many others are available today. The usually have higher ongoing costs and that they lack a lot of the functionality that is available in other desktop solutions.
- Outsourced bookkeeper; Similar to the shoebox option - it makes it simpler for you but costs more and provides you with less insight into the workings of your own business.
- In-house bookkeeper; The cost of a full-time or part-time employee comes with the highest costs and is probably an over kill for most small businesses.
So what is the answer? No business can run efficiently without any kind of bookkeeping and Nominal Accounting Software offers a unique accounting program specifically designed with micro businesses n mind, unlike other products that target businesses of all sizes.
The desktop software helps you manage all aspects of your business including:
- Time Billing; bill customers for time spent, multiple rates and costs, easy to fill timesheet which automatically generates an invoice.
- PayPal Accounting; integrate your PayPal account, auto create invoices, purchases and payments, account for PayPal fees and transfers.
- Integration with all your online systems (Freshbooks/Harvest-invoicing, SalesForce/SugarCRM/Highrise-CRM, Magento/ZenCart/VirtueMart-shopping carts and Google – contacts)
- Invoicing Customers; choose and customise an invoice template (reinforcing your brand), bill for time, print and email invoices, record credit notes.
- Paying Vendors; record receipt of items, enter and pay bills.
- Tracking Inventory; manage your item list, adjust physical count and inventory values, adjust prices and costings.
- Managing Cash and Bank Accounts; spending money, making deposits, transferring money, working with register and reconciling accounts.
- Paying Employees; setting up payroll, paying employees, editing, printing and emailing payslips and recording payroll liabilities.
- Preparing Financial Reports; producing reports, customising reports; scheduling and emailing reports.
- SBR Standard business reporting; using the NEW Australian Government interface, Nominal Accounting is also the FIRST and ONLY small business accounting software that allows you to submit your Business Activity Statement and Tax File Number declaration forms from within the accounting software.
- Business Dashboard that allows you to view multiple KPIs, such sales over time, average sale, as well as Facebook Feeds, Twitter mentions, Twitter followers over time and your Google Analytics stats.
Nominal Accounting Software helps you to track the health of your business at a glance with monthly, quarterly & yearly reports, so you can make decisions in real time to benefit your business.
If the shoebox is full then it’s time to look at another way to keep your finances on track! Nominal Small Business Accounting Software brings the greatest insights to your business as well as the simplicity that is required by the micro business owner.
For more information on Nominal Accounting, visit: http://www.nominal.com.au
Accounting is a fact of life for any micro/small business, whether you’re a contractor that bills to one customer on a weekly basis, or you’re in retail and need to keep track of the profitability of different products or the conversion rate of your online store. Each micro business is different and yet they have the same financial needs.
There are various ways and means to keeping your financials in order such as;
- Pen and paper; The dollar cost is very low but at the same time it is complex and time consuming. Wouldn’t time be better spent working ON your small business?
- The Shoe Box; All documents, invoices, receipts are collected and then sent off to your accountant. This is probably one of the most expensive ways to do your accounting and it fails to give you any insight to your business.
- Desktop accounting software; Such as the well known MYOB or QuickBooks. They usually require some kind of training to begin using them or at least a basic understanding of accounting concepts.
- Online accounting software; Such as Saasu, Xero and many others are available today. The usually have higher ongoing costs and that they lack a lot of the functionality that is available in other desktop solutions.
- Outsourced bookkeeper; Similar to the shoebox option - it makes it simpler for you but costs more and provides you with less insight into the workings of your own business.
- In-house bookkeeper; The cost of a full-time or part-time employee comes with the highest costs and is probably an over kill for most small businesses.
So what is the answer? No business can run efficiently without any kind of bookkeeping and Nominal Accounting Software offers a unique accounting program specifically designed with micro businesses n mind, unlike other products that target businesses of all sizes.
The desktop software helps you manage all aspects of your business including:
- Time Billing; bill customers for time spent, multiple rates and costs, easy to fill timesheet which automatically generates an invoice.
- PayPal Accounting; integrate your PayPal account, auto create invoices, purchases and payments, account for PayPal fees and transfers.
- Integration with all your online systems (Freshbooks/Harvest-invoicing, SalesForce/SugarCRM/Highrise-CRM, Magento/ZenCart/VirtueMart-shopping carts and Google – contacts)
- Invoicing Customers; choose and customise an invoice template (reinforcing your brand), bill for time, print and email invoices, record credit notes.
- Paying Vendors; record receipt of items, enter and pay bills.
- Tracking Inventory; manage your item list, adjust physical count and inventory values, adjust prices and costings.
- Managing Cash and Bank Accounts; spending money, making deposits, transferring money, working with register and reconciling accounts.
- Paying Employees; setting up payroll, paying employees, editing, printing and emailing payslips and recording payroll liabilities.
- Preparing Financial Reports; producing reports, customising reports; scheduling and emailing reports.
- SBR Standard business reporting; using the NEW Australian Government interface, Nominal Accounting is also the FIRST and ONLY small business accounting software that allows you to submit your Business Activity Statement and Tax File Number declaration forms from within the accounting software.
- Business Dashboard that allows you to view multiple KPIs, such sales over time, average sale, as well as Facebook Feeds, Twitter mentions, Twitter followers over time and your Google Analytics stats.
Nominal Accounting Software helps you to track the health of your business at a glance with monthly, quarterly & yearly reports, so you can make decisions in real time to benefit your business.
If the shoebox is full then it’s time to look at another way to keep your finances on track! Nominal Small Business Accounting Software brings the greatest insights to your business as well as the simplicity that is required by the micro business owner.
For more information on Nominal Accounting, visit: http://www.nominal.com.au
Monday, August 1, 2011
Christine Manfield & Annie Smithers share a ‘Taste of Burgundy’
The 2011 Tastes of Burgundy tour was an opportunity to travel with two of Australia’s most acclaimed and recognized chefs to a region of the world that is eponymous for its produce, food and wine. The 2011 tour saw illustrious Australian chef\s, Christine Manfield and Annie Smithers, lead participants on a culinary journey through Burgundy, with dishes to inspire and stimulate.
After the resounding success of the Tastes of Burgundy tour 2011, both Christine and Annie have compiled two recipes which can give everyone a little ‘Taste of Burgundy’.
“I was thrilled to be part of the inaugural Tastes of Burgundy tour for 2011’, says Christine Manfield of the highly acclaimed Universal Restaurant in Darlinghurst, Sydney. “It was a wonderful culinary and wine experience with myriad taste sensations, the produce is inspiring’ she says.
