A damning new report from Localsearch – the marketing solution for small businesses – reveals 69% of Australian small business owners do not believe there are sufficient mental health resources available. A further 72% do not feel supported as a small business owner. 

The news forms the first iteration of Localsearch’s annual State of Small Business Report for 2024, shedding light on small business owners’ mental health and wellbeing, the wider mental health landscape in the SMB space and challenges impacting people working in a small business.

However, small business owners are taking their employees’ mental health seriously by introducing supportive measures. Two in five (39%) have implemented mental health leave days; 39% have created on-site break rooms; 11% have developed mental health action plans and 9% provide access to a mental health support partner.

Ed Ross, co-founder of TradeMutt, knows this harsh reality all too well and created his business with the aim of improving blue collar mental health and promoting the benefits of being vulnerable.

“This report paints a tough picture for small business owners, and it’s clear many people feel there aren’t enough mental health resources out there. The truth is, there are countell resources available, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start and navigating these resources can be time consuming.

“Ideally, no one should reach a point of burnout before they find the right support. On top of that, getting smart about prioritisation, using technology, or bringing in some extra hands can go a long way in easing the load and stopping that feeling of overwhelm before it hits.”

Heartbreakingly, the report also found more than two thirds (67%) of small business owners have considered walking away from their business suggesting that sometimes it feels all too much.

Adam Hargraves, CEO of Localsearch, said: “Small business owners are the backbone of our economy, but they’re facing immense challenges that go beyond just balancing the books. The mental health strain on these individuals is clear, and it’s a problem that demands immediate attention.

“At Localsearch, we’re committed to not only providing practical tools to help businesses thrive but also advocating for stronger support systems to ensure the wellbeing of the people behind those businesses. No business should have to sacrifice mental health to stay afloat.”

Localsearch handles all of the details so that small business owners don’t have to. Easing some of the pressures and stress points that they encounter day to day so that they can focus on their business. 

– Intuit Inc. , the global financial technology platform that makes Intuit TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, today shares its latest report, “The Revenue Blueprint: Strategies for Performance-Obsessed Marketers.” Based on a global survey of more than 2,000 marketing leaders, this report explores how brands can foster growth in a rapidly-evolving digital environment, with a particular emphasis on the potent combination of data-driven strategy, creative spark, and AI-powered efficiencies.

The Revenue Blueprint categorises respondents into three groups: Baseline Marketers, who achieve consistent results using widely accepted marketing practices; Performance-Obsessed Marketers, who deliver results across key metrics through innovative tactics and cutting-edge technology; and Revenue Leaders, a subset of Performance-Obsessed Marketers who use optimal resources, tools, and investments to drive significant growth within high-revenue organisations. By observing the differences across these groups, the report shares how industry leaders can elevate their strategies in an increasingly competitive marketplace. 

“Marketers today are expected to not only deliver immediate results, but also build meaningful, long-term connections with customers. That balance requires a deep understanding of customer needs and the ability to engage with them at the right moments,” said Mark Lodwick, Director of Brand Experience at Intuit Mailchimp. “Your tools and how you deploy them can make all the difference. And marketers that lean on AI to power personalization, optimize customer journeys, and offload basic tasks are seeing strong results.”

Revenue Pillars on how brands can foster growth

• Email’s enduring relevance: Almost two-thirds of marketers name email as the foundation of their marketing strategy, with 59% acknowledging the decline of search. Top marketers differentiate themselves by using email throughout the entire funnel, applying advanced tactics and integrating email with SMS to reach customers effectively. 87% of Performance-Obsessed Marketers report that email is their top channel for generating awareness.
• Automation and the customer journey: While nearly all marketers use automation to manage email, 89% of Revenue Leaders automate nearly the entire customer journey—from initial contact to post-purchase engagement. This approach appears to be part of a winning strategy: Revenue Leaders also reported greater customer satisfaction, stronger brand awareness, and a higher return on investment in comparison to their peers.
• Data-powered personalisation: There’s a technology knowledge gap driving sizable differences in data utilisation between Baseline Marketers and top-performing marketers. Only 39% of Baseline Marketers use customer data platforms, compared to 57% of Performance-Obsessed Marketers and 64% of Revenue Leaders. And almost half of Revenue Leaders leverage data platforms for hyper-personalised interactions and predictive analytics, which may explain their higher engagement, loyalty, and conversion rates compared to other marketers.
• Investing in AI to drive business outcomes: Although 74% of total respondents use AI, findings show that Revenue Leaders leverage AI more effectively than other marketer groups by using it as a strategic assistant, combining generative and analytical AI to maximise outcomes. While Baseline and Performance-Obsessed Marketers primarily see efficiency and brand awareness gains, Revenue Leaders say AI has unlocked additional benefits like higher order values and increased customer lifetime value. 

