Special Reports

CORPORATE golf days have come a long way over the past decade. They are slick, professional and highly competitive, with numerous businesses and clubs chasing patronage.

A REQUEST to build a putting green in a customer’s backyard has created a business opportunity for one Perth landscape gardner.

“I AM trying to find another big one,” prospector extraordinaire and reclusive gold player Mark Creasy says about his exploration plans

WITH his customary swagger, Josh Pitt seems as quiet in person as his name is in the business world.

PERTH’S commercial television networks have taken the concept of corporate golf further than most businesses.

Western Australia’s mining industry is on the verge of a boom and the battle hardened juniors are gearing up to take advantage of it. Jim Hawtin reports on what industry veterans are expecting the much-hyped boom to bring.

THE need to provide industry knowledge to assist in the management and running of golf clubs has led to the creation of a unique institute in Joondalup, the Australian Institute of Golf Management.

WILL Burrell, tourism operator and owner of Kimberley station El Questro, received a rude shock last December when he discovered that the Department of Conservation and Land Management had earmarked 97,361 hectares for exclusion from his 274,149ha station

The WA Government may have made it clear that the days of the kings-of-the-grass-castle are well and truly over, but pastoralists across the State are still calling for a lease structure that offers more security of tenure to encourage investment into our

COMMUNITY access is a major factor in the push to exclude 2,000,000 hectares from the total 91 million hectares of pastoral land in Western Australia.

WESTERN Australian gold exports to India topped the State’s export list last year, making it the most valuable export to the sub-continent.

THE enormous size of the Indian market was a main factor in attracting JV International to explore export opportunities in that country.

DESPITE substantial tariffs on wine imports, several WA wineries have started exporting to India to meet growing demand for luxury consumer goods.

India isn’t one of WA’s major trading partners, but trade liberalisation and diplomatic efforts are smoothing the way for increased trade while India’s growing middle class fuels consumer demand. Alison Birrane, Jim Hawtin and Chris Leitch look at some of

Many people like the idea of being their own boss but not all can follow through and make the dream a reality. Noel Dyson investigates how to set up a successful small business.

THREE years after buying into the established West Perth business, Faces Dances Cards & Gifts, husband and wife team Dean and Paulette Savage have embarked on an expansion drive.

SHERYL-LEE Moroni has no regrets about her decision 21 years ago to step away from her career as a stenographer and move into the world of adult dance.

AS the year winds to an end and the summer break beckons, the thoughts of many turn to family and friends and the festive season.

FOR those people starting out in small business, buying an existing operation can save a lot of time and money in building up goodwill. But there are some important factors that need to be considered.

A PAIR of former used car salesmen who tried their luck in the restaurant game has been responsible for some of Perth’s best-known venues.

CLYDE Bevan’s face breaks in to a wry smile when he recalls once saying he would “never own a restaurant because there is no money in it”.

CONSISTENCY and diversification are the secrets to making money in the restaurant business, according to Fraser’s Restaurant and Bluewater Grill owner Chris Taylor.

A LEANING towards perfectionism has served Umberto Tinelli well during his many years in the Perth restaurant scene. He is aware of the smallest aspect of his business and if something is out of place he wants to set it right.

BY his own admission Warren Mead is not a sophisticated dresser, but he sure knows how to create good looking and profitable restaurants.

Operating a restaurant is about much more than just good food. WA Business News journalist Julie-anne Sprague spoke to Ian Love, Warren Mead, Nic Trimboli, Neal Jackson, Chris Taylor and Umberto Tinelli about the secrets to their success.

AS an owner-operator-chef, Neal Jackson has established a formidable reputation in Perth and Bunbury, but it hasn’t been without hard work and some tough lessons.

THERE’S no doubt Perth’s entertainment culture owes a big thank you to Nic Trimboli and the team at Matilda Bay Brewing Company – just think of venues such as the Sail and Anchor, the Queens Hotel, the Brass Monkey and The Como.

SOUTH Perth dining institution Coco’s is a shining example of how good management can deliver a crowd favourite for more than a decade.

THE rapid expansion of the olive industry in the Moore River region has placed the area’s underground water supplies under acute pressure.

A MAJOR olive grove being established near Gingin is breaking new ground for the local industry by using ‘superdense’ tree plantings.

Nearly $100 million has been invested in olive groves in Western Australia over the past few years. Mark Beyer and Chris Leitch look at some of the looming challenges as the industry matures.

THE Margaret River region is full of success stories, many of which revolve around tourism, wine or fine foods.