‘The recipes reflect the seasonal and regional produce I found at the various markets in Burgundy’ explains Christine.
‘Spring is when white asparagus, tomatoes, radishes and strawberries are in abundance. Chicken, pork, game birds, rabbits and lamb are plentiful and the array of artisan farmhouse cheeses is extraordinary,’ she says.
“We had a fantastic trip to Burgundy!” says Annie Smithers, from Annie Smithers Bistrot in Kyneton.
“Fresh and seasonal produce is a major ingredient when cooking in Burgundy, which is similar to my bistro in Kyneton as we grow and use all our own produce,” she says. “I hope the recipes I have provided will give you a ‘taste of burgundy.”
Next year, three prominent Australian chefs are set to once again, delight the senses of food and wine enthusiasts with a penchant for French cooking with the Tastes of Burgundy 2012 tour.
Commencing in April 2012, Tastes of Burgundy will run 5 weeks of cooking schools in the iconic gourmet region of eastern France, La Bourgogne (Burgundy).
Each Tastes of Burgundy weeklong experience will be individually led by the crème de la crème of the industry;
• Serge Dansereau from one of Sydney’s best and Australia’s most acclaimed eating establishments, Bathers Pavilion on Sydney’s Balmoral Beach;
• Andrew McConnell, Executive Chef and co-owner of Melbourne’s Cutler & Co. Dining Room & Bar, Cumulus Inc and the recently opened Golden Fields in Melbourne;
• Kate Lamont, one of Western Australia’s most successful chefs of Lamont’s restaurant in Perth CBD, Cottesloe and the Margaret River.
Each of the renowned foodies have signed up to teach the one-week Tastes of Burgundy school experience in April, May and June 2012. Each week will include three “cooking days”, involving market visits (Dijon, Beaune and Chalon or Autun), menu design and afternoon cooking classes, culminating in an exquisite dinner each evening.
sensations, the produce is inspiring’ she says.
The non-cooking days will be packed full of trips and experiences including; barrel tastings in a stunning 14th century cellar; a visit to local artisan farm – one of France’s finest produces of cherve, and the must see Hospice of Beaune.
Participants will also dine in restaurants ranging from small bistros to the stunning Abbaye de la Bussiere, a former monastery, now Relais & Chateaux accommodation and Michelin-star gastronomic restaurant and bistro. A farewell degustation dinner created by the talented hands of Chef de Cuisine, Eric Pras, and his team at the famous three-star Michelin restaurant, Lameloise in Chagny, will conclude the week savoring the Tastes Of Burgundy.
Fine food and wine aficionados will delight in eight days of sumptuous local food and wine in Burgundy with their chosen chef, whilst cooking and residing at a stunning 18th century chateau just outside the village of Meursault. The chateau is set in 6-hectare parklands, complimented by traditional antique décor, a sunny outside terrace and in-ground swimming pool.
The week is all-inclusive, from first arrival and pick-up in Le Creusot, seven nights accommodation in a beautiful chateau, cooking classes, cultural visits, transport for the week, all meals, wine, champagne and the return transfer to Le Creusot for onward travel. All Inclusive Tour - AUD$9,000 per person
Tastes of Burgundy is an opportunity to travel with one of three of Australia’s most acclaimed and recognized chefs to a region of the world that is eponymous for its produce, food and wine.
A complete culinary experience from the beginning to the end
Visit www.tastesofburgundy.com for more information.
After the resounding success of the Tastes of Burgundy tour 2011, both Christine and Annie have compiled two recipes which can give everyone a little ‘Taste of Burgundy’.
“I was thrilled to be part of the inaugural Tastes of Burgundy tour for 2011’, says Christine Manfield of the highly acclaimed Universal Restaurant in Darlinghurst, Sydney. “It was a wonderful culinary and wine experience with myriad taste sensations, the produce is inspiring’ she says.
‘The recipes reflect the seasonal and regional produce I found at the various markets in Burgundy’ explains Christine.
‘Spring is when white asparagus, tomatoes, radishes and strawberries are in abundance. Chicken, pork, game birds, rabbits and lamb are plentiful and the array of artisan farmhouse cheeses is extraordinary,’ she says.
“We had a fantastic trip to Burgundy!” says Annie Smithers, from Annie Smithers Bistrot in Kyneton.
“Fresh and seasonal produce is a major ingredient when cooking in Burgundy, which is similar to my bistro in Kyneton as we grow and use all our own produce,” she says. “I hope the recipes I have provided will give you a ‘taste of burgundy.”
Next year, three prominent Australian chefs are set to once again, delight the senses of food and wine enthusiasts with a penchant for French cooking with the Tastes of Burgundy 2012 tour.
Commencing in April 2012, Tastes of Burgundy will run 5 weeks of cooking schools in the iconic gourmet region of eastern France, La Bourgogne (Burgundy).
Each Tastes of Burgundy weeklong experience will be individually led by the crème de la crème of the industry;
• Serge Dansereau from one of Sydney’s best and Australia’s most acclaimed eating establishments, Bathers Pavilion on Sydney’s Balmoral Beach;
• Andrew McConnell, Executive Chef and co-owner of Melbourne’s Cutler & Co. Dining Room & Bar, Cumulus Inc and the recently opened Golden Fields in Melbourne;
• Kate Lamont, one of Western Australia’s most successful chefs of Lamont’s restaurant in Perth CBD, Cottesloe and the Margaret River.
Each of the renowned foodies have signed up to teach the one-week Tastes of Burgundy school experience in April, May and June 2012. Each week will include three “cooking days”, involving market visits (Dijon, Beaune and Chalon or Autun), menu design and afternoon cooking classes, culminating in an exquisite dinner each evening.
sensations, the produce is inspiring’ she says.
The non-cooking days will be packed full of trips and experiences including; barrel tastings in a stunning 14th century cellar; a visit to local artisan farm – one of France’s finest produces of cherve, and the must see Hospice of Beaune.
Participants will also dine in restaurants ranging from small bistros to the stunning Abbaye de la Bussiere, a former monastery, now Relais & Chateaux accommodation and Michelin-star gastronomic restaurant and bistro. A farewell degustation dinner created by the talented hands of Chef de Cuisine, Eric Pras, and his team at the famous three-star Michelin restaurant, Lameloise in Chagny, will conclude the week savoring the Tastes Of Burgundy.
Fine food and wine aficionados will delight in eight days of sumptuous local food and wine in Burgundy with their chosen chef, whilst cooking and residing at a stunning 18th century chateau just outside the village of Meursault. The chateau is set in 6-hectare parklands, complimented by traditional antique décor, a sunny outside terrace and in-ground swimming pool.
