Special Reports

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

THE next big growth area, and the next big challenge, for Western Australia’s olive industry will be the establishment of processing and bottling facilities.

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.

AFTER 19 years working in high finance in London, Simon Withers has used his return to Perth to make a clean break.

FOR corporate lawyers Geoffrey Grice and Rupert Lewi, the return to Perth has been smoother than for many other professionals.

Dozens of talented young people leave Perth every year for the excitement and opportunity of bigger cities. But there is also a steady flow of returnees. What brings them back? And how do they cope with ‘Dullsville’? Mark Beyer reports.

ONE of the common laments of people wanting to return to Perth is that there aren’t enough good opportunities in the local business sector.

WA Business News spoke to some prominent local council leaders facing pressure to develop the coastline.

EVENT tourism, particularly sports events tourism, generates big dollars for the Western Australian economy each year.

THE local cricket season officially gets under way in less than a fortnight yet the Western Australian Cricket Association is still seeking a sponsor at its top, platinum, level.

PERTH Glory’s on and off-field performances in recent seasons have earned it a reputation as the National Soccer League’s pin-up team.

IF you had been stuck on a desert island for the past 20 years, or maybe taken a Forrest Gump-like approach to ultra-marathons, you would hardly recognise the world of sport in 2003.

CREATING a profit-generating football club takes as much hard work from the administrative team as it takes for the players and coaching staff to win on a weekly basis.

AT the end of June 2001 there were 3951 sporting organisations (not including recreation and leisure) that employed 43,154 people. If you include volunteers, this number increases by a further 170,329.

WHILE basketball is not enjoying the high profile it once had, Wildcats co-owner Andrew Vlahov is content with his club’s on and off-field successes.