In May 2020, like many of us, my wife Sarah-Jane and I found ourselves in unchartered territory as we found ourselves navigating our first pandemic. With our normal 9 to 5s in disarray, we very quickly realised that there was only so much bread we could make in lockdown. Sorry to take you back to the dreaded days of the covid, but it is the very reason we are here today. We found ourselves in lockdown one day needing to send a gift to a male friend of ours who was turning 31 (no biggy), which meant that we were looking for a simple gift with a wine and a treat or two. Nothing that was going to break the bank, but we still wanted the gift to be fun and boutique. We scoured Google trying to find the perfect gift hamper, but to our surprise there was nothing that tickled our fancy, zero, zip! Now, hear us out – the gift hamper industry was, and is, saturated. However, we simply couldn’t find something that was up our alley at that point in time. We were looking for something that had a collection of cool local brands, as opposed to white-labelled products, something that was beautiful and fun, yet gender-neutral. We wanted quality over quantity. Six weeks later Good Day People was born.
From the chaos of launching a business during Covid we had a determination to make something extraordinary out of challenging times, little did we know that the chaos had only just begun. I want to share some learnings and insights on finding hidden opportunities when things get tough, leveraging your strengths and resources, and what we wish we knew in the building of a business.
Seek Out Opportunities During Challenging Times
When the pandemic hit, everything paused. But instead of wallowing in frustration, we saw an opportunity not only in a business idea but rather an opportunity of more time than we have ever had before. We noticed that there was a gap in the online gift market for gifts that catered to a younger demographic and so, decided to do something different. Good Day People was born, offering boutique, unique, and, bloody brilliant gifts that supported Australian businesses.
The lesson for us was when life throws pandemics, economy downturns, etc., there is always some new opportunity or gaps in the market. What do people need or want that they can’t get right now? How can you fill that void? Sometimes, the best ideas come from the most unexpected places.
Tapping into Your Strengths and Resources
Starting a business in the middle of a global crisis might sound crazy, but we knew with our combined skills and resources that we could make something good. Sarah-Jane, with her background in design and photography, created a stunning visual story for our brand. I, with my experience as a food stylist and cookbook author, focused on curating the best local Australian products and crafting our brand voice. It’s amazing what can be achieved when you have complimentary skills.
We transformed our skills and resources into a business that not only stands out but also supports local businesses. Our quirky, bright canisters filled with everything from wine and spirits to kitchen gadgets and beauty products quickly became a hit very quickly, too quicky. Our original goal was to sell a hamper day, after the first 12 months of trading we had sold over 10,000+ gift hampers Australia wide.
So, what’s the takeaway? Leverage what you’re good at. Identify the strengths and resources you already have and think about how you can use them to your advantage. You might be surprised at what you can achieve with what’s already at your fingertips and who may be complimentary to what you offer.
What Advice Would We Give To New Business People?
If we could go back and have a chat with our younger selves, we would say:
1. Embrace Uncertainty
Life is full of uncertainties, and that’s okay. Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back. Embrace it, and use it as a driving force to innovate and create. There will be setbacks. Some days will be tougher than others. But resilience is key. Stay focused on your goals or mission and keep pushing forward, even when it feels like everything is against you.
2. Be Agile, Not Fragile
I once heard a physio say you need to keep agile otherwise you will get fragile. Never stop learning. Whether it’s a new skill, a piece of advice from a mentor, or feedback from customers, suppliers or business partners, keep an open mind and be willing to be agile and pivot quickly.
3. Cash is King
We’ve all heard the saying “cash is king,” and trust me, it’s true. In the early days of Good Day People, we faced some serious cash flow challenges. Running out of cash is a tough reality many start-ups face, especially self-funded ones. Accelerated growth, especially when you aren’t ready for it, can be a blessing and a curse. We had to get creative and make some hard decisions to sustain the unexpected growth we had during the lockdowns. Given supply and demand, we were able to increase prices, negotiate better rates with our suppliers, get 30 day payment terms and we also ordered ourselves a business credit card to give us an additional 30 days. We were conservative with taking on risk such as increasing our overheads too quickly as we did not know what lied ahead of us beyond the pandemic. Keeping lean has meant that even as we’ve come out of lockdown and into a much slower economic climate, we’ve still managed to achieve a stable revenue stream that is growing year on year.
4. Build a Brand That Customers Love
We carved out a niche in our industry with a brand that has a fun voice and personality and a clear mission. We champion our amazing local brands. We are committed to doing better for the environment. We love on our customers and we take them on the journey.
5. Think Big
When times are tough, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged. But remember, nearly all challenges can also be opportunities in disguise. By seeking out hidden opportunities, tapping into your strengths, and staying resilient, you can turn even the toughest times into a launchpad for success. At Good Day People, we turned a pandemic-induced pause into a thriving business that’s all about mobilising generosity and making it a Good Day for others, one bougie gift at a time.
A new study conducted by online payments provider Pin Payments has revealed the biggest concerns for small businesses in Australia, with cybercrime, cost of living and late payments taking the lead.
The survey had responses from over 700 participants, who were either business owners or employed at a managerial or executive level within an SME. The results provided a unique snapshot into the current state of play for SMEs in Australia, highlighting the core issues and key differences between the countries.
Cybercrime was top of the list for Australian businesses, with 72 percent reporting fears regarding business fraud and 43 percent stating it was their biggest concern. Despite these worries, only 36 percent reported using two factor authentication as a security measure, showing a lack of fraud prevention across SMBs in Australia.
