• Introduction:
  • Introduction to MIA Podcast's new format and hosts, John Hill from Ucidity and Steve Bambury from Growth Partners.
  • Focus on assisting manufacturers in Australia and New Zealand to tap into new markets and dominate traditionally owned spaces.
  • Discussion to cover solutions for businesses experiencing decreased phone activity and sales team performance.
• Introduction of Guest:
  • Greg Gladman, founder and CEO of Sales and Leadership Performance.
  • Greg's extensive experience in assisting manufacturers across Australasia to achieve significant growth.
  • The unique approach to Sales and Leadership Performance, including custom development plans and a partnership for growth.
  • Highlight of a three times return on investment guarantee as a unique point of difference.
• Challenges in Manufacturing:
  • Shift in consumer behaviour and perception towards "Made in Australia" products.
  • Manufacturers faced supply chain issues during COVID-19, leading to a focus on local production.
  • Importance of leveraging local production as a unique selling proposition rather than just labeling products as "Made in Australia".
• Solutions to Growth Roadblocks:
  • Importance of refining digital presence to resonate with the target audience.
  • Need for professional assistance in strategically positioning products and services online.
  • Adaptation to changes in buyer behaviour, particularly increased reliance on online research.
  • Emphasis on continuous adjustment of digital strategies to align with evolving algorithms and buyer preferences.
• Importance of Unique Value Propositions:
  • Utilizing distinctive capabilities to differentiate from competitors and avoid price-based conversations.
  • Challenging assumptions about customer preferences and actively engaging in dialogue to understand true needs.
  • Shift towards a proactive approach to lead generation rather than relying solely on traditional methods.
• Personal Experience:
  •  Greg Ladman shares personal experience of transforming his business's digital presence.
  • Initial challenges in visibility and lead generation despite investing in a website.
  • Success is achieved through strategic content creation aligned with customer needs and search behavior.
  • Importance of a comprehensive approach combining digital marketing efforts with unique value proposition development.
• Conclusion:
  • Acknowledgment of the importance of collaboration between digital marketing experts and sales consultants.
  • Need for a holistic approach addressing both digital visibility and sales effectiveness.
  • Continued adaptation to changing market dynamics and consumer behaviours for sustained growth.

Sean McHugh at McHugh’s Financial Services is a commercial finance specialist that has worked in the finance industry for over 15 years, helping business owners when they need to get finance.

His team helps business owners obtain finance to grow their business, where they focus on your business and take time to understand your objectives, identify the business's strengths, and then develop a strategy to secure funding on your behalf.

Sean also specialises in a wide range of financial products for business owners and has no bias about how we address a challenge or opportunity. 

McHugh’s Financial Services aims to help you borrow money with terms that make sense and suit your cash flow. 

Here’s what John and Sean talk about in this episode:

• How Sean’s team help business owners grow their business through financing
• John’s and Sean’s dad’s involvement in manufacturing
• The standard that has been passed on from generation to generation by doing the task
• The possible challenge of knowledge handover
  • The talent pool?
• How Sean started working with IT Fortune 500 companies at the onset of his career
• The risks of importing products from overseas
• Companies who come back for refinancing
• The sustainability of businesses 
  • How do you make sure you have a great product?
• Taking ownership of the products that you sell in the market
• One of Sean’s biggest manufacturing clients
• When is the right time to finance?
• What business owners are doing wrong that affects their borrowing capacity

And many more, including Sean’s thoughts on our main topic: “Will Australian Manufacturing ever return to the glory days of the '60s?”

Connect with Sean McHugh or McHugs Financial Services on Linkedin or visit their website for more information on how Sean and his team can help your business get a positive cash flow at all times!

MIA Podcast Episode 23: Jack Lee from Forward Business Sales and Acquisitions

Jack Lee has over 20 years of diverse experiences in working for corporations and owning small businesses, with his Asian born background, the understanding of Asian and Western cultures through living in multiple Asian countries and 16 years in Australia, Jack is confident that he can help you and your business navigate cross-cultural transactions.

