Small business to continue to market

SmartCompany recently reported that according to Online Research Unit Australian SMEs say they will continue or increase current levels of spending on marketing, despite any indication of an industry slowdown.

A survey completed by the group says 52% of businesses will keep marketing and advertising budgets the same in 2009, with 37% saying they will increase their budgets. Those intending to increase their budgets number 42% for businesses less than two years old, with 33% of companies older than 10 years saying they will increase their budgets.

Any increase will likely be directed towards advertising at 66%, with online marketing following at 44%, direct marketing at 41% and public relations at 23% for all intended expenditure. Only 11% say they will cut marketing budgets.

ORU chairman Brian Fine says the results show that Australian SMEs will remain immune from any effects of the downturn.

“It seems that small business recognises the need for pro-active communication to grow, or at least maintain current market share. Advertising for these smaller companies will have broader meaning than just above the line brand building, and is likely to include retail and targeted communication in print media.”

Constructive Recruitment ventures into Asia and the Middle East

Technical recruitment specialist Constructive Recruitment is launching a new business venture, Constructive Recruitment Asia. In January 2009, after five years of success in the Australian market, they will be expanding into the Asia and the Middle East.

Constructive Recruitment is continuing their trend of growth achieved since the business was established in 2003. The new venture will open up the opportunity to expand even further and serve new markets.

“We are incredibly excited about entering into Asia and the Middle East. The success of our company is due to a lot of hard work and effort which has enabled us to expand into new regions,” said Mr Marriott.

“The opportunities in the Asian and Middle Eastern markets that deal with our sectors - construction, infrastructure and resources – are huge. We researched the market and decided to grab the opportunity.”

“We see this venture as a new challenge for us. Having already placed candidates in countries local to Australia, this will be our first time to entering into the Asia and Middle Eastern markets and the benefits we can get out of this are fantastic. Not only will Constructive Recruitment be expanding even further, but once we’re successful in the Asian and Middle Eastern markets, it will be a lot easier to enter other markets should we decide to do so,” said Mr Marriott.

Asian and Middle Eastern businesses looking for staff and jobseekers alike will benefit from Constructive Recruitment’s expert knowledge and skills in technical and operational sectors and strategic industry advice.

Sectors covered by Constructive Recruitment include Architecture & Interior Design, Building Construction, Civil Construction, Consulting Engineers, Development & Planning, Facilities Management, Mining, Oil & Gas, Power, Project Management, Property, Quantity Surveying and Rail.

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PDM appoint National Sales Manager

Prime Digital Media (PDM) has announced the appointment of Lynette Rochford as the National Sales Manager to its Wellbeing Out-of-Home Digital media network.

Bringing over 20 years experience in sales and management, Rochford will be responsible for the advertising sales on the Wellbeing network showcased within pharmacies Australia-wide.

Ms Rochford has joined PDM after having spent over a year with Reed Business Information as the Sales Director of Healthcare, working closely with major pharmaceutical companies, FMCG’s, government and financial institutions.

PDM’s National Sales Director, Hamish Guild said, “We are very pleased to attract someone of Lynette’s calibre and experience to this important role at PDM. With her extensive sales experience within the pharmaceutical industry, she will play a pivotal role in driving business development and will bring great insight and energy to the role of National Sales Manager.”

Ms Rochford said, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work in such a dynamic, creative and energetic environment. The offerings presented by PDM throughout their OOHD media network are at the forefront of digital marketing within Australia. Working with PDM I hope to grow the Wellbeing network and further develop strong relationships within the pharmaceuticals industry.”

Prior to working with Reed Business Information group, Rochford worked as the Sales Director of Next Media whose portfolio included Rolling Stone, Blunt, Australian Guitar, Soapworld, Mania, Girlpower, PC Powerplay, and Hyper. Prior to Next media, Rochford was the Group Sales Manager of Time Inc which was responsible for a number of specialist titles including Practical Parenting, Bride to Be, 25 Beautiful Homes, English Women’s Weekly and the Puzzler group.

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Starlight Cinema 2009 Season - a fantastic line-up of movies under the stars

It is pure summer fun lying on a blanket under the stars watching a fabulous movie at Starlight Cinema, which is back bigger than ever in 2009 with a great line-up of recent release films.

Starlight Cinema will celebrate its sixth season at North Sydney Oval with an unforgettable cinematic experience for everyone.

