Business stories from the past week, compiled by Jason Maywald
1. News.com.au: AIRBNB planning long term stay
The way Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia tells it, Airbnb is the perfect business guest in Australia.
It “loves to pay taxes”, it’s helped save mortgage-stressed people’s homes, it welcomes regulations and wants to keep the neighbours happy, promote tourism, work with local governments and be part of the community.
And as for those who accuse Airbnb of driving up rents, making housing affordability worse and leaving cities short of residential properties as owners and landlords capitalise on tourist accommodation?
2. ABC.com.au: Handbag retailer Oroton declare voluntary administration
The well-known Australian handbag and accessories retailer Oroton has gone into voluntary administration.
In a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Oroton said its 62 stores in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia would continue to trade as normal, while administrator, Deloitte Restructuring Services, tried to find a buyer.
3. Dailytelegraph.com.au: Decathlon known as the ALDI of activewear
Good news, sports fans — Decathlon will open it’s first Australian site in Sydney’s Tempe tomorrow morning.
The French-owned chain is the world’s largest sporting goods retail brand, and it has even been dubbed “the Aldi of activewear”.
Decathlon currently boasts 1200 stores in 30 countries worldwide, including in the United Kingdom, Asia and Europe.
4. News.com.au: The $2b industry we can’t get enough of
IF YOU’D rather spend your weekends at the beach instead of doing chores, you’re not alone.
As Australians become more and more time-poor, the personal services industry is booming — and the use of butlers in particular is skyrocketing.
While in the past the outsourcing of domestic tasks was reserved for the upper crust, these days, even everyday Aussies are hiring butlers and cleaners and having their groceries and shopping delivered to their front door.
5. AFR.com.au: How Amazon doubled the young rich lister
There’s nothing like an Amazon mention to turbocharge a company’s share price and a chief executive’s wealth.
Shares in logistics technology firm GetSwift have doubled since Friday, after the revelation that the company – which celebrates its one-year anniversary on the ASX at the end of the week – has signed a “master services agreement” with Amazon.
Among all the excitement, the big rise has boosted 33-year-old founder and chief executive Joel Macdonald’s share price wealth to $170 million.