Thryv® Australia’s provider of the leading small business marketing and sales software platform, has launched a new AI-powered marketing solution tailored for home services businesses. The solution helps businesses – from plumbers and landscapers to electricians and pool maintenance specialists- get discovered online, land more sales and grow efficiently.

Built within the Thryv platform, the new features harness AI and automation to help growth-minded, time-poor trades and service professionals reach high-intent customers, automate follow-ups, and maintain visibility online, all without needing a marketing agency or complex integrations.

According to Elise Balsillie, Head of Thryv Australia and New Zealand, home services operators are some of the hardest-working small businesses.

“They are experts in their fields, however, not necessarily on digital marketing. Our software levels the playing field – giving them access to the same technology and intelligence as big brands, in a format that is easy to use and designed for everyday business.”

Smarter growth in three steps

Built on a proprietary 3-step growth framework, Thryv’s home services software helps businesses:

1. Get found online – boosts brand credibility and helps businesses rise to the top of online search results, AI-search platforms, social sites and top directories.
2. Capture and convert new customers – CRM and automation software help capture leads and automate follow-up (like free estimates and appointment reminders).
3. Drive repeat business – helps fuel repeat business with reputation management tools like AI-generated review responses, as well as automated email and text marketing campaigns with timely offers that keep revenue flowing during shoulder seasons.

Turning everyday actions into growth

Thryv’s home services software brings AI to life where it matters most – in the day-to-day customer journey. When a lead request lands, Thryv automatically sends an acknowledgement, adds the customer to the CRM and follows up with tailored communication. When the job is done, the software prompts a branded review request and builds long-term loyalty through timely maintenance offers.

According to Elise, the result is a new level of simplicity for small businesses seeking scale.

“Automation shouldn’t feel robotic – it should feel human, relevant and on-brand. That is what Thryv’s AI tools do. They save hours of manual effort, reduce missed sales opportunities and strengthen the reputation that small businesses work so hard to build.”

Key features for home services businesses

• Enhanced Local Listings: Updates business details across 30+ local directories to improve ranking and reach on Google™ Search and ChatGPT.
• AI Review Response: Delivers consistent, brand-aligned replies to customer reviews, preserving tone and quality, while saving valuable time.
• Automated Follow-Up: Sends personalised emails instantly to prospects and existing customers, keeping communication active without extra admin.
• AI Content Generator: Designs and schedules marketing emails featuring seasonal offers, exclusive discounts or maintenance plans — maintaining engagement through quieter periods.
• Integrations: Thryv connects via Zapier to thousands of platforms including ServiceM8 and SimPro, enabling seamless data flow between the tools businesses already rely on.

Elise added that the focus on connection and usability reflects the ANZ market’s appetite for integrated business tools.

“We have seen a huge shift toward consolidation. Business owners want everything in one place, including marketing, bookings, payments, and communication – all working together to grow their business. That is exactly where Thryv delivers,” Elise said.

Looking ahead, Elise said Thryv’s AI development will continue to evolve alongside the needs of local businesses.

“What matters now is making AI accessible, transparent and genuinely useful for small businesses. Our goal is to make growth effortless and marketing meaningful, no matter the size of the team or the trade.”

Twenty standout restaurants – 15 across Melbourne and Sydney and five in Auckland – have been selected as grantees of the American Express Backing International Small Restaurants program. Each restaurant is receiving a grant of $23,000 AUD for critical improvements to their business, supporting their long-term growth.

Globally, the initiative is awarding more than $1.4 million USD to 97 small and independently owned restaurants across 14 cities in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Mexico, Japan, Canada, Spain and France, honouring restaurants that that have demonstrated a positive impact in their local communities.

In partnership with the International Downtown Association (IDA) Foundation and supported by Mainstreet Australia, the American Express program offers grants to small, independent restaurants, empowering them to make critical improvements like refreshing dining spaces, enhancing digital tools and improving kitchen operations.

