✦ Jonah is a Seven-Year-Old Brilliant Baking Star in the Making We're highly impressed with Jonah. He's only seven but there's so much we can learn from Jonah as a small business owner. March is Small Business Month and Jonah Bakes has our clear, unanimous vote as our Brilliant Small Business Hero. Small but mighty Despite his tender years Jonah has already started an incredible career as a baker! He is self-taught, self-motivated and has lots of support and love from his family and friends. His business has even expanded nation-wide. Many small business owners remember what it felt like when they first started out. They really had to work up the courage to dive in the deep end. Jonah blew our minds away and totally stole our hearts when we got to know his story. Here is a seven-year-old who has found his true vocation and is making it a reality. How is he doing it and what is drawing so many people to him? Chef Jonah at work, and baking with joy! An unstoppable passion and faith Jonah has a rare form of skeletal dysplasia. This is a genetic disorder affecting the bones and joints. It hinders growth and development and causes abnormally-shaped bones. This usually occurs in the head, spine, arms and legs. This is not all that his tiny seven-year-old body has to deal with. He also has Hajdu-Cheney syndrome (HCS) which is another rare genetic connective tissue disease. Around the world, there are only 50 known cases of people who have this disease. It is characterised by acroosteolysis of the hands and feet, developmental defects of the bones, teeth and joints. In spite of this, Jonah continues to bake. And he continues to do the next thing he needs to do every single day to make his small business grow and delight customers across the country. Finding his happy place Jonah was first bitten by the baking bug when he saw his mother cooking in the kitchen. The kitchen became a magical place where amazing things happened and where hundreds of possibilities existed. There was nothing you couldn't do in a kitchen with all the beautiful ingredients and fascinating tools. For Jonah, his little fingers understand perfectly how it feels to go from random flour, butter and eggs to holding a warm, fresh, perfectly baked cookie... it is magic! The kitchen has become Jonah's happy place. It is where he can expand his possibilities and do what he truly enjoys. After Jonah baked his very first batch of cookies, there was simply no turning back for him. That was it and it is now his vocation. Those who have found their vocation will attest, it brings you clarity, focus and joy in what you do every single day. What businesses can learn from Jonah If you are a small business owner just starting out or if you are feeling run down by the challenges of keeping your business going, Jonah's story can serve as sweet inspiration to keep you going. If you ever get the chance to meet Jonah in person, it won't be just his sweet bakes that you'll remember. You'll notice his single-minded dedication, clarity, faith and joy in what he does. And if you share your story with him, he'd encourage and cheer you on without battling an eyelid. Jonah has experienced more challenges than most and understands why it is so important to lift one another up. Here are some nuggets of wisdom we have gleaned from Jonah. 1) Possibility over perfection. With his disability, Jonah has lots of mountains to climb. Many other random movements which we do not even think about, such as running or jumping are all forbidden. The bones are brittle and any fall means a risk of fracture. And that means being in a cast for several weeks. Over and over again. So he wasn't born with all the perfect conditions. And Jonah has not let that become a reason to give in or give up. If we all waited for the perfect 'everything' to happen before we started on our dreams, nothing would happen. Jonah chooses to focus on possibility instead of perfection. And he is forgiving with himself when he hasn't done something perfectly. A little "oopsy" is his way of saying, that's okay, we'll keep going or we'll try again! Find joy in your imperfection. Have a little giggle, and try, try again! 2) Find your playground and circle of joy. Find a place or activity where you can brew creative ideas or learn new things. And just as important is finding that supportive community to give you a boost, share in your joys and celebrate your milestones. For those in Port Macquarie-Hastings, check out Micro Business Forum , the friendliest business network in town. For Jonah, his kitchen is his playground. And his family, friends and ever-increasing customers are his circle of joy. Jonah in his Happy Place! Look at other small businesses around you and you'll find many similar stories. For TG's Child Care , their award-winning gardens are the playground where children and educators build their circles of joy, exploring and letting their imagination run free. For Noel from Samso , mineral exploration is his playground and, even after years of experience, he can still find something new to learn. 3) Trust and care for your team. Jamian is Jonah's brother. When Jamian wants to have a go at helping, Jonah is encouraging and quick to let him try. He trusts his assistant and is patient in his teaching. Jonah is also very caring and reminds Jamian to be careful if some steps need a bit more attention. As a small business owner, if you have a small team to help you grow your business, you need to trust and care for your team. Let them do what they do best, so you can be freed to enjoy what you do best. It is important to recognise the gifts of your team members and let them shine. 