The Revenue Blueprint provides actionable insights for building smarter campaigns. By adopting the strategies of today’s leaders, marketers can better anticipate customer needs, build loyalty, and drive future growth.

Unlock how these four pillars can help you become a performance-obsessed marketer and download the full report.

D-Link, a global leader in networking solutions, has launched its groundbreaking DBG-X800 Nuclias Cloud Branch Router. This innovative device redefines branch office connectivity, offering unparalleled performance, security and ease of management.

The DBG-X800 is a powerful SD-WAN security gateway specifically designed for branch offices, seamlessly integrating advanced networking capabilities with robust security features. At its core, the DBG-X800 leverages D-Link’s Nuclias Cloud platform, enabling centralised cloud-based management and zero-touch deployment, dramatically simplifying network setup and maintenance.

Graeme Reardon, MD at D-Link Australia, said, “The DBG-X800 represents a significant leap forward in branch office networking. By combining SD-WAN capabilities with our Nuclias Cloud platform, we’re offering businesses a powerful, secure and easy-to-manage solution that can scale with their needs.”

The DBG-X800 is ideal for organisations with multiple sites, providing a unified management experience across all locations. Its zero-touch deployment feature allows for swift plug-and-play installation, eliminating the need for on-site IT personnel during setup.

“With the DBG-X800, we’re not just launching a new product; we’re introducing a new standard in branch office networking,” added Reardon. “It’s powerful combination of advanced features, robust security and cloud-based management makes it an indispensable tool for businesses looking to optimise their branch operations.”

Key features of the DBG-X800 include:

High-Performance Connectivity

The DBG-X800 boasts impressive networking capabilities:

– 4 Gigabit LAN ports for fast wired connections

– 1 Gigabit WAN port ensuring high-speed internet connectivity

– Integrated Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technology, providing lightning-fast wireless connectivity, supporting more devices and improving overall network efficiency

Comprehensive Security

The router incorporates multiple layers of protection:

– Robust network firewall to filter and block unauthorised traffic

– Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) actively shielding against modern threats like DDoS attacks

– Content filtering and application control for managing network usage and access

– Support for up to 999 firewall policies

Cloud-Managed Simplicity

Leveraging the Nuclias Cloud platform, the DBG-X800 offers:

– Centralised cloud-based management through an intuitive dashboard

– Easy deployment and configuration of network policies across multiple sites

– Real-time monitoring and alerts for network status and security events

Advanced VPN Capabilities

The DBG-X800 supports a wide range of VPN options:

– Multiple VPN protocols including IPSec, PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN

– Support for up to 50 VPN tunnels, allowing numerous secure connections simultaneously

– QuickVPN enabled for rapid setup

SD-WAN Functionality

As an SD-WAN security gateway, the DBG-X800 delivers:

– Improved network performance and reliability

– Efficient traffic routing and bandwidth optimisation

– Seamless integration of branch offices into the corporate network

Scalability and Performance

Designed to meet the demands of growing businesses, the router offers:

– Firewall throughput of 900Mbps

– Ability to handle up to 50,000 concurrent sessions

Flexible Deployment

The DBG-X800 is engineered for easy integration:

– Compact desktop design (192 x 120 x 38 mm)

– Zero-touch deployment capabilities for quick setup without on-site IT personnel

Availability and pricing

The new DBG-X800 Nuclias Cloud-Managed SD-WAN Security Gateway for Branch Office

is available from all Nuclias Cloud Certified Partners in Australia for AUD$899.95 (RRP).

