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The Wheel

The Ecobusiness Newsletter

Vol. 1 No. 2 November, 1995

Unique Services For EcoBusinesses

At the recent Investing in the Environment seminar conducted by Ecobusiness, the South Australian Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, the Honorable David Wotton, MP pointed out the major contribution that the "environment" industry contributes to business and the ever increasing potential that this industry would contribute.

"Ecobusiness is well placed to provide business development skills, network services and access to products and services " Lou de Leeuw, Ecobusiness Chief Executive said. "We have in our network all the skills to start a successful Ecobusiness and with the rapid demand we expect, the diversity of our services will only increase".

Lou de Leeuw is well known to small and medium enterprises, having worked with them for the last 17 years, co-authored the book "Working for Yourself in Australia", and conducted workshops, seminars and training for WEA Inc, The University of South Australia, and NEIS.

"Businesses do not plan to fail, they fail to plan is now an old adage, but is non- the -less true "Lou said, " the first step to a successful business is to get a business plan. This must integrate the Production, Sales and Finance plans of the enterprise".

"Growth is the other major problem faced by business. It often is not the lack of growth but the continued exponential growth that many businesses falter under. The stresses that this creates will not only be evident in the way the business is financed, but will often show in the family life of the business owners and managers. Sustainable growth needs to be considered" de Leeuw added.

Ecobusiness is offering an extensive and integrated range of services to the businesses that join the network. Preparation of business plans, seminars , support networks, Internet access, participation in the Ecobusiness Home Page, library facilities and updates on world trends.

As a registered consultant with The Business Centre, business plans prepared by Lou de Leeuw may also be eligible, in SA, for assistance of up to 50% of the cost to a maximum of $5,000 if involved in export, import replacement, value adding to agriculture, or a first-line supplier to those organisations. Ecobusiness is also registered as consultants with the South Australian Centre for Manufacturing.

An Ecobusiness could be defined as a business that has its aim to become environmentally sustainable, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.

If you are thinking of starting, expanding, or just want to get in contact with an Ecobusiness, contact us by Telephone +61+(0)8 211-8171, Facsimile +61+(0)8 212-6170
or E-mail: ecobiz@ecobusiness.com.au

Ecobusiness Books

Working for Yourself in Australia
Lou de Leeuw & Godfrey Golzen,
Pitman Publishing, 1995.

This second edition refines and updates the first as well as adding new chapters on "business plans" and "greening" the business .

" My main aim was to provide an easy to read book free of jargon that would give everyone a start in working for themselves," Lou de Leeuw said. " Chapters start by looking at whether you have what it takes, the necessary requirements for starting the business, how to finance, tax implications etc" An added feature is that a wide selection of businesses are featured, from vineyards to home word processing.

The RRP is $24.95 and available from most book stores. Otherwise obtain your copy from Ecobusiness ( postage and packing extra).

From the Hub by Lou de Leeuw, Chief Executive

One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready now go, green, go! could have been an appropriate anthem for our seminar "Investing in the Environment" . But, unlike Elvis, we weren't stepping on anyone's blue suede shoes we were well and truly scuffing a few brogues and pinstripe suits.

Adelaide share brokers had been contacted to speak at the seminar but I received such responses as "it's not our market", "I might get some new clients in speaking out on this but I will lose all my others". This was in the face of BHP"s problems with OK Tedi and receiving such headlines as "BHP, The Tarnished Australian" (The Australian , September 30, 1995) Eventually, one came up with what I believe is the real reason "we don't have enough information on which companies are environmentally aware or vice versa. "

Ivor Findlay, from the Sydney share broking firm of Lodge, Findlay and Partners did attend and confirmed this view, "when you are sitting on the desk trying to get sales you don't want potential investors quizzing you about environmental concerns". He did point at several companies that were considered to be environmentally aware, showed good returns and could be recommended to potential investors. The audience was appreciative of his frankness.

Robert Rosen, having been a consultant to many of the Ethical Investment Funds, discussed the various considerations required to have an environmentally based share portfolio. He also summarised how the various Ethical Fund managers were performing. He pointed out that a counterpart of his in London had written to him predicting that all investments in the future would be made with Ethical considerations in mind, in the not too distant future, the sector was growing so fast there.

I confirmed the difference in attitude in Europe to Australia by telling of my experience with Environmental Reporting by European companies which had progressed far further than those in Australia. Research in Australia by Carol Tilt of Flinders University indicated that just over 50% of the companies surveyed considered that their Environmental Policy should be available to shareholders. It is obvious that there is a need for publicly available research of environmentally poistive companies in Australia. The US and the UK both have excellent information available to investors which I believe partly accounts for the growth of investment in ethical investments.

Until this is available the investor needs to do their own research on the Environmental appropriateness or otherwise of the companies and then discuss the investment with their investment advisor.

Here are a few companies that were discussed at the seminar to start off with :

Australian Gas Light Company
Blackmores
Coffey International
Country Road
Energy Developments
Environmental Recovery Services
Environmental Solutions International
ERG Australia
Gowings
Hydromet
Memtec
Mineral Control Instrumentation
Orbital Engine Company
Pacific Hydro
Ribloc
Siddons Ramset
Simsmetal
Skydome Holdings
Zeolite

As Dylan ( Bob that is ) said, " It ain't no use in wondering why babe......don't think twice its alright."

STOP PRESS:

Small Business Networks Urged by Expert : The Advertiser 27th October, 1995 by Colin Frearson.

Philippe Roy an Industry Canada management consultant said " To help Small Business realise economies of scale and growth , they should band together to form a "network" and work smarter. This is the knowledge revolution".

He pointed to Canada, which has witnessed and explosion in the number of "microfirms" employing only one to three people in recent years, saying that SA was about five years away from a similar story. (Editor: See Unique Services for Ecobusinesses, the services offered are the components of a network that can be used for new and established businesses).