Special Reports

THE wine business is an emotional one and passions rarely run higher than when business people get involved in the sector.

BIG news and a big win from across the sea in the land of the long white pom.

Competition and innovation go hand-in-hand in the wine business, Russell Quinn reports.

GOLD has been a mainstay of the Western Australian economy for more than a century.

The relationship between industry and educators is closer than ever, but is it a perfect match?

IT may come as a surprise, but judging by the results of WA Business News' latest survey of Total Shareholder Returns, the safest place for investors to put their money over the last year has been at the most speculative end of the share market.

WHILE junior explorers dominated the 10 best-performing Western Australian stocks last financial year, was there a defining characteristic that bound together the worst performers for the year? A lack of scale would seem to be one possibility, with the 10

Every cloud has a silver lining, so the saying goes. So which WA companies delivered the best returns to investors as the cold winds of the global financial crisis wreaked havoc?

COMPANY executives have called on the government to provide more certainty for public sector innovation funding.

Local executives joined a WA Business News forum to discuss ways to take innovative products into a competitive global market.

AS belts tighten across the board and budgets are intensely scrutinised, early stage company executives are finding it harder to attain the necessary capital to progress their projects.

THE state opposition spokesperson for science and innovation has called for major changes in the portfolio after a series of significant funding cuts.

WESTERN Australia may be an isolated state and its industry dominated by the resources sector, but that need not be a major issue for a technology firm entering the global marketplace.

BALCATTA-BASED Orbital Engine Corporation has a history of creating business opportunities from innovative advancements in alternative fuels technology, but has chronically failed to turn its technical expertise into financial success.

WHEN you think of fortified wines your first reaction may be to recall fond memories of your grandma's favourite desserts, dripping with ample amounts of sherry or marsala.

MORTGAGE brokers have taken a battering over the past two years so perhaps it's not surprising that the big franchise groups in this sector have focused on service to retain support.

AFTER 20 years in the job, Rosal Mullins became disillusioned with her role as a nurse.

PIAF general manager Favourite holiday destination? There is something utterly magical about Venice - it has great beauty and literally abounds with surprises.

THE term eco-tourism may have become overused in recent years, but one place that truly lives up to the term is Eco Beach Wilderness Resort.

A north-west driving tour leads travellers to both popular tourist destinations and some less-travelled gems.

MAJOR reform to the franchising sector could follow the release of a federal government inquiry into the industry's code of conduct.

A PRIVATE helicopter charter company is expanding its fleet and diversifying operations to cater for high-end corporate clients while inviting smaller business and the general public to climb aboard.

More people are seeking to enter the multi-billion-dollar franchising industry. But what makes a successful franchise?

Cruise operators in the Kimberley are branching out into new fields while keeping on course with their core business – showing Aussie tourists what's in their own backyard.

ANXIETY over foreign investment is compounding the funding challenges created by the global financial crisis, according to the junior mining executives at the recent WA Business News roundtable.

FOR decades, successive state governments have dreamed of adding value to the millions of tonnes of raw materials mined and exported from Western Australia by moving further down the processing chain.

EMPLOYEES at mid-size companies are neither the most content nor the most frustrated.

INNOVATION is a difficult-to-define and frequently illusive factor hotly pursued by most businesses.

LET'S start with the bad news, delicately described as "improvement opportunities" by the collators of the Best Employer survey.

IT'S a good thing Perth consultancy Modal fared well in the Best Employer Awards, considering the small business makes its money from advising other companies on how to improve their practices.

Job security is key, as employees worry about economic uncertainty, according to this year's Best Employers survey.

THE Brand Agency has cemented itself among the state's leading creatives after two of its key clients filled first and second positions in the 'WA's best brand' category in this year's branding survey.