How to capture online buyers: retailers survival guide.

In the race to capture online consumers, retailers and manufacturers are redefining the shopping experience. The spotlight is on connected commerce, offering an anywhere, anytime shopping experience. But to succeed in this space, you need to look past a “one-size fits” all commercial strategy. As a retailer or manufacturer, you can take the cue from a global report by The Neilsen Company. This new report offers fresh insights into what people watch, listen and buy worldwide. A poll of 30,000 consumers in 60 countries, including Asia-Pacific shows that digital is as pervasive...

Read more

The Spanish Success…Zara’s supply chain secrets

For the past 4 to 5 years of my Saturday shopping life Zara has, and continues to be my favourite high street store. Entering their stores with gleaming eyes, spending endless hours in the changing rooms and then walking out with heavy bags and an empty purse, Zara’s stress-free shopping experience has a lot more going on behind the scenes than what meets the eye.  Did you know that Zara is parent company of Inditex, the world’s largest apparel retailer? The Spanish apparel company delivers products twice a week to their 1,670 stores world-wide. Zara blissfully entered our Australian...

Read more

Adapting to your audience: ISIS and the power of Social Media.

As terrible and terrifying as ISIS is, that they have become social media masterminds, using the technology of social media to successful recruit can be in no doubt.  Times and methods have changed and with it the face of terrorism. ISIS has understood that previous methods would not ignite passion in teenagers across the Western World; the fertile ground for jihadist recruitment, and as such have adapted their recruitment strategies to utilise the power of social media.  No, we listen to people our age – young Australians, Canadians, Americans, British, French – saying...

Read more

Is the quality of our vocational educational training at risk?

Have you ever been offered laptops, iPads or even cash-back offers as an incentive to enrol into a training course?  Or were you ever promised that you’ll be able to finish a 2 year training course in just 6 months? All of these sound good, almost too good to be true. Vocational education and training is vital in building a skilled workforce in Australia, however the quality of training is under the spotlight. Media reports relating to dodgy marketing practices and poor quality training by several RTO’s and private colleges have continued to make news over the past couple...

Read more

2015/16 Budget wrap up

In the past 12 months since the 2014/15 Federal Budget was announced the Australian public has become well acquainted with the power of the Senate. Since the announcement of the 2015/16 Federal Budget there has been much rhetoric noting its relative softness and significant speculation as to why the Commonwealth did an apparent 180o turn around. The 2014/15 fiscal year saw bold measures such as the infamous GP co-payments and higher education deregulations cause an outpouring of criticism with both ultimately failing to pass through the Senate in their original forms. While...

Read more

Strategies to successfully manage and motivate a multigenerational workforce

While it is not a new phenomenon to have multiple generations working side by side, the current situation of having four generations in the workforce is something of a unique experience. With the Traditionalists working well beyond retirement age, the Baby Boomers approaching retirement in an era where economic security is not assured, Generation X and the Millennials all working together – and the next Generation, Gen Z, soon to reach the age for University – HR managers find themselves in a bit of predicament.  How do you successfully manage the needs of so many generations,...

Read more

7 everyday tips for staying mentally healthy

About five years ago, I took my first Mental Health class. Before starting the semester, we were warned by our professor that as we studied various mental illnesses we would start auto-diagnosing ourselves with all sorts of psychological disorders. As the semester went on, I saw myself in many case studies, but it was mainly the anxiety disorders that I related to. For the past month, I have had the chance to learn more about psychological well being by producing the next Psychological Injury Prevention conference. I have been speaking to so many intelligent and eloquent individuals...

Read more

The future of dementia care in Australia - Part Two

Last week we brought you part one of our interview with Helga Merl, in part two Helga has shared her thoughts on educating those caring for people living with dementia. With approximately 1.2 million* Australians being involved in caring for a person living with dementia the support and education of carers is of the upmost importance. Do you have three tips for those looking to educate staff on optimal dementia care? We know that staff find it challenging to work with people living with dementia. We also know that staff identify that education would enable them to provide better...

Read more

Gender diversity under spotlight

In a show of support for women in the cockpit, Alan Joyce, the high-profile head of Qantas, has weighed behind high-flying women. Among the recent gender diversity updates, Qantas has hired Georgina Sutton as the chief pilot for its budget carrier, Jetstar. This offers a “great example” example of the airline’s commitment to female participation, says Joyce. Qantas is a member of the influential “Male Champions for Change” program. This was initiated in 2010 by the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick  “Like my fellow Champions of Change, I’ll...

Read more