IN Work Ethos

Work doesn’t need to be dull. A West Perth business has taken a leaf out of Google’s book and is a perfect example of working hard and playing hard.

The next time you see a group of blokes walking through West Perth in pyjamas and Mickey Mouse slippers or dressed as superheroes, check out if they’re smiling. Then make sure you ask if you can snap a picture with them – because that will make you smile.

Pyjama Monday is just one of the creative management techniques Matt Lambie and his business partner Adam Fitzgerald have endorsed for their custom software company, The Frontier Group.

Matt, the group’s chief information officer, has been friends with Adam, the company’s CEO, for 13 years. They met at university, decided to start a business and the first person they employed was a uni friend.

When they started The Frontier Group in their share house, they were clear they wanted a certain aesthetic and culture which would make them want to work and go to work. The result is a company philosophy which uses some unusual techniques but equally demands a standard of work excellence.

“A big part of how we have set up the office is what people in this industry expect,” says Matt. At 30, he’s one of the oldest in the office, with most of the 22 employees being in their early to mid-20s.

“We don’t have the same budget as Google and I was lucky enough to visit their offices and it’s as crazy as you hear about – people working in tepees or with stars hanging over their desks.”

The Frontier Group’s translation of that includes having an open-plan office, regularly having two programmers work on a project simultaneously with two keyboards, daily meetings standing in the round to discuss yesterday’s work or problems and even advice from the in-house stylist. They do charity and pro bono work and on Friday afternoons everyone can work on a project of their choice, but the catch is that it must be potentially beneficial to someone.

Matt says they have proven that if you demand creativity and productivity from your people, then they must have an environment in which to thrive. Punching a time card and grinding away lacks inspiration and lifestyle.

“We don’t want our people here all night and on weekends. It has to be a great place to go to work but you have to want to leave too. We’ve tried to balance it. I think our culture is quite tangible. It’s partly because we wanted to build something we’re proud of but also because we want to come to the office, so it had to be a cool place.”

Of primary importance of course is that every quirky thing they do serves to support impressive and innovative work, not detract from it.

“We don’t have to crack the whip and I completely trust people to do what they need to do. It’s great that the staff really are embodying the whole ethos. Working this way makes them happier and more creative. It makes them proud and gives them a sense of identity.

“The benefit is that they get up in the morning and want to be here. In this day and age there are a lot of offices you can’t say that about.”

regaining confidence in the market

For many, the 2010 / 2011 financial year has been a turbulent one for various reasons.

Natural disasters, political uncertainty and a volatile economy have all contributed to the current trends we are seeing in the property market and consumer sentiment in general.

During times of uncertainty the psyche in people changes; some people feel wary about making changes in their life such as buying or selling property, while others reassess their lives and take a ‘live in the moment’ approach.

In the WA market, uncertainty and subsequent action deferral is more accentuated because Perth enjoyed a major and prolonged boost in the market ahead of other Australian markets throughout 2005 and 2006. However, this was followed by a dramatic slide in property values.

Nevertheless, we are now aligned with other capital city markets and analysis of historic trends suggests we are approaching the bottom of the curve and can look forward to a more stable and positive market. It’s important that we look beyond the immediate moment and see the medium term potential of the market.

Perth has already seen some correction in the market; and although it will be a slow and steady return to a more energised market it’s a positive sign for WA and feelings of uncertainty regarding property will begin to subside as people gain confidence in the market fundamentals.

While we endure this sluggish market, it’s important to have confidence that it will find its own equilibrium consistent with the demand and supply. It is also a time to seriously consider opportunities provided by the market now and take advantage of strategic buying ahead of the crowd.

Realmark featured in BRW

Wow! Realmark featured in BRW - check it out on our website (http://t.co/yvdZRQn) or pick it up at your local newsagent (p.44).

IN Food & Wine

Indulge yourself at the Good Food & Wine show and take some time to enjoy some of the finer things in life.

Perth’s obsession with food and wine is no secret. Cookbooks, gourmet stores, smart restaurants, wineries, fresh produce and a passion for celebrity chefs are part of our regular menu.

What better place to indulge and celebrate all these things in one place than at this year’s Good Food & Wine Show in July. Last year the show attracted more than 20,000 visitors and this year the show turns five in WA.

It’s an epicurean’s delight and the chance to explore, indulge and sample food, acclaimed local produce, enticing chocolates, luscious cheeses and of course award-winning Western Australian wines. All up, there will be more than 150 exhibitors with delicious products to try and learn about.

