subject: Simjen Putting The Spotlight Back On Smes [print this page] At Simjen, were committed to helping SMEs succeed. Whats that you ask? Well, you mightnt think you know what an SME is, but you do.
Every single day, we need to interact with SMEs to survive. They keep us fed and clothed. They provide entertainment. They design our homes, fix our cars and clean our offices. There is no question about it SMEs keep Australia moving even if they dont get the same level of recognition and the degree of notoriety that large companies and multinationals enjoy.
SMEs, or small-to-medium enterprises if you want to lay it out in full, represent a massive chunk of the Australian business landscape. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2011 numbers recognised over two million actively trading throughout every state and territory, an increase of almost 200,000 from figures released in 2007.
According to the June 2012 Sensis Business Index Small and Medium Enterprises, however, even with this growth the confidence levels of SMEs are weakening. The report states that the general perception regarding the current state of the Australian economy continued to fall. The majority of business owners viewing the economy growing on a balance were down by seven percentage points according to the survey results; while those that felt the economy would be better a year from now dropped five percentage points during the last quarter.
Simjen has found that this can be linked to a number of issues, such as declining sales and investments, lower than expected profits, employment uneasiness and wage expenditure growing. With varying reports putting SME failure rate in the first five years between 40 and 60 per cent, professional business guidance is vital and can mean the difference between a slumping start-up and a strong success story.
With big players expanding in size and threatening the future of SMEs nationwide, its important for the spotlight to remain on these businesses; statistically, they are the engine that keeps Australia moving. As a fellow SME operating out of Brisbane, Simjen is putting the interests of small-and-medium sized businesses first. Simjen was founded by young entrepreneur Simon James in 2009. Back then, we operated out of a small office space in the city CBD. Now, our staff number over 100 and weve found a permanent headquarters in the citys creative hub of Fortitude Valley.
Operating through our nine company arms, Simjen mixes business smarts with creative flair, a combination which has proven to be a winning one for SMEs right around the country. Our clients are varied: legal aid, hairdressers, sports clubs, restaurants, dentists, etc. However, it doesnt matter what industry or sector a company is operating in; the rates of success that have stemmed directly from our company speaks for itself.
James, Simjens founder and CEO, admits, Every SME has the framework to succeed. However, a lot of these businesses just need the right guidance and the correct promotional tools implemented. This can come in many different forms and at Simjen, we aim to provide personalised care to allow SMEs right around the country to discover their full potential.
In a recent poll conducted by business and accounting software provider MYOB, the main focuses for small-to-medium enterprises over the next twelve months include:
Customer retention and acquisition strategies
Strengthening current position and entering new markets
Increasing product and service offering
By devising strategies, creating new branding, marketing directly to target audiences and advertising across a variety of platforms, Simjen are helping SMEs with their main focus stability, growth and success for the future.
