Show & Tell
Et voila! Avec le lapin!
Cheryl Cigan, our American friend, kindly suggested we do a show-and-tell post.
The object of this game is to use your comment to give us a snapshot of what you’re up to and where your business is at.
Plugs, links, skites, wins, pics, pitches, write ups, testimonials and shameless promos are all warmly welcomed.
So knock yourself out!
Naomi and I will go first, in case you need a thought starter:
The Feisty Empire
After 18 relatively quiet months, there’s been some real movement at the station lately.
Clients seem to be emerging from hibernation, perhaps as the Australian economy continues to lead the entire world out of the global financial crisis.
While California pays contractors with IOUs, Empire Staff have been busy earning realio trulio revenue from a growing number of blog posts, a big spike in recruitment (job) ads and an exciting new ebook.
The mood is upbeat, as evidenced by a recent addition to the cafeteria Muzak tape by our enthusiastic work experience student.
Though a bit ‘young’, the title certainly captures the zeitgeist at Empire House.
In summary, if recent data can be safely extrapolated, happy days appear to be here again.
Over to you, Naomi! 
MYOB
Thanks, Paul; sounds like things are really thrumming at the Empire. Nice work!
Well, MYOB has been buzzing with activity in recent months.
Early this year I had the opportunity to join this Small Business Owner blog and work with Paul and all the fabulous folk who contribute (you!).
This blog is one of the (many) favourite parts of my job!
Aside from exciting product releases this year, the MYOB team were proud to be part of the Telstra Business Awards. Such inspirational businesses!
We were excited to showcase Love Your Work – starring real clients. And even more thrilled to launch the $20K MYOB Business Grant (it closes 5 September, so get your entry in!).
Last month, we shared great insights into possible election policies business owners would vote for or against.
And this week highlighted positive news from the latest MYOB Business Monitor. Way to go Aussie businesses!
There’s lots more to tell – but instead of rabbiting on, it’s back to you Paul!
Love Your Work everyone!
You & Your Business
Wow, Naomi; I had no idea you guys had so much on the go!
Many thanks for the field report.
And now the spotlight swings to our dear readers.
Tell us everything by throwing your hat in the ring
So that 3000+ SMEs (and their pets) may beat a path to your door!
Paul Hassing, Founder & Senior Writer, The Feisty Empire
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Carbonite Australia was launched just over 2 years ago in Australia with its website going live about 18 months ago. Since then we have spend a lot of time building content and educating Australia about the benefits of backing up your work or home PC (as well as your MYOB files).
We have been working with social media as well and its really starting to pay off. The traffic to our site is growing and most importantly sales have really started to take off this year.
Although we don’t control the product so much, we do control the service elements of the experience and that is one area that we have put a lot of effort into ensuring that we help all customers whether they are enquiring, trialling or buying.
After taking over a poor performing business 2 years ago we have redefined our business model, reduced head count by 30%, cleared the decks of unnecessary cost, improved our systems and back end support, redefined our sales approach and deleted 4 unprofitable brands and cleared the stock.
We refocused on our core brands and products, opened new showrooms nationally, increased our advertising spend, provided additional resources and training to our retail customers, focused on brand awareness and invested in the commercial market.
We did all of this in the worst trading period in living memory.
The result? Our sales line reduced by over $10m but we took the business from a multimillion EBT loss to profit as at the close of FY2009/10 and a strong start to the new year. I need a holiday!
Fantastic stuff, Arthur and Malcolm. If this is to be the calibre of responses today, I’ll be a very happy camper. Well done everybody!
So don’t be shy, you clever closet cats. Tell us what’s new in your world. And don’t forget to add your URL for good, fresh visitor traffic! Best regards, P.
Non monsieur. Pas avec le lapin.
Merci Adam.
If French animal husbandry from 1880-1910 were my special subject on Mastermind, I’d most certainly
pas.
I agree Paul – great news Arthur and Malcolm!
Hi Paul!
What a delightful surprise to receive your invitation – thank you for honoring my suggestion for the show and tell!