4) Know when to ask for help. It may be easy to forget after a while that Jonah is still very much a seven-year-old in spite of his business aspirations and achievements. This means there are certain things he cannot do on his own and he needs to ask for help. While Jonah has a striking focus and attention on what he's doing that is beyond his years, he also has the maturity to do what is within his control and when he needs help he knows mum or grandma is there to keep things safe. For a business to be sustainable for the long haul, a little help is necessary. It is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of intelligence. Need branding and marketing help, ask Vermilion Pinstripes . Need tax and accounting help, ask John Clarke Success Tax Professionals 5) Remember why you started. When Jonah cooks, he is 100% with his ingredients and what he has to do. His sheer focus is highly professional. It is never far from his mind why he started and what his goal is. And every day he is getting closer to his dream bakery. All he needs to do is to love what he does every single day. Small business owners can get distracted by having to do endless errands. Remember why you started and what you truly enjoy doing. And allow yourself the pleasure of doing what you really love. 6) Enjoy the simple pleasures. What we take for granted, Jonah appreciates. He delights in his little achievements with every bake. Watching him cook is a way to remind ourselves of so many simple pleasures around us that we are lucky to have. If you find yourself getting bogged down by endless paperwork, frustrating bureaucracy and worries about growing your business next month, it is a clear sign to have a time out. Find something small you can enjoy fully, and take that few minutes to give yourself some appreciation of what you have and can do. Beyond Passion to Building Independence Jonah is clear he wants to have his own bakery in the future. In the kitchen, Jonah's diseases are put aside and they do not dominate his life. In the kitchen, he can put all his energy and focus on his gift, which is creating delicious treats with joy and love. Here, he has the freedom to let his creativity run, where he is learning something with every single bake. Jonah is creating something incredible in his kitchen, and it's not just his cookies. He is building and growing his own future independence in society where he will be able to use his skills, experience and talent to earn a living. Jamian, Miyumi and Jonah Jonah's mother has always been the solid pillar for her children. Given all the challenges the family has had to face through the years, she is always there to support the boys and do all she can to expand their possibilities. Miyumi started Jonah Bakes as a seed for Jonah's baking aspirations. And her belief and confidence in what he can do is taking off. They've gone from simply baking for friends and family to delivering their cookies nation-wide. Paying it Forward Jonah's family understands what it's like struggling through adversities. As Jonah Bakes is taking off, they have plans to use it as a platform to help other differently-abled people in Malaysia who love to bake and would welcome the opportunity to use their skills and gain independence. They have been given a lot of love, support, understanding and help from people around and paying it forward is the natural next step. The family is looking for a place with the right infrastructure that is disabled-friendly so that Jonah Bakes can expand from their family kitchen and online platform to a professional culinary space and grow to allow other disabled bakers to join in. There are future plans to conduct workshops and classes for disabled children who, like Jonah, have found their own special joy in baking. There is also the possibility of catering to cafés and restaurants in the future. A Happy Cookie, Anyone? Jonah has shared precious lessons we can all implement as small business owners. And sometimes the message is as simple as this: Happy cookies make the world a better place! Delight in Jonah's delicious bakes! If you live in Malaysia, you're lucky as Jonah Bakes delivers nation-wide! You can get to try his lovely chocolate chip cookies and gingerbread, and remember to try his cheddar cheese bons and cocktail bons too! Jonah uses quality ingredients such as 100% butter made from fresh Danish milk, local flour, Italian coarse sea salt, and Malaysians will recognise the special local touch with the taste of gula melaka! We are waiting for the day Jonah Bakes will grow so big they can deliver in Australia and worldwide too! We are proud of this Brilliant Little Baker! Contact Website - https://www.jonahbakes.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jonahbakes_happycookies/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jonahbakes.happycookies Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .

Those living in Asia or familiar with Asian cultures and practices would be familiar with the term "confinement". No, it is not because we have been naughty and done something wrong. Nobody got sent to the Thinking Chair to ponder over our little crimes. Postpartum Confinement Some refer to it as postpartum confinement, which helps clarify and prevent misunderstanding. It is a traditional practice following childbirth and it involves being secluded (confined) and undergoing special treatment which could last for a period of time from a month to 100 days. It is a kind of postnatal recuperation and there are some interesting myths surrounding it as well as useful benefits that we can get from this. Confinement can be seen as the early part of maternity leave. The human body has undergone major changes over the nine months of pregnancy and the final delivery requires the body to perform an amazing feat. The body needs rest and care and it is also simply a gentle time for the new parents to enjoy being with their newborns and to learn the ropes of caring for their child. No matter how many books you read about pregnancy and childrearing, even if you have your mother and mother-in-law right next to you, it is still a steep learning curve being first time parents. Some mothers hire confinement nannies or doulas to support them in the first weeks after birth. They provide informational support about feeding and caring for the baby. They provide physical support by cleaning, cooking meals, and filling in when a new mother needs a break. They provide emotional support by encouraging a mother when she feels overwhelmed. They are definitely a great help. Confinement Myths We look at some myths related to confinement and also the benefits that confinement brings (which is why many cultures continue to adhere to this practice of confinement). 1. Do not shower "Eew! That's so gross!" The mere thought of it is enough to stop women from having babies. It almost sounds like some horror story generations of women pass on to the next about confinement. We have heard horrified girlfriends squeal about how women are not allowed to take a shower or wash their hair for the entire confinement period because it would adversely affect their health. The belief is that (cold) water causes "wind" to enter the body which could cause headaches and arthritis. Truth is, and as common sense would tell us, maintaining good personal hygiene is a very sensible and healthy thing to do in any given situation. In fact, it is especially important to keep the perineum area (between the genitals and the anus) clean and dry. This helps the wound to heal and avoid infection. And having good personal hygiene also makes you a much more welcoming person to live with and stand next to. 2. Wrap up and Avoid the AC If you are a new mother, you may find people around you swaddling you in thick shawls and blankets trying to keep you warm. Again, this is to prevent the elusive "wind" from entering your body. You may be breaking out in a sweat but the Air conditioning (AC) is a definite no no. And don't even think about blasting the fan in your face. So do new mothers really need to sweat like little dumplings in a bamboo basket at a dim sum restaurant? Good news is, no. Even after childbirth, the body continues to make changes as it adjusts to not being in a pregnant state anymore. Hormone levels can change and result in fluctuations in body temperature. It is the body's natural process to sweat more to get rid of excess fluid, and night sweats can prevent a tired mother from sleeping well, which is going to affect the quality of her life. Postpartum sweating is common and while it may be annoying, we don't have to worsen it. Help new mothers stay comfortable and relaxed by wearing cool, comfortable clothing and drinking lots of water. 3. No Reading. And Absolutely No Crying. This is one myth that leaves people gawking. What? I can't touch my Kindle? And when I'm frustrated at how little sleep I get and how flustered I am taking care of the baby I'm not allowed to cry? Seriously? The reason for this myth is because childbirth was thought to make the liver weak. And the liver is linked to the health of our eyes. That is why in traditional Chinese medicine, mothers are not encouraged to strain their eyes during the confinement period either by reading or crying. Unless you are straining to read under candlelight or trying to challenge yourself to a microscopic eye test, there is nothing to prevent new mothers from taking a break and escaping with a book. The only eye strain a new mother can get is if the book is so badly written she really shouldn't waste her time reading it. Crying is a very healthy and cleansing thing to do. Being a new mother brings about very strong emotions and crying is a way to detox and release those pent-up emotions. There is no shame in it, and sometimes a rock solid good cry is what we need to recalibrate and feel grounded again. It helps to have understanding family and friends around to be with the new mother as she goes through such big changes in her life. 4. Do Not Move. This myth really takes the cake. Another myth wildly exchanged among girls about how new mothers are forced to lie in bed for a month and not move. Shocked gasps of breath and widened eyes usually accompany the telling of this myth. It is believed that since the body has undergone such a big change, it is now weak and fragile. Walking and moving about would only weaken the muscles. Mothers who have had a C-section would need to be a bit more careful about their bodies and require more rest, but it does not mean we have to chain them to their beds and make sure they do not get