Influencers used to be the golden ticket for small brands. A decade ago, the right post could mean instant sellouts. But it’s 2025 – and relying solely on influencers is like setting your budget on fire, delivering little more than fleeting engagement.

Most of us are not Amazon. We don’t have endless budgets to throw at marketing experiments, and we certainly can’t afford to ignore the fundamentals of business. Success today isn’t about chasing viral moments – it’s about strategy, community, and understanding your market inside-out.

Here, Rebecca Klodinsky, the multi-million dollar Australian business builder, shares her tips on how to grow a brand in 2025 without burning through cash on influencer hype.

1. Own Your Niche
Trying to appeal to everyone is a waste of time and money. Instead, go all in on a single niche. Understand your audience inside-out – their habits, needs, and pain points. The deeper your knowledge, the more effective your marketing.

2. Build Trust and Community – Not Just Hype
Trust is what builds long-term success. Brands that cultivate strong online communities have the biggest advantage – because when customers feel connected, they keep coming back. This means talking with your audience, not at them. Respond to comments, answer DMs, and create spaces where your customers can engage with your brand beyond just a transaction.

3. Content is (Still) King – But Only if It’s Done Right
Content isn’t about mindlessly churning out videos because “the algorithm says so.” Great content solves problems, entertains, and resonates with your audience. If your content isn’t useful, engaging, or shareable, it’s just noise. Storytelling, behind-the-scenes insights, and real value-driven content will always outperform another soulless product reel.

4. Solve Real Problems – Continuously
Your brand’s success isn’t about what you sell, but about the problem you solve. The best brands constantly evolve based on real customer pain points. Talk to your customers, listen to feedback, and iterate. If you’re not actively solving problems, you’re making noise in an already crowded market.

5. Customer Service is Your Secret Weapon
People remember how you treat them. A great product will get someone through the door, but exceptional service will keep them coming back. In a world where customers are spoilt for choice, social proof from happy customers is more valuable than any influencer post. Reviews, word-of-mouth, and referrals – they all start with great customer experience.

The Bottom Line
Influencer marketing still has its place, but it’s no longer a silver bullet. Building a sustainable brand means getting the basics right – knowing your audience, creating killer content, delivering great service, and constantly evolving to meet customer needs. Those who rely purely on influencer hype without substance? They’ll be the first to fade away.

Xero, the global small business platform, today announced tickets are on sale for its flagship technology and innovation conference, Xerocon. Taking place 3-4 September 2025 in Brisbane, the event promises more tailored content than ever before to connect and inspire accountants and bookkeepers, as well as a chance to hear from the brains behind one of Australia’s greatest success stories.

Returning to Australia for the first time since 2023, Xerocon will feature a range of speakers and content addressing some of the accounting and bookkeeping industry’s most talked about challenges and opportunities – from building and retaining high-performing teams, to practical strategies to harness tech in the age of AI. It will also preview the latest Xero product updates, and provide an opportunity to connect with Xero’s thriving ecosystem of third-party apps under the one roof.

Attendees will hear from a stellar lineup, including the much-cherished Queensland icon Joe Brumm, the creator of Bluey – the most watched television series in the US in 2024. Joe will share his incredible leadership journey and principles of collaboration, innovation and inclusivity that fueled the creation of a global phenomenon. Social researcher and TEDx speaker Ashley Fell, and resilience researcher and best-selling author Dr Lucy Hone will also feature alongside some of Xero’s leaders including CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy.

For the first time, Xerocon will also feature two dedicated ‘partner stages’, giving accountants and bookkeepers a platform to share their expertise and insights with their peers. Xero partners can pitch to become part of the Xerocon program by submitting their proposal online.

Also new, delegates will have the opportunity to shape the most valuable Xerocon yet by sharing the topics, challenges, innovations, or trends they want to learn more about, and suggest speakers they want to hear from.