CyberPower has launched its Advanced PFC Sine Wave Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Series for small business in Australia. The unique UPS Series helps users safeguard their gaming PCs, consoles and peripherals from sudden power loss and fluctuations that can severely cause equipment failure, data loss and game interruption.

CyberPower Systems Retail Sales & Marketing Manager ANZ Shannon Dowden explained, “Australian consumers and gamers in particular, have a major requirement for high performing UPS with Pure Sine Wave Output and Network Capability. The new CyberPower Advanced PFC Series delivers both, provides an ideal power source for high performance devices and is specifically geared towards gaming.”

The new active UPS with tiltable colour LCD panel provides intuitive power information. Designed for home, office and back-office applications, the PFC Sinewave Series adopts line-interactive topology with Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) function to offer a stabilised Pure Sine Wave output. The products are also compatible with equipment requiring active PFC power supply.

Other features include RJ45 ports to provide data line protection and PowerPanel management software enabling real-time remote monitoring and configuration via the USB port or optional RMCARD slot.

Dowden continued, “With the ever-increasing cost of living, the retail market was also looking for a slim design, high performing UPS that would safeguard equipment and systems efficiently. To meet that need the new Advanced PFC Sine Wave UPS Series has been designed with GreenPower UPS™ Technology to improve UPS operating efficiency and to minimise its energy consumption. In short, these UPS are cost-effective and also deliver significant energy cost savings over conventional UPS systems.”

Such is the quality and reliability of the new PFC Series that they come with a Two-year Advanced Replacement Warranty and a $75,000 Connected Equipment Guarantee. The PFC Series also boasts continuous power and surge protection so there is no down time when power quality is poor.  

When summarising why the new CyberPower Advanced PFC Sine Wave Series is ideal for home consumers, gamers, SMB and point of sale environments Shannon Dowden concluded, “These new UPS will protect and extend the life of your most valuable equipment, provide additional runtime in a power outage, save important data, prevent game interruption and safely shutdown computers and consoles when required. They also offer consumers proper peace of mind, are particularly cost effective for Pure Sine Wave Output devices and with the $75,000 Connected Equipment Guarantee plus a world class two-year advanced replacement warranty you know you are well covered in the case of any unforeseen power emergencies.”

The new CyberPower Advanced PFC Sine Wave UPS Series consists of two models, the 1000-Watt CP1600EPFCLCD and the 810-Watt CP1350EPFCLCD.

For more information on new CyberPower Advanced PFC Sine Wave UPS Series go to: https://www.cyberpower.com/au/en/product/promotion/the-advanced-pfc-sinewave-ups-series

CyberPower Advanced PFC Sine Wave UPS Series key features

• Line-interactive UPS Topology
• Energy Saving Technology
• Active PFC Compatible
• Pure Sine Wave Output
• Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR)
• Colour LCD Panel
• LED Status Indicator

• SNMP/HTTP Remote Management Capability (Optional)
• PowerPanel Management Software
• Surge and Spike Protection
• USB Charging Port(s)
• High-speed Ethernet Data Transmission
• Tower Form Factor

Small and medium businesses (SMBs) that adopt online retail channels earn 2.2 times more revenue and are 45 per cent more productive than their offline retail peers, according to new research by Mandala.

But despite the established benefits, just 12 per cent of all Australians SMBs currently use online retail channels such as third-party websites, apps or online marketplaces.

The new report, which will be launched in Canberra today, finds that if SMBs were to increase their adoption rate of online retail channels from 12 per cent to 15 per cent, Australia’s GDP would increase by $1.6 billion, equivalent to $154 per household each year.

The Online retail report also finds:

• Online retail channels boost productivity, with SMBs utilising online channels 45 percent more productive than those that don’t, and generating approximately $86,000 more revenue per worker.
• Online retail channels help more SMBs to sell to customers overseas. Only 2 per cent of those not using online channels exported overseas compared with 37 per cent for those that do use online channels.
• The average Australian SMB that does not use online retail channels generates $1.7 million in revenue, a stark contrast with SMBs that do use online retail channels which generate 2.2 times more revenue ($3.6 million).

