Special Reports

Leading Australian advertising figure and the architect of the Howard Government’s election campaign advertising, Ted Horton, will speak at a WA Business News event to honour Western Australia’s top brands.

Questions over the quality of brands in Western Australia arose during feedback to the 2005 WA Business News branding survey, which had the best participation rate of any in the exercise’s four years

“I am not surprised that several of WA’s most recognised brands are clients of ours,” The Brand Agency’s chairman and chief executive, Ken James, said.

THE WA Business News branding survey featured a new component this year, with participants asked to list the state’s most successful corporate brands.

The Rick Hart advertising committee debated for several years whether to include the well-known Western Australian identity as part of its branding strategy – using the person and not just the name

Eating a meat pie and washing it down with a chilled brew while watching a game of rugby may sounds like a typical weekend for many Aussie blokes, but it’s also the order of recognition for products of the top three emerging brands of 2005.

Not content to have notched up 100 years as a motoring organisation, the RAC is firmly focused on the future, currently undertaking a brand strategy review with The Brand Agency and international brand and design company Landor (Sydney office).

Woodside, Australia’s largest publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production company was ranked number three in this year’s WA Business News most successful corporate brands survey.

The big names have maintained their hold on the top of WA Business News’s branding survey, while a new corporate brands category focuses on the big end of town. Jane McNamara reports.

Little Creatures Brewing Pty Ltd in the heart of Fremantle has taken a patient approach to its business since it was established nearly five years ago, but it’s a methodology owner Howard Cearns believes has worked and suited the company’s brand and produ

Investors have been pouring money into uranium companies despite continued political opposition to mining in WA, price uncertainty, and exploration risk. Mark Beyer and Joe Poprzeczny take a closer look at a controversial business.

Two years ago the price of uranium was languishing at around $US10 a pound. Since then the price has shot to almost $US30, spawning a revival in the metal’s prospects.

The sharp spike in the price of uranium this year has led to an equally sharp spike in the number of listed companies professing to be uranium explorers or looking to spin-off their uranium assets through new floats

No substance has sparked as much emotional hype and frenzy as uranium.

As an integral part of Bunbury’s economy and driver of the mining industry in the South West, the Bunbury Port plays an important role in the region.

The shortage of skilled labour in Western Australia has worsened significantly over the past three years to record levels, in sharp contrast to the rest of the country where the problem has passed its peak.

Sadleirs Transport, winner of the FBA Family Business Awards third-generation and family employer categories for 2005, is really two family businesses in one, according to the company’s managing director Ian Cook.

The recruitment specialists who participated in WA Business News’ skills shortage forum believe the Australian business sector has failed to fully explore migration options.

“Never in my wildest imagination did I think we would be up here doing this,” Moon-Haven Natural Products owner Leonie Gully said as she received the 2005 FBA Family Business Awards first generation prize.

Participants in WA Business News’ skills shortage forum agreed that the business community shouldn’t look to government for all the answers.

An integral part of Bunbury’s City Vision Strategy is the inclusion of multi-storey developments on the foreshore.

A WA Business News boardroom forum on Western Australia’s skills shortage has found the problem remains acute and more needs to be done by government and industry. Mark Beyer reports.

The regional hub of Bunbury has embarked on a long-term development strategy to deal with its projected growth, as Marsha Jacobs reports.

IT has been fun, a humbling experience and also a privilege being involved in the FBA Family Business Awards for the past three years. Running a (very small) business myself, I tip my hat to the dedication and impressive results these businesses have been

Australia's weekly intake of skilled migrant has been set to average nearly 2,000 people, according to Immigration Minister Senator Amanda Vanstone.

Herdsman Fresh Essentials co-owner Dennis Cerinich understands all too well that, for a family business to be successful, all staff members need to feel they are part of the ‘family’.

The Federal Government should open Australia to more skilled migrants and do more to help industry utilise existing options for bringing in skilled workers, industry representatives told the WA Business News skills shortage forum.

Family Business Australia chief executive Philippa Taylor delivered an overwhelmingly positive message to those at the 2005 Family Business Australia (WA) Family Business Awards held this month at the WA Art Gallery.

THE Gallop Government’s plan to appoint former state development minister Clive Brown as head of a new skills development taskforce has met with a muted response from industry, which is seeking tangible and prompt action.

The Internet services marketplace is tipped for a significant shakeup this year as boundaries that divide traditionally separate sectors disappear.

As the creator of Australia’s third largest Internet service provider, iiNet’s Michael Malone has evolved from a hands-on technology operator. David Gibson and Mark Beyer report.

More than a decade ago, Western Australia had the highest number of Internet service providers (ISPs) in the country.