restless and wander off. Speak to your doctor if you have concerns. Generally doctors recommend new mothers to start doing some light movement once they feel comfortable. In fact, some light movement can help decrease the risk of deep vein thrombosis. In fact, some forms of exercises such as Pilates can help mothers build up strength again after childbirth, and encourage the body to recover with a series of exercises that are gentle but also toning. Pre and post natal Pilates exercises are low impact and safe for mothers. The exercises help to stretch the muscles, tone the body, improve posture and help in stimulating blood circulation. We may have a bit of a giggle at these myths, but it pays to think about why those myths emerged in the first place. It is actually a common thought that pregnancy and delivery can be stressful and painful experiences. Occasionally we may hear of one lucky mother who had a beautiful pregnancy free of discomfort and who had a smooth delivery. We naturally assume that is the exception not the norm. What if the entire birthing process can actually be a gentle and kind one, which can be fully enjoyed by the parents-to-be, and where both are fully engaged in the process from start to beyond. Perhaps what we need is to learn to trust our bodies again, that the human body is infinitely more powerful and wiser than we give it credit for. Calmbirth® helps mothers to understand their bodies and learn to trust how their bodies feel. What the program makes available to mothers is the confidence and trust to birth well because they are made to feel safe, undisturbed and respected. The Calmbirth® program takes care of mothers' emotional and mental wellbeing through pregnancy and after birth by educating and improving the birthing outcomes for mothers and their families. When there is clear information, trusted knowledge and supportive experience, women can understand and know what their bodies need. Myths then become something interesting to read about, but they know what is the necessary thing to do for their own wellbeing. Now that we have debunked the myths of confinement, does it mean that mothers do not take care of their bodies after birthing and are free to do whatever they want? Confinement Benefits There are benefits to confinement and they are really simple but necessary things to do for the mother's wellbeing and recovery. 1. Time for Bonding Physical tiredness aside, new mothers often express how they want to be with their newborn all the time. This is a little bundle of miracle and it is hard to tear one's eyes away from what many mothers think is the most beautiful thing in the world. Confinement allows mothers to have quiet, quality time to bond with their newborns without having to worry about 101 other things. Usually during confinement, the mother is the protagonist so to speak, and other household chores and cooking are left in the hands of a trusted family member or professional. The mother is therefore free to fully focus on being present with her newborn. Confinement allows mothers to have quiet, quality time to bond with their newborns Babies need the bonding and regulating with their parents. Most of us probably do not recall what it must have felt like to be a 2-day-old infant. Still, we can imagine what the infant could feel to have experienced such a huge change in their environment. They spent months in a protected, tight, cosy, watery environment where their movements were limited and sounds were muffled. And suddenly, they are learning to breathe with their lungs, they are shocked by how cool air feels as they suck it into their bodies, they feel how awkward gravity is and how their bodies are attracted to the ground, and suddenly they have all this immense space around them to orient themselves, not to mention the sudden invasion of strange sounds, colours, shapes, textures, smells. Being born is an intense experience for the infant. Bonding with the mother helps to assure the infant and keeps it feeling safe, supported and connected. 2. Beauty Sleep This is not a joke. People who have experienced sleep deprivation for whatever reason, work, studies etc., understand how badly it can affect their entire system, moods and ability to function and simply be a decent human being. A lack of sleep or poor quality sleep can turn the gentlest Pomeranian into a raging bull. It's not so different for humans. Confinement is the time when mothers are able to get some quality sleep. Some may have experienced sleep difficulties during their pregnancy and now is the time where they can get periods of sleep in between being with the newborn. Sound quality sleep can help improve breast milk production and aid in the recovery of blood loss during the birth process. With someone around to help with miscellaneous things around the house, the mother does not need to wake up early or go to bed late trying to be superwoman multitasking and taking care of everyone else. 3. Treating the Body Right The body has gone through an intense experience and regardless of how tough we think we are, it always pays to treat the body right. This is not the time to start training for the intensive marathon nor start on renovations for the house. Postnatal care is vital for the physical and emotional health of both mother and child, and this can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the family members as well. Confinement is a time to help your body recover and ease into a new state after delivery. Some go for gentle massages to help with stimulating blood circulation and promoting relaxation. This is a time when mothers leave housework and cooking in the hands of other family members or a professional. It can be a challenge for mothers who are used to running the ship. It is a well-deserved break mothers can allow themselves and let others take over the reins. 