The week is all-inclusive, from first arrival and pick-up in Le Creusot, seven nights accommodation in a beautiful chateau, cooking classes, cultural visits, transport for the week, all meals, wine, champagne and the return transfer to Le Creusot for onward travel. All Inclusive Tour - AUD$9,000 per person
Tastes of Burgundy is an opportunity to travel with one of three of Australia’s most acclaimed and recognized chefs to a region of the world that is eponymous for its produce, food and wine.
A complete culinary experience from the beginning to the end
Visit www.tastesofburgundy.com for more information.
Give a heartfelt gift this Fathers Day
This Fathers Day, there’s a heartfelt, affordable way to show your appreciation for your Dad by adopting Sumatran orangutan twins through the Australian Orangutan Project. They are in desperate need of funds to buy medicines, nappies, food and the basics of life. Each orangutan infant requires one-on-one attention for the first eight years of their lives - the time it takes for an orangutan mother to teach her infant how to survive in the rainforest.
On 21 January 2011, an adult female at Batu Mbelin named Gober, gave birth to healthy twins; a boy named Ganteng (meaning handsome) and a girl named Ginting (a popular local name). Orangutan twins are very rare and these babies are extra special since both parents are blind and lucky to be alive.
Gober lost her sight to cataracts and was rescued in 2008 after her blindness forced her to raid crops, risking almost certain death from villagers. The twins Father, Leuser, was shot by villagers with an air rifle and was found near death with 62 air rifle wounds including three pellets lodged in his eyes.
Due to their blindness both parent orangutans now have to spend the rest of their lives at Batu Mbelin, a care centre in Sumatra. Gober and Leuser were introduced to each other in 2010 in the same cage for companionship. The usual breeding ban at the centre was lifted to improve the quality of life for elderly Gober, now well over 40 years old. Gober is now kept well and truly busy looking after not one, but two beautiful babies.
It is hoped that both infants will eventually be released to a life in the wild, something that has now been denied to both their parents. Despite their handicaps, both Gober’s and Leuser’s genes will be given a second chance to contribute to the conservation of their species in the wilds of Sumatra.
“Adoption is an opportunity to make a real difference to orangutans’ lives by improving their survival chances, offering them a safe, secure and stable future and habitat. From what our adoptive families tell us, it is an enormously rewarding experience for them too,” says Leif Cocks, President and Founder of the Australian Orangutan Project.
100% of this Father’s Day donation of $110 will go towards the raising and support that the care centre in Sumatra need to get these young infants back into the wild.
Your Father’s Day foster pack will include: A certificate with your Dad’s name on it; a biography of the twins and their parents; activity booklet; magnet and sticker. PLUS, when you donate, you will receive an AOP stubby cooler just to let him know how much you love him!
So to celebrate Father’s Day this year, please help the orphans to celebrate too by giving them a future. You can adopt the twins too by visiting http://www.orangutan.org.au/adoptions-new/adoption-the-twins-yearly and following the prompts.
Please ring 1300 REDAPE for inquiries!
On 21 January 2011, an adult female at Batu Mbelin named Gober, gave birth to healthy twins; a boy named Ganteng (meaning handsome) and a girl named Ginting (a popular local name). Orangutan twins are very rare and these babies are extra special since both parents are blind and lucky to be alive.
Gober lost her sight to cataracts and was rescued in 2008 after her blindness forced her to raid crops, risking almost certain death from villagers. The twins Father, Leuser, was shot by villagers with an air rifle and was found near death with 62 air rifle wounds including three pellets lodged in his eyes.
Due to their blindness both parent orangutans now have to spend the rest of their lives at Batu Mbelin, a care centre in Sumatra. Gober and Leuser were introduced to each other in 2010 in the same cage for companionship. The usual breeding ban at the centre was lifted to improve the quality of life for elderly Gober, now well over 40 years old. Gober is now kept well and truly busy looking after not one, but two beautiful babies.
It is hoped that both infants will eventually be released to a life in the wild, something that has now been denied to both their parents. Despite their handicaps, both Gober’s and Leuser’s genes will be given a second chance to contribute to the conservation of their species in the wilds of Sumatra.
“Adoption is an opportunity to make a real difference to orangutans’ lives by improving their survival chances, offering them a safe, secure and stable future and habitat. From what our adoptive families tell us, it is an enormously rewarding experience for them too,” says Leif Cocks, President and Founder of the Australian Orangutan Project.
100% of this Father’s Day donation of $110 will go towards the raising and support that the care centre in Sumatra need to get these young infants back into the wild.
Your Father’s Day foster pack will include: A certificate with your Dad’s name on it; a biography of the twins and their parents; activity booklet; magnet and sticker. PLUS, when you donate, you will receive an AOP stubby cooler just to let him know how much you love him!
So to celebrate Father’s Day this year, please help the orphans to celebrate too by giving them a future. You can adopt the twins too by visiting http://www.orangutan.org.au/adoptions-new/adoption-the-twins-yearly and following the prompts.
Please ring 1300 REDAPE for inquiries!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tastes of Burgundy set to tantalise French cooking fans in 2012!
Tastes of Burgundy set to tantalise French cooking fans in 2012!
After the resounding success of the Tastes of Burgundy tour 2011, three prominent Australian chefs are set to once again, delight the senses of food and wine enthusiasts with a penchant for French cooking with the Tastes of Burgundy 2012 tour.
Commencing in April 2012, Tastes of Burgundy will run 6 weeks of cooking schools in the iconic gourmet region of eastern France, La Bourgogne (Burgundy).
Each Tastes of Burgundy weeklong experience will be individually led by the crème de la crème of the industry;
• Serge Dansereau from one of Sydney’s best and Australia’s most acclaimed eating establishments, Bathers Pavilion on Sydney’s Balmoral Beach;
• Andrew McConnell, Executive Chef and co-owner of Melbourne’s Cutler & Co. Dining Room & Bar, Cumulus Inc and the recently opened Golden Fields in Melbourne;
• Kate Lamont, one of Western Australia’s most successful chefs of Lamont’s restaurant in Perth CBD, Cottesloe and the Margaret River.
Each of the renowned foodies have signed up to teach the one-week Tastes of Burgundy school experience in April, May and June 2012. Each week will include three “cooking days”, involving market visits (Dijon, Beaune and Chalon or Autun), menu design and afternoon cooking classes, culminating in an exquisite dinner each evening.
The 2011 tour saw illustrious chefs, Christine Manfield and Annie Smithers, lead participants through a culinary minefield in Burgundy, with dishes to inspire and stimulate.
