With online commerce growing in popularity, Australian businesses are already forced to compete with low international prices caused by the strong Aussie dollar. This situation is made all the worse by the government’s current $1,000 threshold on GST and import duties.

The current tax exemption for international online purchases under $1,000 is taking much needed business away from Australian retailers, who are only just starting to recover from the hit they took during the GFC

How are small businesses meant to stay competitive in the face of such unregulated overseas competition?

Have you seen an impact on your business as a result of competing with international websites?

We’re calling on Minister Bill Shorten to remove the GST free threshold and give Australians a chance to stay competitive. Join us – write to him with your comments at: http://www.billshorten.com.au/

The Sunday trading rules in Western Australia, allowing certain sectors to trade on Sunday are disadvantaging businesses outside these areas to the point where many have to seriously consider shutting up shop, unable to compete or survive.

A rule change on 1 November has allowed Armadale and Midland to join the Perth, Joondaloop and Freemantle precincts in opening their stores on Sunday but their definition as “tourism precincts” has many small business owners crying foul.

The Government has attempted to diffuse the situation by allowing all retailers to trade until 9pm on weekdays, however with many shoppers well out of the stores before then it has only served to cause more frustration for business owners.

Are you, or do you know someone who is affected by the Sunday Trading restrictions? What do you see as the desired outcome in this situation?

Do not have a busy page. Keep colours and text consistent. Use few pictures unless they are evenly spaced in table formatting. You don’t want to distract your buyers from the products you are trying to sell. Usually use a maximum of 3 colours is good in not make the page look cluttered.

2. Make it easy to navigate

Use a clear table of contents. Make everything in the site be assessable in 3 clicks maximum. Use precise product descriptions that are short and straight to the point. Make it easy for viewers to get back to your home page. Make it clear what page the visitor is on at all times. For example clearly mark your Home page “HOME”.

3. Proof read your ENTIRE site.

Avoid a poor brand image by checking spelling and grammar. Buyers are more likely to trust you as a seller when your site does not have any mistakes.

4. Keep your design consistent.

Your website should be an extension of your offline brand. Make sure it has the same look and feel as your businesses branding. Include your logo, colours and language. Try to keep the website design the same for as long as possible as to not confuse regular visitors. All pages on the website should also be of the same layout and design.

5. Optimize your graphics

Use small file types that are easy to load as to avoid waiting time for website visitors

6. Stay away from backgrounds

Bright backgrounds can be distracting and have the tendency to look unprofessional. White and light colours work better. It’s simple, and it’s very clean and easy to read.

7. Use reasonable font

Not too big and not too small. Also ensure that the font is not too intricate, otherwise it is too hard to read. Again being clear and precise is the key!

What is fair trade?
Fair trade products are those where:

• Producers receive a fair price – a living wage. For commodities, farmers receive a stable, minimum price.
• Forced labour and exploitative child labour are not allowed
• Buyers and producers trade under direct long-term relationships
• Producers have access to financial and technical assistance
• Sustainable production techniques are encouraged
• Working conditions are healthy and safe
• Equal employment opportunities are provided for all

How to ‘green’ your office
Fair trade and sustainable products are just the start. You can introduce these theories into all aspects of your business.

• Green your PC: always turn off your monitor and computer when not in use
•  Office Supplies: Try environmentally friendly pencils, use recycled envelopes, choose furniture that is nontoxic and that is made of sustainable harvested wood
• Use mugs instead of Styrofoam cups
• Use recycled paper
• Recycle everything- toner cartridges, aluminium, glass, all paper, cardboard, telephone books
• Use ecofriendly light-bulbs

Do you have a retail business where you employ school students before and after school? Or does the nature of your business mean that you may need your shifts to be less than three hours? Let us know how the change in minimum shift laws has affected your business.

How do you drive customer loyalty in your store?

WIN over $100.00 worth of Organic Honey products courtesy of our GHA Member Asquith & Somerset, by answering the above question in a comment below. This stunning prize package contains a range of Organic Honey products including body lotion, shower gel, hand cream, hand wash, moisturiser and an exfoliating salt scrub. See more Asquith & Somerset products at the August Melbourne Home & Giving Fair. Good Luck!

From 1 July 2010, the transition to modern awards commenced, the new minimum wage became effective, modern award rates came into play, the high income threshold relevant to unfair dismissal actions was changed, the high income award exclusion figure changed and some particular award provisions commenced.

In simple terms, this means that the way you have payed your staff in the past could change completely. If you find the thought of changing your payroll system scary, you are not alone!

If you are not quite sure where to start in implementing these new government payroll changes, GHA has created a service that will help to take all those fears away.

GHA HR/IR Support

GHA Human Resource and Industrial Relations Support is a service that has been designed to help GHA Members gain a competitive edge in the management of their business, workplace relationships and career development. 

This is a FREE member service and aimed at supporting all GHA members with Industrial Relations and Human Relations requirements. The GHA HR/IR Support service includes:

1. HR/IR Hotline 1300 315 355
A dedicated FREE help desk service supported by a team of human resource experts – available to answer all HR/IR questions for all members 9am-5pm, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year.  This service has a four hour turn-around time, meaning you will never have to wait long for answers and advice.  Fields of specialisation include:

• Human Resources Management
• Industrial Relations
• Employment Conditions & Law
• Occupational Health & Safety
• Workers compensation and Superannuation

2. 200+ Employment & Technical Resources
GHA Members will have the ability to access literally hundreds of HR & IR policies, procedures, letters, forms and checklists to use in their everyday business activities.  So whether a Member is after an OH&S manual or some information on how to recruit new staff, GHA HR/IR Support will provide this FREE of charge.

3. Training and Education
FREE educational seminars will be held in 5 locations around the country in order to teach GHA Members about HR and IR.  Topics will be chosen depending on industry trends and current issues. Online webinars will also be available.

For more information on this new GHA Member benefit please contact Mark Dowse, GHA’s Policy & Membership Manager on 02 9763 3222 or email mark@agha.com.au.

We also discovered that while almost half of you have a company website, only half of your websites have ordering capabilities. This suggests that most of your websites are used to offer information and raise brand awareness, rather than as a platform for conducting business.

With this in mind, we ask our members with websites, what are the notable benefits of having an online presence? Have you noticed an increased awareness of your brand and/or enhanced communication between your company and your customers?

To our members who haven’t created a company website, what are the reasons deterring you from doing so?

Do the benefits outweigh the costs of creating and maintaining a website?

Those of you without websites may still maintain an online presence for your brand by using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and blogging. We’d like to know how you incorporate all your online activities into your marketing strategy so that we can continue complementing it with the face-to-face marketing and networking that we offer at our Fairs.

After much feedback on our GHA blog from concerned GiftNow users, GHA has asked our Members what they want, done the research and developed an online trading portal that ensures safe, reliable and easy business transactions. We introduce to you the chance to transform your business with SupplierHaven.

SupplierHaven is a unique e-marketplace that will revolutionise the way wholesalers and retailers conduct business online. SupplierHaven makes business-to-business interaction over the web simple, accessible and secure.

The portal enables wholesalers to set up a customised website containing their company information, product images and descriptions. Each site contains a secure built-in shopping cart payment facility to enable online transactions. Retailers can browse products and place orders online with trusted wholesalers, using account or credit card payment options. 
All our GHA Members are eligible for to use SupplierHaven.

Visit supplierhaven.com.au and take a look around. Feel free to leave your feedback below or on the SupplierHaven blog.

Alternatively, please email Peter Carmody or Chris Tredwell, or phone 02 9763 3222 to receive an information pack and discover how SupplierHaven can work for you.