“Online retail channels have revolutionised the way small business can compete, but the exciting thing we see in this research is just how much potential we still have left,” said Mandala Partner Dr Adam Triggs.

“SMBs represent 66 per cent of GDP, so even a small improvement in their productivity has big effects. Only 12 per cent of SMBs use online retail channels, such as third-party websites, apps or online marketplaces. If this increased to just 15 per cent, we would see a permanent $1.6 billion increase in Australian GDP, equivalent to $154 per household each year.

“SMBs that use online retail channels are up to 45 per cent more productive than those that do not. They have twice the revenues and are much more likely to export. We know Australian consumers are now well and truly primed to make purchases online so we could achieve economy-wide productivity gains through the implementation of policy settings that encourage SMBs to adopt online retail channels.

“A lack of awareness is a big barrier. Too many businesses don’t know how these online channels work and what they can deliver for them. The same is true for other digital technologies where the biggest barriers are more often than not a lack of awareness and understanding.”

The full report

When 29-year-old Brisbane tech entrepreneur Alexa Stathakis launched her new healthy drinks business, she had an important decision to make. Employ an expensive sales, marketing and admin team, or use AI and social media influencers to scale operations fast. She chose the latter, and the results have been staggering.

Within one week, Alexa’s virtual AI sales representative, nicknamed Sarah, called eight thousand schools across Australia, offering free sample packs of the company’s products. By the end of the week, more than one thousand schools had placed orders across metropolitan, regional and rural parts of Australia.

Alexa hacked her way to sales growth by creating a virtual assistant to handle all inbound and outbound calls. After training the AI to converse with canteen staff, answer questions, and send follow up emails, the orders started to pile in. Taking that a step further, Alexa turned Sarah’s attention to the supermarkets and petrol stations of Australia. Within three days, the product was on its way to IGA shelves nationwide.

Driven by a surge in demand, Tea Industries is actively seeking investors to fuel its expansion. With eyes set on international markets, Alexa has hinted at a future collaboration with multiple high profile influencers and has had preliminary discussions with multi-national retailers in the US.

Created in Queensland, Tea Industries’ journey started with a quest for a delicious and nutritious beverage compatible with a healthy diet. The lineup of flavoured tea drinks offers a healthy alternative to conventional hydration choices, featuring flavours like coconut and aloe vera. Each bottle sells for $4.

Founder and CEO Alexa Stathakis said the response to her new take on startup strategy has been overwhelming.

“When I launched the business, I had a difficult decision. Hire a sales force or use technology. I turned to AI, and the results have been beyond belief,” she said.

“36% of Queensland schools who received a sample went on to place an order, and we are now fulfilling orders from schools across the country,” Ms Stathakis said.

“Sarah is a massive reason the business is as far advanced as it is. I’m pretty much a one-person outfit, so there was no way I could have called all those schools and run the business.

“Sarah now manages even more aspects of the business beyond sales; she processes wholesale orders, automates logistics, and provides customer support. Essentially, she functions as the very backbone of the company, streamlining our entire process.

“When you’re in start-up mode, you always look for ways to work lean and preserve cash. You need to prioritise spendingon product development and branding, so Sarah has been and continues to be a great help.”

Annie Marie Andrew, Canteen Manager at Westfield Sports High in Sydney, was among the unsuspecting customers.

 “I didn’t realise Sarah was an AI until Alexa called me to put the order through and told me about it,” Annie shared.

Alexa Stathakis said the Tea Industries range was born from personal experience.

“Disappointed by the absence of sugar-free and artificial sweetener-free options in mainstream stores, and driven by a belief that hydration should enhance health, not hinder it, Tea Industries emerged,” Ms Stathakis said.

“Our lineup of healthy drinks, from fresh raspberry to calming aloe vera, offers a refreshing alternative to conventional hydration choices, catering to both personal wellness and the collective health of humanity.

“After just a few months on the market, our drinks are available nationwide in convenience stores, supermarkets and schools.”

