Posted by Gillian on September 3rd, 2010 — Posted in Business, Ideas
Tags: Business, trust
Trust
It occurred to me recently when I was under duress to make decisions concerning our technology needs, that TRUST was the element I was grappling with.
WHOM TO TRUST FOR ADVICE when making decisions across various technology platforms such as equipment, software, web site design etc? Technical people come with different perspectives, knowledge, customer skills and vested interests. As our requirements grow, the technology is often supplied by different companies for e.g web site modification, EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) installation and upgrades, email campaigns, analytics and reports, equipment upgrades (we recently installed a server with 3 times the speed and x4 thecapacity of our old one), not to mention setting up Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Blogs. The cost of these services and the software to make it all work is considerable.
Without CONSIDERED and TRUSTWORTHY advice, making good decisions can be very difficult. We are learning and adapting to change daily- even the experts.
My solution is to choose one person in this network to be my guide. Someone who understands our business and culture, our expertise and what we need to do to deliver wonderful products to our customers.
See a blog I have found – Trusting Digital marketing
http://elenaibanez.wordpress.com/2010/01/15/digital-marketing-trusting-the-experts/
balance • intuition • transparency • knowledge
......................................................
Posted by Gillian on August 27th, 2010 — Posted in Business
Tags: business news, Paco Underhill
SmartCompany.com.au
smartcompany@email.impactdata.com.au
We highly recommend the free newsletter Smartcompany. It keeps us up to date with what is happening in the business world. As we also retail and sell into the retail sector I was most interested to see Paco Underhill’s new book reviewed.
Retail trends: Kevin Moore. Retail guru Paco Underhill’s new book – What Women Want – examines our lives as shoppers and is definitely worth a look. Apply to receive the smart company yourself.
......................................................
Posted by Gillian on August 21st, 2010 — Posted in News
Tags: art exhibitions, Euraba, MCA
See a wonderful example of Euraba’s work at the MCA Level Three - iphone image below 
Euraba Wall Panel- Recycled paper pulp artwork
......................................................
Posted by Gillian on August 20th, 2010 — Posted in News, sale
Tags: Euraba, handmade paper, Indigenous, paintings
As many of you know I have spent the past 3 years mentoring Euraba as part of an Australia Council initiative.
The Indigenous people of Euraba are unique. They are artists and paper makers specialising in handmade paper on which they create artworks.
In the Goomeroi language, euraba means place of healing, derived from the healing leaves of the eura tree. Fish, rivers, animals, waterholes, tracks and the walks of life are favourite themes. Cotton is a major crop grown in the region. Euraba Artists & Papermakers use 100% cotton off-cuts from the clothing industry to produce cotton pulp to make their paper. The artists paint with the pulp, although some acrylics are now used. Euraba is located at Boggabilla on the Queensland, New Sales Wales border near Goondiwindi. www.eurabapaper.com.au
Recently I collected some of their paintings from an exhibition in Sydney. Instead of sending them back I invited friends to purchase them. I have 3 left, they are by the founding elders Aunty May and Aunty Joy.
If you are interested to purchase one of these contact me at gillianc@corbanblair.com.au
......................................................
Posted by Gillian on August 13th, 2010 — Posted in Business
The Australia Post Lunch- provided an insight into managing one of Australia’s most trusted brands though massive technological change.
I went to this lunch recently and below is the follow-up by Anthony Hollis CEO Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce. I think it is useful, relevant and thoughtful.
The follow up email below contains the talk and other information. It was a stimulating presentation and provided insight into how the Post Office is managing change and using a strong culture to support new business strategy.
Dear Gillian,
Thank you for joining us at Monday’s business lunch with David Mortimer AO, Chairman & Ahmed Fahour, Managing Director & CEO, Australia Post, in conversation with Brooke Corte, Sky News Business Channel. We trust that you found the discussion thought provoking and enjoyable.
Please click here to see photos, the full video and media from the event.
Our thanks to Tim Ebbeck, President & Managing Director, SAP Australia and Michael Andrew, National Chairman, KPMG Australia for generously partnering with us.
Please consider supporting the great work of Red Kite Australia.
For more information on the benefits of a Chamber membership, including access to on-line guest lists, over 40 member-only events per annum and reduced rates to other events, please contact Mark Herman by email or on (02) 9326 1700 or visit our website.
Best wishes,
Anthony
The Chamber – Celebrating 40 years of Thought Leadership!
______________________________
Anthony Hollis Chief Executive Officer, NSW Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce
For all event queries, please contact Louise Sharp, Event Manager on (02) 9326 1700
395 New South Head Rd, Double Bay NSW 2028 Ph: (02) 9326 1700 www.aicc.org.au
......................................................
Posted by Gillian on August 6th, 2010 — Posted in Ideas, News
Tags: Sydney design Chair installation powerhouse museum
Corban & Blair sponsored the leather wrap journals provided to record the designer’s creative journey in this installation using re-loved chairs.
Two of the leather Diaries
“The Chair has a long and poignant past. Aesthetically, socio-politically and technologically, this everyday item reflects varied stories. A colourful narrative of pre-loved chairs is revealed in this installation. Sydney based designers reinterpret each piece”
Chairs in the installation
The journal (diary) used by the artists.
