Greg Taylor

Unlock the secrets to consistent lead generation for your Australian business with our FREE eBook! Learn proven strategies to attract and convert leads effectively. 🌟 Don't miss out – download your copy today at www.rtdigital.com.au 📖

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At the Launch Vic Awards Nights, there was a lot of talk about the VC’s in our ecosystem, and quite a bit of mention of Angel Syndicates, but no mention of Venture Studios. In fact when people ask me what I do, I often have to explain what a Venture Studio is. So let me make the Venture Studio pitch. Firstly, what is a Venture Studio? Venture Studios give life to startups in two main ways. 1. Ideas are incubated and validated within the Venture Studio, once validated, the team finds the external resources/ people needed to bring the idea to life. 2. External founders brings ideas to Venture Studios, in which the Venture Studio provides services and resources to the founder in exchange for equity. So who is a Venture Studio good for? High Quality Founders, with scalable ideas: The success of a Venture Studio relies on the success of the startups they work with so naturally Venture Studios are looking for the highest quality founders / startups. Early stage founders who are missing a technical partner: During the early days of your startup, if you don’t have a technical partner, you generally require investment or you need to take significant financial risk to fund your MVP build. While most investors won’t want to invest until you have a functional MVP, this is the exact stage many Venture Studio’s like to play in. Why choose a Venture Studio over a development agency? Your developers will have skin in the game The app development process often goes wrong, because building apps is hard. If things go wrong, it’s easy for relationships to sour, and shortcuts to be made. Since Venture Studio’s success is so heavily tied into the success of their startups, by choosing a Venture Studio you have the peace of mind that your developers are so heavily incentivised to deliver an awesome product. Support beyond development Again because the success of the Venture Studios are so heavily tied to the success of the startup, it’s in the our best interest to ensure you are supported beyond your product build. So when it comes to GTM, capital raising and beyond, we aim to provide support and introductions where we. De-risk your financial position So this is the obvious benefit, get to launch without paying or paying a lot less. All of this is not to say, VC’s, Angel’s, Dev Shops all don’t play an important role in this ecosystem, I just feel the Venture Studio voice needs to be heard a bit louder.

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Ever wished you could tap into a bit of expertise on “that one thing” that would get your product sourcing sorted? 💫 Granted!! 🧞‍♀️ Our in-house Design, Production & Sourcing expert, Danielle, will be at the Global Sourcing Expo Australia in Melbourne on Tue 19 Nov / Wed 20 Nov / Thu 21 Nov, next week. She’ll be walking the show with an agenda keenly focused on - 🌟 fashion trends the will lead the market for the AW2025 and SS2025 seasons 🎯 must-have items to round out a brands collection, targeting various consumer markets 🏭 building out her substantial supplier network, identifying those who offer finished goods, fabrics or accessories, 👗 and can meet the MOQ, quality and FOB pricing needs of Medium to Small Australian retail businesses Imagine seeing through the lens of 30 years deep experience, specialised in this field. DM me if you want to catchup with Danielle to talk shop, or get her guidance to source something in particular, or solve for a certain challenge or problem. 🏷️ Complimentary offer 🧵 Limited availability 📍 Priority given to our current clients. You could have an EXPERT in your pocket - (whether that’s a patch pocket, flap pocket, set pocket, cargo pocket, jetted pocket … you get the idea 😁) Event details in comments below. #Retail #Production #Sourcing #InventoryManagement #Merchandising #Design

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To all you #Marketers in my network there's a new tool on the block! Special New Zealand has co-designed a powerful new tool: The Inclusive Code Designed to assist in reshaping New Zealand’s advertising landscape. This initiative challenges marketers to rethink their approach to disability, addressing well-intentioned but often exclusionary practices. With stats saying 25% of New Zealanders live with a disability, yet only 1% of primetime ads featuring disabled individuals, there’s a clear gap between reality and representation. Developed over a span two years with insights from eight experts with lived experience, including Grace Stratton, CEO of All is for All, and Fonoti Pati Umaga QSM , Co-Chair of Mana Pasefika Disabled Peoples Organisation. The Inclusive Code aims to create a more inclusive, representative advertising industry. Give it a test and let us know what you think in the comments. Link: #DiversityAndInclusion #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveAdvertising #RepresentationMatters #SocialImpact #DeafCommunity #DeafAwareness

