Business Strategy Interviews

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Finding Finance For The Recovery Don't think you only have to give your bank a profit and loss statement and a balance sheet to raise money for your business. Adrian McFedries, Managing Director of DC Strategy offers that advice in his role as an advisor to many businesses big and small. He suggests we nurture... MP3 Audio ( 3,856 KB)
braaap braaap is a mini motocross motorcycle retailer that has grown out of the passion of its founder Brad Smith. Now 22, Brad was 17 when he started the business in the family garage. At 18 he was in China looking for manufacturers. Since then he has been named "Young Entrepreneur of... MP3 Audio ( 4,398 KB)
Planet Chocolate Planet Chocolate was created out of one of the big driving forces in business... Passion. Passion for the product and passion for a business with serious growth potential. And that's the story of two brothers Greg and Darren Factor, both self confessed chocoholics, who saw a gap in the market for... MP3 Audio ( 2,719 KB)
Prepare now for the recovery Well you've weathered the storm... if it's not over yet, it's much closer to recovery than most people expected. So what do you do now? Adrian McFedries of DC Strategy says it's not the time to sit on your hands and congratulate yourself for getting through... MP3 Audio ( 2,979 KB)
Opportunities NOW for growth Believe it or not, there are more business opportunities than usual now. Yes even in such tough times. Adrian McFedries of DC strategy makes that judgement in his capacity as an advisor to big and small companies... MP3 Audio ( 3,599 KB)
REA Group Real Estate Australia, the REA Group operates Australia's most popular residential and commercial real estate websites. The company is Australia's 6th largest online publisher by revenue and it ranks 3rd worldwide in online real estate classifieds... MP3 Audio ( 3,172 KB)
Pack & Send Pack & Send specialises in packaging and freighting fragile, large, valuable and awkward items to a host of destinations. It regularly handles shipments worth anything from a few cents to tens of thousands of dollars... MP3 Audio ( 2,933 KB)
Corporate Fiduciary Structures Building an international business is far more complex, requiring far more knowledge about global market constraints than growing a business at home. There are many issues to consider.... MP3 Audio ( 3,856 KB)
ReFaceIt ReFaceIt is a specialist kitchen and bathroom re-facing business. As the name suggests, it replaces or re-laminates benchtops and cabinet doors to renew the look of a kitchen or bathroom without the expence of a total re fit... MP3 Audio ( 1,695 KB)
Gizmo Amazing new communication technology, coupled with a rapidly growing trend to work from home, sound like the perfect match for a business opportunity. Hence, Gizmo. A company offering technical support in the home and not just for individuals or small business operators... MP3 Audio ( 3,518 KB)
Citiwide Of the many types of businesses suited to franchising as a way to grow, mortgage broking is a fine fit says Patrick Marion, loan consultant with Victoria based Citiwide Mortage Services. Citiwide is one of Australia's longest operating mortgage broking companies... MP3 Audio ( 1,657 KB)
Shingle Inn Shingle Inn is a well established cafe and bakery based in Brisbane, Australia. It's origins date back to the 1930's, but it's been in the hands of the Bellchambers family since 1975. Brother's Andrew and Peter Bellchambers are now a driving force... MP3 Audio ( 1,519 KB)
Total Tools Total Tools is Australia's leading industrial tools supplier. The company developed as a cooperative of twenty four independent stores each with working directors and experienced professional staff guaranteeing highly focused and motivated individual businesses... MP3 Audio ( 1,684 KB)
Succession Plan Yes it's great for a business to have a succession plan, but so many plans have the wrong focus. Adrian McFedries of DC Strategy makes that observation after advising many businesses big and small... MP3 Audio ( 1,292 KB)
Going Public Your business is growing well and trusted advisors are nudging you to list the company on the stock exchange. It's tempting, but should you really do it? Adrian McFedries of DC Strategy advisors many successful businesses, some listed, some not... MP3 Audio ( 3,856 KB)
Save On Bills Save On Bills has a clear vision, it aims to be an organisation of 500 consultants and decided that the only way to get there in the required time frame was to establish a full format franchise system. The company does what its name suggests... MP3 Audio ( 2,124 KB)
PoolWerx Bringing order to a fragmented and disorganised business sector, thats how John O'Brien sees franchising, and he should know as founder of swimming pool maintenace chain PoolWerx which is now making waves in the USA, Europe and New Zealand, while still expanding in Australia. DC Strategy has played an important... MP3 Audio ( 2,100 KB)
Your Expansion in 2008 Every business comes back to three simple principles: A clearly defined value, a clear target market, and a sustainable and profitable business model. MP3 Audio ( 2,706 KB)