With that being said, you probably want to know what’s been going on stateside the past few months.
It’s been a robust tourist season in my community. I’ve written many pieces about it being a “Chamber of Commerce Summer” up here. Near perfect weather every day for all summer activities.
Traffic, visitors and tourists equates to a few more dollars in the local merchant’s tills. Some did very well, and others have done better than that. What has been redeeming about the summer tourist season is it has changed people’s attitudes and mindsets and conversations are now filled with fresh ideas and there are breezes of optimism and possibilities.
In June I began exploring the business dynamics of creating and marketing information products. An entire niche-type of domination of information products. At the same time many of my associates who are self-employed or bill for their time began talking about how client expectations and their personal production were a bit “out of whack” – too many hours and not many billable hours. Now, how could I resist researching this and putting together a free report? Actually what I discovered shocked me. I had no idea of the expense to businesses of interruptions, distractions, and how other people’s urgency addictions could do serious financial harm to a business.
So I set out to provide some insight to managing distractions and developing different strategies to stop being the victim of everybody else’s urgency addictions. One person coming at you with multiple ‘gimme gimme gimme’s’ is one thing, but I don’t think people realize there are many others just like them (scary).
It’s really a double edged sword. At least it is now, for me. Years ago when my bookstore was open for retail trade I was pretty much of a task master. Because a huge portion of revenue was generated from online sales, most of my staff’s efforts were for pretty specific production-oriented tasks – inventorying books for uploading to the internet and managing the order processing from the warehouse operation. You know, give or take a few books here or there I knew what each day’s output should be. I wasn’t employing them to socialize, I was paying them to keep their hands on the keyboard! Even those of us working the register – if we weren’t ringing up a sale we were building the database of inventoried books.
Luckily social media sites, blogs and cell phones were a few years away. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of this, I just don’t want to finance someone’s social life. And I think if businesses really took a long hard look at what they are losing in terms of billable work produced they’d reconsider their policies.
So I’ve got the report available outlining that information and also what to do to get back to a healthier billing month! Find it here at http://knowncompany.com
The other fun thing I’ve been doing is creating and establishing the “information foundation” for creating and running an internet business – you know, for real. Many internet marketers are beginning to give a lot of keyboard time to all the get-rich-quick flash-in-the-pan products being thrown at people and how it is leaving many frustrated with unfulfilled results. I’ll post more information on that later (if Paul will let me!).
I want to leave you with this thought process which rendered me into a heap of laughter last night. It is further evidence of how totally ingrained and indoctrinated I’ve become to internet marketers emails and sales pages. I love to read them for their copywriting techniques. And they’re good because they drive me bonkers with “want” – you know the section of the letter where they entice with this new ’secret’ but they won’t give it to you? Yes, that phase. I want that secret. Yes, I’ve bought those products just to feed my curiosity. Ok, so last night I’m reading a book on direct marketing (yes, it was one of those books which I kept looking at in one of my shelf rooms for the past year or so.) and I was getting to the good part about why direct marketing is the only measurable and scientific form of advertising because of…. and get this, I was expecting a bulleted list and a sales pitch when I turned the page. Imagine to my delight and surprise that I didn’t have to buy a product to get the answer, it was right there, on the page, printed in ink. All the information I needed. Right there. In a book. Wow, what a concept, an information product printed and bound together. I remembered then. It was the original information product called a book. Amazing how far we’ve come.
Thanks again Paul for this show and tell opportunity.
Cheryl
Thank you, Cheryl; you are such a generous soul. And an ornament to our forum.
I really dig your comment and I invite you to contribute as much as you want, whenever you want.
You’ve been one of the most supportive people I’ve met in social media, so I’m delighted that others here may share your vast reserves of kindness and expertise.
With regards and respect. P.
Thanks Paul for your kind words. I’m still amazed how the distance between our two shores is a keystroke wide!
If we weren’t innovators within our uniques styles we’d still be putting stamps on envelopes and waiting months for a response. I love social media and the community it creates.
