In June 2018 CostSmart received the keys to our very own warehouse in Wyong, Australia!
CostSmart has grown at a steady rate of over 30% annually for the past five years, and more than 50% in the last financial year. CostSmart made the decision to move away from our warehouse lease. Instead we have invested in our very own business infrastructure, premises, plant and equipment to support the business’s rapid development.

 

Between June-October 2018, the CostSmart team and our builders were hard at work transforming the old warehouse into CostSmart’s forever home. The new and improved CostSmart warehouse is a whopping 2000m2, almost 2.5 times bigger than our previous warehouse! Our new high clearance warehouse has a roof line 12 meters above the floor level. The extra space will give us room to stock all our client’s products in the one central location and provides us with the room to grow in the future.

 

In only four short months our fantastic team and builders had the new site ready for us to move in. Our CostSmart team are now enjoying an industrial inspired modern 3-story office building, new bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen. Despite our staff moving into the facilities last October, the building is an ongoing project. Soon to be built is a staff breakout area featuring lounges and table tennis, an on-site vegetable garden and client waiting area. There is also the opportunity for CostSmart to extend the current building out on the 10000m2+ block!

The purchase of the warehouse has been an exciting time for CostSmart and an incredible milestone for the company. We would like to thank our dedicated CostSmart team who worked tirelessly to assist in the move. Also a big thanks to our clients for your continued support and patience during this time of transition.

Last Friday our wonderful team wore their favourite jersey to work in support of Jersey Day! The team enjoyed a belated and well-deserved EOFY lunch and sparked the conversation around organ & tissue donations.

 

Jersey day is an annual event intended to raise awareness for organ and tissue donations. The charity began in 2015 after a young boy named Nathan Gremmo lost his life in an accident. However, Nathan’s family chose to give the gift of life to others to honour the legacy of Nathan’s generous personality – this gift saved 6 other Australians lives!

 

It is an amazing cause that is worth talking about and maybe even supporting in your workplace. Here are some facts about organ and tissue donation from the Jersey Day website:

 

• Firstly, one organ and tissue donor can transform the lives of 10 or more people.
• Around 1,500 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists at any one time.
• In 2014, 1,117 Australians received an organ transplant as a result of the generosity of 378 organ donors whose families agreed to donation at the time of their loved one’s death.

 

For more information on Jersey Day head to their website. You can also visit the donatelife.gov.au website for more information on the facts of organ and tissue donation and how to become a donor.

Annually, CostSmart runs its renowned Calendar Competition to have a little fun whilst showing our appreciation to our valued partners. The question of 2019 was “Tell us where your dream holiday destination is and why?” and our panel of judges were set the task of finding the most creative answer. After much deliberation, we were able to treat the lovely Karen Schultz from James Hardie with a $250 Accor Hotels gift card to enjoy a short break away at an Accor hotel of her choice.
So where is Karen’s dream holiday destination you ask? Karen’s answer…

“Mexico! Because who doesn’t want sand, blue water and margaritas for their honeymoon?”

Karen’s dream did come true and she and her husband spent their honeymoon in sunny Mexico!

Congratulations to Karen and thank you to all of our clients who entered our 2019 competition.

We are happy to announce we will be running our competition again in 2020 with a new prize and a new question! For 2020 we would like our fantastic clients to tell us, in 25 words or less, how you will be entering the decade with 20/20 vision. The winner with the most creative answer will win a $250 gift card to ANY store of their choosing!

To enter the promotion, eligible entrants must have also:

• Received a 2020 CostSmart/ Smartgear Australia calendar
• Follow/like CostSmart on either LinkedIn or Facebook
• Comment on the pinned post with your creative answer to the above question.

 

For more information and T&C’s click here.

We look forward to reading your creative answers!

Every day, you’re making decisions about the future of your business. From hiring new staff to setting strategic direction and embarking on new projects all the way down to the small administrative tasks that provide your team with the resources they need to do their work, you’re making decisions that set the course of your organisation.

These decisions can shape your company in a number of ways, both positive and negative. Understanding the varying impacts of each decision is vital – without the right information, it is all too easy for businesses to slip into reactive lines of thinking, taking the path of least resistance even where it doesn’t result in the best outcome or results in cost overruns.

Ensure that you’re making the smarter choice for your organisation. The key to striking the right balance in your decision-making is an in-depth cost analysis. When guided by the right partner, a cost analysis can assist in helping you better understand your options and the broader market. Streamline the supplier research stage, secure comparable and accurate quotes and make more informed decisions between different services with a cost analysis.

WHAT IS A COST ANALYSIS?

A cost analysis is the essential process of comparing the breakdown of prices provided by various suppliers or providers to a business. Costs are weighed against the benefits of choosing a particular product or service, and how this choice will help a business to reach its objectives.