On at the Powerhouse 31st July -10th October.
......................................................
Posted by Gillian on August 3rd, 2010 — Posted in Ideas
Tags: Sydney design, Young Blood designers
Our graphic designer Vanessa Moule is one of the ‘young bloods’ at the designer’s market- look out for her and her collaborative partner- their jewellery pieces are unique.
Meet and buy direct from the best new design talent in the country.
Featuring fashion, furniture, jewellery, graphics, industrial design and more, this curated market is a glimpse into the future, a critical launch pad for Australia’s talented young designers, as well as a vibrant market for the design-savvy shopper.
Read the list of hot designers at Young Blood.
This year, Young Blood will be joined by the international designboom mart, featuring designers from around the world.
YOUNG BLOOD: DESIGNERS MARKET + DESIGNBOOM MART
Friday 13 August , 10am – 9pm
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 August, 10am – 5pm
$5 entry (includes Museum admission) BOOK NOW Free for Powerhouse members
Free for Sydney Design Pass holders
Young Blood is part of the Museum’s commitment to foster and promote Australian design.
......................................................
Posted by Gillian on July 29th, 2010 — Posted in Business, News
Tags: Christmas gifts, Melbourne Trade Shows, Michael Neaylon, Retail seminars
Corban & Blair have chosen not to exhibit at the August Trade Fairs, focusing on both on-line and off-line business strategies with our retailers.
For all those retailers setting off to Melbourne on their annual buying trip we’d also like to draw to your attention the opportunity of learning and gaining insights into improving business through a seminar based Business Development Program. Since the GFC retail has experienced some tough times, so learning new things, getting ideas and simply being motivated is a great thing to do. We’d recommend you set aside some time to participate in the Program.
Reed Gift Fairs, Business Development Program is running throughout the Fair offering a comprehensive program of seminar style session covering the following topics:
- The 100 minute MBA of Retail Trading
- Grow, Diversify and Out-manoeuvre Your Competition
- Control Your Buying
- Visual merchandising for the small(er) retailer
- Local Area marketing
- The Power of 2 Purchase – How customer data gives wholesalers and manufacturers the power retail distribution.
- Retain or acquire? Are your current customers feeding your business or do you need new ones?
- Find Your Perfect Match
In this final seminar I will be contributing as a supplier with Kate Moriarty from Stem a successful on-trend design store in Balmain. By clicking the [red] link below you can Reserve Your Place!
Reserve your Place Reed Gift Fair: 7 – 11 August
Find Your Perfect Match
Presented by Michael Neaylon – Director, MCME
Monday 9 August 11.00am – 12.30pm
What makes the perfect retailer / wholesaler relationship? Does such a partnership exist? In this highly interactive seminar, we discuss how partnership of various kind can be successful. Packed with real stories from new and leading wholesalers and retailers, find out how you can make these vital relationships transparent, enjoyable… and profitable. Make it a date.
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre and Melbourne Showgrounds
1 Comment
......................................................
Posted by Gillian on July 23rd, 2010 — Posted in Business
This season we are not exhibiting at the Trade Show we are launching our products on-line with the newsletter below.
This is an experiment to see if it is easier and more informative for our customers. The newsletter provides a comprehensive view of what we offer to the retail sector as well as the wider business community.
This of course has to be supported with many other strategies, as the downside of an on-line launch is that people may not get it, it may go into spam or their computer may not read it… so we follow up with a phone call, contact from our agents, appointment for product showings, our new catalogue and further information about our new promotion- buy one of our leather Duet products and be eligible to go into a draw to win our new The Story Book.
So far after 18 hours we have had 2 orders, change of address information and a number of really nice communications with our retail customers.
We will only know if this strategy has been successful at the end of the selling season. A few months to wait! We are keeping fingers and toes crossed.
If you would like to receive this newsletter email me on info@corbanblair.com.au
......................................................
Posted by Gillian on July 16th, 2010 — Posted in News, Recommend
Last Friday I attended a workshop about on-line retail optimisation. The presenter was Martin Newman from the UK. Four hundred and fifty slides later I was amazed at the improvements we can now make to our website – a site I had thought was quite efficient.
We will add the strategies below as we upload our new product ranges for the Christmas selling season:
• feature our best sellers
• make sure our search function is obvious and is set up to assist customers. Check the key words we use- are those our customers look for
• colour code all action buttons
• ensure we have a call to action on each page
• make sure all images are clickable
• contact details on each page to ensure customers can call if they need information or help
• adding steps and explanation to the purchasing process to make it easy and clear for the customer. To create a customer experience which is easy, informative and inspiring
• shipping and returns information made clearer
• gift wrapping and cards- we do it but it does not specify we do
• understanding what, why and where we get cart abandonment
• using Google Analytics so that we get information was can act on
• having clearly understood calls to action
These are just a few things we can do that should assist customers to purchase from us. As we will be using Google Analytics more efficiently we should be able to see if these changes make a difference!
It was an inspiring day, leaving me with a lot of work, but with confidence that the effort will be worth it.
For further information see
Martin Newman – Practicology.com/mnblog
......................................................