“This year, we’re making Xerocon bigger than ever, with more inspiring speakers, sessions for the community led by the community, and more chances to connect with each other. We’re designing the program in a way that attendees can tailor the experience for them. But some things will always stay the same – Xerocon wouldn’t be complete without our famous wrap party!”

The two-day event will be held at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Delegates will connect with thousands of accountants and bookkeepers from across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the world, and discover the latest and greatest in cloud accounting to help supercharge their businesses.

Early bird tickets are on sale now for 40% off the standard price until 11:59 pm tonight, Tuesday, 4 March, and will be 30% off until 30 April. Tickets can be purchased on Xero’s website.

Running a solo business is full of challenges, and though sole traders and freelancers are uniquely adaptable and resilient, they frequently encounter the same common gripes and bugbears that come with sole trader life. According to recent data from platform Sole, cash flow, taxes, and admin caused the biggest headache for Australia’s 800,000+ sole traders in 2025.

Sole founder and CEO Johann Oberholzer says, “With more Aussies becoming their own boss in 2025, we are seeing an increase in people encountering the same problems time and time again. Some of these are easily solvable, but some require further training and support to make life easier for this significant portion of the small business sector.”

Data shows that income varies by industry but can range from an average of $25-48 per hour. According to Sole’s own figures, the average total of invoices sent per business is $14,845.82. 

Johann says, “Sole traders work incredibly hard, yet many struggle to find the right balance between competitive pricing and sustainable earnings. While the hourly rate and invoice values depend on industry, not understanding industry benchmarks and optimising pricing strategies can leave sole traders with an income that falls short of expectations.”

Sole traders are quoting an average of $4,396.50 per quote but may forget to include their business details, an itemised breakdown, and the customer’s details, and so on. This could lead to them not being paid in a timely manner or cause confusion for customers if they don’t differentiate a quote from an estimate, which could be subject to change. 

Handling too many clients can be another hidden trap for sole traders who find that they receive diminishing returns for the time spent servicing a larger number of customers. The secret to sole trader peace of mind it seems is retaining a core group of clients that make up the majority of the business’ income. Sole data indicates the average client count per business is 3.5.

Managing expenses is unsurprisingly another headache for solo traders. While the average expense total per business is $1926.70, sole traders are struggling to keep expenses down while retaining money in the business. 

On this front, tax is a huge issue for freelancers and sole traders particularly in the face of increased scrutiny from the ATO. Common tax pitfalls for sole traders include not managing their BAS correctly and forgetting to hold onto a portion of income for tax. The average tax per business in the first year may only be $1,547.70, but fines for non compliance and unpaid debts can go into the thousands.

Finally, as much as 64% of sole traders were found to be using excel spreadsheets before switching to the Sole app. Johann says, “Many sole traders are wasting hours of their limited time on outdated tools to manage their businesses. Come tax time, this can blow out to another huge time trap as sole traders attempt to disentangle expenses and income that they haphazardly recorded in a spreadsheet. Making the switch to a streamlined platform will save them the headache of working out their financials and there’s the added benefit of being able to view their business performance at any given moment, which is essential for sole traders who need to keep an eye on cash flow.”

He concludes, “With a 205% increase in Sole app sign ups between 2023/24, more people are choosing to take control of their careers and enjoy the flexibility and freedom of self-employment. The surge in the number of Aussies choosing to try their hand at sole trading in 2025 is exciting, but it also comes with challenges as sole traders quickly realise that managing finances, pricing their services correctly, and handling their tax obligations can be overwhelming. This is why we are seeing more sole traders turn to platforms like Sole for the support they need to navigate these common issues and build a business that is sustainable and satisfying.”

Intuit Inc. , the global financial technology platform that makes Intuit TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, has announced a host of product enhancements and a completely revamped popup forms experience in beta to help marketers target and engage site visitors with branded, interactive popup forms to grow their audience. With popup forms, marketers can grow their customers using customisable, mobile-first designs for deeper audience targeting and seamless zero-party data collection. Popup forms empower marketers to collect data directly from customers and prospects, which enables AI-powered, truly personalised marketing.