In New Zealand, the biggest concern for small businesses was late payments, with one in two businesses reporting it as a major challenge. Aussie SMBs weren’t far behind, with one in three people claiming it as a significant issue.
Unsurprisingly, economic instability was a major pain point for businesses in both nations, with a staggering 76 percent in Australia and 75 percent in New Zealand reporting that business has been impacted by inflation or rising costs, with customer spending decreasing by over 60 percent in both countries. Other reasons included, high borrowing costs and an inability to expand.
CEO of Pin Payments Chris Dahl said, it is clear to see the real impacts interest rate rises, inflation and increased costs of living is having on small businesses across both countries.
“This has been a growing area of concern for small businesses for years. Post-pandemic businesses haven’t had a break, with rising costs crippling opportunities for growth and leading to missed opportunities that impact revenue and, ultimately, business survival,” said Chris.
“In the last 12 months, the Australian Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 7.8 percent, its highest since 1990. Coupled with the difficulties businesses are already facing, that’s
concerning for the survival of small businesses which underpin our nation,” said Chris. In New Zealand, 50 percent of businesses said they had no plans to grow or expand. This was in stark contrast to Australia, who reported 1 in 2 businesses with plans to scale.
“It’s clear to see from these survey results, that New Zealand small businesses have been hit harder than Australia by recent global economic instability. Yet, New Zealand is a nation made up of small businesses, with over 5 million SMBs, making their survival vital to the country’s vibrant culture and GDP,” said Chris.
Recruitment sentiments between the two countries were another indicator of the disproportionate impacts of inflation, with Australian businesses being 27 percent more likely to hire in 2024 than New Zealand.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty for small businesses in both countries right now which leads to a halt in innovation and growth. Our nations share a union and often work side by side, with an overlap in businesses and staff. Therefore, the survival and support of the startup and SMB ecosystems in both countries is vital,” said Chris.
Looking ahead, the future of small businesses in Australia and New Zealand will depend heavily on greater collaboration, comprehensive support, and the fostering of a vibrant ecosystem for the SME and startup community.
Initiatives such as providing better access to funding, implementing robust mentorship programs, and fostering innovation through technology adoption are crucial to the continued success and survival of small businesses.
“Despite challenging conditions, SMEs across both nations have demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability over the past few years. Inflation has undoubtedly had a significant impact on small businesses, but with acknowledgment of these challenges and ongoing support, SMEs will continue to overcome obstacles and thrive in the long term,” said Chris Dahl.
In this era of AI, professionals must develop new skills to advance their careers. However, new research from LinkedIn shows they are facing roadblocks in their learning journey. Despite over half (52%) of professionals in Australia saying that their company is doing enough to cultivate a culture of learning, findings show that 9 in 10 (90%) say they face barriers that prevent them from learning new skills. Loud Learning is seen as a means to overcome this.
Top barriers faced include feeling exhausted and burnt out (39%), a lack of time due to family responsibilities or other personal commitments (37%), lack of motivation or discipline to set aside time (24%) and feeling overwhelmed by the amount of learning resources available (21%).
Professionals are Loud Learning to overcome barriers to upskilling
‘Loud Learning’ – the act of being vocal and intentional about learning ambitions in the workplace — has emerged as a promising solution to this problem. Over half (54%) of professionals in Australia say that this practice can help them dedicate time to improve their skills.
The top three ways that professionals in Australia are ‘Loud Learning’ include #1 informing their team members of their learning time blocks (41%), #2 sharing their learnings with teammates (38%) and #3 sharing their learning journey or accomplishments on LinkedIn (35%). Remarkably, 27% of professionals in Australia are already engaging in ‘Loud Learning’.
Over half (60%) of professionals in Australia say that seeing their peers engage in ‘Loud Learning’ will motivate them to do the same. To complement their learning experiences, a third (30%) of professionals in Australia also say that they have a Learning BFF, with 41% also interested in getting one. A Learning BFF is a friend who supports and learns with them, makes the whole learning experience more fun and effective, while helping them stay accountable to their learning goals.
Professionals are leveraging Loud Learning to grow their careers
LinkedIn research shows that many(49%) of professionals in Australia believe that engaging in ‘Loud Learning’ can support their career growth. Some of the benefits include providing opportunities for mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals (30%), facilitating knowledge and insights sharing amongst peers (28%)and opening doors to new career opportunities or advancement (27%).
Cayla Dengate, LinkedIn Career Expert, said:, “According to LinkedIn data, skills needed for a job in Australia are expected to change by 66% by 2030, so it is vital for professionals to be super-focused on learning. ‘Loud Learning’ is a great hack that they can use to overcome the challenges faced when it comes to dedicating time to learning. By engaging in ‘Loud Learning’, you not only prioritise your own learning journey but also inspire and encourage others to dedicate time towards developing skills.”
LinkedIn is also introducing new AI powered Premium tools to help professionals accelerate their learning journey. LinkedIn Learning’s new AI-powered coaching can help guide professionals’ course experience by allowing learners to ask for summaries of content or clarifying questions and providing real time insights and takeaways directly from the course pages. Powered by AI, LinkedIn’s expert advice allows learners to interact in an easy to use chat interface with select instructors and instantly receive personalised and actionable advice.