Highlights of the show include the Fisher & Paykel Celebrity Theatre where George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan, Matt Moran, Manu Fieldel and Anna Gare will be cooking up a storm. A show favourite, it’s your chance to watch leading chefs in their element.

“This is a really good opportunity to see your favourite Australian chefs live and them actually cooking,” says exhibition manager Claire Back. “People like Gary and George have been working with us since before MasterChef. For these guys it’s a fun chance to get away from TV and their restaurants for a while.”

Learn the art of wine tasting and food matching in the Riedel Wine Theatre or slice up some cheese know-how with the Cheese Matters Discovery Class, a 45-minute tutored tasting which celebrates regional producers, explores premium cheese samples and savours expertly matched wine.

The show has been hugely popular with families and Claire says while it’s an opportunity for the curious to explore, for those wanting to go deeper there are also specialist classes.

“We have some visitors who go to every class and take notes and want to meet all the stall holders, taste and talk about their products. Then there are other people who want a fun day out and might learn how to cook a piece of meat on the barbecue.”

The much-loved celebrity chef book signings continue this year as well.

“As people are becoming more time poor they still want to be able to entertain at home or for those people who come home after work and still want to be able to cook well, the show offers plenty of great ideas for both.

“This explosion of interest in food has made people more adventurous in their home cooking too. For everyday cooks through to people who want to do something just a little differently, this is an opportunity to pick up one or two new tricks.”

The Good Food & Wine Show is on at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 15 – 17. Check out www.goodfoodshow.com.au for more information. Tickets from the website, Ticketek or at the door. Some classes cost extra on top of general show entry.

The Backyard Dream

The backyard dream represents a lifestyle that many Australians continue to desire; but is it what we need or is it simply reflective of an earlier era?

Perth is the most isolated city in the world where land is aplenty, but services such as water and energy supply are not. Perth is also an elongated metropolis growing along four lengthy urban corridors and transport spines, which in turn accentuates the competition for near and inner city accommodation.

As Perth develops, it increasingly offers two distinct lifestyle choices; high density apartment living or a family home with a backyard in the suburbs. The latter comes with a price tag attached which continues to climb.

We are already seeing many of the larger lots in Perth succumb to developers plans with lots becoming significantly smaller in order to fit more in and offer the ‘dream’ to more people. There is also pressure from Government to convert backyards with urban in-fill development.

It is predicted that by 2030 Perth will have a population of 3.5 million, which will see some people from the next generation wanting to buy homes and finding their traditional home expectation financially and physically out of reach.

That doesn’t mean the dream of owning a family home complete with a backyard and picket fence will disappear, as the desire and expectations will continue. What it does mean however, is that the backyard dream is becoming an increasingly challenged dream to achieve. With this in mind, perhaps it’s time for us to accept that alternative living solutions need to be offered to change the way society views property.

People need to wake up to the realisation that obtaining the dream family home is only one part of the mission. The ongoing rates, maintenance and household costs tend to be the forgotten factors. Not to mention the questions of affordability and the increasingly difficult to finance property purchases. We need to get realistic about housing sustainability and let go of the idealistic lifestyle choice.

As real estate professionals we can constructively contribute by empowering our clients by offering them all the options for their future home. Once buyers know what options are available to them they can then make a well informed decision which may better suit their complete lifestyle and their finances.

Realmark raises just over $3,000 for Breast Cancer

As a company which is predominantly made up of females, it was important to me that Realmark supported the Mother’s Day Classic fun run and walk for breast cancer.

At Realmark we have about 140 staff. Just less than 100 of those are women.

It’s safe to say that breast cancer affects everyone in some way; mothers, daughters, sisters, nieces and friends. It has no preference for just one ‘type’ of woman.

The Mother’s Day Classic fun run and walk event is not only a great opportunity to recognise Mother’s Day but also a fantastic way for people to give something back to the community and show support to those who have gone through, or are going through breast cancer.

All proceeds from the Mother’s Day Classic are donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which has raised $7.8 million dollars since it began in 1998. We encouraged all family and friends of staff at Realmark to join us in taking part, whether it was in walking or through donations.

Thank you to everyone who was there on the day (39 of Realmark staff, family & friends) and to all who made donations. Without these generous donations we would have not achieved the awesome fundraising result of just over $3,000 - THANK YOU! It was great to see people coming together to make a difference.