e-Newsletter

Budget-friendly ways to market your business

Add zing to your marketing with these easy and economical ideas from micro business community Flying Solo:

 

• Keep in touch with your clients and prospects through email, twitter and facebook while ensuring your business is front of mind with them

 

• Motivate current and prospective clients to come back to your website by updating your content regularly

 

• Review which advertising and promotional activities are bringing in and converting your sales leads

 

• Pursue PR opportunities because third party endorsement is considered much more credible

 

• Build your profile as an industry expert in your industry by offering to present at trade shows, local business networking meetings or by holding your own seminar

 

 

Shoppers at your service

If you would like to lift your brand's awareness among a niche market read on.

 

Australian Made Club members are very willing to sample products. In a recent survey we asked them to suggest ways we could make the club more appealing and one of the most popular responses was offering product samples.

 

You may like to trial a new product, clear some of last season's stock or simply raise the profile of your brand among shoppers specifically interested in authentic Australian products.

 

We would be happy to put you in touch with club members. All you would need to do is arrange distribution. Please call our office and ask to speak with Jennifer on 1800 350 520.

 

 

 

6 September 2011

Call for interest in Australian Made radio show

How does a radio show dedicated to all things Australian Made and Australian Grown sound to you?

 

We're thinking about producing a one hour segment for Melbourne Talkback Radio (MTR1377) with CrocMedia and want to know if you think it would be worthwhile.

 

The program would be called the Australian Made Australian Grown Hour and would feature hosts Glenn Ridge and Australian Made chief executive Ian Harrison discussing the benefits of buying local each Saturday from 1-2pm.

 

We think it would give you a great platform to promote your products and industry but we want to know your thoughts too.

 

For about $5,000 you would receive:

1. Two separate 15 minute interviews discussing your product
2. 104 x 30 sec commercials on MTR (2 per week, 1 during the Australian Made hour) 
3. 2 x extended credits (one per interview - twice a year)

If this is something you would be interested in, please email Marketing Manager Stephanie Salter or call 1800 350 520.

 

 

Market your way through Facebook

Social Media strategy firm Momentus Media provides some healthy advice on how to market your way through Facebook:

 

• Posting in off peak times - on weekends and between 2pm to 5am - can help boost your interaction rates

• Try balancing the number of posts so you can optimise interaction while managing the number of unsubscribes

• Photos and status updates can generate buzz among fans - they're visual, easy to digest and evoke emotion

• Don't be scared to ask your fans questions or to like or comment on your posts

• Keep your posts short if you're cross posting on Twitter or, otherwise, try longer messages to increase interaction

 

Download the full report by Momentus.

 

 

16 August 2011

Help shoppers through the ‘Made in' maze

Join the collective effort to help shoppers learn what the Australian Made logo really means.

 

Starting tomorrow, we will roll out a new advertising campaign in a bid to address some of the confusion shoppers are experiencing in the marketplace.

 

The first in a new series of press ads will appear in the Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Courier Mail, capturing the raft of symbols businesses use to try and promote their products as Australian made. They can keep trying, however, research shows the Australian Made logo is the most trusted and recognised country of origin symbol.

 

Visitors to our website will also find much clearer explanations of what the different country of origin claims mean and the rules products need to meet.

 

You can help shoppers through the `Made in' maze by using the Australian Made logo clearly on your registered products and accompanying marketing and point-of-sale materials. You can also refer shoppers to our website for further information.

 

Grow your business with social media

Internet marketing specialist HubSpot highlights six ways social media can help you grow your business:

 

• Social media is quick to start - you can launch a Facebook page or a blog within days
• There's little or no cost involved, making it a very cost effective way to reach your target audience
• You can interact with your audience and get feedback in real time
• Prospects are more likely to find you online - surveys indicate that 90% or more of people begin their purchasing process in search engines
• Its inbound marketing at work
• The advantage lies with the first mover when it comes to being influential

We can help you get social through our networks, which collectively reach over 5000 shoppers, with our Get Involved Get Found packages. You can find out more information by contacting our office on 1800 350 520.

Protect your brand overseas

Registered patent and trade mark attorneys and campaign partner, EKM Patent and Trademarks, shares a checklist of steps you can take as an exporter to protect your brand overseas:

 

•  TRADE MARK SEARCHES

Is your brand available to register and use overseas? A trade mark search is advisable.

 

• TRADE MARK STRATEGY

Is your international trade mark protection done on an ad-hoc basis? A good plan for filing your international marks can save you a lot of time and money, as well as angst in the long run.

 

• TRADE MARK RULES

Do you understand the difference between "first to file" and "first to use". Learn about all legal insights of the target countries, regarding in particular, countries that are subject to first to file rules and where your trade mark may be vulnerable if you do not register it.

 

• TRADE MARK MEANING

Does your brand mean something different in overseas countries? You should consider adjusting your brand to the specificities of the target markets as well as the countries where you should be registering a local translation or transliteration.

 

• TRADE MARK COSTS

Have you an understanding of international trade mark costs before you commence the process

 

• TRADE MARK FILING & REGISTRATION

There are certain international agreements in place that do assist in providing a cost effective international filing approach.

 

• TRADE MARK ENFORCEMENT & INFRINGEMENT

Is your brand being copied overseas? Seek opinions with your international trade mark infringements overseas before taking action.

 

• TRADE MARK LICENSING & OTHER LEGAL AGREEMENTS

Do you have the important legal agreements in place to ensure any necessary legal agreement, including licence and distribution agreements, are managed to further protect your brand and your business interests in your selected countries.

