http://www.cariblue.com.au/ Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:00:16 Cariblue Articles http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=20389 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Are-you-ready-to-franchise-your-business?.html Are you ready to franchise your business? You have heard about it, you have discussed it with friends and family, it excites you to think you could do it…but what do you really need to know before you consider franchising your business? Franchising is a great growth strategy for profitable businesses that have a system that can be replicated, who want to build and expand their brand without the expense and... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=17357 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Social-Media-Snapshot.html Many of our clients ask us about social media and the benefits for their business as they are building new websites. So in this article we are going to outline the three most popular social media tools and some tips in getting started. Word of mouth marketing is amplified on-line when using social media tools and it is another way to get your website to generate business rather than just looking pretty. 1. Facebook Facebook is... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=17353 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Who-has-the-key-to-the-filing-cabinet?-Ans:-Virtual-Satellite-Offices!.html With the establishment of the internet, email and smart phones in our everyday life, it is no wonder that organisations are changing the way they conduct their business. One of the many ways that businesses are incorporating this technology is the transformation of the traditional based corporate office into the virtual satellite workplace. With software available to create virtual filing cabinets, meetings via the internet, accessing... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=15097 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Kelly-Lane---Enterprise-Connect-Case-Study.html Situation Kelly Lane Pty Ltd is a wholesale company that produces a number of designer brands: Kelly Lane, Artie Fartie and A Tad Trendi. Their brands and products consist of photo frames, canvases, block mounts, coasters, cups, bathroom sets, clocks, glasses, plaques, body care and souvenirs. Kelly Lane Pty Ltd started in Australia in 1995 and has continued to grow and establish itself as a well-recognised brand of gifts and home... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=15101 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Scoot2You---Franchise-Case-Study.html Situation Scoot2You is a chauffeuring service with a difference. At the designated time and location a Scoot2you Personal Chauffeur will arrive on one of their Scoot2you Italian folding motorbikes. They’ll fold the bike away and slip it into the boot of the clients car, then the Chauffeur will drive their client and their car home. Due to the popularity and continuous growth of this business system, the Directors decide... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13917 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Top-11-Benefits-of-Strategic-Planning.html The year 2011 has started off with some devastating lows for many people and many businesses and the floods that have rocked Australia have certainly rocked a nation. Over the coming months many will be rebuilding their lives and looking to the future once again. Keeping abreast of what you need to do in time like this is planning and whether it is personal or for business it is an important step in moving forward and staying in action. It... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13913 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Money-from-the-Government?!.html Are you aware of money available to your company from government to help you in growing your business? While some are competitive grants, others are available immediately if your company meets the criteria. It is good business practice to access those that for which you are eligible, especially if they assist you in achieving your goals sooner, enable you to get to market more quickly or reduce the risk to which your company is... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13909 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/What-do-your-employees-think?.html It has been said: “our employees are our most valuable asset”. When was the last time you asked your employees what they thought about your company? More interestingly, if you have conducted an employee survey, what did you do with the answers and information? We know how difficult it is to recruit, let alone retain staff these days and wouldn’t it be really useful to understand what they think... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13905 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Preparing-for-uncertain-times.html With all the current uncertainty what can you do to prepare your business? Here are some ideas: Focus – on what achieves results for your business. Don’t get side tracked. Apply the 80:20 rule to your customers – which are the 20% of your customers that bring in 80% of your business. What can you do to keep them? Do you know? If not how do you find out? Then what do you do about what you have... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13901 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Engagement-Models-that-Deliver-Economic-Development.html Never let it be said that the local government environment remains the same from year to year. Amalgamation for some has come at the cost of losing their local identity and of subsequently taking on a regional perspective. On the plus side it heralds the opportunity to tackle more ambitious projects and, with an economy of scale, to achieve more outcomes across a wider range of initiatives. Economic development can be a powerful means... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13897 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Best-Buy-is-Local-Buy.html Do you use Local Buy or an equivalent member of the National Procurement Network? Local Buy was established in 2001 to provide comprehensive, value adding procurement services to Queensland local government and is a commercial entity wholly owned by the Local Government Association of Queensland Inc. (LGAQ).  Local Buy’s core business is the creation of contractual arrangements for goods and services that are used... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13893 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Consultation-for-Ongoing-Success.html Often some of the best project ideas rely on the government to get them off the ground. Yet how often have you seen the business or residential community failing to support the new project, or the project fade and die after the government has retired their resources? We all know how infuriating it can be to have someone else’s views foisted on us, and this is particularly annoying if it is an issue that concerns our business... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13889 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Technology-Solutions-Made-Easy.html Selecting and implementing a new computer or telecommunications solution can be a minefield for the unwary. Indeed many organisations embark on this challenging journey with little or no understanding of what they are letting themselves in for. Here are a few basic rules that will guide any organisation seeking to identify and implement a new computer or telecommunications solution. These rules apply whether you are purchasing a... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13885 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Everybody's-doing-it!---Operations-Manuals.html Is there a simple way to help you deliver a more consistent level of service, help you be more efficient and increase your profitability, while reducing your business’s reliance on you? Cariblue’s Managing Director, Sarah Cobb, knows one way that could be the solution. First a few thought-provoking questions:  Do you have standard procedures for doing things in your business? Or do different people do... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13877 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Creative-Recruiting.html Much has been written about the difficulties of finding staff, let alone the right staff for your company. In times of such low unemployment this serious issue impacts all businesses. Many industries face skill shortages but all face labour shortages, in other words there simply are not enough ‘suitable’ unemployed jobseekers in the market to fill the jobs on offer. This in turn makes planning for growth hard to manage... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13873 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Action-Plans-Get-Things-Done!.html Action plans are probably one of the simplest yet most effective tools for getting things done on time. It is a cohesive way to achieving an objective by scheduling employees and resources within a clearly defined time frame. An action plan can define ‘operationally’ what has to be done by whom, when, how and with what.  Action plans can work well for one person or a group, for small events or multi-task... http://www.cariblue.com.au/?process=views/article.php&articleId=13869 http://www.cariblue.com.au/articles/Better-Understanding-Your-Customers.html Do you know if your customers would recommend your company to others? Do you know why your customers use your company? When is the last time you asked your customers if they are satisfied with your services, or if there are changes they would like to better meet their needs? The best time to conduct a satisfaction survey is while their experience of dealing with your company is fresh in their minds, shortly after their transaction...