Fast food franchise collapses, Mrs. Fields buys Cookie Man chain, Coupon giant RetailMeNot sold to US firm, Mine investors enjoy $500 million payday

home | contact us | advertise Dear SmartCompany reader, Today we examine the collapse of franchise food chain Souvlaki Hut, which apparently has a buyer waiting in the wings, and look at the sale of Australian web success story RetailMeNot, which is the biggest coupon site in the world. Plus, we examine a new report on the NBN’s potential benefits, and meet five rich listers who have turned a $1 million investment into $500 million in one year. And in Entrepreneur Watch, James Thomson looks at how technology and the GFC has retrained consumers. And don't miss our new blogger, Ms Manners. For all this and more, head to our home page. News Fast food franchise Souvlaki Hut collapses into administration, but buyers waiting to pounce Mrs. Fields to buy collapsed Cookie Man chain Australian-owned coupon giant RetailMeNot sold to US deals marketplace Google changes algorithm after eCommerce site found to have abused customers to gain top SEO ranking No end to Christmas public holiday confusion as Fair Work rejects proposal to harmonise penalty rate laws Mining millionaires and Krispy Kreme investors enjoy $500 million payday with mine deal NBN will boost GDP growth, help transform business: Access Economics report Services sector contracts in November, US economy tipped to improve: Economy Roundup THE LIGHTER SIDE: Conducting the perfect interview The problems with Wayne Swan’s fifth banking pillar: Bartholomeusz How I How I recovered from a giant manufacturing mistake DAT Media founder Andrew Becker says a big mistake taught him the importance of ensuring all products are up to scratch before release. BY PATRICK STAFFORD. Exit Strategies Strategic vs financial exits Selling your business? Ensure the business development process and the exit preparation align with the appropriate exit. BY TOM MCKASKILL. Aunty B Will my demanding, grumpy, intolerant boss get promoted? People like her get promoted all the time! In fact, senior management is full of them. Why? These people are so focused on results, they often achieve them. Trends Google to open new eBooks store iPhone App of the Week: Reeder FTC push for no-tracking feature Online sales Chris Thomas Google Quickview: Great design meets great SEO It's obvious that if your website looks crappy, you may be experiencing a decline in visits, regardless if you rank highly. Selling strategies Trent Leyshan A willingness to engage, most of the time For too many SME's it's not their value that is lacking, rather the process for engaging with customers and developing a consistent and successful way of operating. The Futurist Colin Benjamin Paying down the debt In the New Year smart companies will adopt a range of measures to expand their business while paying down their debt. Female Entrepreneur Naomi Simson What keeps me awake at night? I rely on all of those around me to be straight, authentic and to be able to challenge what we do. Ms Manners Danielle Di-Masi What do I do with unwanted food? Can you spit the food out? To where? Actually, I don't need to know the answer to that because the answer is still no! Entrepreneur Watch James Thomson Never pay full price again Group buying sites, discount coupons and bargain-hunting iPhone apps have all helped to retrain consumers – and make life harder for businesses. Have a great weekend, Amanda Gome Founder / Publisher SmartCompany.com.au When you're starting out, you need to think of all the obstacles your product is going to encounter. They will be operating in environments not known to you, and that can cause problems. You need to think about what those will be, and then focus on them straight away, not go back and fix them later on. Andrew Becker, DAT Media Click here for more. FOLLOW US OUR PARTNERS UPCOMING EVENTS

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The 12 top sales trends of 2011, Kogan’s new model to cut prices, Christmas internet scams to watch, Entrepreneur tops entertainment rich list

home | contact us | advertise Dear SmartCompany reader, Today on SmartCompany we look at Ruslan Kogan’s new strategy to undercut the competition, examine the 12 internet scams to watch out for this Christmas, and look at how a caravan entrepreneur became the biggest shareholder of Australia’s top earning entertainment company. Plus in Entrepreneur Watch, James Thomson looks at the slowing economy and tips an interest rate breather for SMEs. For all this and more, head to our home page. News Kogan launches new business model to let users buy gadgets at cheaper prices during manufacturing cycle Local group buying sites watching Groupon takeover closely, as site launches new platform for merchants Christmas sales tipped to rise slightly to $40 billion, as consumers shun sin spending to buy computers Melbourne Cup-winning caravan entrepreneur Gerry Ryan tops list of rich entertainers The 12 scams of Christmas: McAfee warns SMEs to stay alert this holiday season TPG says telco price war to continue, but is it sustainable? Former p-rn site operator Scott Phillips hit with $2 million fine for dating text spam rort Retail sales fall 1.1% in October, Shares move higher: Economy Roundup ATOs stance on private equity profits still a sticking point: Bartholomeusz Top Story The 12 sales trends for 2011 Without doubt, the second decade of the 21st century will bring unprecedented change in how we sell and do business. BY SUE BARRETT. Tax Update Lodge it or lose Families who fail to lodge their tax return can risk losing family benefits. Don't get caught out. BY TERRY HAYES. Aunty B We ignored our competitors and are now paying the price. Help! Your first issue is yourself. I assume you are head honcho so beat yourself about the head for a bit. Finished? Good. Trends Visa applications to include biometric data iPad 2.0 camera rumours continue BlackBerry app world hits 15,000 apps Facebook Know-how Lara Solomon 13 tips to getting more “likers” on your Facebook page Getting the right likers (the ones that are actually interested in what you offer) to your page is not something that happens overnight. Gen-Y Millionaire Kirsty Dunphey Some people get it… When it comes to customer service, some businesses get it... and some clearly don't. IT Systems David Markus What do we need to do to our IT environment to appease banks and external investors? There is little – if any – demand placed on small businesses to comply with standards for IT. Entrepreneur Watch James Thomson A rates breather Weaker-than-expected economic growth and retail sales data suggests the RBA can wait until well into the New Year for another rate rise. Coming Up How one entrepreneur recovered from a giant manufacturing mistake. Best wishes, Amanda Gome Founder / Publisher SmartCompany.com.au Without doubt, if businesses don't get their sales leadership and management capabilities functioning effectively, their sales efforts will be in peril in 2011 and beyond. The research is clear – educate and develop your sales managers to be effective sale leaders and the impact on sales results will be dramatic. Sue Barrett, BARRETT Click here for more. FOLLOW US OUR PARTNERS UPCOMING EVENTS

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