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News:  We invite you to sit back and take a few minutes to visit with us today as we bring you this week's news which includes details of the franchise personality who is recovering from a monster truck accident; and the franchise which is celebrating the opening of two huge new Brisbane stores.  The ARA also join us today with details of its new research which reveals retailers are cutting back on costs, but spending more on advertising in a bid to drive sales. 

And, in our Quick Shots News column, we introduce you to some college boys who are using their good looks and muscles in a business that may change the way you look at spring cleaning forever!

All of this, plus information about Workplace Ombudsman random audits; Telstra staff cuts and much more of the latest news and opportunities from around the globe in this edition.

Enjoy!

Just Cuts personality injured in Monster Truck Accident

Grant Denyer with Tim Fisher at Just Cuts sponsored charity event,

The Royal Flying Doctor's Cut-a-Rama

Television personality and Just Cuts spokesman, Grant Denyer, is expected to be out of action for the next few months after crushing vertebrae in his back in a monster truck accident.

Denyer who has been involved with Just Cuts sponsored charity events, such as The Royal Flying Doctor's Cut-A-Rama, was in intensive care at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney recently after crushing his lower vertebrae when he landed heavily during a demonstration jump over five wrecked cars ahead of this weekend's Monster Truck Championships at Dapto, near Wollongong last week. 

> Click here for more about this story

Click here for more about Grant's involvement with Just Cuts

Homewares retailers, Howards Storage World® has expanded in Queensland with two new stores opening in Jindalee and Helensvale. The new locations offer Queensland residents an even greater opportunity to visit this one stop shop, with Queensland now housing 14 Howards Storage World stores.

The Jindalee and Helensvale stores each stock Howards’ extensive range of practical storage and organisational solutions for the home, office and garage. The locations are expected to be a big hit with local residents, many of whom are families in constant need of innovative organisational options for the home.

As a wholly Australian owned company, Howards Storage World® offers a tightly controlled franchising structure that provides a high level of support including ongoing training, regular franchisee meetings, buying support and access to strategic marketing programs.

Howards Storage World® has plans to open more stores in Australia and is expanding its presence overseas to far away corners of the world such as Spain, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland and Europe.

The Jindalee Howards Storage World® store is located at Shop 16, 34 Goggs Road, Jindalee (Telephone: 07 3279 2611).  The Helensvale Howards Storage World® store is located at B013 Homeworld Helensvale Centre, 502 Hope Island Road, corner of Siganto Drive (Telephone: 07 5502 6677). Both stores are now open for business.

Click here for more information about Howards Storage World® franchising

Lifetime Distributors is a display marketing company that organises book clubs for many businesses and organizations across Australia and New Zealand.  Sales are generated from displaying products within workplaces by franchisees regularly every fortnight.  

Mixing work and family life has become easier for Pauline and James as their two sons have become distributors and work along side them in the business.

“One thing I personally enjoy,” Pauline says, “ is meeting so many people and making so many friends. My customers expect a high quality of service and it is great to have the opportunity to give it to them.”

 Click here for more information about Lifetime Distributors

Retailers increase advertising dollars to drive sales
- September ARA Australian Retailers' Index released

New research released in the September Australian ARA Australian Retailers' Index reveals SME retailers are cutting back on costs but spending more on advertising in a bid to drive sales.

Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Executive Director Richard Evans said retail SMEs were more concerned about the current economic climate than any other sector and with sales falling they were adapting to the new conditions.

"With a drop in sales and profitability and increasing concern about the current economic climate, it's not surprising 30 percent of retailers indicate they have reduced their cost base in the past quarter.

"What's interesting is that the second most frequent response to the current economic climate was that retailers were advertising more, with 16 per cent of retailers reporting this strategy. This is five percent higher than was the case for SMEs in general.

"This is a positive indication that retailers are starting to understand you can't compete on price alone in times of economic uncertainty. Rather than focusing on making products cheaper, retailers are injecting dollars into advertising campaigns and thinking strategically about how they can give consumers, who have limited discretionary spend, a reason to shop. For small retailers though, advertising is not the only way to do this. Indeed, it may not be the most cost-effective way to communicate with customers," Evans said.

"The results also reveal a worrying 13 percent of retailers have not yet taken steps to adapt to the current economic climate, with five percent of retailers indicating they are planning to take action in the near future and eight percent saying they are doing nothing.

"Australian retailing is in a period of change and the current economic uncertainty is a great source of opportunity for retailers. To grow and prosper, retailers must be adaptable to the new conditions," Evans said.

The ARA Australian Retailers' Index analyses the Sensis® Business Index results for businesses in the retail sector, providing a snap shot of the retail sector every quarter in the following categories: retailer confidence; retailer concerns; sales, profitability and employment; capital expenditure; wages and prices and assessment of Federal Government policies. The results of the ARA Australian Retailers' Index assist the ARA to maintain strong links with government and influence and direct policy affecting the retail industry.

For 104 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia's $292 billion retail sector which employs over 1.2 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Workplace Relations Act and with a range of member services including business consulting, policy development, advocacy and education, the ARA supports and represents over 5000 members throughout Australia.

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Random audits for hundreds of small retail outlets

Workplace inspectors will randomly audit hundreds of retail outlets in major Victorian shopping centres.

The federal Workplace Ombudsman will send in a team of six inspectors to ensure employers are complying with their time and wages records and pay slip obligations.

First in line will be the Southland Shopping Centre at Cheltenham.  Five other major shopping centres – Chadstone, Dandenong, Fountain Gate, Geelong and Mornington Peninsula – will be targeted between October and February.

The campaign aims to educate employers about their obligations under federal workplace relations laws.

> Click here for more about this story

Yogen Früz, a frozen yogurt chain with 1,100 stores in over 20 countries, announced today that it has entered into a newly signed development agreement with Orbiz Corporation Pty Ltd. that will expand the franchise by 30 locations into Australia over the span of the agreement, beginning with a December store opening in Brisbane and 6 more projected openings for the next 6-12 months.

> Click here for more about this story

Telstra will slash 800 jobs as new systems reduce the need for support workers for frontline staff dealing with customers.

Australia's biggest telco plans to keep staff who face customers but axe roles in senior management, middle management and professional services, mainly in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

> Click here for more about this story

From the Inside Franchising
“Things that make you go hmmmm ..." department:

American Franchise, College Hunks Hauling Junk, has found a win-win scenario in this down economy … they are helping homeowners and businesses across the country get rid of their unwanted “clutter,” and are providing some “eye candy” as they do it. 

They even have a video on their website …just in case you're intersted in seeing a demonstration of their 'talents' ...

> Click here for more about this story

ACCC NEWS

Interested in all the latest news from the ACCC?

> Click here to visit the ACCC News Centre.

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*The content of all news items published in this newsletter are published in good faith and are reproduced from information provided by the individual companies or their agents, the subject of said news items. Inside Franchising Pty Ltd takes no responsibility whatsoever for information and content being true and correct.