For this week’s feature, we are shining the spotlight on Nabula Brdar and Rebel Tidmarsh, the duo behind Supermarket Swap, an app that aims to provide consumers with healthier, additive-free, and affordable supermarket food choices. To date, the app has catalogued over 2000 products stocked across Australia’s largest supermarkets and has built a community of informed and health-conscious consumers around it. ISB: What led you to become an advocate for additive-free supermarket products? NB: It all began when I started feeding my children. Previously, I had scanned the nutritional table to look ..read more

Enterprise: Underground Spirits What is their raison d’etre? To balance the creation of a distinguished international brand with an unwavering commitment to staying true to its authentic Australian heritage. The inspiration behind Claudia Roughley and her co-founder launching the distillery Underground Spirits came from their love for Canberra. “The clean environment, natural beauty and supportive community, along with its status as one of the world’s most sustainable cities, and access to exceptional water from the Brindabellas,” Claudia avers. “The idea for our venture was born out of a desi ..read more

The latest research from HR and payroll solutions provider ADP reveals that despite ongoing apprehensions about AI and cost-of-living and other concerns, eight in 10 Australians still report being quite or very optimistic about work over the next five years, influenced by workplace factors such as job security, career satisfaction and professional growth. ADP’s latest People at Work research also revealed Australians working in IT and telecoms (96 per cent) construction (8 per cent) and finance (83 per cent) have the most optimistic outlook on their careers. On the other hand, many employees a ..read more

New research from invoicing software company Bookipi reveals that Australia ranks first among the countries with the most expensive freelancers. The research found that Australian freelancers charge an average price of $594.56 for a job. Australia was also found to be the most expensive country to hire a freelancer for creative writing, web programming, or mobile app development projects. India is ranked second globally with its freelancers charging at an average price of $501 per job. They were also ranked as the most expensive freelancing country for data entry, at an average price of $75.92 ..read more

American Express is expanding its Backing International Small Restaurants grant program, with venues in Melbourne now eligible to apply in addition to Sydney. Run in partnership with the International Downtown Association (IDA) Foundation and supported by Mainstreet Australia, the program will award 10 small restaurant owners with a grant each valued at $21,500 which they can allocate towards their operational expenses or improving their business. In its first two years in Australia, Backing International Small Restaurants has provided $240,000 in financial support and has helped small dining ..read more

How small businesses and early-stage start-ups can use AI-powered advances to improve their performance. In today’s fast-paced world, the quest for operational efficiency has never been more critical for Australian enterprises, small businesses and early-stage start-ups. It’s not just about gaining a competitive edge in terms of cost; it’s also about enhancing the customer experience. In an era marked by technological advancements, changing regulations, and evolving work methodologies, the definition and expectations of operational efficiency are constantly changing. Businesses, regardless of ..read more

The entrepreneurial landscape has always been dynamic, not only ever changing its form but also in the challenges it presents to those wanting to find success in the area. Recently, entrepreneurship has seen a major surge in female ownership, many of which face an entirely new battlefield of inevitable challenges. This recent trend shows women with a strong passion for achieving a positive work-life balance, achieving professional development, and maintaining a successful career while also fulfilling personal needs. Many of these challenges are even more prominent to those women planning to en ..read more

Non-bank financing company OptiPay has reported that it has seen a 25 per cent increase in its utilisation rate for invoice financing, suggesting that Australian SMEs are facing financial difficulties. “More of our clients are needing to access their invoice financing facility to free up cash for their business,” OptiPay CEO, Angus Sedgwick, said. “They’re feeling the impact of inflationary pressures, rent, higher interest rates and the additional burden of servicing tax debts post-COVID.” Invoice financing provides businesses with a line of credit secured by their outstanding invoices. Typica ..read more

Melbourne-based web hosting business True Green Hosting has won the Environmental Business of the Year award at the 2024 National Australian Small Business Champion Awards for its commitment and dedication to the environment. The awards, often called the Oscars of the Small Business World, attracted over 5000 entrants this year and were presented by channel nine newsreader Jayne Appozardi at The Star in Sydney. “We’ve had many doubters along the way, but our passion and determination as a team to make a meaningful impact has led us to be Australia’s leader in green web hosting,” Ray Pastoors ..read more

The title of this article may be somewhat misleading because there is no requirement that you have to, must or even should use public speaking to promote yourself or your small business. Contrary to this article’s title you don’t have to. However, changing your language about what you must do, should do, and have to do to market your business can go a long way in calming the anxiety people experience around public speaking. Reframing the language by saying, “I get to”, “I choose to” or “I want to” the activity takes on a new perspective. These small changes can make a world of difference ..read more