Robert Tedesco, Vice President of Global Merchant Network Services for American Express Australia and New Zealand, said: “Now in its fourth year, the American Express Backing International Small Restaurants program has provided $867,500 AUD in financial support to Australian restaurants and for the first time this year, $125,000 NZD to New Zealand restaurants. These grants are all about empowering small restaurants to thrive, enrich the dining culture we all love and support their local communities. At Amex, we’re passionate about backing small businesses because when they succeed, neighbourhoods flourish.”

Mainstreet Australia President Troy Stuchbree, said: “As we celebrate the Backing International Small Restaurants program, we are continually inspired by the resilience and positive impact of the small, independent restaurants selected as this year’s grantees. These restaurants are the heart and soul of their main streets and through the generous, sustained support of American Express and the IDA Foundation, Mainstreet Australia is proud to help strengthen the fabric of these local communities.”

One of the 15 Australian grantees is Porcine in Sydney. Known for its classic French fare, the 35-seater bistro champions small regenerative farmers and heartfelt hospitality. Co-owned by chefs Nik Hill, Matt Fitzgerald and Harry Levy, the team is using the $23,000 AUD grant to improve the restaurant’s weather- affected courtyard, refurbish aging facilities, and continue offering a welcoming, community-focused dining experience.

“When you work within a quirky old building like the one we do, there’s always something that needs love, and as a small independent team, we don’t have deep pockets to fall back on. This grant gives us the chance to finally do some of those things: re-do the bathrooms for our guests, add heating and fans, fix the kitchen floor that’s 30 years old, and make our little wine bar more comfortable for our regulars. This kind of support helps us make a dramatic improvement in a short time – something that keeps a place like Porcine thriving in the neighbourhood we love,” chef Nik Hill said.

The Lebanese Grocer is one of five small restaurants in Auckland to receive $25,000 NZD. Chef and owner Elie Assaf is using the grant to build a commercial kitchen and develop a new line of house-made grocery products based on his family recipes, helping to diversify their revenue.

“When we opened the Lebanese Grocer, it was my way of carrying my family’s legacy forward – sharing the flavours, memories and traditions that were passed down to me. What began as a small neighbourhood spot quickly became a space that connects people through culture, hospitality and good food. We applied for the grant because we’re at a pivotal stage of growth. As a small, family-run business, this grant is a chance to turn a challenging period into one of expansion and resilience. It allows us to move forward with our kitchen build, invest in our product line and continue serving our community in a meaningful way,” owner Elie Assaf said.

This initiative complements American Express’s Backing Historic Small Restaurants program, which has provided over $8 million USD to 180 restaurants across all 50 U.S. states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands since its creation in 2021. Together, these programs have delivered over $11 million USD to support more than 410 small restaurants globally. American Express has long championed small businesses, launching Small Business Saturday 15 years ago and founding Shop Small, now a global movement across the UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, New Zealand and more.

2025 Backing International Small Restaurants Program Grantees Australia

• Porcine – Sydney
• Anchovy – Melbourne
• Banh Meats and Co – Sydney
• Beach Bar @ Carrum – Melbourne
• Butter Sydney – Sydney
• Hudson’s Bakery – Sydney
• La Coppola – Sydney
• Little Growling Cafe – Melbourne
• MAIZ Mexican Food – Sydney
• Milhouse Canteen – Melbourne
• Mokum Cafe – Melbourne
• Saigon Alley – Melbourne
• Tahina – Melbourne
• The Moat – Melbourne
• Tokyo7 Japanese Restaurant – Melbourne

Prezzee, a global leader in digital gifting and payments, has announced the launch of PrezzeePay, a transformative platform that combines financial-grade compliance with plug-and-play scalability – helping retailers and brands innovate without costly infrastructure changes.

End-to-End Gifting Programs – PrezzeePay

PrezzeePay, a 100% owned subsidiary of Prezzee, is now an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence holder. This milestone means that PrezzeePay can provide a wider range of products, including regulated financial products and services on behalf of partners. This opens up the potential for Prezzee to support faster product development, build bespoke solutions, manage end-to-end gifting programs and grow strategic partnerships that go beyond transactions.