While e-commerce businesses will see significant value from popup forms, the solution is designed to support a wide range of industries. With eight different and new offer types, businesses can use popups to drive conversions with opt-ins customers are already looking for, like discount promotions, free shipping, free content, consultations, contests and giveaways, event signups, newsletter subscriptions, and more. The variety of popup offer types ensure marketers can collect richer audience insights than they were able to do before. 

“Marketers are increasingly prioritising ownership of their customer relationships and data, with lead generation as a crucial step toward long-term success,” says Fay Kallel, VP of Product and Design at Intuit Mailchimp. “Popup forms solve a top pain point for marketers and SMBs, allowing them to collect data directly from customers, creating a frictionless way to capture leads, grow their customers, and build deeper, more meaningful relationships. Compelling data capture provides the foundation for how marketers can leverage AI for more effective personalisation, and we’re making it easier than ever for them to integrate this effective tool into their strategies.” 

Popup Forms Addresses Key Marketing Pain Points 

Before marketers can effectively connect with customers through email and SMS campaigns, they first need a seamless way to capture opt-ins. Popup forms simplify this process by making it more intuitive for marketers and more personalised for customers, helping ensure higher engagement and conversion rates from the start with benefits like: 

• Unlimited design customisation to create beautiful, mobile-first popups..
• Access to 80+ fully-designed templates to streamline setup and maximise results.
• Full customisation of templates— including fonts, buttons, colors, imagery, logos, and layout— for a design that matches brand identity.
• Dynamic visitor targeting with custom filters and triggers that can help convert traffic into subscribers.
• Seamless zero-party data capture to build richer customer profiles for targeted email and SMS campaigns.
• Opt-in lead generation that can help reduce acquisition costs and accelerate list growth.

Since integrating popup forms into his marketing strategy last month, Joe Gray, Senior Manager of Digital Marketing at Avenova, has seen a significant boost in customer opt-ins, growing his organisation’s SMS list by 27% in just one month. “We were thrilled to gain deeper insights into our customers’ behavior and journey—understanding how they discovered our brand and what drives their purchasing decisions,” says Gray.

Integrating Amped Into Mailchimp’s Core Product

Mailchimp’s new popup forms offering is built on technology Intuit acquired from Amped in 2024. The technology allows brands to have full control of the form’s design to connect with their audiences, drive growth, and stay competitive in today’s market.  

“We’re excited to bring Amped’s powerful functionality into Mailchimp’s core product,” says Matt Cimino, Product Lead and Founder of Amped. “As consumer behavior evolves, marketing tools must evolve with it to create authentic connections with their customers and prospects. Today, roughly 75% of website visitors browse on mobile, yet most popup forms are still built for desktop experiences. This next generation of popup forms changes that with fully responsive, mobile-first designs that eliminate friction, making it easier than ever for marketers to connect with and convert new customers by meeting them where they are.”

Customers across all Mailchimp plans can soon access, create, and publish popup forms—enabling seamless customer engagement from day one. The refreshed popup forms feature is rolling out in English to Mailchimp customers in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with full global availability coming soon.

Dropping the Beat on popup forms

To celebrate the refresh of popup forms, Mailchimp’s in-house creative agency, Wink Creative, is turning up the volume with their latest brand campaign, “Popup Like It’s Hot.” The team remixed an iconic hip-hop track to create a high-energy marketing anthem that highlights how marketers can seamlessly grow their audience with popup forms. With catchy, campaign-driven lyrics, the track lays down the beat for marketers looking to strengthen their customer base and drive revenue growth. The ad will be featured across various channels including podcasts, social media, and more.

“Bringing this campaign to life over the iconic early 2000s hip-hop beat was an exciting challenge that pushed our creative boundaries,” says Jeremy Jones, Executive Creative, Wink Creative at Mailchimp. “Our team, in collaboration with Breakfast for Dinner, leveraged a blend of still imagery and emerging AI technologies to produce something truly unique. This approach not only increased flexibility and efficiency in our creative process but also reimagined how we bring Mailchimp’s popup forms to market—delivering an innovative campaign that excites marketers about this powerful reinvention.”