Here are LinkedIn Career Expert Tips from Caylaon how professionals can prioritise and commit time towards learning:
Be vocal by blocking out time for learning: Time-blocking your calendar is a simple way to commit to learning a new skill and for others to see you doing it. You could start with committing even just 15 mins a day and that can help you stay on track.
Post updates on your learning journey at work and on LinkedIn: Sharing your learning journey can encourage others. Share about your learning progress and how you overcame barriers with your colleagues and your LinkedIn network. This could help to spark discussions and might just inspire others to also dedicate time towards learning.
Buddy up with a Learning BFF: A supportive Learning BFF can make the process less daunting and more enjoyable while also holding you to account. Share insights and hold one another to your learning commitments to stay motivated throughout your learning journeys. A Learning BFF can also help to broaden your learning toolkit by introducing you to new tools and resources.
Leverage AI to supercharge your learning experience: LinkedIn’s new AI-powered coaching tool features a user-friendly chat interface to guide your course experience. Ask for advice around your learning gaps and get real-time insights on courses. Each response will also be personalised to you based on your title, career goals, and the skills you follow on LinkedIn Learning, so be sure to keep these up to date.
Build your learning community: Engage in discussions on LinkedIn Groups – online communities where like-minded professionals come together to share insights around different topics. You can also contribute to collaborative articles to further exchange diverse perspectives.
Shopify, the leading global commerce company powering over 25% of all online retail in Australia, has unveiled 150+ new products and enhancements to create a faster, more resilient, and unified experience for merchants.
With enhancements across Point of Sale (POS), AI, analytics, merchandising and more, Shopify’s Summer Edition reimagines a truly streamlined and unified commerce experience for merchants and developers. Updates include AI-powered tools that support content generation and help merchants quickly answer customers, features that enable smoother in-person transactions, and the evolution of Markets, to make expanding your business more seamless.
“The Summer ’24 Edition reflects our mission to create a unified commerce experience for our merchants,” said Shaun Broughton, Managing Director, APAC at Shopify. “This unwavering belief in simplicity is what allows entrepreneurs and teams to expand into new markets, quickly pivot on up-to-the-minute data, and share new and exciting products, all without the costs and complexity that can so often hinder business growth.”
Simplify expansion with reimagined Markets
Millions of merchants rely on Shopify to scale their business—from entering new regions, expanding to wholesale, or opening brick-and-mortar stores. This Edition, Shopify has evolved Markets, formerly its cross-border selling solution, to become the central command centre for growth and expansion.
New in the Summer ’24 Edition for Australian merchants is:
Markets: With our reimagined Markets, merchants can sell internationally, expand into B2B and sell in person with Shopify POS—all consolidated into one location in their admin. They no longer have to navigate multiple stores or different workflows. The process stays consistent—simply create a new market (international, wholesale, in-store), make the customisations, and they are ready to launch.
AI enhancements built for commerce
Time is a valuable and often scarce resource for an entrepreneur. That’s why in the Summer ‘24 Edition, Shopify has taken its AI-powered features to the next level, embedding them throughout Shopify to save merchants precious hours and dollars.
New in the Summer ’24 Edition for Australian merchants are:
Media Editor: In January, Shopify released AI image generation via Media Editor and saw merchants save over one million AI-generated images to their storefronts. Now, Shopify has extended AI image editing to everywhere in the Shopify admin where merchants use images, like the Online Store Editor and Email Editor. This feature is also available on the mobile app, so merchants can make professional image edits while on the go.
AI-powered product creation: There is now an easier way to add new products to a store. With just a few keywords and a product image, Shopify Magic instantly suggests personalised and intelligent recommendations for all product categories. It will assign the right attributes to new products—like colour, size, and style—minimising listing errors so customers can easily find them on a merchant’s online store, on social, and on marketplaces.
Suggested replies: Providing online shoppers with real-time answers to their questions can take up precious time that merchants are short on. Now, Shopify Magic quickly suggests an AI-generated response to an incoming customer chat based on information specific to a merchant’s store. Merchants can then approve (or edit) the response, hit send while they have the customer’s attention, and keep on selling—all in seconds.
Streamline in-store selling
Creating a seamless shopping journey in-store is vital for businesses. With Australians continuing to show interest in brick-and-mortar experiences, Shopify has made a series of upgrades to make selling in-person as easy as selling online.
POS updates in the Summer ’24 Edition for Australian merchants are:
Automations: Retailers can now offer one-tap digital receipts. If an in-store customer is a Shop Pay user, their email shows at checkout, where they can opt into receiving digital receipts and marketing. Shopify has also enabled automatic detection of whether a product can be returned, and provide staff with context on why. This reduces uncertainty among staff and creates a more consistent return experience for customers.
Discounts:Merchants can benefit from added flexibility when it comes to creating irresistible offers for customers. In POS, multiple discounts can now be applied at once to a cart. Merchants can also enhance their promotional strategies by introducing “Buy X Get Y” discount codes.
Support timely decision-making with up-to-the-minute data
In a competitive retail environment, merchants need to be able to analyse customer behaviour and pivot quickly when needed. Fragmented and outdated data impacts timely decision-making, so Shopify has completely rebuilt its analytics to work smarter, faster and more intuitively for merchants.
New in the Summer ’24 Edition for Australian merchants is:
Unified analytics: Act on smarter, faster and more intuitive data with Shopify’s updated dashboard, powered by a pre-built report designed to provide insights on the most frequent commerce questions from merchants.