Because PrezzeePay leverages the payments network, it sits on top of existing technology infrastructure meaning retailers can launch a gift card program in weeks, not months, without updating existing technology or sinking money into costly integrations.

“PrezzeePay represents a major step forward in our mission to create seamless, secure, and meaningful payment experiences,” said Craig Smith, CEO of Prezzee. “We’re giving retailers and brands the tools to innovate faster, connect deeper with customers, and compete in a digital-first economy.”

PrezzeePay has been developed in partnership with UnionPay International,particularly within the gift card issuing business, meaning that retailers now have a secure, scalable way to boost loyalty, lift basket size, and offer global gifting programs.

Global unified gifting programs

Gift cards aren’t just a convenience – they’re a proven revenue driver, with recipients spending about 35% more than the card’s value. But for sectors like shopping centres, venues, franchise networks and luxury retail, fragmented POS systems and steep integration costs have made unified programs almost impossible. Prezzee Pay removes that barrier through universal acceptance, letting retailers who may have previously been priced out of gift card programs to keep their existing tech stack while offering a premium, digital-first experience that works globally – without the complexity or maintenance headaches

“There is a legacy belief within the gift card market that global or franchise retailers could never have a unified gifting program. We wanted to challenge that. PrezzeePay is a huge opportunity for consumers to get more flexibility and global acceptance, while retailers tap into Gen Z’s preference for cashless, mobile-first shopping,” said Benoit Garnaud, COO, Product & Technology of Prezzee. “PrezzeePay means faster speed to market, lower costs, and access to global customers – without spending money on ripping out existing systems.”

Capitalising on Growing Demand

Retailers are also racing to tap into a $26 billion prepaid and digital wallet market, which is forecast to grow nearly 10% annually. Gen Z is driving a shift to more flexible shopping and payments, with 80% preferring cashless transactions and more than 60% shopping primarily on mobile. PrezzeePay is designed to help retailers capitalise on this demand by giving consumers digital first, mobile gift cards that can be used at any location they choose.

GapMaps has announced the launch of its Local Area Marketing (LAM) Service to transform how businesses engage customers and build brand awareness in their local catchment. By placing data-driven campaign controls directly into the hands of local retail operators, franchisees, restaurants, and venues, they can eliminate wasted advertising spend and drive measurable growth.

The service addresses a major pain point for local businesses: the inefficiency of digital advertising platforms that rely on broad, online signals for targeting. These platforms often cast a wide net in the hope of catching the right audience, leading to significant waste and missed opportunities. In contrast, the GapMaps LAM Service leverages real-world behavioural data to identify and reach the most relevant local audiences, ensuring marketing budgets are spent with maximum impact.

“A huge amount of money is wasted on digital advertising that doesn’t reach the right audience in the local catchment area,” said Anthony Villanti, GapMaps Managing Director and Founder.

“Our Local Area Marketing Service solves this problem by using real-world insights to pinpoint customers. We’re putting the power of precision marketing directly into the hands of local operators, helping them connect with their communities and see a real return on investment.”

Designed to help brands increase visitation frequency from existing customers while attracting new ones, the LAM Service enables businesses to target campaigns within their defined catchment areas, encouraging loyal customers to visit more often and new audiences to engage for the first time.

The service is ideal for building brand awareness in the local catchment across a wide range of marketing and initiatives. This includes promoting store openings and launching new products, running competitor conquest campaigns or driving specific daypart opportunities, such as encouraging breakfast patrons to return for an evening meal.

The GapMaps LAM Service has already delivered strong results in pilot programs, including with a major global fitness brand, demonstrating its ability to create hyper-targeted, high-performing campaigns that empower franchisees to build local awareness and measurable growth. The service is also being used successfully by global and local brands outside the GapMaps platform, underscoring its flexibility and scalability in supporting local marketing strategies. 

