Fourth win for Sherpa Group’s CEO named South Australian Franchise Woman of the Year for 2010
Sherpa Group’s Chief Sherpa, Vicki Prout, has been named the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) South Australian Franchise Woman of the Year for 2010 previously winning the award in 2006, 2007, and 2008 making this Prout’s fourth win of the FCA award.
After spending a decade in the Navy Prout decided she would enter the small business arena and began by buying a pet food delivery company but her franchising journey seriously took off when she became the International Development and Marketing Manager for Cartridge World giving Prout real life experience franchising in over 40 countries.
With a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the franchising sector Prout started her own consultancy Sherpa Group in June 2009.
Internationally acclaimed children’s brand The Fairies opens third franchise store
Renowned children’s brand The Fairies has recently sold their third franchise store in Rockingham (Western Australia) which is set to open to the public in September.
The Fairies is a thriving business at 13 years young and is in the early stages of franchising both nationally and internationally. The Fairies already have two franchise stores open, one in Western Australia and the other in Tasmania.
Australian male grooming brand to showcase at Auckland Franchising Expo
Headed by former professional footballer turned TV Presenter Troy Gray, along with three-time winner of South Australian Franchise Woman of the Year and CEO of Sherpa Group Vicki Prout, Destination for Men has forged a reputation as the ultimate male grooming and relaxation destination. This expanding business is now offering franchising opportunities to the New Zealand market.
Destination for Men offers a comprehensive range of male-specific products and services in a refreshing and innovative environment. The brand is linked to a number of celebrity ambassadors including media identities and Olympic athletes.
Mistakes made in franchise business
Franchising – Is it fool proof? Some people buy a franchise and think that they have bought success, when in actual fact they have bought the rights to a process and system. Rod Young discusses what tips and tricks then need application to make their business profitable.
Rod has over 30 years experience with a major consulting firm developing businesses, networks and brands. He has been a key adviser to some of Australia’s leading groups; transforming smaller businesses into national and international chains; and steering larger organisations in using franchising or licensing as a management and marketing tool.
IT services supplied in a utility model
Is there a way that IT services can be sub-contracted today?
Ken Wood says that the future of IT is to have IT solutions provided by service providers or contractors. We put the question to him – is this available now? What are the benefits, and why would this be useful to a company in the 21st century?
Ken Wood – IT On Tap
A technical engineer, serial entrepreneur and current multiple business owner, Ken Wood knows only too well the IT struggles of start ups and small businesses. Ken graduated with first class honours from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of engineering in computer systems (electrical engineering and computer software) in 1988. He immediately started his career in IT, dedicating five years to technical engineering including silicon chip designing. While working in this space Ken identified an un-serviced market for high-end data storage and protection solutions and started his first IT business, Enstor.
Basic steps to buying a business
When buying a business, what are the steps involved? Reuben gives an overview of the steps involved in finding and buying a business.
Reuben Buchanan Integral Capital
Reuben Buchanan has 14 years experience in the investment, stock market and financial media industry. In 2001, he founded “Wealth Creator” magazine, a highly regarded business and investment publication. As part of the “Wealth Creator” brand, Reuben also established a national events business, Wealth Creator Books, Wealth Creator Radio Show and the Wealth Creator TV Show which aired on Foxtel in 2005.
How to pick the best Economic Indicators
“Official economic indicators can be misleading,” says Mark Bouris. Drawing on his experience as one of Australia’s most successful businessmen, Mark goes on to give some great tips on what economic indicators to look for, other than the official government statistics and how to identify the key signals which will help you in your business decisions.
Mark Bouris, Executive Chairman, Yellow Brick Road
Mark Bouris is one of Australia’s most successful businessmen. From humble beginnings, the immigrant’s son founded Wizard Home Loans and turned it into a financial powerhouse, taking on the big banks by offering consumers something different: smarter access to better value loans.
Successfully Self-Employed
By Angie O’Shannessy
When asking the question "What motivated you to take the plunge and devote yourself to your own business full-time?" the most common answer is "losing my full-time/part-time job" and second was “if my boss can make that much money so can I!”
Having been there done that as they say, I can appreciate what a difficult transition that being your own boss can be. Working for someone else is just completely different than working for yourself. One of the problems I have noticed with clients is that you suddenly have to be paying attention to all sorts of things that other people used to look after for you like getting the money your owed, paying the bas, bill’s and wages, working out that some times there is to much month in your budget and them to top it of who’s now looking after my super. It can become very stressful.
Eventually I learned that if I was going to be successfully self-employed, I was going to have to think and act differently, in fact the exact opposite to most other business owners. I had to develop what is called an "entrepreneurial mindset".
Marketing for success
By Angie O’Shannessy
Most people that I have met think that marketing is a difficult task and they need some sort of training to be good at it, when in fact most people market all sorts of things on a daily basis.
Just think for a minute… How many people do you tell after you have seen a great movie? We refer people to our favourite restaurant, and how much did you talk about the great sale on at your local shopping centre, and why they must get there before it ends on Thursday…. You see woman are great marketers. All marketing is, is getting a message to people that you think might be interested in a product or service that they feel is value for the money that they are parting with and once you get your head around this it becomes quite easy.
Are you Driving a VW or a Ferrari?
By Angie O’Shannessy
What sort of business do you have? A VW or a Ferrari?
All thought there is nothing wrong with having a VW most of us want a Ferrari what’s your business, or better still what do you want you business to be…
Why do you think Ferrari’s are so popular, do you think that there well built, maybe its that they look great… or just as a stab in the dark maybe there well marketed!
Most people are completely scared to start marketing… Where do I start? Maybe I should copy the opposition? They seem to be going alright… Does this sound familiar to you.