Just as vital for everyday operations as when embarking on a major project, a cost analysis helps you make clear-eyed decisions about the non-core product purchasing decisions of your organisation. While valuable for helping to justify major capital expenditure to stakeholders, a cost analysis can also ensure that expenses associated with smaller, regular purchases such as uniforms, print materials, promotional items, office furniture and the like do not negatively impact your profitability.

Ultimately, the aim is to achieve the best price and service conditions on the market, whilst maintaining quality and supply efficiencies. The value of working with an intermediary like CostSmart to conduct due diligence is that it removes the administrative burden from your organisation, gives you access to industry insights and benchmarking all whilst allowing you to focus on the big picture and core activities while guaranteeing you’re getting an accurate picture of your options.

HOW A COST ANALYSIS CAN HELP YOU MAKE SMARTER BUSINESS DECISIONS

A cost analysis can ensure you’re getting the best value from your suppliers as:

Company managers can make better informed decisions, with access to real pricing data and industry benchmark pricing with an understanding of the actual structure of costs.
Having the right market knowledge could help to streamline operations and cut costs, with many companies carrying out a cost analysis and realising that their current supplier isn’t delivering as much value as others could – and making the switch to a more value-adding partnership.
Customer satisfaction can be increased, as companies can often pass on these savings or other advantages such as faster delivery or better product quality.
Streamlining your processes and cutting costs should be a priority at every level of your business, CostSmart recommends conducting a FREE cost analysis every 6-12 months across key areas of a business’s non-core products.

FIND THE RIGHT FIT WITH COSTSMART

Better understand your market and your requirements and take confident steps toward your goals with a cost analysis delivered by CostSmart. By focusing on helping your business to reach its goals, we generate an in-depth report on what suppliers and providers offer – covering their main offerings, differentiation factors, value propositions and price points.

Get started with our free analysis and discover how we streamline the process. For more information, call CostSmart on 1300 100 461 or send an email to office@costsmart.com.au and let’s start the journey to cutting costs and making better business-critical decisions.

A certain level of anxiety is felt when the “cost cuts” rumour is circulated around the office. Does this mean we have to go back to using long-life milk in the kitchen? Is my department budget going to be decreased? Are our jobs safe? Before hysteria is created, looking at the less obvious internal costs may just give you the breathing room you need. You may be surprised by the savings that can be achieved through the simple and interruption-free Cost Analysis process.

Cutting costs isn’t only necessary when your company is looking to downsize and prop up the bottom-line. While this is often the most common motivation, reducing expenses and saving where possible is always beneficial, even when everything is operating smoothly. The simple process of conducting a Cost Analysis can leave room for a significant increase in investments and also create time efficiencies. It is simply good business practice to annually review where cost savings can occur across your business.

If not staff cuts then what?

CostSmart’s been in the business of finding product and supply chain management efficiencies for over 15 years. A Cost Analysis begins by reviewing internal costs, such as consumables, incidentals and items not manufactured for the end-user (non-core products). These products often take precious time to source and cost more than they should. Sourcing of such products usually becomes the responsibility of already overloaded departments such as procurement and/or marketing teams, taking away from their core tasks. Items such as POS collateral, uniforms, promotional items and print material (letterheads, envelopes, marketing collateral) are areas where the most cost savings can be achieved.

We source goods from a range of vendors in order to seek the best price, quality and fit for your business. It is not unusual for these providers to reject selling directly to you at a reduced price (or at all) unless you’re a distributor. That’s where CostSmart can step in and consolidate these expenses for you. Subsequently, this will achieve cost reductions and efficiencies through saving time on sourcing, supply negotiations, and ongoing supplier relationship management. Giving you precious time back to focus on what’s important – your core business, whilst also saving you the pain of countless hours researching and sourcing them.

A little bit of purchasing power goes a long way.

The reason a company might be spending more than necessary on internal costs is often due to purchasing power. For example, ordering a year’s worth of promotional material in one order doesn’t always fit the budget. We act as an extension of your company and carry out bulk purchasing on your behalf to obtain economies of scale for product purchases. Our C-Code methodology means that your business can use our purchasing power to buy and store your products in bulk. However, rather than blowing the budget, you are invoiced for the products as you require them. Products can be ordered via a fully customised e-store and are usually dispatched the same business day. Just in time delivery at a fraction of the cost!

Outsourcing your specialised sourcing, storage, management and distribution requirements of your internal products will free up valuable time and money. These resources and extra funds can be diverted to more critical areas in your business. This process also allows your teams to use their time more effectively and focus on their core tasks.