D-Link A/NZ has launched two new DXS-3410 Series Layer 3 10 Gigabit Stackable Managed Switches, the DXS-3410-32SY 32-Port with 28 10Gb SFP+ Ports and four 10/25Gb SFP28 Ports, as well as the DXS-3410-32XY 32-Port with 24 Multi-Gigabit 10GBASE-T Ports, four 10Gb SFP+ and four 10/25Gb SFP28 Ports.
The DXS-3410 Series are highly versatile Layer 3 stackable switches that provide adaptable, bottleneck-free 10G business connectivity. As they include powerful L2 and L3 features, they are highly flexible and capable of accommodating different network deployments.
Each of the two new models boast 10G fibre ports as well as four 10/25G SFP28 ports to provide versatility and speed, whilst providing either 10GB Ethernet or 10GB SFP+ interfaces across the models, providing flexibility for any type of deployment.
The DXS-3410 Series allows multiple switches to be combined to form a single physical or virtual stack. This increases redundancy over multiple physical units, simplifies management and provides a single IP address to manage all members in the stack. Up to nine switches can be combined using DACs/Fibre to make up to 252 10Gb Ethernet ports available, allowing switching capacity to be increased with demand, whilst up to 32 units can be virtually stacked.
In turn, the DXS-3410 Series gives enterprises and organisations a highly reliable network, allowing for maximum business continuity and by utilising built-in G.8032 Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS) help minimise recovery times to 50 ms.
Along with a host of essential network reliability features, both new switches in the series also support an external redundant power supply to ensure business operations continue unimpeded.
The DXS-3410 Series provides users with the latest security features such as Multi-layer and Packet Content Access Control Lists (ACL), Storm Control, and IP-MAC-Port Binding (IMPB). Other advanced features like DHCP Snooping let the switches automatically learn and save IP/MAC pairs to the IMPB whitelist.
There are more benefits to the user too as the DXS-3410 Series supports authentication mechanisms such as 802.1X, Web-based Access Control (WAC) and MAC-based Access Control (MAC) for strict access control and easy deployment. After authentication, individual policies such as VLAN membership, QoS policies, and ACL rules can be assigned to each host.
In summary, the DXS-3410 Series implements a rich set of multi-layer QoS/CoS features to prioritise critical network services such as VoIP, video conferences, IPTV and IP surveillance. With robust features including Traffic Shaping, L2 Multicast, Host-based IGMP/MLD Snooping and ISM VLAN, administrators get a whole new way to manage their traffic that fits their needs.
New DXS-3410 Series Layer 3 10Gb Stackable Managed Switches key features
DXS-3410-32SY
• 10 Gigabit Layer 3 Stackable Switch
• 28 10Gb SFP+ ports
• Four 25Gb SFP28 uplink ports
• Stackable up to 9 units (physical), 32 units (virtual)
• Supports long-distance stacking over fibre
• 200Gbps per device stacking bandwidth
• Lossless Ethernet via Data Centre Bridging (DCB)
• Redundant power supply support
• Easy-to-use web GUI
• Industry standard CLI
DXS-3410-32XY
• 10 Gigabit Layer 3 Stackable Switch
• 24 Multi-Gigabit 100M/1/2.5/5/10GBASE-T ports and 4 10Gb SFP+ ports
• Four 25Gb SFP28 uplink ports
• Stackable up to 9 units (physical), 32 units (virtual)
• Supports long-distance stacking over fibre
• 200Gbps per device stacking bandwidth
• Lossless Ethernet via Data Centre Bridging (DCB)
• Redundant power supply support
• Easy-to-use web GUI
• Industry standard CLI
Availability and pricing
The DXS-3410-32SY and DXS-3410-32XY are available now from www.dlink.com.au and from all authorised D-Link partners and resellers for the following RRPs:
A new report from Power Retail – the number one resource for Australian e-commerce news, content, data, and insights – in partnership with the Australian Loyalty Association (ALA) has exposed a significant challenge for the retail sector: nearly 50% of Aussies are unwilling to share their data with retailers, signalling a general distrust in the handling of their personal data.
Drawn from a survey of over 2,800 engaged shoppers, and exploring 44 retail-specific loyalty programs, the 40 page Loyalty Insights Report, released on Wednesday 19th June 2024, highlights what Australian consumers want most from loyalty programs and what retailers need to do to gain and maintain the trust and loyalty of their customers.
The report not only explores consumer rewards program preferences, but also highlights the challenges facing brands, namely, that even with incentives of all description, majority of shoppers are uncomfortable sharing their data with retailers. This demonstrates a pressing need for retailers to rebuild consumer trust in handling personal data safely. Increased consumer awareness around data security, following multiple recent data breaches from prominent Australian companies, has undoubtedly driven this sentiment.
Editor of Power Retail, Rosalea Catterson says, “Whilst data security is a major concern for consumers, it offers a key opportunity for retailers to adapt and re-build trust with their customers. An up-front approach that communicates clearly with consumers about where and how they use their data and the measures they take to protect customer data, can go a long way to building consumer trust and create opportunities for more personalisation, enhancing loyalty programs in ways that most benefit their customers.”
The report has also found that consumers overwhelmingly prefer email communications from retailers (81%), while SMS marketing has fallen out of favour with shoppers, again, likely due to heightened concerns around data scams.
