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Woolworths and Wesfarmers in GLOBAL top 250 Retailers list

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Article updated:

Australian  favourite retail giants, Woolworths and Wesfarmers ( Coles Supermarkets), are now listed in the world’s top 25 retail companies list.

Top Australian Retailer in Global Rankings

 

coles against woolworths

The report brought out by research agency Deloitte , identifies the “250 largest retailers by revenue globally” for the fiscal year 2010, lists Woolworths in 20th (26th last year) and Wesfarmers in 23rd position (28th last year).

While the global downturn and economic slowdowns have seen many  top retailers companies going down the list , The Australian retail companies both Woolworths and Wesfarmers both  have jumped up by the list by six and five places  respectively.

The global Retailers list

 

The top Global retailers rankings also included other top global retail companies like WALMART ( No .1 From USA ) , CAREFOUR S.A. ( No.2 – From France ), TESCO PLC ( No. 3 – From UK)

wesfarmers top retailer list

Among the top 30 were also other companies like Costo , Best Buy Co,  Safeway , Ikea and Amazon. Brazil another rapidly growing economy has topped the “top 10 Latin Americas retailer  list”  with its “Grupo Pao De Acucar” taking the top honours.

So what is the big giants Woolworths and Wesfarmers made up of ?

Below is a listing of  the different divisions and businesses that make up the two Goliath’s of  australia

Wesfarmers

§ Retail – Coles, Bi-Lo, Liqourland, Coles express, Coles.com.au, First Choice Liquor, Vintage Cellars, Target, Target Country, K Mart, Kmart Tyre and Auto Services

§ Home Improvement – Bunnings, Bunnings Warehouse, Bunnings Trade

§ Office Supplies – Officeworks

§ Insurance – Lumley, WFi, Oamps, Crombie Lockwood

§ Resources – Urragh, Bengalla

§ Chemicals and Fertilisers – CSBP, QNP (Queensland Nitrates) and AGR (Australian Gold Reagents)

§ Gas/Energy – Kleenheat Gas, Evol LNG, Premier Power (electricity)

§ Industrial and Safety – Blackwoods, Protector Alsafe, Bullivants, Total fasteners, Coregas, Blackwoods Protector, Packaging House, Gotstock.com.au, Safety Source

§ Others, and stakes in – ModWood wood-plastic products, 50% stake each in Gresham Partners (Barminco, Silk Logistics Group and Tasmanian Walking Company) and Westpine Industries and a 24% stake in BWP warehouse retailing properties.

Woolworths

§ Retail – Woolworths Supermarkets, Woolworths Petrol, Big W, BWS, Dan Murphy’s, Wine market, Cellarmasters, Ezibuy, Countdown, Thomas Dux.

§ Home Improvement – Masters

§ Hospitality – ALH (Australia Leisure and Hospitality) group and its brands including Great Food Great Value, Live At Your Local, 28s, Function Venue Finder and Graziers beef.

§ Finance – Woolworths Money credit cards, Reloadable MasterCards and Gift cards.

§ Others – Woolworths Mobile, Langton’s

More details  about the top global retailers can be got from the Deloitte website

Download Global Powers of Retail 2011 Read and download the full report ‘Global Powers of Retailing 2011’ in PDF format.

4 Ways to Save Money on Your Federal Taxes

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Here are four easy things you can do right now to reduce your federal tax bill in the US. The idea here is to pay as little as you can in taxes, and we do this by reducing our taxable income. The way federal taxes work, you take your annual salary, then subtract from it …and arrive at your Adjusted Gross Income. Naturally we want to subtract as much as we can to make that AGI as low as possible. Subtractions are called deductions. That brings us to the 4 ways to save money on your federal taxes.

pay taxes or save

The 4 deductions are

  1. Put more money into your 401(k) if you have one. The money you put into your pension plan at work will not be taxed. For example, if you put $10,000 into your 401(k) then your AGI will be that much lower. The added benefit is that some employers will match what you contribute up to a certain amount. Nice!
  3. If you volunteer, keep track of transportation. That’s because you can deduct the mileage at $0.14 per mile, parking, tolls, and other ways you may have gotten to the volunteering work.
  5. If you give to charity, keep records. If you donate clothes, furniture, or anything else make sure it’s to a qualified charity. That way, you can deduct the amount you give off your taxes, thus reducing your Adjusted Gross Income.
  7. Plan your medical and dependent care. If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) then make sure you use it. Contribute to it through your employer…money is taken out pre-tax so you are reducing your AGI even before it hits your Federal Tax Return.
  9. Set one up, put the right amount into it, and make sure you spend it by the end of the year.