Additional Features Launching Soon

Soon, there will be more ways for Mailchimp customers to organise their customer data, enhance lead generation, and drive real ROI for customers with an improved integration with thelead ads portfolio from Meta. This updated experience automatically syncs new leads from Meta Business Suite (including Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram) directly into Mailchimp, streamlining the process of capturing and organising contacts. Customers can effortlessly nurture leads by automating personalised email campaigns, turning new prospects into loyal customers with ease.

In addition to the launch of popup forms and an upcoming improvement to the integration with the lead ads portfolio from Meta, Mailchimp customers can enjoy new ways to interact with a simplified Customer Journey Builder, easier audience management with new .xlsx Microsoft Excel file imports, and new access to promo codes in the SMS editor for customers with SMS marketing plans. For more information, visit Mailchimp’s What’s New page. 

Report finds Australians use an average of 6.5 social media platforms per month, spending nearly two hours daily on social.

Social media continues to shape the way Australians connect, discover brands, and make purchasing decisions, according to Digital 2025 Australia, the latest report from global media intelligence leader Meltwater and socially-led creative agency We Are Social.

With 20.9 million social media user identities, representing almost 78% of the population, social platforms are an essential part of Australians’ everyday lives, from staying in touch with friends to filling spare time and seeking inspiration for purchases.

Social media’s dominance in daily life

Australians are more engaged on social than ever, using 6.5 different social media platforms each month and spending an average of 1 hour and 51 minutes per day on social media.

TikTok leads in time spent, with Australian Android users logging an average of 38 hours and 51 minutes per month, surpassing the global average of 34 hours and 56 minutes. Australians also top the global charts for time spent on Snapchat’s Android app, averaging 16 hours and 26 minutes per month across 490 sessions.

Facebook remains the most widely used platform (78% of users), while Instagram (65%) and TikTok (48%) continue to gain influence*. Instagram takes the crown as Australia’s preferred social app (22%), followed by Facebook (20%) and TikTok (14%).

LinkedIn’s rapid growth in Australia

LinkedIn is seeing significant traction, with its advertising audience reach increasing 13% year-on-year to 17 million users, representing over 80% of Australians aged 18+.

Australia now ranks among the top five countries globally for time spent on LinkedIn’s Android app, with 1 hour and 6 minutes per month across 42 sessions. The shift reflects how Australians are using the platform in a more personal way, blurring the lines between professional networking and social interaction, making it a key channel for marketers looking to engage professionals.

Social media’s role in brand discovery and research 

Social media is now a key touchpoint in the path to purchase. More than 58% of Australians now turn to social media for brand and product research to inform their purchase decisions. This underscores the platform’s growing impact on consumer decision-making, rivalling traditional search engines (62%) and far surpassing brand websites (37%).

Digital and social ad spend continues to grow

Social media advertising in Australia continues its double-digit growth, with annual spend increasing 12% year-on-year to US$4.26 billion, now accounting for 29% of total digital ad spend. Influencer marketing also keeps growing rapidly, with brands investing US$520 million in influencer-led campaigns, a 13% increase from last year.

Rising concerns around misinformation and data privacy

As digital engagement grows, so do concerns around online trust and safety. Three in four Australians (75%) worry about distinguishing real or fake information online, while 43% are concerned about how companies handle their data. Australia now ranks among the top five countries globally for concerns over misinformation and data privacy.

Ross Candido, VP ANZ at Meltwater said: “As Australian consumers turn to social media as a key brand research tool, brands must strategically align their media mix and tailor content to engage diverse audience groups across platforms. By harnessing real-time insights into consumer behaviour and engagement preferences, brands can optimise their marketing campaigns by delivering  authentic, relevant content where it matters most.”

