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John Koster and Greg Hall.

Business stalls IN PICTURES: Businesses relish in tradestall networking

Albany’s monthly business networking event was held with a bit of twist last Thursday, as members of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry took the opportunity to showcase their wares via stalls.

Melissa Sheil

The owner of Eternal Energy Healing and Wellness, Kessley Ham.

Small BusinessCommentsPremiumPerth wellness studio bans men after ‘inappropriate’ acts

A masseuse has banned men from her South Perth studio after male clients made her staff uncomfortable with relentless ‘groaning’ and requests to remove their underwear. 

Caitlin Vinci

WA small businesses are optimistic about the year ahead, says CommBank research.

Small BusinessCommentsPremiumRising bills a headache for optimistic WA small businesses

WA small businesses are more optimistic about the year ahead compared with the rest of the country, but keeping up with rising phone and electricity bills is proving a challenge.

Cheyanne Enciso

The Direct Seeing and Harvest Equipment team were visited by Reece Whitby to show off their new high-tech Figtek 1530 Fiber Metal Cutting Machine 6000W installed earlier this month thanks to a $150,000 REDs grant.

LASER SHARPNew laser-cutter eases agriculture business bottleneck

The owners of an Albany business that provides a vital link in the agricultural chain said they are “really excited” to be able to streamline their operations after installing new laser-cutting machinery.

Melissa Sheil

KMD Brands, which owns Kathmandu, has warned tariffs could strip out $1m in earnings for FY25. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

MarketsPremiumTrump slump smashes major Aussie fashion labels

Alarm bells are ringing for a major ASX-listed fashion business as a brutal Trump slump and inflation shock smashes share prices.

Duncan Evans

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FINANCEPremiumSign of life for Aussie economy

Businesses are finally getting on top of cost-of-living pressures, with the number of companies struggling to make payments dropping.

Cameron Micallef

Optus has reached an agreement with the ACCC to pay a $100m fine for exploiting vulnerable Australians. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

BreakingPremium‘Unconscionable’: Optus cops $100m fine

Telco giant Optus has agreed to pay a whopping $100m fine for exploiting hundreds of vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians.

Duncan Evans

Perth has the second-lowest rate of business failures.

Administration and liquidationCommentsPremiumPerth tipped to have second-lowest rate of business failures

Perth is tipped to have the second-lowest rate of business failures among the capital cities over the next 12 months, as new figures from credit analysts CreditorWatch hint at a brighter outlook.

Cheyanne Enciso

Lorna Cook co-founded home chemotherapy service Chemo@home 12 years ago.

HealthCommentsPremiumWA health founders hope to revolutionise cancer treatments

Two WA health professionals knew they needed to revolutionise the way chemotherapy and immunotherapy were administered after spending years observing cancer patients in waiting rooms struggling with fatigue.

Cheyanne Enciso

Cliff Rocke is a partner at WAIS Insolvency Solutions.

Administration and liquidationCommentsPremiumInsolvencies tipped to rise amid Tax Office crackdown

Insolvency experts have warned that Western Australia looks set for a surge in business collapses as the Australian Taxation Office clamps down on ageing debts.

Matt Mckenzie

Aged care provider Annecto will close in July. Annecto

newsPremium3000 patients hit by shock collapse

Aged care and disability services provider Annecto is shutting down after 70 years in business, putting the care of more than 3000 people in limbo.

Duncan Evans

Amazon Business Australia country manager Lena Zak.

RetailCommentsAmazon’s new shop promises to streamline business purchases

Online retail giant Amazon has unveiled a new platform in Australia, promising to streamline purchases between businesses and offer savings as rising operating costs continue to be a headache.

Cheyanne Enciso

Tim McLernon, general manager of Three Pound Group.

RetailPremiumPerth publican in no rush for another long weekend

The owner of Perth’s biggest pub is lukewarm on the idea of WA getting its twelfth public holiday in a year, saying they usually make for risky trading days and more expensive meals for punters. 

Simone Grogan

The Tomago smelter in NSW produces about 37 per cent of Australia’s aluminium. Supplied

news6000 jobs at risk as smelter nears collapse

Rio Tinto’s mammoth Tomago aluminium smelter is reportedly close to collapse, putting some 6000 jobs at risk.

Duncan Evans

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BusinessReason Aussies are working multiple jobs

A trend that started after the Covid pandemic is continuing, with a huge number of Australians taking on multiple roles to deal with the cost of living.

Cameron Micallef

The Larrimah Hotel in the Northern Territory is for sale two year’s after Netflix released a true crime series about the disappearance of one of its regular punters Patty Moriarty.

Real EstateInfamous Aussie outback pub up for sale

An infamous Aussie pub at the centre of an eight-year-old mystery that was retold in a hit Netflix true crime series has been put on the market.

Emma Kirk

The Larrimah Hotel in the Northern Territory is for sale two year’s after Netflix released a true crime series about the disappearance of one of its regular punters Patty Moriarty.

Real EstateInfamous Aussie outback pub up for sale

An infamous Aussie pub at the centre of an eight-year-old mystery that was retold in a hit Netflix true crime series has been put on the market.

Emma Kirk

Australians kept their hands in their pockets in April. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

FINANCERetail trade falls despite long weekends

The Reserve Bank of Australia could fast-track rate cuts after disappointing April retail sales figures.

Cameron Micallef

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HEALTH‘Smoke-free’: Big call on beachside tourist spot

A popular beach town could go “smoke-free” under a major proposed health shake-up from the local council.

Duncan Evans

Gage Roads co-founder John Hoedemaker and chief strategy officer Aaron Heary, who have both been part of the WA brewing success story since day one. Gage Roads Brewery celebrate its 20th birthday over the WA Day long weekend.

DrinkPremiumGage of success: Brewery started with $25k now a local icon

WA’s own Gage Roads Brewing Co. has surfed the ebbs and flows of the craft beer business to reach a milestone with plenty of lager left in the tank.

Simon Collins

Australians may see milk shortages when they go to the local supermarket. NewsWire

newsAussies warned of milk shortage

Australian shoppers could face a milk shortage or rising prices as the devastating impact of the NSW floods is set to hit local supermarkets.

Cameron Micallef

Peter Stevens Motorcycles entered voluntary administration this week. Supplied

BUSINESS400 jobs at risk as major retailer goes bust

A legendary motorcycle retailer with a 55-year history has entered voluntary administration, putting 400 jobs in limbo.

Duncan Evans

Scarlett Hopper opened Romancing the Novel in Paddington last year. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

NewsWhy this author opened a romance bookshop

Bookshops are under pressure from online retail giants like Amazon, but this Aussie author took the plunge and opened up her own independent romance bookstore. Here’s why.

Alexandra Feiam

Warders Hotel director of hospitality and co-owner Tim Buckton, pictured at Emily Taylor at Warders Hotel, Fremantle.

TourismCommentsPremiumWA hotels worried as Airbnb makes bold push to grab trade

WA hoteliers are bracing for a fresh wave of competition from Airbnb, which is muscling in on its traditional turf and offering experiences and services to guests.

Oliver Lane