Seeking to finance faster growth and scale, Ms Stathakis has begun the capital raising process and is actively seeking an investment partner to help the brand meet the overwhelming demand.

Tea Industries products are available in select IGAs, BP, Ampol, Shell service stations, and schools across Australia.

The global small business platform Xero has released its latest Xero Small Business Insights (XSBI) update, highlighting that Australian small businesses are persevering amid challenging macroeconomic conditions and still outperforming small businesses in other countries.

September quarter XSBI at a glance:

● Sales growth averaged 3.7% year-on-year (y/y) for the September quarter (5.0% y/y for the June quarter)

● Wages growth averaged 2.9% y/y for the September quarter (2.8% y/y for the June quarter)

● Jobs growth averaged 4.8% y/y for the September quarter (4.3% y/y for the June quarter) ● Small businesses waited 22.1 days to be paid in the September quarter (21.7 days to be paid in the June quarter)

Jobs growth remains strong

Small business hiring continued in the three months to September, with jobs growth particularly strong in August (+5.0% y/y) and September (+5.8% y/y) — the September result is the largest increase in two years. There was a noticeable variation in jobs growth across the industries and regions. Job gains were led by public administration (+9.0% y/y) and healthcare (+8.6% y/y), two sectors that are underpinned by public sector spending. Hospitality continued its trend of declining jobs (-0.2% y/y), and was the only industry employing fewer staff than a year ago — the fih consecutive quarter where this has been the case. Western Australia continues to show the strongest jobs growth (+6.7% y/y), followed by Queensland (+6.0%) and South Australia (+5.1% y/y), whereas Tasmania (+2.3% y/y) had the weakest.

Australian sales growth slowing but still ahead globally

The 3.7% y/y rise in sales in the September quarter is only about half the long term average growth rate for this series, highlighting the challenging environment faced by small businesses. Nevertheless, Australian small businesses continue to outperform all countries tracked in this XSBI series on sales, with the US (-0.9% y/y, June), New Zealand (-2.7% y/y, September) and Canada (-3.7% y/y, June) recording negative sales growth within the latest quarter. Australia also recorded the highest proportion of small businesses creating jobs and the shortest payment times, and is one of the most effective at managing wage cost pressures.

At an industry and regional level, public administration (+12.0% y/y), healthcare (+10.2 y/y) and Queensland (+5.8% y/y) led on sales growth, while hospitality (+0.3% y/y), agriculture (+1.1% y/y) and Tasmania (-0.6% y/y) recorded the weakest results.

“Small businesses are showing continued adaptability despite the economic headwinds. Sales improved in July aer experiencing negative growth in June, but this could have been an immediate response to the income tax cuts that started on 1 July, where Australians had more

disposable income to spend with small businesses. Itʼs also an encouraging sign that small businesses still have the means to hire more staff. However, the smaller rise in sales this quarter raises questions around how long small businesses can sustain this while managing cash flow pressures,” said Louise Southall, Xero Economist.

Wages growth shows little change

Wages growth remained steady at 2.9% y/y, a slight uptick on the 2.8% y/y rise in the three months to June. This suggests small businesses continue to pay smaller wage increases than the national average (as measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Wage Price Index), which for the year to June was 4.1%.

Small business payment times up slightly

Payment times showed a small increase in the September quarter. Payments were made an average of 6.1 days late, compared to 6.0 days in the June quarter, and small businesses waited an average of 22.1 days to be paid, up from a 21.7 day wait in the June quarter. This result was largely due to an abnormally low June quarter result with businesses settling their accounts ahead of the end of the financial year.

Theo Konstantas, Sales Director Australia, Xero, said: “Itʼs encouraging to see Australian small businesses continue to weather challenging conditions, and fare reasonably well compared to other markets. The slight increase in how long small businesses are waiting to be paid serves as a good reminder for small businesses to think about cash flow and consider offering more ways for their customers to pay. This might include bolstering digital payment methods or using automated invoice reminders. Getting on top of this is crucial for many industries as we come into the end-of-year period and holiday season.”

You can find the latest XSBI Update here.