The 2009 Sydney program will open on 14 January 2009 kicking off with the highly acclaimed film Australia starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.

Jill Keyte, Producer of Starlight Cinema said, “Our experience over the past five years has shown the North Shore loves outdoor cinema and we are expanding this year’s program with the Starlight Shorts. We are thrilled with this season’s line up of films and know our patrons will be just as excited.”

This year Starlight has introduced Starlight Shorts, which allows filmmakers the chance to showcase their short film on the big screen. Over the season it is proposed one short film will be shown before each movie, with a total of 28 short films screening across seven weeks.

Starlight Cinema is theming its nights again this summer with:

• Adshel Wild Wednesdays
• Bluetongue Blockbuster Thursdays
• Family Flick Fridays
• Summer Lovin’ Saturdays

Movies include Taken, High School Musical 3, The Duchess, Mamma Mia!, Rocky Horror, Quantum of Solace, Burn After Ready, Twilight, Marley & Me and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.

The season will also include a Brazilian Festa of culture and film on Sunday 22 February. The final of the Starlight’s Shorts will be showcased at the end of the season on 1 March and the lucky winner will be awarded with a cash prize.

Patrons can dine on a delicious pre-ordered hamper from Pieces of Provence or relax and be ‘treated like a star’ in Star Class: the VIP area with a personal deck chair, hamper and waiter service. The alfresco Grinders Cafe Terrace offers a sumptuous gourmet barbecue menu with Hungerford Hill wines, Bluetongue Beers and Grinders Coffee to complete your experience.

Bring a blanket, hire a backrest, or sit in one of the covered stands as you enjoy your film in the balmy summer evening. Starlight Cinema gates and the Grinders Cafe Terrace open from 7pm each night. Tickets are available online from $16 from 2 December or from the gate each night from $20.

For the perfect Christmas gift buy a gift voucher which can be used for any Starlight Cinema movie.

Starlight Cinema runs from Wednesday 14 January to Sunday 1 March at North Sydney Oval featuring 29 films.

Starlight Cinema thanks Tourism Australia, Hungerford Hill Wines, Bluetongue Beers, ADSHEL, GSP Print, Sanyo, Lenovo, and Grinders Coffee for continuing their support and helping to make the season possible.

For more information, film program, tickets and gift vouchers go to www.starlightcinema.com.au

New short film competition to showcase Australian film talent

Starlight Cinema, Sydney’s north shore outdoor cinema, returns to North Sydney Oval this summer, bigger and better than ever. Starlight Cinema expands this year with the introduction of Starlight Shorts – a short film competition.

Starlight Cinema is inviting filmmakers of all ages to enter their films in this new short film festival. We are seeking films which have been made after 1 December 2007, are 8 minutes or less in length including titles and can be shown in 35mm film or DVD format.

Managing Director, Jill Keyte, said over the past four years Starlight Cinema has featured short films from the Australian Film Television and Radio School.

“There is such a strong interest in film in our schools and community - we wanted to create an opportunity to showcase talent. We are keen to give more filmmakers a chance to have their work seen. Starlight Shorts creates this opportunity,” said Ms Keyte.

The judges, led by Australian cinematographer, Anna Howard (Hey Hey Its Esther Blueburger), will select 28 films, one to be shown each night with the feature film at Starlight Cinema. The films will be matched with the Starlight Cinema themes – Wild Wednesdays, Blockbuster Thursdays, Family Flick Fridays and Summer Lovin’ Saturdays.

There are great prizes to be won.  These include cash, camera equipment, filmmaking courses and studio time for the first, second and third prizes awarded by our judges plus the Audience Award prize voted by our audiences during the season.

The 28 finalists will have their work seen on Starlight Cinemas giant 16m x 8m inflatable screen during the season and on the finals night, Sunday 1 March.

Entry details and terms and conditions can be found at http://www.starlightcinema.com.au/page/starlight_shorts.html Entries close Friday 12 December at 5.00pm.

The winning films will be shown at the 2009 Starlight Cinema program which runs from Wednesday 14 January to Sunday 1 March at North Sydney Oval. It opens with Baz Luhrmann’s, Australia, and will feature something for every film lover with The Duchess, Tropic Thunder, Burn After Reading, Mamma Mia!, Fantasia, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Frost/Nixon. For more information, tickets and gift vouchers go to http://www.starlightcinema.com.au