I’ll be back, you know that! I check the myBRC blog on a regular schedule. I find it mentally refreshing when it’s late and I’m exhausted and can’t seem to put two words together which make sense.
And then I see all the familiar names and faces and banter on this blog and I know I can relax and let you carry the mental load for now!
Cheryl
That’s about as fine an endorsement as I could hope to wish for myself, this blog and our community. Thank you so much!
Jenmar Business Applications Pty Ltd has just celebrated three years of operation with the arrival of our BAS Agent certificate.
This is an exciting move forward for this MYOB Certified Consultant led team of bookkeepers as we can now offer our clients another level of service.
Working closely with Accountants and SME’s in the Melbourne Metropolitan area we love what we do and we have enthusiastically empbraced the new MYOB logo “Love your work”.
Now all we need as an updated website (work in progress).
GREAT to hear from you, Jennifer! Sorry your comment got held up; that can happen to first timers.
We have some extremely switched-on IT folk watching this space. So don’t be surprised if you go home tonight with an IT Boffin showbag!
I hope we get to hear more about your business soon.
Congratulations Jennifer! Fantastic to hear you’re so passionate about what you do! Love Your Work!
Good luck with the updated website.
Too right, Naomi! I’ve heard it said that for each person who comments on a blog post, there are 99 people watching in silence.
Perhaps the day has come for the vast majority to speak and shine!
Thanks for your great insights Cheryl. I have a few ‘books on the shelf’ that I might need to get to – incase they turn out to be gems.
Appreciate your thoughts on the Small Business Owner blog! Very pleased it gives you a chance to ’step out’ of your day and refresh the mind!
Thanks Naomi!
Books are like pesky little pets who sometimes demand that you pay attention to them. When you need the information within their covers they’ll let you know. Happens to me too many times to attribute it to coincidence!
Continued success to all,
Cheryl
Hey Paul,
Really cool idea. Thanks for the opportunity. Here’s what I do…
One of the things I do is I help business owners learn methods that can help them survive & prosper in a recession.
I do this by sharing the methods I’ve gathered by interviewing 38 top business, sales, and marketing experts and getting them to share methods they would use to survive & prosper.
I’ve compiled their answers into 2 ebooks called, “How Your Business Can Survive & Prosper In A Recession”. You can see more about them here: http://www.RecessionSolution.com
I also teach other ideas that help business owners succeed. It includes opics such as:
-”The 9 Challenges Every Successful Business Overcomes”
-”The Power In LOVING Our Customers”
-”How To Get Experts To Create Content For You”
-And more.
You can read this on my blog (see site above).
Hi Paul,
Nice idea from Cheryl and good on you and Naomi making it happen.
For me I rememer a few months ago I think when you mentioned I should do an ebook. Instead I have been spending time on developing and now finalising online marketing courses. One will be those who are new to marketing and the other about to be launched is based on the idea Simpler Marketing, Greater Results. Plus I intend to develop some handbooks. Because of this I am going to stop one on one coaching.
Hi Scott and Susan (nice to see you again!):
I’m trying to get some work done, but I keep coming back here for quick peeks because I know myBRC readers have the real idea and information gems hidden away!
I love both your topics. And they both sound like their ‘results’ will be providing tremendous value to your customers.
Now Paul, while reading both Scott and Susan’s posts, and the contributions earlier, I had another idea. I happened to notice (well, I intentionally scrolled up) that you have some extra space in your right hand column (sidebar). With what has been posted here tonight (or is daytime where you are?) it might be fun to do a rotating “myBRC Readers’ Products” as a source of reference.
Just an idea…….
Cheryl
Great to meet you, Scott. And always nice to see you, Susan. Thank you both for dropping in.
I like your idea, Cheryl, but Naomi is the bossofus. Let’s see what she reckons.
How cool to see everyone chatting!
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks and it sounds you are doing some great work with your business which must be keeping you very busy.
Hi Cheryl & Paul,
Good to meet you too, Paul. Now that I know about your blog, I’ll have to check back in and see what you guys are posting and doing.
*Hangs head in shame*
I’m recently one of those quiet observers.