Jack’s enlightenment in life and career success come from his ability to connect and match the right people. That is, realising the goals of both parties, qualify them and make it happen. Not just once-off, it is ongoing and sustainable.sonalized consultation.

Today’s episode talks about:

• How his Asian background helped him bridge cultural differences between businesses
• He helpes those businesses owners who wish to “exit” their business
• Malaysia mostly manufacture -Electronic goods
• Australia mostly manufacture -Mostly food and beverages (wine etc)
• Quality and food safety is top priority in Australia compared to other countries
• There are lots of manufacturing opportunities in Australia
• China is a strong exporter

And many more, including Jack’s thoughts on our main topic: “Will Australian Manufacturing ever return to the glory days of the '60s?”

Connect with Jack Lee of Forward Business Sales and Acquisition on Linkedin or visit their website for a better understanding of safety and how you can ensure that your business and its reputation are safeguarded from all the risk factors surrounding it.

MIA Podcast Episode 22: Rob McDonald from GSD Safety (Getting Stuff Done)

Rob McDonald and GSD Safety’s main scope of work is all about helping Manufacturing, Transport, and Construction Businesses Safeguard their Businesses from Staggering Fines and Penalties.

Rob’s Team at GSD Safety ensures protection for the people, the business and the reputation. They ultimately aim to minimise risk, asses safety and ensure best practices are followed. GSD Safet develops its safety culture roadmap to implement continuous improvements across all elements of the business by meeting obligations under the WHS Act and providing evidence of monitoring, measuring and reporting.

In this extensive discussion, Rob and John talk about:

• What is the real meaning of safety?
  • What it encompasses
  • How a lot of people misunderstand it
• Safety isn’t limited to having documentation in place
  • Look at external pressures too
• Reduce cost with better safety
  • Reduce costs of people
  • Reduce costs of the business
  • Ensure that your business’s reputation is safe
• Contractors are more likely to be injured because they don’t know your processes
• Harassment is a common safety issue but not a lot voices it out
  • Sexual Harassment is a heavy and impeding issue
• There is a crossover between HR, Quality and Safety
  • Safety crosses all departments
    • Financial, HR, etc.

And many more, including Rob’s thoughts on our main topic: “Will Australian Manufacturing ever return to the glory days of the '60s?”

Connect with Rob McDonald of GSD Safety on Linkedin or visit their website for a better understanding of safety and how you can ensure that your business and its reputation are safeguarded from all the risk factors surrounding it.

Smart Commercial Solar is committed to leading solar power and energy intelligence in Australia.

Their vision sees solar power as a financial product able to stand on its own two feet in a competitive marketplace. 

They encourage only those solar installations that will deliver both immediate and long-term business value and community benefit. By doing so, they help to ensure the industry's viability and health – health built on a history of customers for whom solar has delivered robust benefits.

In this episode, John and Max talk about:

• Being the largest commercial solar power
• How they reduce electricity consumption through:
  • Battery
  • Generators
• Their main goal is to help their clients achieve 100% renewable energy
• Who their clients are
  • Biggest names in the retail industry
  • Beverage industry
  • Manufacturing business
  • Anyone who has a large energy consumption
  • Plastic, Glass, Aluminum
  • Hospital/Medical
• They help those businesses who want to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and those who want to reduce their carbon footprint.
• Energy can be reduced by 20-40% at least by using solar
  • Energy on the regular grid is constantly fluctuating
• The adoption of renewables in Au has caused a reduction in the energy prices in the Market\
• Manufacturing in Australia has a good future if we continue to think of ways to consume less energy
  • Rely on renewable energy
• How they are currently studying the effectiveness of hydrogen power
• Max's advice to manufacturing businesses
  • Re-consider solar power because it's not as expensive as it used to be, and returns don’t take too long
  • There are smart financing solutions like pBA that businesses can look into, so they need to spend their core business capital.
  • Adapt a cheaper solar price.
  • Reduce grid electricity usage.

And many more, including Max’s thoughts on our main topic: “Will Australian Manufacturing ever return to the glory days of the '60s?”

Connect with Maximillian Stenning or Smart Commercial Solar on Linkedin or visit their website for more information on how your business can reduce energy costs.