“In Australia, social media is where culture is shaped, opinions are formed, and brands are built,” said Suzie Shaw, CEO of We Are Social Australia. “The challenge for marketers today isn’t just being seen, but being relevant. With more Australians using social media to discover, research, and engage with brands, success comes down to understanding culture and tapping into it in meaningful ways.”Read the full report now: https://www.meltwater.com/en/global-digital-trends

For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that have relied on productivity SaaS solutions for years, now is the time to reassess long-term needs and explore alternatives that offer greater stability, flexibility, and control. As cloud adoption accelerates, major SaaS providers continue to evolve their offerings, often in ways that increase costs and limit flexibility. For example, Microsoft recently made significant changes to its 365 plans, including a reported 45% price increase for some subscriptions, according to The Register. Additionally, storage limitations and licensing restrictions force SMBs to reevaluate their reliance on third-party cloud services.

How do these plans impact SMBs?

Recent SaaS policy updates from major providers are reshaping the way SMBs access and manage their productivity tools. Businesses that rely on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace may face significant challenges, including:

1. Cost pressures

Transitioning to higher-cost licenses to meet original storage and functionality represents a significant financial burden for many SMBs. With little control over future changes to offerings, ongoing unpredictability adds to financial instability, which is likely paired with additional costs for downtime, migration, and retraining staff.

2. Limited control over data

SaaS solutions store data on external servers, leaving businesses with less oversight over data security, backup, and retrieval.

3. Compliance challenges:

Businesses in regulated industries must adhere to strict data protection policies such as GDPR, HIPAA, or SOC 2. SMBs must ensure their systems are secure, private, and auditable; standards that public productivity solutions may struggle to meet.

How Synology Office Suite is tailored for SMBs

In response to these SaaS changes, SMBs seeking long-term stability can turn to locally hosted productivity suites such as Synology Office Suite. On-premises solutions provide greater storage flexibility, data control, privacy, and cost stability, helping businesses remain compliant with industry regulations. Synology Office Suite offers an all-in-one, user-friendly platform with tools like Drive, Office, MailPlus, Chat, Calendar, Contacts, and Note Station, making it easy for teams to collaborate efficiently.

Employees can access work materials and applications from anywhere on laptops, tablets, or smartphones using Synology Drive. Managers and teams can easily share files, organize projects, and streamline workflows. Furthermore, employees can collaborate in real-time with Synology Document, Spreadsheet, and Slides, and share files via Synology Chat for smoother communication.

D-Link Australia, a leader in commercial networking solutions, today announced the launch of its DMS-3130-30PS 30-Port Stackable Multi-Gigabit PoE++ Layer 3 Cost-Effective Multi-Gigabit Switch, designed to provide a cost-effective upgrade path for organisations looking to enhance their network performance beyond 1GB without the full expense of 10GB infrastructure.

“The DMS-3130-30PS offers a strategic balance of performance and affordability,” said Graeme Reardon, Managing Director at D-Link Australia. “It’s an ideal solution for enterprises seeking to boost network speeds and power delivery without overhauling their entire infrastructure.”

Key Features of the DMS-3130-30PS Cost-Effective Multi-Gigabit Switch:

• Flexible Multi-Gigabit connectivity: 16 2.5G PoE+ ports, 8 5G PoE++ ports, 2 10GBASE-T, and 4 25G SFP28 ports
• High-power PoE: Up to 60W per port with a total budget of 740W (expandable to 960W)
• Advanced stacking: Up to 9 units per stack for increased port density
• Robust security features: Including ACLs, Storm Control, and D-Link Safeguard Engine
• Enterprise-grade reliability: 6 kV surge protection and support for redundant power supply

The DMS-3130-30PS is particularly well-suited for organisations with a mix of network requirements, such as enterprises running a combination of Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6/6E access points, or those gradually transitioning to higher bandwidth applications. Its variety of port speeds allows for a phased approach to network upgrades, providing flexibility in deployment and budget management.

