Contributor

Everyone measures sales as dollars done after the cash is in the bank or after the agreement is signed but good business operators know that there is more to it than that. Looking at your sales figures is like looking at your rear view mirror to check if you're going to have an accident ahead.

Barry Westhorpe is Chief Executive of The CEO Institute - Victoria, a leading networking group for senior executives. In this podcast, Westhorpe explains the results of a recent report released by the institute on CEO confidence levels in Australia. While news has been good for the financial and service sectors, business sentiment is turning pessimistic due to uncertainty in overseas markets and in Government policy on SMEs.

In this Talking Business interview, Michel Hogan of Brandology pulls no punches in her blunt assessment of the airline's "race to the bottom" and its loss of consumer confidence. Can the Flying Kangaroo sell itself once again as Australia's premium airline? Have a listen to the podcast to hear Hogan pinpoint Qantas's brand weaknesses, and the lessons the company should have learned from Apple.

Few things warm business owners' hearts more than positive customer feedback. If we’re truthful, it’s why we got into business in the first place.

When we think of the marketing mix, the avenues of advertising, marketing and public relations normally spring to mind. It’s often difficult for many individuals and businesses to see past the television, print and radio ads, and publicity campaigns.

Some things in life need to be spelled out very simply before they have any impact. Like learning how to say the name of new business ‘Qumpit,’ a digital startup that aims to provide a physical queuing experience online.

We all feel good when our customers are delighted. However, the longevity of your working relationship is not dependent forever rolling out shiny new sales and marketing services, but on how you can reduce the clients’ time spent on the basics.

A growing concern that Australia is falling behind in the field of innovation led three guys to found Curve Tomorrow. This podcast features an extended interview with the trio, in which we hear about Curve Tomorrow's prescription for boosting innovation at home -- in particular, how they measure old and established trends and pinpoint possible new ones (what they call "tends") to produce the Next Big Thing.

Windows 8 or bust? Microsoft’s fate in the post-PC world is inextricably linked to Windows 8, the newest version of its ubiquitous but antiquated operating...

Bottled water is one of the most profitable drink products in the world, selling for 3000 to 9000 times what most of us pay for the perfectly safe, inexpensive liquid that comes out of our tap at home.

From time to time, when I’m sitting in an airplane, I think about the movie “Up In the Air.” I’m not thinking about how the main character feels most comfortable when flying from place to place, or how he has the awful task of firing good people on the ground. No, I think of a certain scene where the lead, played by George Clooney, informs a person he’s just sacked that “anybody who ever built an empire or changed the world sat where you are now.”

Doing your own PR is not exactly advanced calculus, but it helps to have some basic know-how about the media and publicity process. From the creators of baby lotions and potions to the makers of killer heels, these ten self-made PR pros have seen their businesses covered in national magazines through to TV programs.

Imagine your company sold just one sole product and yet managed to be successfulin a competitive market. It's a true story! How can you pull ahead and dominate your competitors? For starters, look at opportunity capture: accept that there is no product, process or service in the world that cannot in some way be innovated.

Over the years, some outstanding innovations have failed. Many wonder why. It’s really simple. Innovation is holistic. You can’t innovate in one corner of...

I recently ran a couple of great client events with a celebrity DJ as the special guest. She was a perfect draw card for our young audience and with the right venue and invite strategy; the events were an overwhelming success. However, as a business owner myself, I realise that you can’t always afford to spend money on big-name brand champions. But that doesn’t mean that you need to settle without either.

While it seems like an eternity since it was first announced, the new R&D Tax Credit has finally been passed. So what does that mean for the average company plugging away at research and development? The R&D Tax Credit is the key support tool used by the government to assist businesses undertaking R&D in Australia. The new program will apply retrospectively from 1 July 2011 and replaces the R&D Tax Concession.

The future is coming to Australia's motorways faster than we imagined, and EDay Life is steering the wheel. The Melbourne company has announced its plans to launch a fleet of fully electric cars on the market in early 2012. In this podcast, Garry and Leon speak with EDay Life's Dr. Laurie Sparke about the electric car technology and the plan for leasing the cars to consumers. They also hear from Vikash Rugoobur of Curve Tomorrow about the development of the tablets that will navigate all aspects of the vehicles.

It seems we’ve outgrown the old saying ‘the customer is always right’. While it still underpins our attitude toward customer service, nowadays it’s more a two-way relationship. With more choice on offer, customers are increasingly likely to seek out the salesperson’s expertise. At the same time, a good salesperson will ask for the customer’s opinion, uncovering their exact wants and needs so that they can deliver accordingly.

There’s been a flurry of shy interpretations, punditry and, yes, speculation, too, since Google agreed to buy Motorola Mobility, the handset maker, for $12.5 billion. Some see the deal as a defensive play that secures Motorola’s treasure trove of patents as Google protects its mobile Android operating system from lawsuits. Some others see in the deal a threat to other mobile makers who build phones based on the Android. Can Google pull it off?

Garry and Leon talk with Mark Koronczyk, founder and CEO of successful food outlet Lord Of The Fries. Originating in a van, the Lord has grown into five store locations in the Melbourne area. The chain emphasizes fresh ingredients with an all-vegetarian menu that features soy protein hamburgers and, of course, its signature European-style hot chips.