Improving your bottom line doesn’t have to be linked to stress or a decline in staff morale. Low-cost products such as pens, letterhead and brochures are routinely added to the expense sheet with little thought. Conducting a thorough cost analysis of these products could be the difference between significant cost savings or letting a team member go.

Look out for more information on how we provide this service to our clients in future posts. Plus a range of other money-saving methods your business may not have considered.

Is it just us or does it feel like Christmas is always just around the corner? Not to mention it seems to come at a time when we are already flooded with a million other time-sensitive tasks. Christmas gift purchases get shuffled to the bottom of the to-do list and left far too late. You are left in a tinsel fueled last-minute buying frenzy, sourcing and kitting the specialised and varied products to go into your corporate branded gift packs. This is a time-consuming process, to say the least. Bottles of wine, with branded glasses, caps or vouchers are hastily thrown into boxes and sent to clients and staff. Then organising the delivery begins, individually packaging and labelling each gift. Where do you find the time?

Whilst we believe that taking the time for corporate gifting is essential, we also understand that time and resource limitations exist. When done right, a perfectly curated branded gift can have a huge impact and leave your brand at the forefront of the receiver’s mind leaving a lasting, personalised impression.

CostSmart has decades of experience, supplier relationships and a team of dedicated staff to take this time-consuming task off your hands. We love the gift of giving and our greatest gift to you is giving you back TIME! We would love to discuss with you how we can save you time and simplify corporate gift giving while amplifying the impact of your brand.

The CostSmart Solution:

• Firstly, our in-house marketing and sales team meet with you to discuss your ideas and desires. We want to absorb as much information about your brand and how best we can represent it in your final product.
• Next, we go to our trusted suppliers and source any specialised products. This includes the gifts themselves, all the way down to the ribbon that gets wrapped around the gift.
• After you are happy with the final product our procurement team goes to work ordering all the elements. At this point, we put a big emphasis on finding or manufacturing the products that are of the highest quality and best price.
• Once we receive the goods, our fabulous warehouse elves complete quality control checks and start kitting all the individual packs. We make every consideration, from ensuring it will arrive looking as good as when it was packed, to personally handwriting each card.
• Finally, the packages are sent off to their recipients efficiently and safely. With tracking available to make sure they made it to their destination.

Buying Christmas gifts for loved ones is stressful enough without having to worry about clients and staff. However, showing your appreciation with a thoughtful gift is imperative to morale and culture building. Contact us today to discuss how we can simplify the process, save money and leave a lasting impression.

HEAD TO OUR CASE STUDY TO LEARN HOW WE HAVE HELPED CLIENTS WITH BRANDED GIFT PACKS IN THE PAST.

Whatever you’re buying, CostSmart will assist you in sourcing and procuring goods and services; saving you money, minimising risks and creating efficiencies. Our complete supply chain expertise includes Branded Products & Specialised Sourcing, Print Management, Uniforms & Workwear, Analysis, Warehousing and Logistics (3PL) and Customised EStore Solutions. Please get in contact today to see how CostSmart can help you and your business!

Businesses of all sizes need to manage growing archives, due to the storage of important documents either by choice or by law. It’s easy for archive rooms to become full or disorganised, which compromises a company’s ability to streamline processes and efficiently produce the information they’re looking for – when they need it.

The same goes for products, with many mid-level corporate companies struggling to manage their inventory often due to a lack of on-premises storage space. To help overcome these common issues, CostSmart offers streamlined archiving and product management for efficient processing and access for our clients.

MANAGE INVENTORY OVERLOAD & ENHANCE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Internal archiving incurs expenses including office space, inventory, heating and often staff to manage inventory. Businesses can outsource this storage to CostSmart to free up valuable space in their own premises and gain greater control over their inventory, with efficient access to important documents for speed and value they can pass onto their customers.

We provide a centralised warehouse that delivers a more efficient and economical way to store products and documents. With a focus on helping companies to streamline their processes and cut overheads, CostSmart provides a physical archiving solution to keep your products on-site with full flexibility and visibility to clients.

FULL TRACKING & VISIBILITY OF YOUR PRODUCTS

Digitising product management enables you to get instant access to data, even when documents aren’t physically stored on your site. This saves on costs associated with physical storage, as well as eliminates the risks associated with theft or damage.

CostSmart offers an E-Store service so clients can seamlessly access their own library of files. Customers can easily log into this service and get full visibility across their products, using a simple search function to source the files they need. Files can then also be organised to be delivered the next day, so you and your customers can access relevant documents on request.

We provide a customised ordering system that keeps track of products in your E-Store, with tailored reports and a convenient centralisation of your products. When products are added to your E-Store, CostSmart creates barcodes for each item, providing full tracking and visibility to enable easier management of your items.