       Christina Davis CPA at Large

    Selfies goes viral with oscars

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    Well most certainly this selfie  has pretty much won an oscar in the online world due to going viral and becoming humongous’ly popular , as many people would vouch for.

    oscar winning selfie 1

     

    selfie of 2014

     

    the oscar world famous selfie

    This wasnt the first  time a celebrity selfie went viral  as  we can  see from this selfie  with Obama ,  British Prime Minister David Cameron and Denmark’s Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt

    obama uk prime minister selfie

    They are also many other me too amusing selfies

     

    Pope Francis Takes a Selfie (http://parade.condenast.com/)

    Have you ever snapped a selfie only to hurriedly delete if before anyone else sees it? It’s OK. We’re all guilty of it.

     

    Justin bieber

    (businessinsider.com)

    Prepaid Credit Cards – A Better Alternative To Credit Cards?

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    prepaid vs original credit cards in australia

    Prepaid credit cards are becoming more popular and as they offer a lot of advantages over traditional credit cards. There is a level of convenience that is hard to beat when using a prepaid credit card. Using these prepaid services allows the card holder to set their own limits. If they want to go out but only spend a certain amount of money they can just put that amount on their card, can’t spend it if it isn’t on the prepaid card.

    Credit card – Prepaid  Cr card vs Credit card

    A prepaid credit card is refillable, so there is not a need to have to remember a new PIN (personal identification number) every time the card is refilled. For many of these cards adding funds to them is as simple as going to a retail store or reloading them online. These cards can be used everywhere that a Master Card or Visa can be used. There are many people who use these cards to make a purchase online when they do not want to use their personal debit cards due to a worry about security. If you are interested in you can register for a Citibank prepaid card here.

    Prepaid credit cards are also a good way to give kids money as gifts. Online shopping isn’t only popular with adults; there are also many kids who with their parent’s supervision are also buying online. Many stores are starting to carry a limited inventory in the store itself but have shipping warehouses that carry a much wider selection of items. Online shopping may offer items and deals that cannot be found in a store, but the most convenient way to shop on line is with some form of credit card.

    If the prepaid card information gets taken by an identity thief while shopping online the most they can get is what the card has on it for funding. This is an advantage over a traditional credit card or a debit card from a bank. If either of those where to end up in the hands of an identity thief they could run up very costly charges before the owner even realized that their card had been taken.

    The advantages of using a citi prepaid credit card are numerous. These cards allow the holder the ability to run a tight budget, by only putting enough funding on them to cover expenses such as rent, gas or money to go back and forth to work. Being able to load only what funding is needed on these cards means that there will not be any extra spending like there can be when using a card that bills you after it has been used. When using this type of card you are actually paying in advance for things that you will use in the future. Using these types of cards may help the user to see exactly where they are spending money and how they can change their habits if they need to.

    The 2014 Real Estate Forecast

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    real-estate-australia

    The Australian real estate market is currently only second in the world behind that of the US market in its activeness for investors. Last year saw plenty of strong investment conditions for home buyers and although many are predicting a burst to the Australian housing bubble in 2014, there are still plenty of reasons for prospective home buyers to be optimistic this year.

    How Did We Get Here?

    Last year we saw great growth across the country with home values rising substantially in nearly every major Australian city. Sydney saw a 15.1 percent increase while Perth was up 9.9 percent and Melbourne rounded out the year at 8.5 percent growth. This rise was due in large part to population growth, low interest rates and increases in consumer confidence. These factors all combined for a perfect mixture that lead to a much higher housing demand than previous years.