Key customer benefits include:

• Empowering Local Businesses and Franchisees: Provides store operators with direct control over their local marketing budgets, enabling them to launch campaigns that complement national advertising efforts.

1. Eliminating Ad Spend Waste: Targets customers based on real-world activity, such as where they work, live, and visit, reducing spend on irrelevant audiences and improving return on investment compared to traditional platforms.
2. Hyper-Local Targeting: Uses GapMaps’ advanced trade area intelligence to build awareness, increase visit frequency, and attract new patrons within a store’s true catchment.
3. Advanced Audience Segmentation: Enables campaigns to target non-customers or competitor patrons, while excluding existing loyal customers, maximising acquisition budgets.
4. Turnkey Campaign Management: Offers an end-to-end solution where GapMaps manages strategy, creative, campaign optimisation, and reporting – making sophisticated local marketing accessible even for those without in-house marketing expertise.

The GapMaps LAM Service is available now across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America. While currently offered as a managed service, GapMaps plans to integrate LAM capabilities into its platform in future releases – further extending the value and strategic impact of its data intelligence ecosystem.

More than half of small businesses (58%) say Black Friday has overtaken Boxing Day as Australia’s biggest sales event, yet fewer are participating in 2025, citing affordability concerns in a tough economic climate, according to new research from global small business platform Xero.

While consumer appetite for bargains continues to grow, small businesses are increasingly struggling to keep up. The survey of 500 Australian small businesses revealed almost two-thirds (64%) feel the pressure to compete with big brands during Black Friday, up 4% year-on-year. These competitive dynamics are shaping not just whether small businesses take part, but also how they price their products and services during the sales period.

Participation drops amid cost concerns

This year, fewer small businesses are opting into Black Friday, with just 39% committing to definitely taking part, down by 22% since 2024. Many are stepping back due to cost pressures, with nearly a third (30%) saying they can’t afford to offer discounts, while a quarter (25%) believe their customers will support them regardless.

For those planning to participate, expectations are mixed. One in 10 are bracing for a potential drop in sales, highlighting the growing challenge of competing with major retailers. However, more than half (57%) anticipate a sales lift compared to previous years. This, on average, is modest at an 18% increase.

“Black Friday isn’t just a big business event anymore. It offers real opportunities for small businesses to connect with new customers and strengthen loyalty,” said Angad Soin, Global Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director AU/NZ and Global Chief Strategy Officer at Xero. “Black Friday forces a tough decision. Small business owners have to gamble the opportunity of increased sales against the real-world pressures of higher costs and tighter margins, all while protecting their day-to-day cash flow.”

Mixed expectations and evolving motivations

The drivers for small businesses to engage with Black Friday are evolving. This year, of those participating, 59% say they’re doing so to attract new customers, up from 48% in 2024, while 45% cite building customer loyalty as a key motivator. This is not without hesitations, with 40% concerned about the toll on profit margins.

“To discount or not to discount must be a strategic decision, not reacting to short-term pressure and instead building a healthy business all year round . This is where digital tools are critical. Knowing your exact cash flow turns a reactive ‘pressured discount’ into a calculated, strategic move that you know you can afford,” Soin said.

“Small businesses are the heart of our communities and the backbone of our economy, and I strongly believe in supporting local. I encourage all Australians to get behind their favourite small businesses where they can, not just during Black Friday, but throughout the year.”

To help small businesses prepare for and manage the Black Friday period, there are a number of digital tools they can utilise such as Xero Analytics, which provides real-time insights into cash flow and performance. Additionally, Xero’s integration with inventory management platforms like Cin7 can also support businesses to streamline operations and make smarter stock decisions, which is key ahead of peak sales periods like Black Friday.

Sandisk has announced new storage solutions uniquely designed for creators at home, in the studio and everywhere in between. Developed for creators looking to elevate and deliver content that speaks to the world, the SANDISK Creator Series is designed for every step in the creative process, from idea to impact. The series features a tailored, professional-grade collection of products infused with vibrant colours that celebrate creativity and individuality, including the all-new SANDISK Creator Phone SSD with MagSafe compatibility.  