CONTACT COSTSMART FOR MORE INFORMATION

Through switching to external physical storage space for your products, and a fully customised, digitalised E-Store solution, businesses across Australia can save money and streamline their processes when it comes to managing documents and products.

To find out more about our fully customised solutions designed to help businesses overcome common challenges, get in touch with our team and enjoy more streamlined processes. Contact us on office@costsmart.com.au or by calling 1300 100 461 for further information, and our team would be happy to discuss a tailored approach for your business. No job is too big or too small – so get in touch today.

 

The Client

Our Client is responsible for organising major State Carnivals and Gala Days for over 78 primary and secondary schools throughout the state. They coordinate a broad range of sports including swimming, athletics, rugby, football, triathlon, hockey, oz tag, volleyball, netball, AFL, gymnastics, golf, tennis, basketball and cricket.

The Challenge

The Client required a complete uniform management model whereby custom apparel of the highest quality could be available at the various sporting carnivals via a staffed shop and also via a modern ecommerce platform viewed from any mobile device.

The Solution

CostSmart has partnered with our Client since 2012 and has developed a large range of fully customised long wearing products from hooded towels, socks, caps and shorts to singlets, playing strips and rugby jerseys.

The Outcome

CostSmart project manages the ‘Uniform Issue’ and sets up and dismantles the stocked shop at all Swimming, Athletics and Cross-Country carnivals. All stock bulk order and trigger levels are managed via a very accurate reporting system. Monies are collected via secure online payment facilities into a trust account and complete and accurate reimbursement occurs on a set timeframe.

Home deliveries and urgent deliveries are a standard offering …particularly when one of the kids has forgotten to order their uniform for an upcoming event scheduled for tomorrow morning!!!

The Client

Our client is a dynamic building product supply company and amongst one of the nation’s top leading providers in the industry. They specialise in a number of products including precast concrete panels, bricks, pavers, roofing tiles and timber products.

The Challenge

The Building Products Group consists of ten different brands that require specialist display products to present their products adequately instore and on the road. The speciality products needed include sample boards made from specialist acrylic to adhere to brick faces, custom-made brick carry boxes and specialist adhesive labels that are designed to replicate the colour, style, texture and size of the many natural tile, brick, block and paver products.

The Solution

CostSmart was approached by our client to assist with sourcing and procuring their specialist display products from local and international manufacturers, warehousing and managing the stock holdings and creating an e-commerce facility that provides an extremely complex drop-down menu. The drop-down menu created by CostSmart is a system never before experienced in our industry. The menu displays thousands of labels from the client’s extensive range.

The Outcome

Having a central location for our client to place orders, track orders and receive invoices as opposed to liaising with the dozens of suppliers needed to create the labels. We created efficiencies in order placement times, invoicing processes and actual product expenditure savings exceeding $40,000 per annum.

We have developed a unique service offering for our clients called “C-Code Products” to ensure costs are at a minimum and products are readily available for when you need them. We act as an extension of your company and carry out bulk purchasing on your behalf to obtain economies of scale for product purchases irrelevant of the quantities you need at the time. If internal budgets are constricting purchasing power, we will make the bulk purchase on your behalf, store your products and distribute them to you as needed (in the specific amounts required) and invoice for the quantities sent out at the time.

The Challenge

We have noticed our client’s internal budget constraints can significantly affect purchasing power, resulting in increased costs. For example, simple economies of scale result in lower per-unit cost due to a larger quantity of units purchased. The more you buy, the cheaper it is – simple. You may only need 10 items for an upcoming event, but your internal budget does not allow you to purchase 100 items this quarter to receive the 10 items at a lower price. The next quarter or following years budget may allow for the purchase of 100 items; however, you urgently need ten now and do not want to pay an inflated price for 10 units.

The Solution

Our C-Code offering is a solution-based methodology specifically designed to enhance our client’s efficiencies and reduce their costs. To assist our clients, we offer bulk purchasing of items they would like on hand and store them within our storage facilities. When a certain number of items are required, they will be distributed immediately to the client and invoiced only for the amount that they order each time. We house the products indefinitely as “C-Code Products” until the client requires them again in the future. You can draw from your stock as when and as needed.

The Outcome

Through bulk purchasing, we can acquire products significantly cheaper, which allows you to have your stock stored and distributed when you require it. Ultimately, this results in lower per-unit cost and immediate access to inventory, without affecting your internal budget. Having your products already stored within our facilities dramatically reduces distribution time allowing you to receive your items as quickly as possible for other events. This service is an excellent tool for businesses and can help you successfully manage internal cash flows.

MANAGED SERVICES USED
Warehousing & Logistics
Brand & Product Branding