Ian Whitworth

The last-minute grocery startup has a business model that seems to have cherry-picked all the worst, hardest and most expensive elements of running a business, says Ian Whitworth.

Last week, Ian Whitworth dropped a professional services provider that was "pretty integral to our business". The reason why was one of the most common ways service businesses lose customers.

Scott Morrison may have had the infamous "Scotty From Marketing" moniker, but Ian Whitworth writes that there's a few things about the profession that the former PM got wrong.

Ian Whitworth explains how these six essential theatre rules can apply right across the world of business.

"Want to increase profitability by slashing staff? I recommend it, though not in the way you’re thinking," writes Ian Whitworth.

For us regular SMEs, putting up prices is a constant battle, writes Ian Whitworth. But after two years of starvation, it's time to act.

It’s important to show that no matter how comfortable you are, the bank system is set up to punish business owners at every turn.

The businesses that survive in traumatised sectors will be the ones that are good at the mostly-boring classic business skills.

Your cold-call sales strategy is based on a social obligation from last century. It's no longer proper manners to answer the telephone.

If you look at governments' tradie-focused announcements, "you would believe there is literally no other industry in Australia".

"If you’re a manager, and you don’t understand the informal communication channels in your business, they will cancel out your grand plans."

One-hit wonder? Boring but reliable? A cult favourite that lets customers down? Is your business a Trump, Biden or Obama brand?