Unsurprisingly, loyalty programs that helped Aussies to lighten the load on their wallets such as Woolworths Everyday Rewards and Coles Flybuys, were the most popular loyalty programs with all shoppers surveyed. Both of these specific programs offer discounts on spending, full payment of reward items using points, and cashback on spending, which are the most well-liked incentives for shoppers.
With spending on everyday essentials increasing by 5.4% last year, shoppers are on the lookout for any opportunity to save money, with one respondent saying, “Groceries are a big expense and being rewarded for buying products that are a basic need is helpful,” and another stating “All I care about is cash back or discount incentives, not special offers or exclusive deals.” (Corina, 43, Burleigh Waters).
The report also revealed that there is a huge opportunity for retailers to reward customer loyalty and invest in long-term customer relationships by understanding and being adaptable to their ever-changing needs. Failure by retailers and their rewards programs risk the same fate as the Flybuys program in New Zealand, which closed down in 2023, due to its lack of ability to keep up with rapidly changing demands of consumers.
When it came to generational preferences, surprisingly, the report found that 67% of Gen Z respondents believed that loyalty programs provided a high level of value. This generation also had the highest engagement with loyalty programs out of any generation surveyed. Respondents in this age bracket demonstrated a greater liking for tiered benefit programs, based on spending, such as the MECCA Beauty Loop, indicating that gamification can be an influencing factor in consumers of that age engaging with a brand loyalty program. Said one shopper, “These types of programs “give great value for money, both in discounts, points earned, and special offers and have unique offers that reward you for consistent purchases.”
Across all retail categories surveyed, the top ranked loyalty programs included:
· FMCG: Woolworths Everyday Rewards; Coles Flybuys; My Dan’s Dan Murphy’s and IGA Rewards.
· Fashion & Department Stores: MYER One; Cotton On, Rebel Active; David Jones Rewards Points; Bonds and Country Road.
· Other Retail: Amazon Prime; Bakers Delight Dough Getters; Supercheap Auto Club and Petbarn Friends for Life.
Factors such as the prioritisation of building trust with their customers, and offering long-term value, have allowed these retailers to achieve top rankings with their loyalty programs. CEO and Founder of Power Retail, Grant Arnott says, “Retailers that help shoppers easily earn, access and use rewards incentives to ease financial strains stand themselves in a strong place to gain favour with shoppers and achieve long-term loyalty. To achieve this, retailers need to focus on the most reported satisfaction drivers: easy-to-understand schemes, easy-to-use apps and website tools, as well as strong clear customer communication, all of which help to build trust and brand loyalty.
“Loyalty is a game-changer for retail, a means to create substantially and more value for customers. These insights show that while the appetite for loyalty from consumers is strong, there is substantial opportunity for growth and improvement for retailers who are prepared to invest in the right strategies and technology to deliver loyalty excellence,” said Arnott.
Square 50 returns for a second year to recognise businesses around the globe that are reaching the latest milestones within their operations. New this year, Square 50 is now accepting nominations from customers, fans, community members and businesses themselves to find the best of the best for this year’s 50 select businesses.
Square 50 nominations are open now until July 18 across five categories:
Innovation: Businesses that innovate within their industry, from diversifying their offerings to revolutionising their operations to stand out from the competition
Growth: Businesses that made incredible strides to expand their reach through new location(s), increased revenue, international expansion and more
Community: Businesses that enrich the communities where they operate, supporting charities, prioritising diversity in their employment, building inclusive spaces and operating with integrity
Experience: Businesses that change the game in customer experiences and level up their operations to entice new and existing patrons
Sustainability: Businesses that champion greener operations and promote social and cultural growth through their work
For more than 15 years, Square has been a trusted partner in enabling businesses to succeed, and understands firsthand what it takes to create a growing and thriving business. With millions of groundbreaking and innovative businesses choosing Square, the company is uniquely qualified to identify and spotlight the next wave of rising, must-know businesses around the globe.
Last year’s Square 50 honourees have seen their strong momentum continue, from opening new locations to expanding their offerings. From Australia, healthy fast-food chain Fishbowl opened its first international location (as Thisbowl) in the US in Spring 2024. Seafood restaurant Broad Street Oyster Company, recently opened a new location in Southern California and another in San Francisco as it expands to new territories. In the beauty and wellness industry, Savanna Boda Aesthetics in Lewisville, TX just signed a lease for a new, larger location given her growing business, and LaToyia Mays, owner of The Laya Center in Kansas City, MO recently launched her own book.
Whether opening a new location, growing revenue or building deeper relationships with communities and customers, Square 50 aims to showcase the diverse and impactful businesses achieving success – and the many different definitions of what success looks like.
By being selected for Square 50, honourees will benefit from visibility across the Square website and social media channels; from credibility as a Square-recognised, standout business; and from Square prizes to help winners celebrate and share the news. All applications to Square 50 will be considered for future marketing opportunities with Square for additional exposure.
Winners will be selected for how each business’s accomplishments relate to any and/or all Square 50 categories. Nominations can be made here until July 19. Honourees will be announced later this year.
ASUS, in collaboration with Microsoft and Qualcomm®, has today announced its first foray into the next generation of AI-powered computing with the sleek Vivobook S 15, available for pre-order today at ASUS E-shop and leading retailers.