“I was thrilled to be part of the inaugural Tastes of Burgundy tour for 2011’, says Christine Manfield of the highly acclaimed Universal Restaurant in Darlinghurst, Sydney. “It was a wonderful culinary and wine experience with myriad taste sensations, the produce is inspiring’ she says.
The non-cooking days will be packed full of trips and experiences including; barrel tastings in a stunning 14th century cellar; a visit to local artisan farm – one of France’s finest produces of cherve, and the must see Hospice of Beaune.
Participants will also dine in restaurants ranging from small bistros to the stunning Abbaye de la Bussiere, a former monastery, now Relais & Chateaux accommodation and Michelin-star gastronomic restaurant and bistro. A farewell degustation dinner created by the talented hands of Chef de Cuisine, Eric Pras, and his team at the famous three-star Michelin restaurant, Lameloise in Chagny, will conclude the week savoring the Tastes Of Burgundy.
Fine food and wine aficionados will delight in eight days of sumptuous local food and wine in Burgundy with their chosen chef, whilst cooking and residing at a stunning 18th century chateau just outside the village of Meursault. The chateau is set in 6-hectare parklands, complimented by traditional antique décor, a sunny outside terrace and in-ground swimming pool.
The week is all-inclusive, from first arrival and pick-up in Le Creusot, seven nights accommodation in a beautiful chateau, cooking classes, cultural visits, transport for the week, all meals, wine, champagne and the return transfer to Le Creusot for onward travel.
A complete culinary experience from the beginning to the end.
Visit www.tastesofburgundy.com for more information.
After the resounding success of the Tastes of Burgundy tour 2011, three prominent Australian chefs are set to once again, delight the senses of food and wine enthusiasts with a penchant for French cooking with the Tastes of Burgundy 2012 tour.
Commencing in April 2012, Tastes of Burgundy will run 6 weeks of cooking schools in the iconic gourmet region of eastern France, La Bourgogne (Burgundy).
Each Tastes of Burgundy weeklong experience will be individually led by the crème de la crème of the industry;
• Serge Dansereau from one of Sydney’s best and Australia’s most acclaimed eating establishments, Bathers Pavilion on Sydney’s Balmoral Beach;
• Andrew McConnell, Executive Chef and co-owner of Melbourne’s Cutler & Co. Dining Room & Bar, Cumulus Inc and the recently opened Golden Fields in Melbourne;
• Kate Lamont, one of Western Australia’s most successful chefs of Lamont’s restaurant in Perth CBD, Cottesloe and the Margaret River.
Each of the renowned foodies have signed up to teach the one-week Tastes of Burgundy school experience in April, May and June 2012. Each week will include three “cooking days”, involving market visits (Dijon, Beaune and Chalon or Autun), menu design and afternoon cooking classes, culminating in an exquisite dinner each evening.
The 2011 tour saw illustrious chefs, Christine Manfield and Annie Smithers, lead participants through a culinary minefield in Burgundy, with dishes to inspire and stimulate.
“I was thrilled to be part of the inaugural Tastes of Burgundy tour for 2011’, says Christine Manfield of the highly acclaimed Universal Restaurant in Darlinghurst, Sydney. “It was a wonderful culinary and wine experience with myriad taste sensations, the produce is inspiring’ she says.
The non-cooking days will be packed full of trips and experiences including; barrel tastings in a stunning 14th century cellar; a visit to local artisan farm – one of France’s finest produces of cherve, and the must see Hospice of Beaune.
Participants will also dine in restaurants ranging from small bistros to the stunning Abbaye de la Bussiere, a former monastery, now Relais & Chateaux accommodation and Michelin-star gastronomic restaurant and bistro. A farewell degustation dinner created by the talented hands of Chef de Cuisine, Eric Pras, and his team at the famous three-star Michelin restaurant, Lameloise in Chagny, will conclude the week savoring the Tastes Of Burgundy.
Fine food and wine aficionados will delight in eight days of sumptuous local food and wine in Burgundy with their chosen chef, whilst cooking and residing at a stunning 18th century chateau just outside the village of Meursault. The chateau is set in 6-hectare parklands, complimented by traditional antique décor, a sunny outside terrace and in-ground swimming pool.
The week is all-inclusive, from first arrival and pick-up in Le Creusot, seven nights accommodation in a beautiful chateau, cooking classes, cultural visits, transport for the week, all meals, wine, champagne and the return transfer to Le Creusot for onward travel.
A complete culinary experience from the beginning to the end.
Visit www.tastesofburgundy.com for more information.
Critically Endangered Orangutan Pushed Closer to Extinction as Government Set to Reject Mandatory Labelling of Palm Oil
Critically Endangered Orangutan Pushed Closer to Extinction as Government Set to Reject Mandatory Labelling of Palm Oil
Thursday’s recommendation by the Senate Community Affairs Legislative Committee to reject a bill that requires mandatory labeling of palm oil in food products will mean that Australians are kept in the dark as palm oil continues to be labelled as vegetable oil.
Orangutans are being pushed dangerously close to extinction - predicted within the next 10 years - as widespread deforestation due to palm oil plantations has left them with sparse remaining habitat in Indonesia and Malaysia. It is estimated that an orangutan dies every two hours as land is cleared for further palm oil plantations.
Greens senator Rachel Siewert and Independent senator Nick Xenophon have condemned both major parties for rejecting a move designed to help protect endangered orangutans and wildlife species.
The Australian Orangutan Project and Australian consumers demand that mandatory labeling of palm oil in food products is introduced. Palm oil is the single biggest threat to the orangutan and exists in 50% of supermarket products, yet is masked under a myriad of labels including ‘vegetable oil’.
Whilst some food manufacturers may voluntarily label or even remove palm oil from their products, it is clear that without labeling support by Government policy that most will not.
The palm oil industry does not want Australians to know if they are consuming their product and the Senate Community Affairs Legislative Committee has supported them. Public submissions to the senate consistently argue for the right to know using clear labeling.
“It is unmistakable that Australians want to make informed choices about products containing palm oil. The Australian Orangutan Project calls on the government to heed public support for the bill when it is introduced to parliament this coming Thursday,” says Stephen Leonard, Legal Advisor of the Australian Orangutan Project.
“I find it deeply concerning that the Australian Government seems more interested in doing what the Malaysian palm oil lobby would like, rather than listening to the Australian people."
The orangutan exists as a flagship specifies for many other critically endangered species that live in the same habitat, therefore protecting orangutans means protecting the whole ecosystem of flora and fauna.
