Entries by Natalie Staaks

Getting Noticed by Google and Your Customers

As a communication all-rounder, an issues specialist, frustrated writer and creative, the expansion of knowledge into marketing and content creation for me has been challenging and fascinating all at once.  The Centre for Adult Education (CAE) is my go-to for short courses that give me a taste of what I’m interested in – and what I’m […]

Marketing on a Shoe-String

What do you do when you have a book to promote for a good mate and self -published author, and shoestring budget (read will work for cups of tea and chocolate)? You improvise the hell out of what you’ve got. Dr Lisa Chaffey wrote Rewiring pain – A new way to reclaim your life, to help […]

Business Owner Marisa Just Believes

Marisa Lawlor owns Just Believe Fit, a Thornbury boutique wellness studio focusing on yoga, pilates and strength conditioning. Spring coming in to summer is traditionally the time when people turn their mind to fitness, staggering out of hibernating Winter. Marisa is in the process of ramping up her business social media marketing, but she’s been warming […]

Learning is Life

In September, Adult Learners Week celebrated learning that promotes greater understanding and respect across different generations. I loved the concept. While I always thought of learning in terms of degrees or forums/conferences, it turns out I have a new found passion for the Centre for Adult Learning (CAE) short courses. Earlier this year I did […]

Marketing The Italian Style Difference

Thornbury has a great retail community and Thornbury store Lola Lovely Gifts brings a gorgeous Italian flavor to accessories and clothing. Owner Grazia Cavallin’s own Italian style is reflected in her High Street store, with affordable, quality and slightly edgy clothing and accessories. Most of the clothing in Lola comes from Italy. Grazia is a […]

Passion and Projects

Earlier this year when I was looking for something that I wanted to learn more about, photography was at the top of my list. I was looking for a little passion project, but I don’t have a camera, just an Iphone. Given I’d never met someone as wedded to their camera phone as me, it was […]

Not Your Average Anything in Marketing

Tucked into a 150-year-old store, Thornbury store Bespoke Wines and Spirits markets itself as #notyouraveragebottleshop. Owner Phil Gray, a former money market trader with a long history in hospitality and high end champagne sales, has an olde world shop bursting with unusual wines, spirits and beers, as well as quirky and different gift ideas. Phil […]

When Busyness is What Small Business Needs

In talking to several small businesses in the last few months, it seems the winter months can sometimes be difficult to entice people out of their homes and busy lives and into the local stores and businesses. As a rabid consumer myself I know the reasons that consumers buy into particular goods and services are […]

Leading to Change

Last year I chaired one day of a communications forum.  I had to think on my feet and speak in front of other seasoned communication professionals. Author of “Lead the Room” and speaker Shane Hatton was the Chair of the second day. When I expressed my nervousness, his advice was to be myself, harness my […]

Who’s Teaching Who?

Last year for the first time I participated in the RMIT mentoring program. A second year business student who wanted to write.  She had a clear idea of her end goal.  The challenge was how to get there. We had different backgrounds; different life experiences and different confidence levels when comparing age for age. Our […]