Since my business got a kick in the pants not long ago I’ve been too busy to make appearances on either twitter or blogs. Although I follow new blog posts via my RSS reader I simply don’t have the time to compose complete messages.
No Bull IT have recently won the website support contract for the Gymbaroo franchise websites. These past weeks have seen me getting in touch with each centre, taking website feature requests, and learning their trade. The owners of these centres are doing for the love of their job not for love of money. They have been such a fantastic inspiration!
We are excited to attend the Small Business Expo, Shoalhaven on Show, on Sept 3-4th womanning a booth and launching our new promotion.
Since the recession our office has noticed the ever growing requirement for businesses to have some form of website. Customers are now expecting to learn about you and your services before they make first contact. In my area too many businesses aren’t using the internet at all because of the high start-up costs involved.
My new promotion will provide a free CMS-based fully SEO’d website for free. There are a few conditions but they are easy:
1. You provide all content needed. From text to imagery, to business branding.
2. Domain Name Registrations/Renewals not included.
3. You pay hosting for 2 years.
4. The work takes 8 hrs or less to complete. Typical five page websites can be done within this time.
This offer will help businesses get their first website and the tool(s) compete with their competitors already online.
… back to my regularly scheduled programme.
Thank you, Zoe, for taking time out to fill us in. I’m glad you’ve had so much work on and I hope everyone is paying you what you’re worth. Really good to see you back here. Best regards, P.
We are a small trust in Shirley in Christchurch. Shirley had a bad reputation 10 years ago. We have encouraged new immagrant to settle here and help with there needs whilst giving disabled work experience. We have been approaching funders to update our MYOB. Not successful so far this year. Still with manuel imput the Payroll can be managed- bit of fiddling roud for Erica though. Praying that it can be updated with a gift/grant/donation to make Ericas life better! We have MYOB Payroll updated for last year and Accounting Plus v16. Erica often states how she loves this program. Says its impressive for someone that has a uni background but not in accouting! Our trust is He Whetoko Trust and we deal with MYOB in Cristchurch New Zealand
New technology in the last few years blows me away, but I have a thousnd things to do and not enough time time use the techologies but will do my best. Well Shirley is a better place for it – the propperty has gone up in value #00% since 2000, when no one wanted to buy a property in Shirley, especially after Evonne Palmer was labelling, Shirley as an onclave for a certain gang in early 2000. Shirley is now a good place to live. One of the characters that lived here (now in jail unfortunately) has a friend that has published a book, about turning his life around. He also sells Kiora phonecards in an Auckland mart. Will put the link to his book if any interest. He no longer on dole and bought a house!
Many thanks for your comments, Allan. I might ask Naomi to answer these as they’re a bit out of my area. Best regards, P.
I stumbled upon an idea to create a site comparing prepaid mobile plans when I couldn’t find something decent for my wife. Now after two years and working every evening and weekend to manage it it has developed into a nice small biz and second job. Traffic is increasing and gradually we are getting real interest in advertising from the major Telcos. Its teaching me a lot about running my own small business without me risking my day job. Its also paying a few bills and rewarding me for my hours every night and weekend.
I have tried to do something different with site compared to many others who have created comparison sites. Most just compare the services they receive a possible commission from, I compare them all regardless of whether I can make a $1 or not. That’s my claim for differentiation. We also provide free chat support which gets used quite a bit.
Good for you, Arthur! The service you’ve created ticks all the boxes Seth Godin considers important.
He suggests our fast changing times are ripe for intelligent and generous connectors like you.
I’m delighted to hear that all your hard work is starting to pay off. Thank you for your report and please keep us posted!
PAUL,
Greetings from rural Australia.
I’m not surprised that a giving/sharing/caring soul like you makes such a generous offer.
I’m accepting your gracious offer and telling my story.
My very personal business, run from my remote rural property in the Central Tablelands of NSW, grows every year, without exception.
Without any advertising.
Without any retail distribution.
But with the support of the people who matter.
My customers. Who pay all my bills.
Business friends like you and Winston Marsh.