Powered by the Snapdragon® X Elite platform, the sleek device offers Windows AI features and a collection of exclusive ASUS AI apps that showcase the unique benefits of AI for Content Creation, Productivity and Learning. Its 3K 120 Hz ultra-large OLED display and immersive audio system is encased in a premium, all-metal 1.47cm thin, 1.42kg light body. It features a mood-setting single zone RGB keyboard with a dedicated Copilot key for instant AI assistance, revolutionising work and play.
Driven by Microsoft’s software excellence, the power of the Qualcomm Oryon™ CPU, and coupled with ASUS’ Lumina OLED displays, design and innovation prowess, the latest Vivobook launch signals the dawn of a new era in computing.
Speaking at the launch, Bradley Howe, Head of Consumer, ASUS Australia, said “AI has been building momentum as a technology, particularly with the use of personal assistance, and that is why we are ushering in a new era of AI computing where AI takes on a more integrated role in our lives and in the PC space, helping to make what Australians do on their PCs, easier, smarter and faster. We’ve designed the Vivobook S 15 as an intelligent PC companion that makes creating, productivity and learning tasks more convenient and enjoyable for Australians.”
With 53% of Australian professionals actively using or experimenting with generative AI at work, particularly by Millennials (63% use generative AI) and Gen Z (57%) — a substantial increase from the 36% of Australians reported to use the technology in 2023. ASUS believes the key use cases Australians will benefit when using a Copilot+ PC powered by the graphics capabilities of ASUS Lumina OLED technology are:
AI for Content Creation: With Copilot at the touch of a button, the Vivobook S 15 makes AI-powered content creation near-instant and more convenient.
AI for Productivity: The Vivobook S 15 streamlines work by automating repetitive processes and removing the need for manual tasks. From managing emails to organising files, AI ensures efficiency without compromising accuracy.
AI for Learning: Whether you’re a student, researcher, or lifelong learner, this laptop allows you to have access to quick and easy learning tools at your fingertips, ensuring learning is digestible and accessible no matter where the individual is.
Introducing ASUS Vivobook S 15, Your First Copilot+ PC
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 marks a significant leap forward in AI-powered computing, reaffirming ASUS’ commitment to innovation, excellence and setting a benchmark for ASUS’ upcoming range ofCopilot+ PC.
The Vivobook’s 3K 120 Hz ultra-large OLED display and immersive audio system is encased in a premium, all-metal 1.47cm thin, 1.42kg light body, allowing the benefits of AI to be more portable than ever. It features a mood-setting single zone RGB keyboard with a dedicated Copilot key for instant AI assistance, revolutionising work and play.
TOP-Notch Performance
Powered by Windows 11, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 combines a sleek, modern aesthetic with unmatched performance. The Snapdragon® X Elite Processor, a dedicated AI chip, delivers peak performance in multi core tasks, providing a more productive laptop experience.
ST Liew, Vice President of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd. and President of Qualcomm Taiwan & SEA, Australia, New Zealand, echoed the sentiment: “The PC is reborn with Snapdragon X Elite, and we are excited to collaborate with ASUS to put incredible innovation like the ASUS Vivobook S 15 in the hands of users, making a formidable range of AI devices that meet the needs of consumers now and in the future.”
The Qualcomm® Hexagon™ NPU delivers ultimate productivity with 45 TOPS AI processing speeds. This ensures peak AI performance that is able to run directly on-the-device, rather than through the Cloud. This calibre of performance allows more responsive and smooth multitasking, guaranteeing a seamless experience with all AI tools and tasks without compromising battery life.
Dan Johnson, Windows & Microsoft 365 Category Lead for Microsoft ANZ, highlights the benefits of Edge AI: “We believe the richest AI experiences will only be possible when the cloud and device work together in concert. Now with the introduction of the Copilot+ PCs, I’m excited that together with our partners, such as ASUS, we can set the frame for the next decade of Windows innovation.”
The Vivobook S 15 is fast, offering instant boot-ups, capacious up to 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and an impressive 32GB of lighting-fast 8448 MHz LPDDR5X memory, which ensures the user is able to navigate daily tasks with speed and efficiency.
The Vivobook S 15 uses ASUS IceCool thermal technology – two 97 ice blades, two heat pipes and two exhaust vents – which allows for efficient heat transfer and exhaust to ensure the user can tackle demanding tasks without impacts on performance.
In line with Microsoft’s qualifications for a Copilot+ PC, the Vivobook S 15 also has a CoPilot key on the keyboard to ensure this AI tool is easy and quick to access, helping to make Content Creation, Productivity and Learning easier than ever.
Exclusive ASUS AI Software
To ensure Australians feel empowered by AI in all aspects of their daily lives, ASUS is launching a range of exclusive software, reflecting the company’s belief in how AI can revolutionise Australians’ daily lives:
ASUS StoryCube: An AI-powered digital asset-management tool, which can automatically organise photos and videos.
ASUS AI Noise Cancellation: This leverages a deep-learning database to reduce background noise in meetings and calls, for clear audio.
ASUS Adaptive Dimming: A technology that recognises when a user looks away and dims the screen, which helps to maintain power consumption.
ASUS Adaptive Lock: With this feature, the laptop will be automatically locked when the user moves away and unlocked when they return, helping to ensure greater security.