The latest Ipsos Trustworthiness Index reveals that doctors are considered the most trustworthy profession in Australia and globally.  Advertising executives (14%) are the least trusted profession in Australia but are closely followed by social media influencers (15%), politicians (15%) and pollsters (16%).

Six in ten of the global public rate doctors as trustworthy (58%) and just 16% consider them untrustworthy. The next most trustworthy profession globally is scientists (56% trustworthy), followed by teachers (54%). Globally, politicians and social media influencers are the least trusted group (15%).

The Ipsos Trustworthiness Index survey, completed online by adults aged 18 and over across 32 countries including Australia, showed that while the most trustworthy profession varies across the countries covered, there is greater agreement on the professions considered to be untrustworthy, with politicians and social media influencers consistently topping the list across countries.

A snapshot of trustworthiness in Australia

In Australia, doctors are the most trustworthy profession (66%), followed by teachers (60%) and scientists (58%). They are followed by serving staff at a restaurant (49%), the police (48%), and armed forces (47%).

The professions most likely to be considered untrustworthy were social media influencers (61%), politicians generally (56%), advertising executives (49%), Government ministers (48%).  They were followed by journalists (40%), bankers and clergy/priests (38%), and business leaders (36%).

Australia is one of 17 countries that had a positive score on the global Trustworthiness Index.  The Index looks at the net trust score (the difference between the proportion considering a profession trustworthy and the proportion considering a profession untrustworthy). A positive index score means most of the professions listed have net positive scores – so more people consider them to be trustworthy rather than untrustworthy.

Snapshot of trustworthy profession findings

• Doctors, scientists and teachers the most trusted professions. Over half say doctors are trustworthy (58% on average across 32 countries), scientists (56%) and teachers (54%). Generally front-line public service workers (including members of the armed forces and the police) tend to be more trusted than not.
• Politicians are the least trusted, though ratings are not quite as bad as in 2018. Only 15% on average across 32 countries see politicians as trustworthy, once again ranking last in the Index.Generally, trust in government is low, with government ministers also in the bottom five, and only 28% trusting civil servants. However, trust in politicians and ministers has been gradually rising from its 2018 low, with both up 6 percentage points (pp) since then.
• Trust is rising for many professions. There has been a slight uptick since 2018 for some professions, including: judges (+5pp), lawyers (+8pp), pollsters (+6pp), clergy (+5 pp), bankers (+8pp), journalists (+6pp), business leaders (+4pp), and advertising executives (+5pp). However, business leaders, bankers, journalists and advertising executives all still receive negative net trustworthy scores
• Social media influencers not seen as trustworthy, but waiters are. Social media influencers are new to the Index this year and only politicians have a worst net trustworthiness score (only 15% finding them trustworthy). In other new professions added this year, serving staff at restaurants are the fourth most trusted profession (44%), but people are divided on taxi drivers, with 28% finding them trustworthy and 28% untrustworthy.
• Four in ten think ordinary people are trustworthy. They are twice as likely to be seen as trustworthy (38%) than untrustworthy (17%), and this has stayed remarkably steady since 2018. Trust is slightly higher among Baby Boomers (42%) than other generations.

Commenting on the findings, David Elliott, Deputy Managing Director, Ipsos Public Affairs Australia, said: “While there continues to be debate that society is losing faith in experts, our data again shows that in fact, scientists, doctors and teachers are held in high esteem both here and globally. 

“The high levels of trust placed in many professions of crucial importance to our society are encouraging as they indicate that we don’t think society is completely broken.  We still have a lot of trust in many important professions, like doctors, teachers, the armed forces and the police.  What is perhaps more concerning for us as a society are the low levels of trust in politicians, government ministers, bankers, journalists, clergy/priests and business leaders.

“Encouragingly for my colleagues and industry, while pollsters sit close to the bottom on trustworthiness, this looks to be more a result of many being undecided rather than a strong sense of untrustworthiness.  When we look at the proportions indicating a profession is untrustworthy, pollsters soar to equal 10^th position – alongside TV news readers -as the most untrustworthy, well behind social media influencers, politicians, government ministers, advertising executives, bankers, clergy/priests, business leaders and journalists.”