The SANDISK Creator Series is curated to keep up with the intensity of a demanding workflow and to ignite creative potential: 

• SANDISK Creator Phone SSD: This all-new SSD, specifically designed for creating content on the move, attaches effortlessly to MagSafe-compatible smartphones with capacities up to 2TB1 and read speeds up to 1000MB/s2 and write speeds up to 950MB/s2. Creators can now record stunning 4K at 60fps videos in Apple ProRes directly to their Creator Phone SSD to start editing instantly.7 Rugged and reliable for wherever inspiration strikes, this drive features a durable silicone shell, up to three-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance3. To help further streamline the editing process, users enjoy one month of Adobe Creative Cloud4. The SANDISK Creator Phone SSD is now available in 1TB1 and 2TB, for AUD MSRPs of $451.00 and $671.00 respectively, at JB Hi-Fi.   
• SANDISK Creator microSD™ Card: Available in capacities up to 1TB1, creators can capture stunning 4K5 and 5.3K5 footage effortlessly with pro-level performance and offload files at turbocharged speeds with a SANDISK QuickFlow™ microSD UHS-I Card USB-A Reader (sold separately). The SANDISK Creator microSD™ Card is now available in 256GB1 and 512GB, for AUD MSRPs of $99.00 and $176.00, respectively, at JB Hi-Fi. Additional capacities of 128GB and 1TB will follow in 2026. 
• SANDISK Creator SD UHS-II Card: Available in capacities up to 1TB1, this high-performance memory card is designed for creators who require professional-grade image and video capture with exceptional reliability to shoot, edit, and publish their posts seamlessly. The SANDISK Creator SD UHS-II Card is now available in 128GB1 and 256GB, for AUD MSRPs of $165.00 and $308.00 respectively, at JB Hi-Fi. Additional capacities of 512GB and 1TB will follow in 2026. 
• SANDISK Creator Phone Drive: Perfect for creators with multi-device workflows, this drive features both Lightning and USB Type-C™ connectors and offers up to 256GB1 of storage to efficiently manage high-resolution photos, numerous video files, or important documents in between devices. Use the SANDISK Memory Zone app on Android™ powered mobile devices to automatically back up all your favourite files.8 The SANDISK Creator Phone Drive is expected to be available in 2026. 
• SANDISK Creator USB-C™ Flash Drive: Equippedwith a versatile USB Type-C™ connector, this drive is designed for content creators who demand performance and durability wherever they are, with up to 1TB1 of storage capacity that provides ample storage for stress-free content creation. The SANDISK Creator USB-C™ Flash Drive is expected to be available in 2026. 
• SANDISK Creator Pro Portable SSD: Available in capacities up to 4TB1, this drive equips creators with the speed, capacity and durability they need for ultra-demanding creative workflows. Featuring powerful NVMe™ performance, efficiently transferring, editing, and backing up uncompressed footage, multi-camera project files, and AI-generated assets is now seamlessly easier. The SANDISK Creator Pro Portable SSD is expected to be available in 2026.  
• SANDISK Creator Desk Drive: Designed to be the compact hub for creative content, this desktop SSD delivers read speeds up to 4x faster than a regular desktop hard drive6, quick enough to transfer and back up large projects effortlessly. The SANDISK Creator Desk Drive is expected to be available in 2026.  

For a first look at the product and a chance to win gear from the new range, visit the SANDISK Creator Series pop-up booths in Sydney, at Broadway Shopping Centre (Ground Floor opposite Coles) from 19-25 November and Westfield Bondi Junction (Level 1 opposite NAB) from 22-28 December.  

9 in 10 small businesses owners believe their banks are profiting too much on card payment processing fees, while more than 2 in 5 don’t understand what the fees are for – according to new research from AMP Bank GO.

Card payment processing fees – also known as merchant fees – are charged to small businesses each time a customer pays by card. To stay afloat, many small businesses such as cafes, hairdressers, and the local corner store, are forced to absorb this expense, lift prices, or surcharge their customers.