    What to Expect

    There are a few different polarizing views when it comes to the future of the housing market in Australia for 2014. First, we have American investment guru Harry Dent’s less than happy predictions. Dent has claimed credit for predicting the US boom and subsequent bust and the deflationary decade in Japan. He has recently made the rounds promoting his new book, The Demographic Cliff and is predicting a decline in the Australian market at anywhere from 30 to 50 percent. While that is an alarming prediction for most, Dent also states that there is a wildcard at play with China’s ultra wealthy investors who are in part to thank for the boom in 2013. If they keep investing it might help to keep Australia’s housing prices up.

    Many other analysts like APM chief economist Andrew Wilson, are predicting a slowing in the housing market overall but nothing to the extent of Dent’s numbers. Wilson expects things to slow considerably in the market for both Sydney and Melbourne, of which both saw house price growth peak in December of last year. He also sees plenty of growth in the cards for both Perth and Brisbane. The market in Brisbane is still in the pivotal "catch-up" phase and is primed to reach new heights as Queensland sees a jump in the economy and an influx of job seekers. This is great for perspective investors in these regions.

    Other market analysts are stating that Australia is still in the growing stage of the property cycle, which was bottomed out in mid-2012. This research shows that the housing market is moving into the "expansion" stage meaning more growth overall and an increase in property prices. Echoing predictions made by Wilson, this research shows that many states and cities will see different levels of growth but growing is they key factor here not a major decline.

    What Does This Mean for You?

    For the average home buyer this means that settling down and making that big purchase is still a good idea. Even with the possibility of the market slowing in certain urban areas this change will have little effect on the average home buyer as interest rates should stay low. If you are looking for great mortgage rates and customer service contact the expert team at State Custodians Mortgage today. As a leading non-bank lender, State Custodians Mortgage is committed to providing access to high quality home loans at market leading interest rates. They can help put you one step closer to taking advantage of the housing market while it is still on this generous uphill curve.

    Know the Law: How to Start Up a New Business in Australia

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    law for samll business australia

    Starting any new business in Australia is a decision that requires careful planning and implementation. First of all, you will need to determine the kind of business you plan to start, and then you can begin to structure accordingly. Will you be working from your own home, or working from an office? How will you organize a system for financial dealings and record-keeping? What are the tax and superannuation requirements, and will you be required to register the business? If so, what procedure will you follow? These are the types of questions you are probably asking, and the answers will depend on the nature of the business you plan to start.

    Choosing a Business Structure:

    Begin by selecting a business structure that complements your needs. For example, if your business is an extension of a hobby, you will need to factor in the income you are required to declare and the losses and deductions you can claim. Start by doing some research, find out what licences (if any) you may need. At this stage it’s helpful to consult with a business advisor or financial planner who can help you to design a strategy that works for you.

    Registering Your Business:

    The Australian Government has recently designed and updated a checklist that covers many business considerations. Additionally, a revised National Business Names Registration System serves to replace the former territory and state register. New business registrations names are managed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); previously existing business names were transferred to the ASICs database. Should you plan to set up an independent business, protecting your intellectual property (IP) with an appropriate trademark registration may help to increase your profit.

    Managing Your Finances:

    Responsible financial management will greatly influence the success of your business. When you initiate your planning, based on the structure of your business, take into account how much funding will be required and how you will manage your finances. Many small business obligations can be registered simply by completing forms. Payments, invoices, and business records can be compiled into basic systems that match the requirements of your business.

    Home-Based Businesses:

    Home-based businesses may also be affected by a broad range of government restrictions and requirements. Legal obligations for setting-up and operating a business from your home may be subject to specific requisites that include: planning, support, registrations, licences, taxation, and insurance, based on the type of business venture. Today, more small businesses operate from home than ever before. The internet has opened up tremendous potential for ecommerce. Many retirees and families are finding that they can work more satisfactorily within the comfort of their own home.

    The Australian Government’s checklist helps to determine the specific requirements that apply to the type of enterprise you plan to initiate. Before opening for business, it is your responsibility to know the law. However, with so many excellent resources available, opening a new business in Australia can be an exciting and lucrative venture!

    A Look at the Gambling Industry in Australia

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    crown-casino

    For all the restrictions that some parts of the world put on gambling, the Land Down Under has stood apart from the pack by having the highest percentage of citizens who actively gamble at some 80%. Gambling had a quasi-legal standing in the country prior to the 1950s, but in the 1970s the first fully-legal casinos began dotting up all around the country. The government warmed to the gambling revolution when they saw tax revenues from gaming spike twenty-fold by the early 1990s; today at least ten percent of provincial revenue comes from the gambling industry. Overall, the Economist reports that the industry is a $20 billion windfall, with two out of every three dollars in revenue generated from online poker machines or “pokies.”