With a switching capacity of up to 400Gbps and support for both L2 and L3 features, the DMS-3130-30PS offers a versatile solution that can adapt to evolving network demands without requiring immediate infrastructure overhauls.

Availability and pricing Cost-Effective Multi-Gigabit Switch

The new DMS-3130-30PS 30-Port Stackable Multi-Gigabit PoE++ Layer 3 Switch is available now from www.dlink.com.au, and all authorised D-Link partners for AU$8199.95 (RRP).

Norton, a leader in Cyber Safety, is setting the standard for scam protection with Genie Scam Protection a new range of AI-powered features fully integrated in Norton Cyber Safety products to help protect people from the most widespread cyberthreat of our time. Like the first domino tipping over and setting off a chain reaction, scams are the initial event that can trigger a series of serious attacks, including identity theft and financial fraud. The Company reports that 90 per cent of all cyber threats now originate from scams and social engineering threats – a figure that has almost tripled since 2021.

The Norton Cyber Safety product lineup, Genie Scam Protection, provides advanced AI protection in all the usual hotbeds for scams: texts, phone calls, emails, and the web. Like a detective searching for clues, the Norton Genie AI analyses the meaning of words, not just links, to spot hidden scam patterns even the most careful person can miss. Norton’s most comprehensive plan, Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus, also offers Scam support and Reimbursement coverage for even greater peace of mind**.

In 2023, Norton, the leader in AI-powered scam detection, unveiled the first app using AI to provide real-time analysis of suspicious messages and images, Norton Genie. As hundreds of millions engage with Norton Genie for instant help and advice about potential scams, the AI powering Genie constantly learns and becomes even more effective at helping people. Now with our enhanced Genie Scam Protection built directly into Norton plans, Norton is delivering comprehensive “set it and forget it” scam protection that works proactively to help people be safer, wherever our connected world may take them.

“Today’s scams are not the scams you could spot a mile away with the naked eye,” said Leena Elias, Chief Product Officer at Gen. “Scammers are tapping into AI to speed up their schemes and make them more believable. Couple that with the sheer volume of emails, texts, and calls we’re getting every day; it’s clear we need technology on our side to help us avoid becoming the next scam victim. We’ve built enhanced AI-powered scam protection directly into our Norton products to provide the powerful, always-on scam defence our customers need to protect their digital and financial safety. Our top tier plan helps protect you with proactive scam protection plus scam support and reimbursement to help make you whole again if you fall victim to a scam.”

For customers in Australia Genie Scam Protection features are included at no extra cost as part of Norton’s Cyber Safety products on desktop and mobile, including Norton AntiVirus Plus, Norton Mobile Security, and Norton 360 plans.

Genie Scam Protection key features include:

• Safe SMS: Uses Norton Genie AI to detect sophisticated scams in text messages by analysing the meaning of words used by scammers. Available exclusively on mobile, where you need it most.
• Safe Web: Provides advanced AI scam protection when shopping or browsing online.
• Genie Scam AI Assistant: Integrates the Norton Genie AI app to provide instant guidance on scams and suspicious offers with a single tap.
• Norton Private Browser: Blocks phishing scams and annoying ads to help people browse, bank and shop with confidence. This feature is available on desktop versions of Norton Private Browser.

The new Genie Scam Protection features are available on supporting platforms.

After gaining rapid traction with over 85,000 SMEs in the past 3.5 years, Zeller, the Australian fintech redefining business banking, has today added technology businesses to its focus with the announcement of Zeller for Startups — Australia’s first Banking Solution for Startups, enabling founders to launch and scale without the constraints of traditional banks and disconnected platforms. 

Traditional banking has failed Australia’s 90,000+ strong startup ecosystem

For decades, Australian startups have been forced to navigate a banking system never built for them — slow and arduous account setup involving physical paperwork, limited access to financing, and fragmented account reporting that don’t deliver a unified view of their overall financial position. While Silicon Valley fintechs have long offered founders startup-friendly financial products, Australian entrepreneurs remain stuck with outdated banking designed exclusively for traditional businesses.

