Sad news for South Australia with the imminent closing of an iconic family business – LeCornu. The Le Cornu brand has been in Adelaide since 1861 when Phillip Joshua Le Cornu set up a small shop and stable in O’Connell Street, North Adelaide, and started producing furniture. About 70 workers are set to be made redundant from the current Keswick Store.  

The State Budget was handed down last month by SA – Treasurer, Tom Koutsantonis Businesses will receive a cheque of up to $10,000 for every job they create in the next two years. Businesses with wage bills under $5million will receive cash for each new, full time equivalent job they create. $500 million to upgrade schools, capping a pay increase to Public Servants of 1.5% a year, whilst targeting councils and gambling lobby with new taxes. Not compelling for small to medium businesses here in SA with no reduction in cost of utilities.  

Find a very good summary here by Professor Richard Blandy.

Coming up in September we have two events, an Adviser Connect Session at KPMG on Wednesday September 28. Join us for a presentation of key findings of the 2015 FBA KPMG Business Survey and how this might impact upon your strategy for 2016/2017 and a brief overview of the South Australian Economy. If you have not seen and experienced the views from these fabulous offices its worth a visit and we can continue the discussion around the economy in South Australia with presentations from KPMG’s Ashley Miller and Dr Chris Graves from Adelaide University.

Diarise National Family Business Day – Monday 19 September – We have lined a couple of iconic South Australians to discuss the Value of Family Branding – Mr. Glenn Cooper AO and Mr. Andrew Killey – Lowen Partridge will join the panel to round off the trio. An event and discussion not to be missed!
Our Families in Fashion (meet the owner) event held at Australian Fashion Labels new premise on North Terrace was a great success. Apparently the 2014 Cotes Du Rhone Colline was a good drop!  Melanie and Dean Flintoft provided a tour of the premise, followed by a candid Q & A with about 40 of our members, deftly facilitated by one of accredited advisers Lowen Partridge.  It’s also pertinent to congratulate Lowen as she has just celebrated 20 Years in business.

Until next month,

Yvonne McClaren
SA/ NT State Manager