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Superannuation is a crucial component of every working Australian’s life, but it’s frequently clouded by uncertainty and a dash of fear. Understanding how to manage your super investment options and determining how much you need for a comfortable retirement are pivotal steps towards securing your financial future. But fear not! This guide is tailored to shed light on these topics for young professionals, retirement planners, and the broader Australian populace aiming to retire comfortably by age 67. #SuperannuationSavings #RetirementPlanning #FinancialSecurity #InvestmentOptions #SuperannuationManagement #SuperBalance #RetirementGoals #FinancialLiteracy #SuperConsolidation #InvestmentStrategy #FuturePlanning #SuperReview #RetirementSecurity #FinancialAdvice #SuperannuationTips https://lnkd.in/dkhVz6r5

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Begs the question, as Hume City Council runs its final Circular Economy Business webinar for 2024: If Victoria is the worst state to invest and start up a CE business, how are all levels of government going to cut the red tape and cost of licences to move the transition from rhetoric to reality, and support existing business and start-ups? This is the cold hearted reality, as MiA sees it, especially for start up repair businesses that require practical support and tax incentives, not costly licences that would not assist in making repair more affordable for the consumer. And, let's not forget Victorian volunteers doing the heavy lifting for the state when it comes to the repairing of textiles and electrical items. The red tape, bureaucracy and lack of ongoing funding around these repair activities must be addressed if communities are going to lead their local CE from the bottom up, and scale out to reuse and repair hubs and precincts along with businesses and industries. Currently, it appears to MiA that the hard questions around the practicalities are just that, too hard or uncomfortable to voice. As an example, there are hints that MiA would be an asset to the CE. But hints to any interested CE advocates are probably not going to result in further buy-in whilst state and local red tape is a barrier, and their work is not renumerated. Sustainability Victoria George Osborne Circular Australia Luis Lorenzo Fernandez Zina Miceli Donna Portis Scott Valentine Julie McKay Connie Manglaviti Fortunata Maria Callipari Kirsty Laino Volunteering Victoria Mark Pearce Matt Genever Neighbourhood Houses Victoria Bran Black #circulareconomy #redtape #licences #business #victoria #rankings #auspol #volunteering https://lnkd.in/gad2Tyc8

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💥Why is ENJO the best business Barb de Corti has ever built? Hint: It’s not just the billion-dollar sales. In our latest The Evolution Partners Podcast, Barb de Corti shares her journey from selling microfibre cloths at expos to creating ENJO Australia —a billion-dollar cult brand driven by purpose. For Barb, success isn’t just numbers. It’s about building a carbon-neutral, ethical business with a loyal following that believes in chemical-free, sustainable cleaning. Here’s what makes ENJO stand out: 🌱 Sustainability at Its Core: Barb’s commitment to eco-friendly, ethical practices has earned ENJO a loyal, values-driven customer base. 🚀 Education Over Selling: Her approach? Educate customers on sustainable cleaning to build lasting trust. 💡Lessons from Growth: Rapid scaling taught Barb the importance of cash flow, digital sales, and staying close to her customers. Takeaway: Barb’s story is a blueprint for building a purpose-led, profitable brand that outlasts trends. 🎧 Hear how Barb turned ENJO into a billion-dollar brand with impact on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube 👉https://bit.ly/3Z3NgNO

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"Why Attend? Gain invaluable insights from industry leaders and learn how to implement ethical procurement and supply chain practices in your organisation. This is a must-attend event for professionals committed to fostering a more ethical and transparent industry and business practices in the textile, clothing, and footwear industry." Check out the programmes for each state. Seamless Pam Allan Ethical Clothing Australia