    Size And Scale

    For all the pomp and reputation that Las Vegas enjoys, in terms of sheer gambling quantity it’s got nothing on the major Australian cities. The Australian capital of Sydney boasts mega-gambling facilities that are half a dozen times the size of a football field. In fact, there’s more slot machines per capita in New South Wales than there are in Nevada. The Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne is the largest in the entire southern hemisphere. An ample opportunity to test their luck has made gambling Australia’s sin of choice: it brings in more revenue than alcohol sales annually.

    Sports Betting

    What makes your favorite rugby team’s next win better than winning a few dollars on the side? That’s the attitude that spurs major bets on big games, and since a 2008 High Court decision that allows bookmakers to operate across state boundaries, there’s been a gold rush for fans and gamers alike to try to reap the rewards of on-field success. There are a few limits on the gaming — for instance, you can bet on whether or not Cricket Australia wins a test against South Africa and by how many runs at betsafe.com , but bets on how many players will wear sunglasses have been struck down. The amount of revenue that the leagues themselves get from gaming (a cut believed to be around 5%) is rumored to have kept the NRL afloat; had the NBL introduced pokies at the arena it may have reversed its demise. Look no further than the Melbourne Cup, which pulls in half a billion dollars from gambling, accounting for nearly three percent of the annual gaming revenue in all Australia.

    The Future Of Betting

    Although it’s a good time to get involved in betting in Australia, the current craze may only be the beginning. The introduction of Internet gaming may spur a second revolution in gambling Down Under, since they have the upper hand in competing with gambling sites in Europe and the Caribbean. Since Australian law allows casinos to market their services outside the country, they can pull in foreign money from gamblers on the other side of the world who want to chance a roulette ball or a blackjack card without ever needing to leave their home. It’s anyone’s guess how much foreign money might come into Australia thanks to online gaming, but it may dwarf the $1300 gambled annually by each Aussie.

    Top 10 Ways to Earn Extra Money Online

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    Today there are several exciting ways to earn money online without having to make a large investment. Everything from self-publishing e-books to entering online tournaments has the potential to bring in an extra wage. The following are ten top ways to earn an income online.

    One – Self-Publish an eBook:

    Self-publishing books is a good way to earn an income online. Sites like Create Space provide services designed to walk writers through the necessary steps: uploading manuscripts, creating covers, and publishing books through Amazon, either in paperback or on Kindle platform.

    Two – Online Poker Tournaments:

    clip_image002

    If you enjoy online poker, there are several online tournaments that provide winning opportunities. For example ipops, with a guaranteed prize-pool over a million dollars, it’s a way of getting your pockets packed without very small buy-ins investments. You will have to start from the beginning winning satellites and getting yourself up will the finals where is where the big money is.

    Three – Forex Trading:

    While Forex trading requires an investment in time, the potential for earning is considerable. Practice on a free demo account until you feel confident. With leverages ranging from 1:1 to 1:888, the only loss you are exposed to is what you actually have in your account, unlike other markets where a margin call can leave you owing the broker money.

    Four – Online Freelancing:

    Online freelancing sites such as Fiverr.com, Gigbucks.com, and Elance.com provide wonderful opportunities for marketing your talents. While Fiverr.com provides a flat rate, sites like Elance allow freelancers to create unique profiles and bid on a variety of jobs, anything from translation to website SEO.

    Five – Selling Artwork and Crafts

    For talented individuals selling online can provide a solid income. Sites like Etsy.com provide a ready-made platform for artists and craftspeople to sell items through virtual stores. It is now easier than ever to sell merchandise on Amazon and EBay.

    Six – Blogs on Squidoo

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    Another exciting way to make money, Squidoo offers potential. While it may take a little while to start earning, adding gadgets to a personalized page can help draw the attention of internet users. Add modules to generated income from affiliate sales.