“The destruction of rainforest for palm oil plantations is not only the major cause of orangutan decline, but all biodiversity, including Sumatran tigers & elephants and gibbons, as well as the cause of the displacement of vulnerable indigenous communities,” says Troy Kenah, Vice President of the Australian Orangutan Project.
The Australian Orangutan Project urges the public to speak out in favour of the Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling - Palm Oil) Bill 2010, and contact their local MP http://www.aph.gov.au.
Thursday’s recommendation by the Senate Community Affairs Legislative Committee to reject a bill that requires mandatory labeling of palm oil in food products will mean that Australians are kept in the dark as palm oil continues to be labelled as vegetable oil.
Orangutans are being pushed dangerously close to extinction - predicted within the next 10 years - as widespread deforestation due to palm oil plantations has left them with sparse remaining habitat in Indonesia and Malaysia. It is estimated that an orangutan dies every two hours as land is cleared for further palm oil plantations.
Greens senator Rachel Siewert and Independent senator Nick Xenophon have condemned both major parties for rejecting a move designed to help protect endangered orangutans and wildlife species.
The Australian Orangutan Project and Australian consumers demand that mandatory labeling of palm oil in food products is introduced. Palm oil is the single biggest threat to the orangutan and exists in 50% of supermarket products, yet is masked under a myriad of labels including ‘vegetable oil’.
Whilst some food manufacturers may voluntarily label or even remove palm oil from their products, it is clear that without labeling support by Government policy that most will not.
The palm oil industry does not want Australians to know if they are consuming their product and the Senate Community Affairs Legislative Committee has supported them. Public submissions to the senate consistently argue for the right to know using clear labeling.
“It is unmistakable that Australians want to make informed choices about products containing palm oil. The Australian Orangutan Project calls on the government to heed public support for the bill when it is introduced to parliament this coming Thursday,” says Stephen Leonard, Legal Advisor of the Australian Orangutan Project.
“I find it deeply concerning that the Australian Government seems more interested in doing what the Malaysian palm oil lobby would like, rather than listening to the Australian people."
The orangutan exists as a flagship specifies for many other critically endangered species that live in the same habitat, therefore protecting orangutans means protecting the whole ecosystem of flora and fauna.
“The destruction of rainforest for palm oil plantations is not only the major cause of orangutan decline, but all biodiversity, including Sumatran tigers & elephants and gibbons, as well as the cause of the displacement of vulnerable indigenous communities,” says Troy Kenah, Vice President of the Australian Orangutan Project.
The Australian Orangutan Project urges the public to speak out in favour of the Food Standards Amendment (Truth in Labelling - Palm Oil) Bill 2010, and contact their local MP http://www.aph.gov.au.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Australian company harnesses the power of real-time audience feedback via Mobile Web technology for key US television programs
Australian company harnesses the power of real-time audience feedback via Mobile Web technology for key US television programs
Interactive Australian media company, iPowow Ltd, is positioned at the forefront of one of the biggest consumer waves to sweep the global industries of media, technology and communications – the Mobile Web.
Via its three key products, iPowow Business, iPowow Live and iPowow Social, the Company is able to provide the use of its platform to businesses, media corporations and global celebrities seeking to connect instantly with their audience via smartphone technology.
Live TV broadcasters, celebrity followers on social networks, businesses and advertisers are all able to use the iPowow platform to interact with their target audience and networks, in a fashion that basically monetizes those interactions.
Around the world, television broadcasters, advertisers and content producers have been waiting decades for the ‘holy grail’ to emerge from the digital revolution - the power to interact with viewers instantaneously.
Via iPowow technology, broadcasters can ask an audience a question, and television audiences, online viewers or even a stadium crowd can use their 3G mobile phones or laptops to respond instantly.
iPowow’s global, cloud-hosted platform collects and combines the audiences responses and then delivers the digital results directly, second by second, which is displayed onscreen, in real-time, as a moving graphic – similar to ‘the worm’ used in political campaigns.
The company has already signed major deals with global programs brands such as UFC, Cirque Du Soleil, The American Music Awards, ABC Australia, Top Rank, and has also recently announced the integration of its iPowow Live platform for the television broadcast of ‘The 2011 MISS USA® Pageant’.
“We are thrilled to be involved with The 2011 Miss USA® Pageant, a joint venture by The Miss Universe Organisation, Donald Trump and NBC Universal”, says iPowow CEO, Ettienne Fourie.
“In a world first, the 2011 Miss USA® Pageant will be using iPowow to give their viewing audience the ability to score every contestant during the show, instantly,” he says.
iPowow products are Twitter and Facebook connected, engaging millions of viewers outside of a TV show’s normal audience. The iPowow scoring screens also gives viewers the ability to send Tweets and Facebook posts during the event, showing scores and the current leader board places.
“This integration of participation television and social media is set to change everything for broadcasters”, says Ettienne.
The patented technology that sits at the heart of iPowow, is on the leading edge of a global shift towards participation television and second-screen content. iPowow gives broadcasters, television producers and advertisers the power to create a new breed of participation television.
iPowow Social also brings real-time audience feedback to social networking. The company has recently launched a campaign for basketball legend, Shaquille O’Neal.
“The product gives sports stars and celebrities the power to ask all of their Twitter followers and Facebook friends a question and receive the answer, instantly,” says iPowow CEO, Ettienne Fourie.
“Every day Shaquille will ask his fans to help him out with questions and they pay a monthly subscription to play.”
iPowow Business enables Compliance & Training organizations to train staff via online video anywhere, anytime. In order to pass a course, users must answer questions correctly on the screen, second by second. At the end of the training video the user receives their score. All of these training records are electronically tracked, collected and available for both the user and the administrators.
The iPowow system is bank secure, proven across global TV audiences, and inexpensive to install. Best of all, it generates significant advertising and sponsorship revenue streams from mobile browsers.
The Company has raised over $3 million in investment capital to date and has successfully built an award-winning team and delivered three ‘Mobile Web’ global software products
in a staged process.
iPowow has created a unique multi-region, patent pending technology platform, and has established offices in New York, Los Angeles and Sydney. The innovative company is now seeking to drive its products into key overseas markets, particularly the US, creating a global network of Mobile Web products.
The company will be holding an information session & product demonstration for media and interested parties on Tuesday July 5th, at 6pm at iPowow Floor 1/328 Bronte Road, Waverley, NSW, 2024. To rsvp please visithttp://ipowow.eventbrite.com/
For more information visit: http://www.assob.com.au/wow or http://www.ipowow.com
Via its three key products, iPowow Business, iPowow Live and iPowow Social, the Company is able to provide the use of its platform to businesses, media corporations and global celebrities seeking to connect instantly with their audience via smartphone technology.