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From $4m to $60 million in 3 years I was part of a digital team that grew online retailer My Pet Warehouse from a tiny acorn to a mighty oak, in the competitive Australian pet market. This is how we did it. We had a visionary CEO Philip Bartholomew he knew that; ✓ Having the biggest and best range would ensure repeat customers and a high AOV - (in retail, if you can’t get the big brands on board, should you even start?) ↳ Our buyer Luke was the best in the business ✓ Strategically positioning your warehouses across Australia (Perth, Melbourne, Sydney & QLD) would ensure the quickest delivery times ✓ Hiring the best and letting them get on with it ✓ Understanding that seasonality for pet supplies is everything by rigidly sticking to a content and promotions calendar for all channels ✓ We grew our social audiences by competitions, expert Q & As ✓ PPC: My CEO Philip told me, “Stephen, you can grow the Google Ads account limitlessly, once you obtain a non branded ROAS of 525%”. Bing Ads also accounted for $100,000 per year in sales at a better ROAS than Google ✓ Email was huge - aggressive targets on new subscribers + investment into the best enterprise email segmentation software + adhering to seasonal trends from content calendar ✓ Asking brands we stocked for a marketing budget. *Attention marketing managers*: if you’re promoting other brands, make them pay for it. ✓ SEO: A 3 year phased aggressive strategy that started with; ↳ SEO audit by yours truly before I even arrived in the door that mapped out short, medium and long term initiatives; ↳↳ Short term: Intensive Backlink clean up from mess of previous agency ↳↳ Medium term:  Addressing category and product SEO optimisation with copywriter (over 50,000 products) ↳↳ Long term: Develop and maintain a content calendar that tapped into the many experts we had to choose from, because we were selling their products. When our CEO then invested in a PR campaign that saw him on the biggest news channels / publications in Australia, such as SKY NEWS, that’s when all of our web pages elevated up further up the rankings ✓ Working alongside and developing a close relationship with Andy Danks, our web developer made SEO changes that were needed quickly. Andy also constantly tested Conversion rate optimisation strategies #mypetwarehouse #retail #ecommerce #petstore

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📣 Another week of stand out capital raises across Aussie & Kiwi VC 📣 #Australia 🇦🇺: Mutinex | Modelling & analytics for marketing mix optimisation | $17.5m AUD deal valuing them at $132.5m | led by Marbruck Investments, supported by EVP and Archangel Ventures | by Matt Farrugia and Henry Innis #NewZealand 🇳🇿: Emerge | Digital-first business current account | $12m NZD Series A | backed by Altered Capital, Icehouse Ventures, K1W1 LIMITED, NZ Fintech Fund, Hard Yaka Ventures, NZVC, AIM - Angel Investors Marlborough and Enterprise Angels | founded by Jamie Jermain and Jovan P. What are your favourite companies that have raised this week? Sources: Startup Daily | New Zealand Herald

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Discover how conversational AI is transforming content creation, making it accessible and efficient through simple SMS-based interactions.

