Get it right!
what others are doing that works

Robert Gerrish, Australian guru of the small, micro and home based business sector is coming to Tasmania for two insightful seminars.

Using the findings of Flying Solo’s recent national survey of solo and micro businesses, Robert will give us a snapshot of what Australia’s largest business sector are doing to succeed. The survey of over 1,000 soloists revealed they are a happy, balanced and surprisingly affluent group who: Make good use on online tools Embrace new technologies Benefit from all forms of networking Harness word of mouth effectively Know where to go for support In his upbeat and interactive presentation, Robert will share key tips and learning to ensure all attendees gain new ideas, skills and validation that what you’re doing is right! The first 60 registrants for each session will receive a free copy of Flying Solo: how to go it alone in business

$25 per person – includes light refreshments

Hobart 5.45pm Tue 22nd May – The Woolstore. Click here to register

Launceston 5.45pm Wed 23rd May – The Boat House. Click here to register

First 60 people who register for each seminar get a complimentary copy of the book "Flying Solo: How to go it alone in business"

Mercury Editorial Thursday 18 April 2012

IT is said that vines planted in rocky, unforgiving soil produce the best grapes.

The struggle to survive tempers the vines to grow a hardy root system that helps nourish delicious, complex fruit with which to make outstanding wines.

The vines that survive are, quite simply, the fittest.

The same principle, it seems, is at work in Tasmanian small businesses.

At a time of massive international financial pressures including an extremely high Australian dollar, financial instability through Europe, a slowdown of the Chinese economy and increasingly competitive overseas markets Tasmanian small businesses are bucking national bankruptcy trends.

In the past financial quarter the number of Australians declaring themselves bankrupt rose by a staggering 10.3 per cent.

But in contrast, the number of Tasmanian bankruptcies, through the same period, actually dropped by 11.5 per cent. And while it may be tempting to dismiss this as a statistical aberration, the trend was similar for the previous quarter when Tasmanian bankruptcies fell 8.2 per cent.

This strongly suggests Tasmanian small businesses are among the most resilient in the nation.

Tasmanian Small Business Council executive Robert Mallett reckons it is so hard for businesses to get a footing in Tasmania that those that survive the early struggle are far more resilient. "We are used to doing it tough, and we stick to it," he said.

Tasmanians have a history of pulling together during hard times. Tragedies such as the 1967 bushfires, the collapse of the Tasman Bridge and the Port Arthur massacre elicited enormous community support for the victims and their families. Grudges are given short shrift and feuds are forgotten. Neighbours pitch in and lend a hand. It's a tradition throughout regional Australia.

These tough economic times demand the same sort of united front. We must ignore those in our community who seek to divide and conquer, and look to the things that we share in common.

After years of division it will come as a surprise to some that we share many, many more things in common than it seems at first glance.

As citizens of a modern society, we have an obligation to listen to one another and at least try to understand each other's point of view. We have a duty to embrace and accept the differences among us. We are never going to agree on everything but we are always going to agree on many things.

We are in tough times and there appears to be no short term relief on the horizon so it is imperative we pull together. If we draw on the typically resilient Tasmanian nature, we can pull through this, and survive and thrive

The economic wellbeing of the state is critical to all our livelihoods.

We are constantly berating our governments about the level of red tape and nowadays green tape that small business people have to complete during the normal course of their working year. In return they (the legislators and bureaucrats) keep promising us that they are doing something about it..... and that is about where the discussion lies.

To assist all three tiers of government to actually do something about it we need concrete examples of exactly what piece of compliance is getting to us and what should be done about it. We can then measure the effect of our advocacy and the increase of productivity as a result of its removal.

How can you help? Email the TSBC and send me your examples. I will then add it to a page to be developed on this site so we can start to get a collection of examples and work with the regulators. Remember, we can't argue the case unless we have clear examples! .
‘Please remember the penalty rates’, said Robert Mallett, Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Small Business Council in Hobart today.

Easter is the last big holiday for the year and many people will be heading off to enjoy time away or catching up on jobs around the house. For many small business people this will however be a time which they have had to make some tough decisions. Do I open, and employ some of the staff and pay a minimum of double time and up to double time and a half to stay open over the Easter period or do I shut the premises and have a holiday myself?

‘This will be a tough question for many small business people; some of them will open and pay staff to maintain public credibility but make a loss, some will open and get the family to work for them and for others they will take this extended break and justify it as their annual leave.’

‘Tasmanians have been used to the extended shopping culture now for some years and it may come as a surprise for some if a business they thought might be opened in has in fact decided to have a few days off.’

‘For decades now the hospitality industry has recognised the high cost of weekend and public holiday labour and have placed surcharges on their services. It may be some time before retailers take the plunge and have a surcharge on goods to assist in covering penalty time rates’, he said

The TSBC has for some time been calling for increased flexibility for employers and employees to negotiate wage rates and penalty rates for periods such as this. ‘The union dominated federal government has effectively stifled genuine attempts by the small business sector to allow them to negotiate with their employees for a win-win outcome’, he said.

‘A bright spot for many will be the AFL football match to be played in Hobart on Sunday which will draw thousands of tourists to the state. This initiative, supported by the Tasmanian government could well be the incentive they need to have a positive start to a potentially slow winter season’.

Click here to download your copy of the Tasmanian Small Business Strategy __________________________________________________________ Small Business and the TSBC in Tasmania With more than 1.88 million small businesses in Australia employing 3.6 million people and with a total capitalised worth of $4.3 trillion, 4 times that of the Australian stock exchange, small business is a very important sector of the Australian economy. In Tasmania that figure is close to 30,000 small businesses. The Tasmanian Small Business Council is widely recognised as the peak body of small business organisations, industry groups and individual firms in the State.  This site provides information for members, and the general public about the Council and small business issues. Feel free to contact us regarding this site or any of our functions including our Small Business Dinners. We meet on a regular basis in order to promote and protect the interests of Small Business in this State. Primary aims of the organisation are: Promoting and supporting the development of small business in Tasmania Advocating to advance the interests of small businesses in Tasmania through policy change and regulatory reforms Fostering an increased awareness and understanding of the role of the small business sector among elected government officials, the public service, large business, the media and the general community We hold a number of dinners featuring prominent guests relevant to the small business sector.