A new Zeller survey of Australian startup founders highlights how broken traditional banking is for tech founders: 

• 87% of founders cite financial management and banking as their biggest operational challenge — second only to fundraising (94%).
• 85% of founders lack confidence in a traditional bank’s ability to support them during the setup and scaling phases.

“Australia has built a thriving startup ecosystem, yet our banks still treat founders as risks rather than opportunities. Banks force businesses into outdated processes that don’t match how tech startups actually operate. That approach is no longer sustainable” said Ben Pfisterer, Zeller CEO and co-founder. “With our own experience launching five years ago, we quickly built and began using our own products to manage all of Zeller’s finances. We’ve optimised and tailored these products to deliver Zeller for Startups, enabling those founders who are where Zeller was years ago with an all-in-one financial solution designed to help them scale and succeed.”

Zeller’s research also showed the challenges tech founders still face in the operations of financial management — confirming that on average, startups have historically relied upon five disconnected platforms, on top of a business bank, to manage their finances.

Australia’s first Banking Solution for Startups

Designed for speed and simplicity, Zeller for Startups will deliver tech founders instant access to an all-in-one suite of financial tools they can use from one online account, removing the need for multiple providers, subscriptions, or expensive add-ons.

• Business accounts with seamless digital onboarding, enabling founders to open an account in 60% fewer clicks than with traditional banks.
• Unlimited digital or physical debit card issuance for instant spending.
• High-interest savings accounts offering an ongoing 3.2% p.a. standard variable rate, maximising the return on capital saved while enabling instant access to funds.
• Purpose-built expense management seamlessly integrated within the Zeller Dashboard, enabling real-time visibility over employee, team, or project spending.
• Exclusive founder benefits, including discounts on popular startup software and technology services including Employment Hero, Xero, and Pop Business.

“Everything about how companies operate has changed, but the banks have not. For decades Aussie founders have been forced into a banking system that simply wasn’t built for them; slow account onboarding, outdated risk assessments, and financial products that deliver limited oversight. The reality is, banks have become a roadblock for founders because they can’t deliver what startups need to manage the finances, spending and expenses in one place” commented Pfisterer. “That’s exactly why we built Zeller for Startups — to give tech founders  a first-of-its-kind solution combining the financial products they need to launch confidently, scale smarter, and reach their full potential” 

Zeller for Startups will be made available in the coming weeks, with a fast online account creation. Founders who join the waitlist will be eligible to receive a $100 sign-up bonus. Learn more and join the Zeller for Startups waitlist here.

Aussies are continuing to tighten their annual spending but splurging on peak sales, while retailers are tapping into local fulfilment, ship-from-store, click-and-collect and delivery optionality to drive new levels of delivery reliability. These are just some of the key findings from Shippit’s Commerce Delivery Report, released today by the industry-defining commerce delivery platform that powers hundreds of millions of deliveries for 4,000 retailers across ASEAN.

“Retailers today are contending with a perfect storm of shifting consumer expectations, economic pressures, and intensified competition from global players. Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that business insolvencies surged by 50% this financial year, with retail trade failures rising 14.2%, amid growing cost pressures and cautious consumer spending. Many in the industry are facing a genuine battle for survival in 2025,” said Rob Hango-Zada, Co-Founder and Joint CEO of Shippit. “As consumers become more selective with their spending and demanding in their expectations, retailers must work harder to capture every sale, whether through seamless delivery, personalised experiences, or competitive pricing. Those who fail to adapt risk losing market share to agile competitors who can meet these evolving demands.” 

“Our latest report offers a data-backed roadmap for success, equipping Australian retailers with the insights they need to enhance operational efficiency, optimise delivery performance, and create more seamless customer experiences. By embracing smarter fulfilment strategies, understanding their customers’ needs and pain points, and leveraging the right technology, retailers can turn logistics into a competitive advantage and drive sustainable growth for the year ahead.” 

