http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/rss.xml en-au (C) Smart Company 2008 Hot Innovator http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080807-OnCard-on-track.html?source=RSS OnCard International chairman Peter Abotomey explains how he led the company out of adminstration and into China's booming payments, rewards and loyalty card market. By JAMES THOMSON Hot Innovator Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080807-OnCard-on-track.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080731-Lenards-no-chicken-when-it-comes-to-change.html?source=RSS With a new private equity investor on board, and big changes to its business model and product range in the pipeline, the challenges facing chicken franchise Lenard’s are far from poultry. By MIKE PRESTON Hot Innovator Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080731-Lenards-no-chicken-when-it-comes-to-change.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080724-Austals-innovative-manoeuvres.html?source=RSS How Austal’s executive chairman John Rothwell saved his business from the twin terrors of the oil price and the dollar. By TIM TREADGOLD Hot Innovator Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080724-Austals-innovative-manoeuvres.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080717-The-perfect-Storm.html?source=RSS A wave of government grants for community water projects has helped take Storm Sustainability from start-up to $50 million business in just two years. Managing director Stephen Webster tells JAMES THOMSON how the company is handling explosive growth Hot Innovator Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080717-The-perfect-Storm.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080710-Planet-Healths-pick-me-up.html?source=RSS Peter Harwood’s decision to move his business to regional NSW helped transform the company into a market leader. Now he’s got a new plan to grow sales and market share by taking advantage of the turmoil created by the downturn. JAMES THOMSON reports. Hot Innovator Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080710-Planet-Healths-pick-me-up.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080702-AECs-greener-gas-fuelled-strategy.html?source=RSS An early proponent of getting commercial vehicles running on natural gas has made Advanced Engine Components an innovator whose time has come. By TIM TREADGOLD Hot Innovator Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080702-AECs-greener-gas-fuelled-strategy.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080627-Mint-wins-over-market-with-wireless-business-vision.html?source=RSS A young start-up tech entrepreneur, who was first to market with exciting mobile technology, is counting on the iPhone for success. By MIKE PRESTON Hot Innovator Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080627-Mint-wins-over-market-with-wireless-business-vision.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080620-How-a-start-up-snared-big-clients-with-innovation.html?source=RSS Theatrical events at product launches no longer cut the mustard. One start-up, Sense Event Group, is winning big clients by taking an innovative approach, based on combining marketing, branding and ‘intelligence’. By PATRICK STAFFORD Hot Innovator Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080620-How-a-start-up-snared-big-clients-with-innovation.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080613-Retail-display-success-no-flash-in-the-pan.html?source=RSS Ownership turmoil has been the death of many a business, but for retail display business Flash Photobition, and its chief executive Fred Uden, it has proved an unlikely springboard to success. By MIKE PRESTON Hot Innovator Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080613-Retail-display-success-no-flash-in-the-pan.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080605-Allomaks-speedy-rise.html?source=RSS Rob Allan’s company Allomak has grown rapidly by buying up family-owned automotive businesses. But as JAMES THOMSON explains, the credit crunch has put the brakes on his acquisition drive. Hot Innovator Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080605-Allomaks-speedy-rise.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080529-Cleaning-up-the-paperwork.html?source=RSS Meeting the voluminous demands of lawyers has turned into a 24 hour a day, seven day a week challenge for legal document services provider Law In Order. JAMES THOMSON reveals the innovations that have seen the firm thrive. Hot Innovator Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080529-Cleaning-up-the-paperwork.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080522-From-niche-to-net-e-nnovation-for-audio-books-.html?source=RSS Bolinda Audio Books has overcome a stodgy brand and found new markets to become Australia’s leading audio book company, with sales this financial year of more than $15 million. By EMILY ROSS Hot Innovator Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080522-From-niche-to-net-e-nnovation-for-audio-books-.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080515-EcoRegan-makes-the-good-oil.html?source=RSS Award-winning biotechnology business EcoRegen has made its mark in Malaysia turning palm oil waste into organic fertilizer. As JAMES THOMSON explains, the next challenge for the business will be to manage its rapid growth. Hot Innovator Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080515-EcoRegan-makes-the-good-oil.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080508-The-Chefs-Toolbox-holds-the-ingredients-for-success.html?source=RSS Founder David Mills followed master investor Warren Buffett into a party plan business with a focus on cooking. He shares his winning recipe with MIKE PRESTON Hot Innovator Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080508-The-Chefs-Toolbox-holds-the-ingredients-for-success.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080429-Check-ins-e-green-light.html?source=RSS Ask Check-in founder Simon Isaacs about his business’s greatest asset, and top of his list will be in-house knowledge of which tools drive the web. He tells AMITA TANDUKAR how Check-in – and how your business – can thrive online. Hot Innovator Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080429-Check-ins-e-green-light.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080423-Crust-Gourmet-Pizza-founders-winning-recipe.html?source=RSS Costa Anastasiadis evolved his business from a single pizza shop into a 17 store franchise chain, with plans for 40, in just seven years. He shares his secret ingredient with JAMES THOMSON Hot Innovator Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080423-Crust-Gourmet-Pizza-founders-winning-recipe.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080417-Finance-innovator-takes-the-fast-road-to-China.html?source=RSS Serial finance entrepreneur Clive Isenberg’s latest venture, Octet, is his answer to a question that has plagued many an entrepreneur: How do you make money from China? By MIKE PRESTON. Hot Innovator Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080417-Finance-innovator-takes-the-fast-road-to-China.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080410-Service-Central-learns-a-traffic-lesson.html?source=RSS Young entrepreneur Danial Ahchow has built a thriving online marketplace of service providers in less than five years. In the midst of a skills shortage, Service Central is now pushing hard into other markets, and plans to double turnover to $16 million next year. By JACQUI WALKER Hot Innovator Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080410-Service-Central-learns-a-traffic-lesson.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080402-Wine-entrepreneur-marketing-secrets.html?source=RSS Just two full-time staff, global brand recognition, healthy $5 million turnover* and wines that have the critics falling over their superlatives, is Rick Kinzbrunner running the world’s smartest wine business? BY EMILY ROSS Hot Innovator Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080402-Wine-entrepreneur-marketing-secrets.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080326-Sambag-founder-finds-her-fit.html?source=RSS Guarding her trade secrets, and a commitment to continually exciting her customers with new product, has helped Sam Wagner turn a little market stall into a thriving retail brand. By EMILY ROSS Hot Innovator Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Premium-Articles/Hot-Innovator/20080326-Sambag-founder-finds-her-fit.html?source=RSS SmartCompany RSS