Bringing the very best products and brands with them, we are excited to welcome back leading suppliers Papaya, Home & Giftware and OneWorld Collection together with brand-new exhibitors Mud + Gee, The Russell Collection and Mary Grace, to name a few.
Archives for 2019
Sydney Gift Fair 2020 – Now Starts Friday!
Australia’s industry event dedicated to design and retail is back! Re-imagined for 2020, Sydney Gift Fair will lead the way for a new generation of trade events.
[Read more…] about Sydney Gift Fair 2020 – Now Starts Friday!
Surviving the changing retail landscape
With the rise of the omnichannel, customers demands for a better shopping experience are significantly increasing.
This evolving landscape has been challenging for many retailers, with several retailers closing their doors in recent months, and a spokesman for Woolworths stating, ‘the retail sector in Australia is currently in recession’.
Colour trends: Dulux 2020 forecast
In a world where we’re constantly ‘on’ it’s all too easy to get caught up in the madness. Whether it’s connected to our digital devices or processing the stream of information coming our way 24/7.
However, we also yearn to step away from our screens and have more authentic, grounded experiences while at the same time be increasingly environmentally conscious.
The 2020 Dulux Colour Forecast ‘Essence’ is influenced by what’s happening in the world around us, says colour and communications manager, Andrea Lucena-Orr.
“With more focus on mental health, the wellness movement continues to gain momentum, as does an emphasis on natural materiality,” she explains.
“Colours for 2020 are more restrained than in previous years. Brights are pulled back and influenced by nature. They appear in smaller doses―think feature walls and details―and are often used tonally as a backdrop for hero furniture pieces.
“Neutrals are soft and sophisticated, with a gently faded feel that speaks of stillness and calm. Clay, with its warm, earthy appeal, is emerging as a key neutral.”
The Essence collection consists of four palettes including Comeback, Grounded, Cultivate and Indulge.
“Trends can be a useful roadmap when choosing colours, but it’s those little touches of the unexpected that give your home personality,” says Lucena-Orr.
The Dulux Highlights palette consists of four fun, fashionable brights―a 70s-inspired fuchsia, primary blue, orange-red and acid yellow―that can be combined with any of the four 2020 colour palettes to create a unique look.
“Use them however you like―on a wall, front door or in a nook―to really make the space your own.”
Comeback―a fresh and invigorating palette consisting of rich oceanic and mineral shades of blue-green, azure and amber, highlighted with warm tones of burgundy, rust and clay. Accents of black add gravitas.
“It’s the ideal backdrop to combine furniture from different eras―from mid-century through to the 80s―in elegant and refined shapes,” says Lucena-Orr.
Grounded―we are turning away from cheap, mass-produced pieces and seeking out quality designs made from honest materials. Interior spaces are pared-back and uncomplicated, with furniture in natural materials such as honeyed timbers, pale leather and linen. The Grounded palette combines gentle, livable neutrals, running from soft grey and biscuit through to muddy lavender, punctuated with warm coral.
Cultivate―nature is no longer an afterthought in home design. We’re increasingly aware of the positive effects of nature on our mental and physical health and seek new and innovative ways to bring it inside, whether it’s growing our own food or creating lush displays of indoor plants.
The Cultivate palette is a serene layering of greens―from soft olive and a pistachio to verdant forest green―with accents of plum, curd and chalky blue adding an unexpected edge.
Indulge―The Indulge palette is decadent and luxurious, featuring rich burgundy, eggplant, earthy brown, faded terracotta and soft coral. Styling makes a nod to the past, with nostalgic touches of 70s disco and art deco.
“This palette is not for the faint-hearted―it’s dramatic and exciting and is guaranteed to add wow factor to a master bedroom, dining room or living room,” says Lucena-Orr.
“Pink, a key colour of the last few years, makes an appearance, but in a more neutral tone that’s closer to tan, alongside a warm, dusty rose.”
Original Source: Gift Guide Online
Creating an online destination for your business
But for many small businesses the whole concept can be overwhelming and confusing.
What features should appear on the website? What social media platforms should we run? How often should we post? Who will be responsible for the content and the maintenance of the website? How do we raise our online profile?