4. Nourishing the Body Eating well is vital during the confinement period. We have all heard of the fashion of slow food and confinement is definitely a time to eat well, enjoy and go slow. Mothers need a balanced diet to regain her strength and help her body build itself up again. Pregnancy may have caused mothers to be averse to certain foods and crave others. Confinement is a good time to bring back that balance in their meals. Some may start screwing up their noses at the thought of 'confinement food' or a 'confinement diet'. It is not what people think it to be. It's not about eating so healthy that all new mothers get is a solitary leaf in a salad bowl. Confinement food is nutritious and can also be delicious! Confinement is no longer a dreary, sordid concept from the past. It is a gentle, restful time for mothers to be fully present with their own bodies, with their newborns and for families to fully enjoy and welcome this new phase in their lives. A happy, healthy infant starts with a positive confinement experience. Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .

✦ Brilliant-Online has been doing good helping businesses look brilliant and feel brilliant. Brilliant-Online shows that magic does exist. With our Harry Potter-inspired interactive advertising platform, we have been doing magic, empowering businesses to look good, feel good as they do good for the community with their skills, services and products. We are helping progressive individuals and dynamic businesses tell valuable, accurate stories people want to hear, deepen knowledge and nurture engagements leading to direct, immediate connections. The magic is in creating positive brand perception and sharing their stories all over the world. There is a growing Brilliant community of people coming together, pushing for a better world in the digital era. And we feel good doing good, Brilliant-style! TG’S Childcare provide Life long quality care and learning Achieving Brilliant Goals When we started out, it was clear for us what our Brilliant goals were: Help Gig Businesses around the world sell without selling Help the business community reach new audiences or engage with existing stakeholders to get their stories heard Enable our clients to use Brilliant Magazine and online multi-dimensional advertorial platform for business growth Fill a gap in the global marketplace for a new type of publication Fostering Brilliant Values We are also guided by our Brilliant Values, which are: We believe in AUDACITY, being passionate and bold in setting modern pathways We believe in IMPACT, making a positive difference to those who come in contact with us We believe in ACCOUNTABILITY and own every action We believe in KINDNESS and treat everyone and everything with respect Making Businesses Brilliant "One of my sayings is: look good, feel good, do good." - Michelle Carter, Gold Medalist, Women's Shot Put, Olympic Games 2016 That is exactly what Brilliant-Online is doing in this space. We are helping businesses look good, feel good while they are doing good! Brilliant-online supports businesses that are doing good Do Good What does it really mean to 'do good'? A common perception is giving to charity, volunteering or being kind and helpful. But how does an online magazine 'do good'? We actually have lots of brilliant ideas up our sleeves! And we have been keeping busy Doing Good Brilliant-style since we started. We cover a lot of community stories. It's one of the best parts of our job, because we get to meet so many amazing talents out there and listen to their stories. We got to know upcoming artistes in all different art forms and it has been such an eye-opener to get to hear their stories straight from the horse's mouth as they say. We have supported community groups that are doing good When we do good Brilliant-style, we want people to really get to know these artistes, first and foremost as actual, real people with their authentically human side. These artistes have willingly and generously opened up their stories to us, and we want to do right by them by sharing their genuine stories. It's about building connections and readers resonate with the most human parts of a story or a person. We listen for what is the essence of these upcoming artistes - what drives them, their joys and fears, hopes and dreams. Ultimately, we help make upcoming artistes and businesses famous so they build positive brand perception. It's not enough for people to simply know about an artiste. They need to remember this person and have enough of an emotional connection with them to want to remember them, seek them out, and follow their story and progress. We have met a whole gamut of artistes across the various art forms. There is something for everyone and every taste when you enter our Brilliant-Online magazine. Music Angus Gill is our Wauchope wunderkind in the bluegrass music genre who has recently won his first Golden Guitar Award for Bush Ballad of the Year for his song The