This need to surcharge is causing tension between businesses and their customers, with close to half of small businesses indicating their customers are annoyed at being surcharged. Small businesses can’t solve this customer frustration without impacting their own viability. 

The RBA estimates that card surcharges cost consumers around $1.2 billion each year^[1], and is currently undertaking a review of card payment costs and surcharging.

Renee Williams, Florist owner, Albury, is calling out banks for what she believes is profit gauging sitting behind a smokescreen of deliberately confusing fees.

“I’m running my business on razor thin margins – meanwhile, we have no idea how much banks are making from fees – we just know they’re posting billions in annual profits. They are profiteering from every tap we process, meanwhile we don’t understand half of what we’re being charged and we’re scrambling to keep the lights on. We’re the ones pouring the coffees, arranging the flowers, sponsoring the local school raffles, and keeping main streets alive. We just want a fair go – not to be fleeced by a system that profits off our survival.”

Gerard Barrios, Café owner, Sydney, absorbs $14,000 worth of card payment processing fees per year.

“As a small cafe, we’ve chosen to absorb the cost of card payments rather than pass on to customers, which sounds noble, until you realise we’re being ripped off by a system designed to confuse us. I don’t even understand why I’m the one being charged.

“I’ve watched countless cafes and restaurants close in recent years, not because they weren’t good businesses, but because they couldn’t absorb an unsustainable burden that shouldn’t exist in the first place. We just want transparency and fairness, not a one-sided game.”

John Arnott, Director AMP Bank GO said that it’s time for banks to give small businesses and their customers a fair go on card payment processing fees. 

“Our small businesses – the backbone of local communities and Australia’s economy – deserve a card payment system that is transparent and fairly priced.

“AMP Bank GO is backing small businesses with three firm commitments, a no profit pledge on card payment processing fees until 2027, a commitment to lead on price, and to provide a plain-English breakdown on fees so business owners understand exactly what they’re paying for.”

AMP Bank GO’s three commitments to small businesses:

1. Low price promise on card payment processing fees
   Through Live Payments, AMP Bank GO will provide low in-person card payment processing fees across Visa, Mastercard and EFTPOS, when the settlement account is with AMP Bank GO, to help drive competition and keep operating costs down.

These fees will be reviewed quarterly against the publicly available card payment processing fees of the Big Four banks and leading acquirers Tyro, Zeller, and Square. Reductions will be promptly passed through to both new and existing customers to ensure continued competitiveness and transparency. 

• ‘No profit’ pledge on card payment processing fees 

AMP Bank GO is committed to keeping its card payment processing fees as low as possible, and to back this promise, will not take any profits on card payment fees until 2027.

As part of its ‘no profit’ pledge, AMP Bank GO will return any profits on card payment processing fees to its small business customers through a grant program in 2026 and 2027. Details about the pledge and grants program can be found on AMP Bank GO’s website.

• Fee transparency
  AMP Bank GO has published a plain-English breakdown of how card payment processing fees work to help small business owners understand exactly what they pay for and is committed to providing ongoing transparency for customers.

Learn more about AMP Bank GO’s ‘fair go’ commitments – visit amp.com.au/fair-go.

Why the card payment processing fees system broken – and why it matters:

• Banning surcharges without fixing merchant fees just hides the cost. It does nothing to reduce the actual fees paid by small businesses.
• It is likely that any increased costs of card payments to small businesses due to a surcharge ban will be worn by small businesses themselves or passed on to customers through increased pricing.
• Opaque pricing keeps fee margins out of sight and too many small businesses are captive to take-it-or-leave-it rates.
• Small businesses such as hairdressers, café owners and the local corner store, can end up subsidising the big banks’ premium rewards programs. 

[1] Reserve Bank of Australia, Review of Merchant Card Payment costs and Surcharges – Consultation Paper, July 2025, https://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/review-of-retail-payments-regulation/2025-07/pdf/review-of-merchant-card-payment-costs-and-surcharging.pdf?v=2025-07-14