What’s behind Gina Rinehart’s Fairfax buy?, We launch our new customer experience industry benchmark, Wikileaks drama grows, iPad 2.0 not far away

home | contact us | advertise Dear SmartCompany reader, Today we’re very excited to launch a new monthly feature, the Customer Experience Industry Benchmark. Each month, customer experience research firm Global Reviews will examine the websites of companies in a specific sector, judge which site delivers the best customer experience and extract the lessons for all website owners. We start today with the energy sector and in the coming months we’ll look at everything from banking and insurance to internet services and retail. Also today, we look into warnings that the growth of Australians shopping on overseas websites could cause problems in the commercial property sector, we’ve got rumours that Apple’s new iPad could be going into production, and we bring you up-to-date on the latest on the developing Wikileaks situation. Plus, as iron ore billionaire Gina Rinehart takes a stake in Fairfax Media, James Thomson’s Entrepreneur Watch examines the message she’s trying to get across. For all this and more, head to our home page. News Experts play down warning that a rise in online sales could create retail property bubble Gina Rinehart shocks market again with stake in Fairfax Media Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry claims Fair Work laws make it too easy to strike Wikileaks founder Julian Assange denied bail on rape charge, Rudd confirms consulate support iPad 2.0 rumoured to enter production, release date set for April IT industry attacks Victorian decision to make NBN opt-in Google unveils Chrome OS in pilot program, launches web applications store Housing finance up 1.9% in October, Rates still expected to rise in coming months: Economy Roundup Slow rate of commercialisation undermining R&D: report The perfect storm hitting retailers: Gottliebsen Lunch with an Entrepreneur Going with the IPO flow Phil Hutchings, chief executive of RedFlow, talks about the company's up and coming IPO and why the float is more about credibility than money. BY JAMES THOMSON. Top Story Lacking in energy Australia's energy providers are struggling to meet the online needs of their customers. BY JAMES THOMSON. Aunty B Our clients want us to match our competitors' dodgy deals. What should we do? Do you like to sleep at night? Between your own sheets? Good. Because you are NOT going to compete with dodgy companies by doing irregular things. Trends All US cars should use rear cameras, report suggests Apple overtakes Nokia in Aus market Telstra separation unlikely to change market, Ovum says Profitable growth Julia Bickerstaff Are you guilty of fixing the symptom rather than the disease? Although it's often hard to identify the problem, and a bigger deal to fix, taking the time to treat the problem rather than the symptom is always longer-lasting. The Digital Bottom Line Brendan Lewis Failing smarter Australian business has a problem with failure. Consequently it is rarely planned for, learnt from or even acknowledged. Property Investor Michael Yardney Don't invest in the US property – it's only going to get worse! I know investing in US property is the flavour of the month. But if you are considering investing there, no matter how cheap a house may seem, please take heed. Entrepreneur Watch James Thomson Rinehart's message Gina Rinehart’s investment in Fairfax Media appears to be part of her push to get her pro-mining message to a wider audience. Coming Up The 20 best iPad apps for entrepreneurs. Best wishes, Amanda Gome Founder / Publisher SmartCompany.com.au The reason a float is a bit more nuanced is that when you're dealing with the big utility companies, if you're a little private company that doesn't put out its accounts, they don't trust you. I'm exaggerating a bit, but being public means you put out an annual report. We put out all our statements to the stock exchange, we've got visibility, we've got an independent board and it just elevates us and people can see that we're much, much bigger. It gives us the kind of credibility we need quite apart from the money. We actually could have easily raised the money and stayed unlisted but being listed gives us the stability. Phil Hutchings, RedFlow Click here for more. FOLLOW US OUR PARTNERS UPCOMING EVENTS

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