Building A Global Brand Janine Allis's Boost Juice chain of juice and smoothie outlets was already successful but still growing 5 years ago when she first appeared on Business Essentials. These days it has more than a 150 stores across Australia, but the growth now is in international markets... MP3 Audio ( 2,820 KB)
Franchising as a Growth Strategy Redclean is a specialist cleaning organisation on the rapid road to growth and success. Formally known as Vertigo Cleaning, which was establish in 1992, the company has launched a fresh new brand under the Redclean banner... MP3 Audio ( 1,542 KB)
Happy Workers Are Better Workers Happy workers are better workers. That's the catch cry of Dr Tim Sharpe, founder, Media liasion and Chief Happiness Officer of the Happiness Institute. Established in 2003 The Happiness Institute is one of the first organisations.... MP3 Audio ( 1,080 KB)
Big Dad's Pies A core challenge for any network is to ensure the appropriate infrastructure is in place to support each stage of growth. Big Dad’s Pies had gone through a period of rapid network growth and the management team found themselves under pressure to achieve the next level of growth and to... MP3 Audio ( 2,618 KB)
Growth: Tech Help... Home Delivered Brett Chenoweth of Gizmo discusses the challenges of a start up business and developing a regional distribution strategy. MP3 Audio ( 1,759 KB)
The silent killer in your workplace Sarah Allen of Appliance Tagging Services discusses why all businesses should develop an electrical safety management program. MP3 Audio ( 2,224 KB)
International Growth: Yes or No Adrian McFedries, Managing Director of DC Strategy ... Ask yourself how well positioned are you? Do you have the cash flow and profitability? Can you remove a senior executive from the day-to-day business to concentrate on the overseas venture? ... MP3 Audio ( 1,878 KB)
The Role of the Brand in Franchising In 2004, Katherine Sampson made the decision to substantially redevelop the business established over the past 14 years under a new brand name - Healthy Habits. In the crowded sandwich market, Healthy Habits is Australia's first national sandwich chain and has found a niche with high qualilty, exclusive products and services. MP3 Audio ( 1,669 KB)
Managing a National Sales Team The Commonwealth Bank is one of Australia's leading providers of integrated financial services, including retail, business and institutional banking, funds management, superannuation, insurance, investment and broking services. MP3 Audio ( 2,221 KB)
Forty Winks Rebranding a high profile organisation such as Forty Winks requires sensitivity to the market and sound advice. General Manager, Roger Wilson discusses the drivers of the decision and the challenges of implementation. MP3 Audio ( 3,958 KB)
Growing a National Franchise Network ANZ Mortgage Solutions is a significant new direction for the ANZ. Ian Hendey, Executive Manager Mortgage Solutions, discusses the challenges and keys to success of establishing of an entirely new distribution channel for financial services. MP3 Audio ( 2,869 KB)
Life Resolutions Life Resolutions is a successful clinical psychology and counselling business. In what may be a world first for the psychology industry, Life Resolutions is establishing a national brand and network in an otherwise highly fragmented cottage industry. Mary Magalotti and Jodie Brenton discuss the balance between retaining the one-on-one client relationship... MP3 Audio ( 2,578 KB)
Wiseberry Wiseberry is a real estate business that has come to life with a new approach to the industry. Thomas and Veronique Le Hoang explain the challenges of charting an entirely new business direction in an industry that has heard it all before. MP3 Audio ( 2,062 KB)
Grill'd Grill'd is one of Australia's fastest growing hamburger retail networks. Simon Crowe, Founder and Chief Burger reveals the important ingredients for successfully scaling a national food business whilst maintaining a local focus. MP3 Audio ( 2,725 KB)
Wrappings The decision to franchise the business you've worked hard to establish requires careful consideration and sound advice. Brian O'Malley, Managing Director of Wrappings shares his journey and plans for national growth. MP3 Audio ( 1,650 KB)
CBD Meeting Places: New Concept Founder and CEO of Bureaux - Ian Trevallion - discusses the thinking behind business lounge facilities in the CBD and the growth of the business. MP3 Audio ( 2,414 KB)
You Need Ambitious Goals to Grow Executive Director of DC Strategy - Rod Young - speaks about the role of planning for growth which the likes of Boost, ANZ and Flight Centre have benefited from. MP3 Audio ( 2,941 KB)
Business Growth and Developing Your Competitive Edge Shane Hills, Director of Koko Black, speaks with DC Strategy about developing and maintaining a business's competitive edge, the challenges of growth and the journey of Koko Black so far. DCS: Welcome to Business Insight brought to you by DC Strategy, speaking today with Shane Hills of Koko Black, providing a world class... MP3 Audio ( 2,616 KB)
The Role of Management Incentives David Cohen, General Manager of Matchbox, speaks with DC Strategy about the business impact of their recently implemented remuneration incentive program. DCS: Welcome to the DC Strategy interview with David Cohen, General Manager of Matchbox. So David, why did Matchbox make the decision to invest in... MP3 Audio ( 2,525 KB)