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A quick look at some of our countries leading retail news this week Woolworths Strike and Coles' Response A 17-day strike at Woolworths' distribution centres led to empty shelves and an estimated $140 million in lost sales. This disruption prompted customers to shift to Coles, which increased orders and staffing to accommodate the surge in demand. Although Woolworths has agreed to a wage increase to end the strike, the company anticipates continued impacts on sales and earnings until stock levels are restored, especially during the critical Christmas trading period. Myer's Acquisition and Financial Performance Myer is proceeding with a major acquisition of fashion brands—including Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans, and Dotti—from Premier Investments. This deal, valued at approximately $950 million, is expected to be finalized in early 2025 and will add 719 stores to Myer's portfolio across Australia and New Zealand. Despite this expansion, Myer reported a 26% decrease in profit and a 10% decline in pre-tax earnings for 2024, attributed to challenging economic conditions and inflationary pressures. The upcoming Christmas season is crucial for Myer to improve its financial standing. Mosaic Brands' Store Closures Mosaic Brands, the parent company of retailers such as Katies, Noni B, and Millers, announced the winding down of the Katies brand and plans to close an additional 80 stores in January, affecting 480 employees. This decision is part of a broader consolidation strategy amid financial challenges, including an estimated $240 million in debt. Administrators are seeking buyers for the group, with the deadline for expressions of interest extended to the end of December. To meet holiday demand, Amazon has expanded its network with a new robotics fulfillment center in Sydney and plans for another facility in Melbourne in 2025. The company has also hired 600 seasonal workers to support increased operations during the festive season. Business Confidence Decline The National Australia Bank's November survey revealed a significant decline in business confidence, reaching the lowest levels since the pandemic. The manufacturing and retail sectors were particularly affected by ongoing inflation pressures. Despite a slowdown in inflation, with stable labor cost growth and a slight increase in purchase costs, overall productivity remains weak, posing challenges for the retail industry. These developments highlight the dynamic nature of the Australian retail landscape, with companies navigating industrial actions, economic pressures, strategic acquisitions, and preparations for the crucial holiday shopping period. Retail Doctor Group

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For the past 5 years, our team of analysts and leading retail experts have reached out to consumers and retailers alike to discover just what it is that makes Australian retail tick. Groundbreaking findings from this research form the basis of our Consumer & Retailer Sentiment whitepaper, featuring global comparisons through Ebeltoft Group's worldwide research. We then take these findings and share them with our CEO Community in a series of webinars that deliver: - key insights around emerging trends in consumer sentiment and behaviours - roadmaps that transform loyalty, retention, and customer centricity strategies - and improved focus on the trends that drive engagement. If you've missed any of these webinars, click the link below to watch now: https://lnkd.in/dgwPGw9j Future-proof your business today. Contact myself, Brian Walker, or Anastasia Lloyd-wallis now. ☎ +61 2 9460 2882 ✉ [email protected] 🌐 retaildoctor.com.au 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑦 20-𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑜𝑢𝑟 2024 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑟 & 𝑅𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑟: https://lnkd.in/dVmhCgp4 Anastasia Lloyd-wallis Brian Walker Ebeltoft Group Retail Doctor Group The Retail Doctor Academy https://lnkd.in/g_mYEUB8 #AnastasiaLloydWallis #AusRetail #AustralianRetail #Benchmarks #BrianWalker #CEOCommunity #ConsumerBehaviour #ConsumerInsight #ConsumerInsights #ConsumerSentiment #DataDrivenRetail #Ebeltoft #FitForBusiness #FutureOfRetail #Insights #Limbic #LimbicConsultant #LimbicRetail #Live #LiveWebinar #NeuroRetail #Neuroscience #RDG #RDGInsights #Retail #RetailCEO #RetailDoctorGroup #RetailExcellence #RetailGrowth #RetailInnovation #RetailLeadership #RetailManagement #RetailNetworking #RetailSentiment #RetailStrategy #RetailTraining #RetailTrends #RetailUpskilling #RetailWebinar #SalesSkills #Sentiment #SustainableRetail #Webinar

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Looking to grow your startup in Australia? Discover the top 5 business grants that can help you secure the funding you need to thrive. Don't miss out on these opportunities to take your business to the next level. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gDC6UxmX #BusinessGrants #StartupFunding #AustralianBusiness #SmallBusinessSupport #Entrepreneurship

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If you wear clothes and care about the world, then check out how your favourite brands fare in the latest Ethical Fashion Report. This 10th edition report is a sobering read. A whopping 89% of the 120 companies that earn more than $50 million in Australia (representing 460 brands) are not paying a fair wage at any stage of their supply chains. Fashion companies can do better. And so can we in our choices as consumers. Read more and search brands here: https://lnkd.in/gvFfG8im #EthicalFashionReport

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