And my intense focus on doing just one thing, every day, to move me and my business one step forward.
I’m not posting to talk about what my business is or does.
But to highlight the magnificent achievements we can all make, purely by being in love with what we do.
Whatever the circumstances.
In 1992, my partner, Victor Pleshev-an architect, and I lost everything in Paul Keating’s ‘recession we had to have’.
Our home of 22 years. Personal possessions. Cars.
We reinvented ourselves by leaving inner city Balmain in Sydney and moving to the bush.
Because it was the only place where we could afford to live.
And in 1994 established an accidental business because we wanted to help one person. Victor’s mother. In her recovery from a stroke.
In the intervening years we suffered every setback possible to a business.
But we rose up from the ashes and now have a thriving international business with more than 200,000 one-on-one customers tucked away in every corner of the world.
It took a long time. 1994 to 2010 is 16 years.
But we never lost focus.
No money:-poor as church mice. No back-up. No safety net. Does give you laser concentration.
Did at times lose heart.
But then uttered the obvious:- we’re unemployable.
Other than be dragged kicking and screaming, we won’t willingly work for anyone else.
And they don’t want us either. We’re square pegs in round holes. No fit whatsoever.
Because we had to, we did find our way out of the darkness.
By doing something many businesses never think of.
When things got tough and we wanted to throw in the towel, we listened to our customers telling us they liked what we offered. And they wanted us to design and offer more.
From that moment on, we very slowly, but surely, headed towards the light at the end of the tunnel.
Listen to the people who matter – your customers who pay all your bills – and then get on with giving them more of what they want.
Our customers have never let us down. And we make sure we never let them down.
They give us tremendous feedback on an almost daily basis.
In return, we change, alter, adjust our business to suit them.
My website is full of their unsolicited testimonials appreciating what we do for them.
Without question, I will happily walk over broken glass for each and every one of them.
It’s a simple story.
But then, most of the good things in life are just that.
Simple.
Business is not complicated. The people who run it often make it that way.
I always love your generosity, Paul. I find it very inspiring.
Best wishes and take care,
Carol
Carol Jones
Director
Interface Pty Ltd
Designers of The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover
http://www.InterfaceAustralia.com
http://bit.ly/TheIroningDiva
http://www.SimpleSolutionsForDifficultProblems.com
Dear Carol, just found your comment hung up in the system due to multiple URLs. Yet that’s precisely what we want to see in comments on this post, so we’re all good.
I’m about to rush off to the airport, but I’ll respond properly when I return. Thank you for sharing your story. Talk soon! P.
Dear Carol, sorry for the wait. I’m glad I waited, though, as your comment is one of the best I’ve seen on this blog.
Informative. Generous. Inspiring. Revealing. And beautifully written!
Thank you for your very kind words. To be mentioned in the same sentence as Winston Marsh is a rare honour.
I see all your tweets on Twitter. And barely a day passes that I don’t envy your lifestyle. I suspected, as a ‘townie’, that it wasn’t all beer and skittles up there.
Now I realise just how hard you and Victor have slaved for your patch of paradise.
Thank you so much for the picture you’ve painted. I hope we can inveigle a guest post out of you one of these days! I’ve no doubt it’ll be a ripper.
Best regards indeed. P.
PAUL,
Greetings from rural Australia.
Thank you so very much for your gracious and beautiful reply.
The world of business is no different to the world at large.
Give.
And you shall receive.
Most of the time…..
I think you’re absolutely gorgeous and deserve every good thing that happens to fall into your paddock.
Best wishes and take care,
Carol
Carol Jones
Director
Interface Pty Ltd
Designers of The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover
http://www.InterfaceAustralia.com
http://bit.ly/TheIroningDiva
http://www.SimpleSolutionsForDifficultProblems.com
Cor! Thanks, Carol!
My present paddock is a 6 m x 4 m concrete courtyard. But one of these days, Alice … one of these days!
Hi Allan. Thanks for contributing to the blog.