Superior Audiovisuals
ASUS Lumina OLED displays boast superior visual capabilities to ensure Australians can experience the benefits of AI better. With Lumina OLED, users can enjoy:
More Accuracy: Due to being Pantone® Validated and factory-calibrated to Delta E < 1consumers can experience a wider array of vivid, true-to-life colours. With an ultra-wide 89% screen-to-body ratio, cinema-grade 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, and VESA DisplayHDR™ True Black 600 certification. This can benefit individuals using AI to create visual and video content to drive more precision and accuracy on their content.
More Adaptive: ASUS Lumina OLED provides customisable visuals, power-saving solutions and sharpened playback. ASUS Tru2Life technology is a video enhancement feature that analyses each pixel of the video being displayed, adjusting brightness, contrast and sharpness to ensure the best, most vibrant viewing experience for consumers.
More Reliable: With people spending hours working, playing and creating in front of laptops, ASUS has ensured its OLED line-up has OLED Care and TÜV Rheinland 70% less blue-light certification, which means the devices can help to reduce strain on eyes caused by prolonged exposure to blue light
In addition to the device’s visual capabilities, its audio system is Harman Kardon-certified with immersive, multi-dimensional Dolby Atmos sound, elevating the overall audiovisual experience when working or playing.
Incredible Design and Connectivity
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has been designed with portability and connectivity in mind, making it a great companion for users on the move. It is 14.7 mm slim in design and lightweight all-metal construction weighing 1.42 kg Equipped with 70 Wh battery providing over 18 hours of work or play, users can stay connected throughout the day, with support for fast charging and ASUS USB-C® Easy Charge for convenient charging.
The premium design features a single-zone RGB backlit keyboard for personalised aesthetics, while the dedicated Copilot key grants instant access to Windows AI-powered tools conveniently.
Additionally, the large and smart gesture touchpad offers easy navigation, enabling users to control various tasks from optimising screen brightness to adjusting audio. Combined with its comprehensive array of I/O ports, including two USB4® ports, the Vivobook S 15 ensures blazing-fast connectivity and enhanced productivity wherever you go. With WiFi 7 technology and Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 technology, the device enables lightning-fast wireless connections – up to 4.8x3 faster than the previous generation.
Ultimate ASUS Durability and Security
ASUS Vivobook S 15 is tested to the rigorous MIL-STD 810H military standard, encompassing high and low temperature, shock, vibration and altitude tests to help ensure reliability and durability.
The Vivobook S 15 also has security and privacy in mind. With the IR camera, the user is able to unlock the device in an instant. Privacy can be safeguarded with a physical webcam cover and an integrated privacy shield that slides over the webcam for instant protection against prying eyes.
Pricing & Availability
Pre-orders on the Vivobook S 15 S5507 Model are available from 3pm on May 22 from the below participating retailers across Australia and New Zealand AEST. The pre-order campaign will run from 3pm on 22nd May to 9am on 18th June.
From June 18th the Vivobook S 15 will be available in-store and online from participating retailers and the ASUS E-shop.
Vivobook S 15
Australia
New Zealand
Model Number
S5507QA-MA049W
S5507QA-MA001W
Description / Specs
SNAPDRAGON X ELITE X1E78100/15.6″/3K (2880 x 1620) OLED 16:9 aspect ratio/LPDDR5X 32G [ON BD.]/1TB PCIEG4/Cool Silver/Win11 Home(Arm)
SNAPDRAGON X ELITE X1E78100/15.6″/3K (2880 x 1620) OLED 16:9 aspect ratio/LPDDR5X 32G [ON BD.]/1TB PCIEG4/Cool Silver/Win11 Home(Arm)
TYPE-C, 90W AC Adapter, Output 20V DC, 4.5A, 90W, Input: 100~240V AC 50/60Hz universal
Battery
70WHrs, 3S1P, 3-cell Li-ion
Replaceable Battery
No
Keyboard type
Backlit Chiclet Keyboard 1-Zone RGB with Num-keyWith Copilot key
Dimension (WxHxD)
35.26 x 22.69 x 1.47 ~ 1.59 cm (13.88″ x 8.93″ x 0.58″ ~ 0.63″)
Weight (with Battery)
1.42 kg (3.13 lbs)
Weight (without Battery)
1.18 kg (2.60 lbs)
Antivirus
McAfee® 30 days free trial
Security
McAfee® 30 days free trialIR webcam with Windows Hello supportMcAfee®BIOS Booting User Password ProtectionBIOS setup user passwordMicrosoft Pluton security processorTrusted Platform Module (Firmware TPM)
MyASUS feature
System diagnosisBattery health chargingFan ProfileSplendidFunction key lockWiFi SmartConnectLink to MyASUSTaskFirstLive updateAI Noise Cancelling
Built-in Apps
MyASUSScreenXpertGlideX
Adobe Creative Cloud Hard Bundle
One-Month Membership of Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps, Individual.The redemption duration from September 15, 2021 to August 31, 2024.
A lack of career progression, upskilling opportunities and flexible work options are making it difficult for local businesses to retain staff as Australia lags behind the rest of the world when it comes to using AI in the workplace, according to a global survey by specialty talent solutions provider Kelly.
The fourth annual global workforce report from Kelly, titledBuilding a Resilient Workforce in the Age of AI, has revealed Australian businesses have the lowest capability and resilience score out of 13 countries surveyed.
One in two Australian executives (49%) find it difficult to source and retain the right talent, resulting in missed business opportunities, while only 43% believe AI will be critical to strengthening the capability of their workforce, the lowest percentage in the 13 countries survey.