Here are some of the most significant trends observed over the past year:

• Average order values are declining: Shoppers are spending less overall, with the average order value dropping from $128 in 2022 and $110 in 2023 to $98 in 2024.
• More items, lower pricing: While consumers are spending less, the number of items per order has increased from 2.9 in 2022 to 3.4 in 2024. This means that the average item price has fallen from $44.21 in 2022 to $28.88 in 2024, suggesting consumers are prioritising budget-friendly items. 
• Peak-season spending remains strong: Despite year-round subdued spending, peak season spending is strong. Cyber Weekend saw a surge, with average order values spiking to $130 – 33% higher than the 2024 average – highlighting the continued importance of key sales events. The average value of each item was $43.50, suggesting consumers are saving up for bigger ticket items during the sales periods. Certain categories saw particularly notable increases, including trampolines (+148%), sneakers (+138%), and TVs (+83%). Today, 65% of shoppers do their Christmas shopping during the Cyber Weekend sales.
• Faster and more reliable delivery: Delivery reliability improved significantly, with delays dropping to just 7.7% of all orders, down from 11.2% in 2023 and 15.7% in 2022, raising the question of whether retailers are adjusting their checkout promises to reflect these gains or continuing to build in buffer time to exceed customer expectations.
• Shift in delivery preferences: Click-and-collect orders grew by 11%, express delivery by 9%, and on-demand delivery options surged by an unprecedented 490%.
• Local fulfilment on the rise: A growing number of orders are now being fulfilled from within 15km of their destination, as retailers leverage their store networks and local distribution centres to speed up delivery. In 2024, 14.6% of deliveries—one in seven—were shipped from within 15km, up from just 9.7% (one in ten) in 2022, highlighting the rise of micro-fulfilment and ship-from-store strategies.
• Retailers overestimating delivery timeframes: While the average quoted delivery time was 5.6 days, actual delivery performance stood at just 2.2 days, highlighting a major opportunity to enhance customer confidence and sales conversion with accurate and reliable delivery estimates.

What to Expect in 2025

As uncertainty and volatility persist, many retailers will face existential threats in the year ahead. Success in 2025 will require a clear focus on forecasting, strategy, and a deep understanding of shifting consumer expectations. Retailers must optimise every stage of the customer journey—from checkout to doorstep—to remain competitive and drive sustainable growth. Here are the key trends shaping the retail landscape:

• Delivery as a Key Differentiator: Retailers must prioritise fast, transparent, and flexible delivery options to drive loyalty and sales.
• Personalisation at Scale: Data-driven post-purchase experiences will be critical in retaining customers and enhancing lifetime value.
• Sustainability as a Business Imperative: Carbon-neutral logistics and sustainable fulfilment will shift from an optional add-on to a consumer expectation.
• Global Disruption & Local Adaptation: The rise of international eCommerce giants like Shein and Temu means local retailers must double down on seamless customer experiences and unique value propositions.
• The Rise of Predictive Analytics: Retailers will increasingly leverage AI and automation to anticipate demand, optimise shipping routes, and reduce costs.

“More than ever, success in eCommerce depends on balancing profitability with exceptional customer experience. As businesses shift toward more margin-conscious peak sales strategies, optimising shipping costs, leveraging multiple carriers, and investing in automation have become essential” said Johannes Panzer, Head of Industry Solutions, eCommerce, Descartes Peoplevox. “But delivery isn’t just about the last mile, fulfilment plays a critical role. The better retailers understand, organise, and optimise their warehouses, distribution centres, and networks, the easier it is to balance cost efficiency with customer experience and meet delivery promises”. 

“From a delivery perspective, there’s a lot of focus on optimisation. If we get it right, we’ll get better cost efficiencies and better customer service at the same time. We also want to ensure we understand where our customers are coming from, where the demand is, and make sure our stock is available” said Carina Micheal, Group Head of Technology & Digital APG & Co. 

The full report is available for download [HERE]