We’re in the process of setting up a new system for support for non-profits. However in the meantime, I can help you with an enquiry about support for a non-profit (in AU or NZ). You’ll find my details here… http://myob.com.au/myob/contact-us/media-enquiries-1258091206157
Feel free to email me the details and I’ll follow it up for you.
Thank you, Naomi
Thank you, Naomi. I certainly didn’t know any of that!
Carol – thank you for your wonderful comment! What a great contribution to the blog!
Your comment demonstrates your passion and courage – you truly are an inspirational business owner!
Naomi
NAOMI,
Greetings from rural Australia.
That’s a lovely comment, Naomi. Thank you.
Our journey along this Yellow Brick Road has been the roller coaster ride of a lifetime.
We learned a great deal about ourselves.
And about how helpful other people are – if you let them.
We are where we are today because we had no choice. Either find a way out. Or go under.
I can’t emphasise enough how buoyed we were – and are – by the support our customers give us.
These are the people everyone in business should pay attention to. And listen to.
I think the technical help and moral support you give to business is just fantastic. We all learn from each other. It’s a genuine pleasure to be huddled under your umbrella.
Best wishes and take care,
Carol
Carol Jones
Director
Interface Pty Ltd
Designers of The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover
http://www.InterfaceAustralia.com
http://bit.ly/TheIroningDiva
http://www.SimpleSolutionsForDifficultProblems.com
Thank you so much Carol.
You’re right – its about learning from each other.
Helping businesses reach (and even exceed) their potential and be the best they can be. And recognising the hard work you put in every day.
Thank you for your insighful comments. Paul is right – Informative. Generous. Inspiring. Revealing. And beautifully written!
Best wishes for your journey along the yellow brick road continuing to be a successful one.
Take care. Naomi
Yup, Carol’s post was certainly was refreshing. It’s hard to remember what you’re fighting for when you’re stuck in the trenches and could be earning more at McDonalds!
I’m not sure I could have crammed any more into the last 12 months. We moved out of rental land and into my parent’s house, rode the mortgage approval rollercoaster for us ’self-employeds’, signed a contract on a house build, delivered a beautiful baby girl, moned into said new house, let a staff member go and ended our office lease. We’ve also added new franchisees and helped support our existing QLD team. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Computer Troubleshooters has seen that pro-active maintenance and ‘mutually financially beneficial’, results-based support contracts are the best thing for small businesses. Now we’re just figuring out how to get the word out. This approach doesn’t suit everyone, but we’re looking for a handful of quality clients that want a great relationship with a trusted IT advisor who will look after them.
Fortunately we are walking this rode alone, with a great head office now in the US (started in Coffs Harbour) and an international team of 480+ franchisees in 25 countries. If anyone can do it, we can. Especially with the support of great local fellow business owners who understand how challenging it is!
What a breathtaking report, Sonia! You guys are nailing it! Thanks for wording us up. I hope our readers check your link and flock to your services (if they haven’t already). Best regards, and thanks again. P.
SONIA,
Greetings from rural Australia.
My goodness. You are a powerhouse!
Read with interest your comment “…rode the mortgage approval rollercoaster for us ’self-employeds’…”.
I have a friend with a successful business who is having the same problem. She’s finally decided to take the plunge and be a first time home owner. And is now on the same roller coaster.
As all Paul’s friends are helpful, I’ve taken the liberty of sending her your link. She may be in touch to share experiences. She’s a sponge when it comes to soaking up how other people do things. She won’t waste your time.
It’s a pleasure to meet you and my best wishes for your continuing success.
All the best,
Carol
[...] was a simple suggestion to do a small business owner “Show and Tell” on the Australian blog myBRC. The myBRC blog features my friend Paul Hassing, a business copywriter. Imagine my delight when [...]
How cool! Our Cheryl has just raised the flag for us in America!
http://knowncommunity.com/2010/09/show-and-tell-australian-and-american-style/
We should all troop over there and say g’day!
[...] was a simple suggestion to do a “Show and Tell” on the Australian blog myBRC. The myBRC blog features my friend Paul Hassing, a business copywriter (and contributor to [...]