Live TV broadcasters, celebrity followers on social networks, businesses and advertisers are all able to use the iPowow platform to interact with their target audience and networks, in a fashion that basically monetizes those interactions.
Around the world, television broadcasters, advertisers and content producers have been waiting decades for the ‘holy grail’ to emerge from the digital revolution - the power to interact with viewers instantaneously.
Via iPowow technology, broadcasters can ask an audience a question, and television audiences, online viewers or even a stadium crowd can use their 3G mobile phones or laptops to respond instantly.
iPowow’s global, cloud-hosted platform collects and combines the audiences responses and then delivers the digital results directly, second by second, which is displayed onscreen, in real-time, as a moving graphic – similar to ‘the worm’ used in political campaigns.
The company has already signed major deals with global programs brands such as UFC, Cirque Du Soleil, The American Music Awards, ABC Australia, Top Rank, and has also recently announced the integration of its iPowow Live platform for the television broadcast of ‘The 2011 MISS USA® Pageant’.
“We are thrilled to be involved with The 2011 Miss USA® Pageant, a joint venture by The Miss Universe Organisation, Donald Trump and NBC Universal”, says iPowow CEO, Ettienne Fourie.
“In a world first, the 2011 Miss USA® Pageant will be using iPowow to give their viewing audience the ability to score every contestant during the show, instantly,” he says.
iPowow products are Twitter and Facebook connected, engaging millions of viewers outside of a TV show’s normal audience. The iPowow scoring screens also gives viewers the ability to send Tweets and Facebook posts during the event, showing scores and the current leader board places.
“This integration of participation television and social media is set to change everything for broadcasters”, says Ettienne.
The patented technology that sits at the heart of iPowow, is on the leading edge of a global shift towards participation television and second-screen content. iPowow gives broadcasters, television producers and advertisers the power to create a new breed of participation television.
iPowow Social also brings real-time audience feedback to social networking. The company has recently launched a campaign for basketball legend, Shaquille O’Neal.
“The product gives sports stars and celebrities the power to ask all of their Twitter followers and Facebook friends a question and receive the answer, instantly,” says iPowow CEO, Ettienne Fourie.
“Every day Shaquille will ask his fans to help him out with questions and they pay a monthly subscription to play.”
iPowow Business enables Compliance & Training organizations to train staff via online video anywhere, anytime. In order to pass a course, users must answer questions correctly on the screen, second by second. At the end of the training video the user receives their score. All of these training records are electronically tracked, collected and available for both the user and the administrators.
The iPowow system is bank secure, proven across global TV audiences, and inexpensive to install. Best of all, it generates significant advertising and sponsorship revenue streams from mobile browsers.
The Company has raised over $3 million in investment capital to date and has successfully built an award-winning team and delivered three ‘Mobile Web’ global software products
in a staged process.
iPowow has created a unique multi-region, patent pending technology platform, and has established offices in New York, Los Angeles and Sydney. The innovative company is now seeking to drive its products into key overseas markets, particularly the US, creating a global network of Mobile Web products.
The company will be holding an information session & product demonstration for media and interested parties on Tuesday July 5th, at 6pm at iPowow Floor 1/328 Bronte Road, Waverley, NSW, 2024. To rsvp please visithttp://ipowow.eventbrite.com/
For more information visit: http://www.assob.com.au/wow or http://www.ipowow.com
About iPowow Ltd
iPowow is an interactive media platform that gives you the power to directly ask your audience what they think… and they will answer. You discover their emotional responses to what you are saying… instantly.
Contact:
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Adopt an orangutan this Mothers Day!
This Mothers Day, instead of giving Mum a box of chocolates or some flowers, why not adopt an orangutan infant through the Australian Orangutan Project. They are in desperate need of funds to buy medicines, nappies, food and the basics of life and each orangutan infant requires one-on-one attention for the first eight years of their lives as that’s the time it takes for an orangutan mother to teach her infant how to survive in the rainforest.
There are over 2,000 orphan orangutans in care who would struggle to remember what it was like to have a mother as they were either killed or died as a result of the logging and deforestation in Kalimantan and Borneo and then snatched to be sold as illegal pets.
The Australian Orangutan Project not only looks after orphans but also those who were born in captivity such the new infant twins Ganteng and Ginting, who were born on January 21st at the Batu Mbelin orangutan quarantine centre near Medan in North Sumatra. Twins are not unheard of amongst orangutans and the other great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas and bonobos) butthey very rare, and relatively few zoos around the world have experience of them. This birth is also particularly notable in that BOTH parents are BLIND. The mother, Gober, is an elderly female, probably well over 40 years old, who is blind in both eyes due to cataracts. The Father, named Leuser, was found in 2006 having been shot by local villagers 62 times with an air rifle. Three of the rifle pellets lodged in his eyes, two in the left and one in the right, and he is now totally blind as a result.
Mother and father and the two new twins are all housed at the Batu Mbelin orangutan quarantine centre, near Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia which is the only such centre in the world for Sumatran orangutans. The twins are available to ‘foster’ for the annually for just $110, helping to care for all their food, shelter and care needs.
OR for the small sum of just $55 a year, families and individuals can adopt an orphan orangutan and make a real difference to this unique and special species. Care of these infants is costly and requires round the clock veterinary and nurse care to ensure they are in a healthy condition, have fresh food, are jungle trained and given the best chance to survive and return to the wild. Each family and/or individual adopting an orphaned orangutan receives an adoption pack.
“Adoption is an opportunity to make a real difference to orangutans’ lives by improving their survival chances, offering them a safe, secure and stable future and habitat. From what our adoptive families tell us it is an enormously rewarding experience for them too,” says Leif Cocks, President and Founder of the Australian Orangutan Project.
So to celebrate Mother’s Day this year, please help the orphans and our new twin orangutans to celebrate too by giving them a future. You can donate by visiting www.orangutan.org.au and following the prompts. Or why not adopt an orphan in the name of your mother or your family!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Successful debut of BDR’s Anticay at International Dental Show in Cologne
Biodental Remin received enormous interest in its Anticay tooth remineralising products when it exhibited them for the first time at the International Dental Show held in Cologne between 22nd and 26th March.
BDR’s aim for the exhibition was to arouse interest from some prospective manufacturing partners in the dental industry. That objective was easily surpassed as a result of the overwhelming interest in the technology and the products from a large number of global and major regional companies.