 

If you have any questions or would like further information please email Brian Goldberg or call 03 9829 0993.

14 July 2011

Judiciary backs Australian Made logo

The integrity of the Australian Made logo is being protected in a collective effort to prevent shoppers from being misled.

 

A Federal Court judge has warned businesses who advertise their products are made in Australia when they're not could face similar consequences after online ugg boot trader Marksun Australia was penalised $430,000 for engaging in false and misleading conduct.

 

As part of the penalty, the trader was fined $100,000 for the unauthorised use of the Australian Made logo.

 

In his decision, Justice Gilmour said the fine would act as a deterrent to other businesses who advertise their products are made in Australia when they're not.

 

"The overall character of [Marksun's] conduct in promoting goods that are entirely made in China was calculated to apply a veneer of 'Australian-ness' or 'Australia washing'" which was "deliberate and dishonest".

 

"Misrepresentations about goods being Australian Made not only harm the buyers of those goods, but also adversely impact on those traders that can properly make that claim."

 

Australian Made, Australian Grown Campaign Chief Executive Ian Harrison said shoppers have the right to know where the products they buy come from.

 

"The Australian Made logo is a certification trademark and businesses must follow strict rules when using it.

 

"Marksun showed complete disregard for shoppers and the Australian Made logo and as a result must face the consequences of the law."

 

24/04/11

New Aussie Made store opens

Travellers through Melbourne International Airport can now buy authentic Australian made gifts after Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson AM MP officially opened the new and largest Australian Made Concept Store.

 

"We know that Australian tourism experiences are taken home as memories, and now the Australian Made Concept Store allows visitors to take home a product that they can be assured is good value, good quality and authentically Australian," Minister Ferguson said at the ceremony on 13 April.

 

The store is an initiative between AMAG and travel retail specialist The Purely Group and only stocks products registered to carry the AMAG logo such as knitwear, lifestyle apparel, handmade craftwork and more.

 

It is located airside in the international terminal and joins sister stores at Sydney International Airport (airside) and Perth Airport (landside).

 

If you're interested in having your products sold in the Australian Made stores, please contact The Purely Group's Nick Poole or phone 02 8218 1100.

 

 

Public values Australian manufacturing

New research shows most Australians agree manufacturing is an important industry for the country's future as serious debate over the impact a price on carbon will have on the sector continues.

 

National public opinion research released by AMAG founding member, ACCI, shows almost two thirds of Australians are opposed to the proposed carbon tax.

550 people completed the online survey last month which also revealed:
• 96% agree manufacturing is an important industry for Australia's future
• 85% agree Australian Made products will become more expensive
• 82% agree some companies will move off shore
• 72% agree Australian manufacturing will become less competitive than overseas manufacturing
• 59% are opposed to the proposed carbon tax

 

Survey results are available at ACCI's website.

 

 

AMAG in the news

Hundreds of thousands of shoppers will learn about why it is so important to buy Australian made products and Australian grown produce in a special feature by Victoria's leading broadsheet newspaper, The Age.

 

The 12 page feature will be published on ANZAC Day, giving shoppers an insight into how well trusted and recognised the logo is here and overseas and how it has greatly benefited licensees. Importantly, it will remind them how they can support local farmers and manufacturers - by looking for the logo and buying Australian.

 

 

Mitchell Shire becomes Campaign Supporter

The Shire of Mitchell is making a public statement about its commitment to local manufacturers and growers by becoming a Campaign Supporter.

 

The shire is located less than hour north of Melbourne, Victoria, making it one of Melbourne's six key growth areas. Its population is projected to exceed 40,000 within the next 5 years.

 

Mitchell Shire Council is focused on attracting more industry to the area, expanding infrastructure and services to create more jobs.

 

The Shire of Mitchell joins seven other Victorian councils as Supporters including Ballarat, Casey, Darebin, Horsham, Hume, Moreland and Whittlesea.

 

 

Natural disaster assistance for businesses

Businesses affected by Australia's recent natural disasters are encouraged to apply for assistance from government departments and business chambers.

 

Exporting SMEs are eligible for support from Austrade if their headquarters are located in disaster-affected areas, if their produce is sourced from those areas or if their supply chains have been disrupted.

 

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) continues to lobby for state government assistance to be extended to companies indirectly affected, while urging all businesses which bore the brunt of the floods and Cyclone Yasi to apply for the State Government's Special Disaster Flood Assistance Grant.

 

Businesses indirectly affected in Victoria have until May 31 to apply for up to $5000 through the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) Business Relief Fund.

 

Primary producers and small businesses in Tasmania who have suffered direct damage have until June 30 to apply for grant funding to assist with clean-up, removal of debris and restoration costs.

 

To find out more about any of these assistance packages visit the Australian Government website or contact your state's CCI.

AMAG proposes changes to logo's rules

AMAG has lodged a submission with the ACCC to make a number of changes to its Code of Practice, including the rules governing the use of the AMAG logo.

The proposed changes include:

• Ensuring that AMCL has the right to refuse a licence to any product which does not meet the compliance criteria
• Addition of a new representation ‘Australian Seafood'
• Addition of a new representation ‘Australian' for use on exported products
• Exclusions to the definition of ‘substantial transformation' for food products
• Amendments to rule 19 on use of the logo without a representation
• A new rule to ensure that AMCL has the power to refuse a licence to any product which has the potential to damage the reputation of the campaign
• A new rule regarding application of the logo overseas
• Removal of the fee schedule from the Code
• Removal of Section IX ‘Information Sources' and other minor changes

 

If you have any questions regarding the amendments proposed or would like further information, please contact Lisa Crowe