Australian Cabinet and Furniture Association

The ACFA Industry Conference was held on Friday 7^th March and attendees enjoyed a fabulous day of sessions to help grow their business beyond tomorrow.

We’re sorry you couldn’t make it on the day but we thought you might enjoy a wrap up of the key points from each of our expert speakers.

Is your business running you, instead of the other way around?

Julian Moore – SMS

AI is the most powerful tool at your disposal as a business owner.
Today’s AI is way above PHD level (IQ 200+) smart. It is trained on every university library that has been digitised, every TV and radio archive, every medical document, the whole internet, every social media platform – anything online is read and learned.
It will be the most intelligent thing on earth by the end of this month.
AI is much more than just text. AI can video clones or avatars which can be trained on your own voice and can be generated in any language.
AI can even make and receive phone calls for you and will automatically switch languages if someone answers in another language.
You can use AI to check files – eg CAD files or spreadsheets – and it will tell you what’s wrong or check for errors.
AI is now smart enough to recognise the emotion in the conversation it’s having and will respond appropriately.
New generation AI glasses have a camera in front and microphones near your ears.
Use the paid version of whatever AI system you want to use – it’s the only way to safeguard your intellectual property.
There are definitely some issues with protection of intellectual property and copyright issues when using AI so you should always check the output and take care when using AI generated information to ensure you are compliant with relevant legislation.

Struggling with contracts, customer disputes or getting paid?

Andrew Seaton – Easton Belle

Consumer Guarantees are part of the Competition and Consumer Act and they are the most powerful tool a Consumer has. The Competition and Consumer Act is regulated by the ACCC.
If you use a warranty document, the Consumer Guarantees operate outside that warranty and you cannot mislead consumers about their rights.
The courts will always side with the Consumer in a he said/she said scenario. Document every recommendation, decision and discussion in writing.
A Manufacturer’s Warranty is your own document and you can put anything in it, but you MUST include the mandatory wording as specified by ACCC.
Fines for breaching the Consumer Guarantees are significant and can be calculated per offence. Individuals (eg Directors) can be personally fined and jail time is also possible.
If you are found to be in breach of the Consumer Guarantees the remedy will depend on whether it is deemed a major or a minor failure. If a major failure, the Consumer can choose whether to take a refund, replacement or repair. If it’s a minor failure, you choose the remedy.
You are required to have a written contract for all residential building work depending on the value of the work. All domestic building work should have a contract, regardless of a price.
Utilise the resources available to ACFA members through your member portal log in to access contracts and other documentation which is guaranteed to be compliant with all legislation.

Built to last: creating a business that thrives without you.

Ben Fewtrell – Max My Profit

Best practice is to structure your organisation around Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) rather than a people-based organisational chart.
KPIs are like a warning indicator for your business and you can’t manage what you don’t measure. KPIs can act as an early-warning system if something is wrong.
Your business has 4 key areas which keep it operating at premium efficiency and effectiveness. They are:
Lead generation
Conversion
Client fulfilment
Business
Staff motivation and feedback is a huge part of retention – people want to be challenged and told when they are doing a good job.
You must know your numbers – this helps you feel braver about putting up prices.
Consider joining the ACFA/Max My Profit tailored business coaching program, designed specifically for our industry.

A snapshot of the behaviours and beliefs of the new generation of Australian tradies and what they need to succeed

Future Tradie Report – Trout/Nex+/Superseed

The report surveyed 1071 Australian tradies across various industries. It identified the forces at work that put pressure on tradies who respond in different ways.
Future tradies don’t think about competitors, more about coworkers and adjacent learners. They want to find and build a community online.
They value adaptability and want to be connected to a greater purpose. Work/life balance is a priority.
Sustainability is a real priority for the next generation. Tradespeople want to build sustainable businesses and utilise sustainable practices.
The next generation want to focus on delivery, service and communication – they know reputation is everything and they want to make every client interaction count. They are hyper aware of their online presence and the value of positive reviews.
The next generation of tradies are drawn to companies with a positive team culture that actively help people grow within the business.
Download the Future Tradie Report here.

Shaping the future of cabinet making: an open forum on apprentice training

Panel Discussion – Dean Brakell (ACFA CEO), Glen Cannon (ACFA), Tim Cleary (Skills Insight) and Darren McKavanagh (The Kitchen Maker).

Access to RTOs and training providers is an issue across all apprenticeship industries.
The main challenge today is time and opportunity – the perceived time for employers and lack of opportunities for apprentices.
ACFA’s workplace-based training was identified as a positive as the employer has 20% more factory time from the apprentice (not losing one day per week at TAFE).
The panel agreed it was time to lobby the government for changes to the Award as lack of viable income is a significant reason for not completing an apprenticeship.
The panel also agreed that business-oriented units be put forward in the next review of the qualification.
ACFA welcomes feedback and commentary from members of the industry regarding the training/apprenticeship system that can be passed on via advocacy and lobbying to relevant government departments so please contact the office if you have suggestions.