Managing Director Tim Erskine-Smith said, “apart from the hundreds of individual dentists that you always speak to at such shows, we had hugely enthusiastic responses from dozens of potential manufacturing and distribution partners from every corner of the globe. Everyone we spoke to quickly recognised the enormous opportunities for products that take advantage of the unique properties of Anticay. Requests for samples and follow up discussions on co-operation were the order of the show.“
Among the new potential partners are:
- A north-Asian pharmaceutical company with annual revenues greater than $1.5 billion.
- A global dental company which has manufacturing plants in North & South America and which is widely recognized as being a leading source of high quality, innovative dental products.
- A large manufacturer of dental and oral care products that has a global market presence and is especially strong in the USA and Japan.
- Two separate major European-based manufacturers and global distributors of dental and oral care products.
- A southern European specialist oral care company with a turnover of more than $125M in its home country
- A pan-European distributor of oral care products to pharmacies and supermarkets.
- A pan-European distributor of products specifically for children’s dentistry.
- A major South-American manufacturer and distributor of dental & oral hygiene products.
Ian McIntosh, Director of Business Development said, “it’s very exciting to have so many solid enquiries from major companies in the dental industry. We are busy doing non-disclosure and evaluation agreements with the best of them. The typical evaluation period will be 1-2 months and a subsequent supply agreement with just one of these major companies will ensure the success of Biodental Remin.”
According to Tim Erskine-Smith, “of particular interest to the market was the fact that our Anticay professional products work so quickly, and for the first time remineralisation can be a chair-side procedure. This opens up the possibility of additional revenue streams for the dentist and delivers improved dental care to the patient.“
Tim and Ian agree that the Anticay technology will find many applications beyond dentistry and oral hygiene. However endorsement by the dental community and recommendations by dentists to their patients is our first step towards achieving large sales of the products in pharmacies and supermarkets.
To view the Biodental share offer www.assob.com.au/bdr
For more information about the company or share offer contact Kate Ingham
P: +1 300 308882 or 61 2 99948976
M: +61 414 321 641
Monday, April 11, 2011
Help At Hand For Startups and SME Owners Baffled By Business Plans
For many business owners, the process of writing a business plan can seem overwhelming - so much so it’s often one of the vital elements of commercial success that’s ignored altogether! However, thanks to a new Australian innovation and the following easy ‘how-to’ guide, SME owners can rest easy knowing much of the angst around business plans can be easily resolved.
Whether you’re looking to secure finance or investment, or simply get more clarity around where your business is heading, there’s no substitute for a well-conceived business plan. With so much material available on the topic, from internet guides to using templates, as well as books on creating the perfect plan and expensive consultants touting their services, it’s not surprising business owners experience information overload.
This exact consumer frustration was well-known by Marcus Tarrant, business planning consultant for over two decades and creator of the Business Planning HQ Toolkit, who decided to create a solution that would give business owners the plans they desperately needed, without costing them the earth.
The first step was to address some misconceptions in the minds of business owners. "The process of business planning should start with a process and end with a document. Many clients get this the wrong way around by starting with a document, and ending with a compromised result," says Marcus.
“Instead of creating another ‘one-size-fits-all’ template, we realized a complete planning ‘process’ was necessary, but that it had to be as simple and relevant as possible,” he continues. While consultants have typically filled this role in the past, conducting meetings with clients, asking them questions and then going away to formulate a plan, the high costs involved in engaging a consultant can be prohibitive for many start-ups or smaller, growing businesses.
"Throughout my 20 years assisting hundreds of clients with their business planning process, we found that clients that most needed our services, were those least able to afford the 20-40K we would usually charge to prepare an investment grade business plan.”, says Marcus.
"Business Planning HQ was developed to provide a cost and time effective solution to the process of business planning by reducing the cost by as much as 90%, without reducing the quality. Now a business plan can be created in as little as 4-6 hours and you only need enter simple financial information - all the complex valuation and scenario analysis is performed for you. No expensive consultant required. No information overload. Just one simple process. And at a price point of just $450, the product is very accessible for all business owners.”
If you’re keen on getting more structure and clarity of direction in your operations, Marcus suggests taking 30 minutes with a coffee somewhere quiet, before you even embark on your plan, to jot down notes around the following:
· Commit to the process of creating a plan. Many SME owners put their business plan off because they are waiting for more certainty about current partnerships, sales or events. Your plan should guide your activity, not the other way around. Without a plan your business is like a ship without a rudder, you’ll be unable to gauge success and determine what you should do first, second or not at all. This is one task you can’t do half-heartedly. Success is about focus.
· Get clear about your business vision (your plan will then take this vision and translate it into a strategy). Your vision should outline where you want to see your business going in the medium to long term and can be expressed as a series of objectives.
· Consider who your primary customers are, what’s important to them and where they are both geographically and in life. Get into their headspace for a while and it will help you determine what’s possible for your business’s future. After all, your business should exist to solve a consumer’s problem.
· Consider the different types of business models that could work for your business. Just because you’re a franchise now, doesn’t mean that’s the best model moving forward – think creatively and without restriction. The creation of your plan will help you determine which is the best option for you.
· Consider what kind of financial outcomes you’d like in your business. Be specific and realistic. Have a timeframe in mind. Without knowing your ultimate financial goals you’ll lack a key driver for your plan.
A good business plan should align your strategy, business model, proposed actions and financial implications, as well as consider the questions and problems that are top of mind with your target audience. Ultimately, a business plan should be bespoke for your operations, rather than trying to fit your business into a predetermined template.
Business Planning HQ combines two decades of experience in business planning into a series of consultant style questions. These questions have been packaged into an Excel-based Business Planning Toolkit. The toolkit is downloadable from the internet for maximum convenience and within hours, you’ll have the basis of an investor quality business plan that no template or software alone could deliver.
For more information on Business Planning HQ, visit: http://www.businessplanninghq.com
For further information or to interview Marcus Tarrant, Business Planning HQ founder contact:
marcus.tarrant@businessplanninghq.com or info@affinitymarketing.com
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Spoiling Mum has never been simpler!
Plus go in the draw to win a unique escape for mum OR a luxury Sundown picnic hamper!
Mums around the world know that the simple things in life are often the best – that’s why Simply Gifts has made organising the perfect, indulgent gift for Mum even easier, with its one-stop, online boutique gift shop. Now you can show your Mum just how much you care, with a speedy, online ordering system plus you can go in the draw to win mum a unique escapes from a selection of 70 fabulous destinations across NSW, VIC and QLD or a luxury Sundown picnic hamper!