“These findings are eye opening,” Pete Hamilton, vice president and managing director, APAC at Kelly, said. “Australian businesses are least likely to use AI to measure productivity, efficiency and engagement when compared to businesses globally, and a third have no plans to do so.”
“Australian businesses need to develop long-term workforce strategies that focus on career development, meaningful employee engagement, and thoughtful implementation of AI tools that combine the best of human talent and technology,” said Mr. Hamilton.
A third of Australian executives believe the Return to Office (RTO) has had a negative impact on workplace culture (32% vs 18% globally) and still plan to offer greater flexibility.
Despite the ongoing skills shortage Australian workers say their top frustrations are a lack of skills development opportunities (32%) and lack of a career progression (32%).
Australians are also most likely to say their organisations have poor leadership skills (25% vs. 19%). The report also found that diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are failing, with underrepresented workers quitting as a result.
Australia is ranked last in the Workforce Resilience Index, which reveals how best-in-class businesses are building agile, capable, and inclusive teams that thrive in the age of AI.
The Index identifies a group of Resilience Leaders (7% of companies surveyed) who report better results across both core business metrics and key people indicators compared to Mid-Market Performers (85%) and Laggards (8%).
About the Survey Kelly surveyed 1,500 senior executives, including C-suite leaders, board members, department heads, directors, and managers, as well as 4,000 workers at all levels across 13 countries and eight industry sectors in Q2 of 2024. The 13 countries include the United States, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, and Singapore. The eight industry sectors include Consumer Retail, Education, Energy, Engineering, Financial Services, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and Technology. 35% of respondents were from organizations with 10,000+ employees; 35% were from organizations with 5,001-10,000 employees; and 30% were from organizations with 1,000-5,000 employees. Read the report here.
New research reveals that greater financial support, regulatory change and government-led initiatives that make it easier to start a business are seen as the most important changes needed to grow Australian entrepreneurship. Doing so could help unleash the potential of millions of aspiring entrepreneurs, driving innovation and economic prosperity for the nation.
New research from Shopify of 2,220 Australians and 480 business owners, conducted by Censuswide, shows a burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit across the country:
Almost three-quarters of Australians (70%) express a desire to own their own business if all other factors were equal.
This interest spans across age groups, with younger demographics showing the highest entrepreneurial enthusiasm – a substantial 84% of 16-24s have entrepreneurial ambitions.
One in five Australians (21%) already own their own business, and an equal proportion (21%) have seriously considered starting one.
Three-quarters (76%) of aspiring entrepreneurs in Australia say they have wanted to start their own business for three or more years2.
Entrepreneurial motivations are diverse
Among Australia’s aspiring entrepreneurs, the top reasons cited for starting their own business are:
The opportunity to earn more money (58%)
A desire to be their own boss (50%)
Work flexibility (40%)
Alongside the pull of higher income and independence, some factors push Australians into entrepreneurship:
13% of those seriously considering owning a business are driven by concerns about perceived job obsolescence due to technological advancements.
16% of business owners in Australia started their venture after being made redundant from their previous job.
Financial constraints and government support are holding aspiring entrepreneurs back
The appetite for entrepreneurship is prevalent but the barriers to entry remain high. Among those who have thought about starting a business, but do not have serious plans in place:
50% cited financial obstacles as a key issue
35% said they lacked confidence
34% said they lacked knowledge
24% were concerned about their skillset
When asked which factors would make them more interested in starting a business, Australians who had briefly considered it said:
Government programs to support potential business owners could sway them (58%)
A decrease in the cost of living would encourage entrepreneurship (43%)
While the majority of Australians want to be their own boss, their ability to fund the business could be limiting.
73% would be prepared to invest their own money
43% expressed a lack of money to start
20% highlighted high interest rates on business loans as a key challenge
Shaun Broughton, Managing Director, APAC at Shopify comments: “Australians are enthusiastic entrepreneurs, particularly younger Aussies. Addressing financial obstacles is essential to unlock a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and unearth the potential of aspiring entrepreneurs across the country. By enhancing access to funding, reducing financial risks, and encouraging people to start a business, we can help reduce barriers to entry for Australian entrepreneurs to drive stronger economic growth, innovation and employment for all.”
The path to entrepreneurship is not linear
Building a business rarely follows a predictable trajectory, and the path to entrepreneurship doesn’t necessarily mean going all in from day one. The research found:
27% of Australian business owners went full-time into their company from the offset
37% started their business as a side hustle
20% turned their side hustle into a full-time venture
16% started their business after leaving the workforce (i.e. retirement or after maternity leave).
Moreover, though initial failure isn’t unusual in the entrepreneur community, it doesn’t hold them back from building new businesses.
Over a third (38%) of Australian business owners previously started a business that was unsuccessful
46% of entrepreneurs had at least one previous business before achieving success
32% of successful business owners had two to three unsuccessful businesses first
Encouragement and experience can be powerful enablers
Support networks and prior experience in their chosen field were seen as strong enablers for entrepreneurship:
40% of Australian business owners — more than any other country surveyed — said that encouragement from people they knew was particularly helpful when they started out.
41% of aspiring entrepreneurs also recognise the role of family and friends support in helping them start a business
38% of aspiring entrepreneurs said prior work experience in the field would help them start their business
24% said they would lean on their personal and community networks to start their business.