    Seven – Google AdSense

    Google’s AdSense is an additional way to earn money. Sign up for a free AdSense account and receive an extra income from ads attached to your website or blog. As traffic to the site increases, the greater the earning potential becomes.

    Eight – Write for Online Article Bases

    Writing for article bases like Yahoo Contributor Network can provide a nice secondary income. Contributors may write articles covering a broad range of topics and receive payments upfront or via performance pay-outs. Contributors are able to promote their own articles and receive ongoing payments.

    Nine – Selling T-shirts on Zazzle and CafePress

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    Designing unique t-shirts with colourful designs and slogans can provide the perfect opportunity for creative individuals to make a little extra money. Websites like Zazzle and CafePress allow designers to set up free accounts. Payments are based on established pricing, and the companies produce and ship the merchandise to the customers.

    Ten – Set up a Consultant-Site

    Perfect for retirees, a consultation site allows experts to take advantage of their knowledge and experience by selling advice to others. Set up your own site or use an existing site to serve as a platform for your expertise.

    While it’s important to be aware of scams, there are many authentic opportunities. The best way to earn money online is to promote yourself, sponsor your work, love what you do, and do what you love!

    How to Budget & Develop a Plan for Your Conference

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    Anytime you are planning a big event, it is a good idea to set a budget and stick to it as closely as possible. When you begin to plan your next conference, there are several simple organizational tips that can help you budget properly and develop a perfect action plan to bring everything together nicely. You will also find that developing a good, solid budget will help you to decide on a proper registration fee for your conference.

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    Develop Your Budget

    · Be sure to start off by doing plenty of research. If you have access to the budgets from previous conferences use those as a starting point. Know the maximum amounts you are able to spend in total on the conference and for each individual expense category.

    · Create a list of different expense categories including: rental fees, entertainment, guest speaker/host fees, catering, marketing, printing costs, security and insurance. Be sure to mark which categories are "fixed" expenses and which categories are "variable" expenses that are determined by the number of attendees.

    · Determine your possible attendance numbers. Many people use a general rule when planning to always budget lower and be sure not to budget for more than the previous year’s attendance numbers.

    · Be aware of possible hidden costs like taxes or gratuities and plan accordingly. Be cautious and always leave room for error by rounding your cost estimates up.

    · Establish the proper registration fee for the conference and be sure that this fee will cover paper/printing costs, badges, welcome packages, refreshments and meals.

    · Calculate registration fees to determine if you will be able to make a profit. Simply divide your total expenses by the cost of registration to discover the number of attendees you will need to break even and to make a profit.

    · Take the time to thoroughly review your budget and make the proper adjustments. Be as realistic as possible with your attendance estimates to avoid a negative impact towards your budget.

    Choosing the Right Venue for Your Budget

    Another important aspect to consider while developing the plan for your conference is finding the right venue. There are many venues that are able to work easily within your budget and help guide you along the way. An effective venue will be flexible and make it easy to accommodate last minute changes in attendance numbers, catering changes and also offer multiple conference room options. The Bell City Conference Event Complex offers several different conference room styles to accommodate smaller and larger groups. From the theatre style seating that can house up to 500 in the "Ball Room" to the tiered seating for 100 in the "United Nations" conference room, Bell City has the perfect options for any size and style of conference imaginable.

    One other great advantage that many venues now offer is the ability to have your venue combine services for you, which will often help you to cut down on specific costs. Many venues will offer packages that include refreshments, catering for meals and other important perks. When you are able to save in these vital areas you can then invest the money you save into other important "fixed" expenses like your keynote speaker and entertainment costs. This will also allow many event planners to go from just breaking even after all is said and done with the conference to actually making a profit.

    Celebrations for Australia day canbera

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    australia day in perth

    In Canberra, people from 12 countries, including Argentina, Canada, Denmark and Kenya, were welcomed with cheers, applause on AUSTRALIA DAY.

    Australia day is celebrated on 26th January  allover the country in QLD , MELBOURNE , SYDNEY , PERTH and other capital cities in australia

    ScreenHunter_04 Jan. 27

    In India, Republic Day  is also celebrated on 26th January  every year to honour the date on which the Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India.

    To mark the importance of the occasion, every year a grand parade is held in the capital, New Delhi, from the Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President’s residence), along the Rajpath, past India Gate.