Spoil Mum with a luxury Sundown Picnic, valued at $225.00, this Mothers Day. Watch the sun go down and celebrate with Veuve champagne, James Squire Sundown beer and this exquisite picnic set for two. Including ceramic plates, glasses, fabric napkins and wooden handled cutlery with a large insulated compartment for all her favourite treats. This gold star picnic is perfect for your gold star Mum. Simply send an email to info@simplygifts.com.au explaining in 100 words or less, why your Mum deserves to win and check the website on Tuesday May 3rd* 2011, from 10am to see if your Mum has won! Don't forget to include your name and phone number, and your Mum's name. The winners Mums name will be posted on the Simply Gifts site from 10.00am 3/5/11 - 10.00 am 4/5/11.
Unique Escapes competition
If your Mum deserves a weekend away somewhere special why not enter this fabulous Mothers Day competition from Simply Gifts. Two weekends away up for grabs, your Mum can choose from a selection of 70 fabulously unique destinations across NSW, VIC and QLD. Valid until August 2012, she can select the perfect time and place to enjoy a well deserved break. Simply send an email to info@simplygifts.com.au explaining in 100 words or less, why your Mum deserves to win and check the website on Tuesday May 3rd* 2011, from 10am to see if your Mum has won! Don't forget to include your name and phone number, and your Mum's name, which will be posted on the Simply Gifts site from 10.00 am 3/5/11 - 10.00 am 4/5/11.
Organise your Mother’s Day shopping in just minutes at www.simplygifts.com.au, where you’ll find a host of exclusive gifts for Funky Mums, House Proud Mums, New Mums, Sweet Toothed Mums, Bubbly Mums and Mums who love a little pampering (who doesn’t!?).
Think Pink RRP $70.00
This rosé is the perfect wine for an Australian summer. Made to be shared, the 2008 Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir Rosé is a refreshing and versatile wine that can be paired with a wide variety of meals. Romantic warm evenings shared, rose petals on the table and on the bed and beautiful rose confetti soaps, with petals that can be sprinkled into the bath. Make her feel loved, spoilt and utterly pampered, just as she ought to be. Gift set includes; Pariya raahat rose Turkish delight 250gm 250gm, NV Chandon Rose 750ml, Rose Confetti.
Favourite Tea and Biccies RRP $75.00.
This lovely gift typifies all the comfort of home and enjoying a special cuppa with Mum. Includes an elegant cup set, perfect for lattes, or herbal teas and delicious Mother Meg's cookies. A great way to let someone know that you are thinking of them, to say get well, or enjoy your day. Encased in a hand crafted open wooden box and presented as in picture. Gift set includes; Latte Glass Set (2), Mother Megs chocolate chip cookies 150gm, Mother Megs almond bread 125gm, Calendula, lemon balm, rose petals, peppermint & aniseed tea blend in a hand crafted wooden box.
Duck a la Orange RRP $70.00.
This Jim Barry Riesling is classic Watervale—lemons, limes and a wonderfully clean, crisp finish. Just like a deliciously fresh party in your mouth. The wine has been created to be enjoyed now but has the character to be cellared into the next decade to increase the complexity already apparent. Kennedy & Wilson is among the most highly respected chocolatiers in Australia. These gorgeous chocolate ducks are a perfect example of the delightful design that is brought to the luxury chocolate produced by Kennedy & Wilson. Last but not least is the divine taste sensation of these juicy dark chocolate coated oranges. Real, juicy and absolutely delicious, these hand-dipped oranges are a taste sensation that everyone will love. Gift set includes JimBarry Watervale Riesling 750ml, Delicaseys Orange Bliss 140gm, Kennedy & Wilson orange after dinner chocolate ducks 90gm.
4 x PLUMM Vintage Red or White Wine Glass RRP $100.00.
Proving that decent glassware doesn’t need to cost a fortune, the Plumm Vintage range provides a slice of everyday luxury for those who love drinking great wine minus the pomp and ceremony. Machine made from premium European crystal, this dishwasher friendly range is designed to be used every single day. This glass set makes a great corporate gift. It can be used for red or white wine, so you know it will be a gift that they can use and enjoy. Gift set includes 4 x PLUMM Vintage red or white wine glasses. Material: Machine Made European Crystal, Dishwasher Safe. Height: 200mm. Vol: 463ml. Designed For: Any Wine, Red or White and comes complete in a beautiful PLUMM presentation gift box.
With an exclusive range of premium quality gifts for Mums, Dads, Grandparents, Babies, Brothers, Sisters, Sweethearts corporate events and couples, Simplygifts.com.au has every occasion covered and a unique, personalised gift option that is sure to delight every time.
Visit www.simplygifts.com.au or contact Simply Gifts on 1300 66 11 24 and spoil your Mum this Mother’s Day!
Biodental Remin's joint venture with Red Seal Natural Health
Australian-based technology start-up company Biodental Remin Ltd today announced it is entering into a Joint Venture partnership with Red Seal Natural Health of New Zealand, to manufacture and distribute dental and oral hygiene products using Biodental’s tooth remineralising technology in Australia and New Zealand.
Red Seal was the recipient of an early sample of the remineralising powder which was used to make a trial batch of 5 % active toothpaste. The reaction to the trial material from their dental and consumer evaluation panels was extremely positive.
“Our trial results were very positive, so much so that some evaluators were even asking for more material after the trials, because they found it so effective. This is one of the most exciting developments in dentistry and oral hygiene that we have ever encountered. We are very happy indeed to be forming a partnership with Biodental Remin as we see oral healthcare products as a focus for our future growth” Mr Rolf Hilke, Managing Director, Red Seal
As well as taking an equity position in Biodental Remin, Red Seal will be making a major investment to ensure the success of the Joint Venture. They will fund the manufacturing and packaging of dental & oral hygiene products using Biodental Remin’s technology and then profit-share with Biodental in a way that is heavily weighted in favour of BDR in the early stages. The Directors of Biodental Remin believe that Red Seal’s commitment to the joint program underpins BDR’s goals and is worth an estimated $100,000 to BDR over the short term.
The joint venture agreement provides BDR with a means for early stage low cost manufacturing and sales which will expand as BDR’s production of anticay increases. An increase in production will allow entry to Red Seal’s established markets for broad market consumables.
The first products to emerge from the joint venture will be targeted to the dental professionals and will be on sale within 2-3 months. Entry to Red Seal’s established distribution network for broad market consumables will follow as BDR’s production of Anticay is expanded.
For further information contact Biodental Remin Ltd:
Tim Erskine Smith,
info@biodentalremin.com
+61 2 6568 4420
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