For Lucy Given, owner of design store LUC. Design in Hobart, Tasmania, it’s all about the why of your business.
“Once you can identify this real ‘WHY’ of your business, then how you market your business, how you form strategies, how you operate your business in general will be so much easier,” she said during a presentation at Life Instyle Melbourne earlier this month.
To create an online retail destination you need a plan, a digital strategy. So, with your ‘why’ defined, your digital strategy should outline your business’ goals and set measurable objectives for the desired outcomes.
“The goal here is branding and attracting customers. Displaying your business’ personality through your digital presence is one of the best ways to connect with your target audience. Your social media channels are just expanded opportunities for your brand’s voice,” explains Given.
More than 80 per cent of consumers research product information before they make a purchase online or instore, so your website should be the centre of your business’ online presence. Your website is your most important marketing asset―it is a salesperson, a brand ambassador and can genuinely connect with potential customers. It needs to offer engaging content, a mobile-responsive layout, and be easy to navigate.
Social media is important. Do your research on the statistics of each platform―which ones do your customers engage most with? (google statistics is a great place to start) Which ones work within your customer’s demographic?
Once you have decided which of these networks/platforms to focus on, you need to create a profile for each platform (or improve your existing profile) so they align with your strategic plan. Make sure you format content specifically for each platform―good high-res images for Instagram, longer posts for LinkedIn, snappy announcements for Twitter.
According to Given, there are 6 ways to give your digital strategy structure.
1 – Set actionable and measurable goals: Each of your goals should be specific, relevant, and measurable
2 – Research your audience: It is so important that you know your audience, your ideal customer. Your goal is to achieve fans not just followers. It may be helpful to create an identity for your customer―give them a name, an occupation, define the family situation, where they shop, etc.
3 – Establish the most important metrics:
Awareness―our brand awareness and your post reach
Engagement―how many likes you get/shares ie regrams, repins, shares, etc
Conversion―the effectiveness of your social engagement (click to subscribe to a newsletter, register for an in-store education session or any call to action.)
Consumer review, assessment, comment or interview related to your brand. It is important not to get caught up in the ‘vanity metrics’ of getting more followers. You can get followers, but what you want is customers―followers don’t pay the bills. When you know who you are engaging with you will know what content to create, and what channels are best to promote.
4 – Analyse your competition: Understand who the competition is and what they are doing well (and not so well). This analysis will help you spot opportunities.
5 – Create and curate engaging content: You need to think like a publisher not an advertiser. Great content isn’t great until it is consumed and shared. You don’t need to appeal to everyone. Focus on content that appeals and connects to your audience. By focusing on your target audience you can expand your engagement and build a dedicated community.
Story-telling is integral―your goal is to take the customers on a brand journey. It may be that you are more likely to be involved in the image-driven socials―if this is the case then it is important to post images that are high-res, good quality and easy to load.
6- Go above and beyond with service: Provide exceptional consumer support. Separate yourself from your competition by delivering more value. This is the key to positioning yourself as an authority, which in turn helps you to attract genuine customers and grow your business and brand.
Original source: Gift Guide Online
SMB’s to receive tax breaks under new Federal budget
The Federal budget for 2019-2020 has promised to deliver future tax cuts for thousands of small and medium Australian businesses.
According to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, a re-elected Federal government will increase the instant asset write-off threshold from $25,000 per asset to $30,000.
The fiscally-friendly implementations are designed to help business owners to reinvest in their business, purchase new equipment, employ more workers and grow.
The write-off can be claimed every time a business purchases an eligible asset worth less than $30,000.
Medium‑sized businesses with an annual turnover of less than $50 million will also be eligible to claim the benefit under the proposed tax breaks. The previous cut-off threshold was set at a $10 million limit.
Approximately 22,000 additional businesses employing 1.7 million workers will now be eligible to access the instant asset write-off.
The company tax rate is also slated for a reduction, cutting it to 25 per cent for small and medium‑sized companies with an annual turnover of less than $50 million, while the unincorporated small business tax discount rate shall be increased.
Businesses are also being offered larger cash payments for taking on apprentices where there are skills shortage, the centrepiece of a $525 million skills package.
To find out more information and tax resources, click here.