Friday, July 30, 2010

IN Bloom

The magnificence of our local wildflowers pop with colour and texture in a new book out in time for the wildflower season.

A life-long passion for the natural world has led Stanley Breeden to his latest book which celebrates the wildflowers of Western Australia.

Along with his wife Kaisa, the pair’s Wildflower Country is a large format hardback book whose photographic images are so vivid...read the full article at realmark.com.au

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Swan Lake on Ice

Get ready to see moves which didn’t even make the Winter Olympics in Vancouver earlier this year when Swan Lake on Ice performs in Perth.
The 26 Russian skaters of the Imperial Ice Stars have won accolades for competitive skatin...read the full article at realmark.com.au

Real Estate - We need YOU!

The world of real estate has changed a great deal since I first started out as a commercial agent and it has changed dramatically over the past ten years. In fact, this industry just never stops moving.

This constant change is something I love about this industry...read the full article at realmark.com.au

Thursday, July 1, 2010

A dark new passion

A south-west winemaker has swapped grapes for chocolate and found a dark new passion.

It was quite by accident that John Wade got involved in chocolate. While he was working as a winemaker for Denmark’s Rickety Gate Wines, the owners started discussing sourcing chocolate which would complement their wines...read the full article at realmark.com.au

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

TRADING HOURS – LET THE MARKET SPEAK

Realmark Commercial director John Percudani says when it comes to trading hours, we should forget the referendums and simply let the market speak.

“When the issue of trading hours rears its head, there is always one fundamental that is left out of the conversation every time and that is what the market wants,” Mr Percudani said.

“Obviously there are stakeholders who are threatened by the extension of trading hours who are being protected by these regulations, however there is a lot of time and resources spent on this debate when if we just let the market speak, the people of WA would be getting what they want and the market would find its own equilibrium.

“It may be a crazy notion to some, but the fact is, if there is specific demand for extend trading in certain suburbs and strips, businesses that operate in these areas will profit from this and stay open. In areas where the demand isn’t strong enough to make staying open later or on Sunday’s profitable, those businesses will only be open when it is profitable to do so.”

“It is not a complex equation, it is just the way it is. We are trying to regulate something that really should be allowed to happen naturally, like it does elsewhere in Australia,” he said.

“Why are we telling people when and where to shop? The market should be telling us. The fact is consumers will go elsewhere, maybe online if they can’t find what they want, when they want it.

“In an age of every increasing consumer assess and individuality it is the consumer who should be dictating the trading hours agenda not politicians or retailers.”

Mr Percudani says more flexibility around trading hours would encourage more vibrant hubs throughout Perth.

“You can not artificially create the village centre, it is something that happens over time and it cannot be controlled by planning or regulating trading hours, we need to have the foresight to see that,” he said.

“I fear we are crushing creativity and opportunity by being lead by specific stakeholders on this issue. While some sectors will be impacted by opening up trading hours, so many will benefit and so will the people of WA.”

Friday, June 18, 2010

The art of coffee roasting

Fans of good coffee take their brew as seriously as lovers of quality wine, cheese and chocolate. Local company Darkstar are showing drinkers what it’s like to enjoy a smartly blended coffee... read the full article at realmark.com.au

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Leederville - Realmark's home

I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but Leederville is almost the spiritual home of Realmark. Leederville was a forgotten city fringe commercial precinct when Realmark first opened its doors back when it was just my wife Anita and I running the show in a small shop font with some second-hand furniture. We have sure grown up since then, and Leederville has too... read the full article at realmark.com.au