The Pulse

News, views and ideas for your business

Is your physical store a victim of ‘showrooming’?
Written by Adam Turner
How can retailers stop online shoppers treating their physical stores as try-before-you-buy showrooms? People have been buying books and music online for years, but most shoppers still don't like to buy everything sight-unseen. They still want to try on a jacket, road-test a pair of shoes or heft a new notebook for weight before they hand over their money. So they head over to the local shopping centre to try before they buy.
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How will the NZ Budget affect small businesses?
Written by Nick Roberts
Who would have thought it? Little old New Zealand’s budget actually teaching a thing or two on balancing the books to the US, Europe and Australia. Isn’t that marvelous? With the budget expected to return to surplus within 2 years, the government is taking proactive measures to control debt and rein in house prices. But just how will the 2013 budget affect small businesses?
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Are you a guess-a-holic in business?
Written by Michael McCash
After writing the ‘3 Biggest Blind Spots In Stock Management’, I received a number of questions from readers. As I read through each one of them, one common issue became apparent. A crazy amount of businesses were guessing, second guessing and possibly triple guessing their most important business decisions.
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MYOB and BankLink unite to define a new era in cloud accounting
Written by Adam Ferguson
It has been an exciting couple of days due to a major milestone that will transform the future of accounting software in Australia and New Zealand. MYOB has signed an agreement to purchase the Australian and New Zealand operations of BankLink.
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Wednesday 22nd May

The Latest

15
May

NZ Budget: Innovation and better workforce for SMEs

Written by MYOB Team Businesses, Featured

Small and medium businesses have agreed on two things ahead of the NZ Budget announcement tomorrow. Innovation and workforce training are critical to grow New Zealand’s economy this year. …

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13
May

How to compete with the buying power of big businesses

Written by Colin Dunn Businesses, Featured

In my town of 5,000 people, there are 2 supermarkets (a Woolworths and an IGA). There are also two butchers, a fruit and veg shop and a couple of bakeries, all of which are flourishing. How is this possible? Surely the buying power of the big boys would force the small, local operators out of business? …

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09
May

4 tech tips for your home office

Written by Adam Turner Businesses, Featured

There's more to working from home than simply plunking your notebook on the dining room table. Modern technology is a great enabler for those of us who work from home, whether you're spending the occasional day away from the office or running a business from home full time. Before you splash some cash on shiny new gadgets, your most important investment should be in an ergonomically sound workspace. …

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07
May

If marketing isn’t working, you’re asking the wrong questions

Written by Natalie Giddings Businesses, Featured

Often I get asked, how do I know who and where to market to for the biggest bang for my buck? Firstly, you need to understand the characteristics of the people who are most suitable for your product or service. They are typically referred to as your target market. Coming to appreciate them and their uniqueness produces a number of advantages, including higher response rates for advertising, as well as a lower marketing budget. …

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03
May

Choosing the best gadget for your business backpack

Written by Adam Turner Businesses, Featured

Choosing the best gadgets for working on the road involves balancing portability against usability. There's no shortage of portable devices vying for a spot in your travel bag, but think long and hard before you buy the latest wonder gadget. …

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02
May

Measuring your marketing ROI

Written by Gavin Heaton Businesses, Featured

Whether you work for a large or small business, or whether your business is established or in startup phase, marketing continues to be seen as an overhead – a cost. And yet, marketers have at their fingertips, increasingly powerful technologies that connect revenue with data and programs with sales. …

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