Easy Way, co-written with Manfred Vijars, at the 50th CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia. Circus And if the circus and acrobatics is more your cup of tea, we have also shared Lucy Gamby Frost ´s story on Brilliant-Online. We were bowled over by her street theatre, slapstick, comedy, partner acrobatics, escapology, musical saw, singing, fire, stunts, and pyrotechnics (and the list goes on)! Dance Dance enthusiasts out there read about our story on Macquarie Dance Academy (MDA) , a university society established in Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW where dancing is their shared passion. A student group that focuses on street dance culture, it is bringing together people that have a passion for street dance and provide them with a platform to express themselves. Art Tim Walker creates fascinating art. If you've read about his story boxes on our magazine, you´ll want to have a go making one yourself. He uses paper tole to create little theatrical story boxes made from paper, cardboard, leather and finished off beautifully with paint. We work with Wauchope Creative Hub to promote creative artists. Writing Intrigue is brewing in Wauchope with best-selling author Desley Polmear ' s murder mystery trilogy - Unlocked Secrets , followed by Just Before Midnight and Payback . She is sharing her talent and passion by inspiring a new generation of budding writers in Wauchope. Photography For shutterbugs out there, Craig Mason ' s story is an inspiring one to follow. Internationally renowned and award-winning wedding photographer, Craig knows just how to capture the essence of human emotions. And our famous Sydney based sports photographer, Andy Cheung of Arck Photography . Rafael NADAL at the 2019 Australian Open Tennis Championships by Andy Cheung of Arck Photography. Feel Good When we do good, we FEEL good. We are pushing for a better world and we are doing that by sharing interesting stories that inspire. Doing good starts with each of us from where we are. Our Brilliant team knew what our objectives and values are, and we wanted to bring together our values, skills and experience to give back to our communities. Brilliant-Online brings together every story that inspires. We curate this Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good experience in a way that is creative, exciting and sparks curiosity. Authenticity is what we go for in our stories and it is that magic ingredient of sharing genuine human stories that fosters meaningful connections with our Brilliant community all around the world. When you read our stories, it feels like you know each business already. It is an all round sensory experience where it is not just words but also interactive visuals and direct connections that engage you. We meet the needs of both sides - our readers gain value and knowledge about businesses, and brands get increased exposure and visibility. Brilliant-Online was born during the difficult times of the pandemic, and it turns out we could not have brought this out at a better time. The pandemic was a hard knock, and it made us really assess why we were doing this. We knew if we went the whole mile, it was to make a difference and it would be going out with a brilliant bang. Ultimately, we wanted to create a brilliant experience that allowed businesses to be seen and appreciated as their authentic selves, and for them to build real connections to people in the community that would be long-lasting and meaningful. Possibly our youngest Feel Good story hero is seven-year-old Jonah from Jonah Bakes . Together with another local organisation, we set up a fundraising for Jonah to give him a boost in motivation to achieve his dream of having his own bakery one day. Jonah battles a rare form of skeletal dysplasia amongst other challenges, and we wanted to share his brilliant bakes with everyone. Small business hero Jonah Bakes Children are indeed our future, and nobody knows it better than Gayle Kee from TG's Child Care . Here is a child care expert who really does care and she has dedicated her life to the care, stewardship and development of the children in the communities. She has been doing this for the past 24 years, and many children have passed through her safe, fun and loving environment. Playing is Learning for Life - this is a passion Gayle truly believes in and has provided to so many families over the years. TG's Child Care Playing It Forward And we definitely could not miss out on sharing the incredible story of Zara Rutherford , the nineteen-year-old who flew solo around the world in 155 days. If this is not inspiring we don´t know what is! We´re so proud of her brilliant achievement, and to know that she is doing this to shine a light on and provide opportunities for women to get into STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) occupations. We really loved sharing the story of Dr. Namira Williams from dis Ability Maternity Care. She is doing good supporting parents with a disability to become the best parents they can be. dis Ability Maternity Care was established to provide women with disability and service providers information to assist in supporting them to become mothers. disAbility Maternity Care These and many more are our Feel Good stories. Stories that have the power to inspire also have the power to spark a change. When you feel good, you naturally have more and better energy to try something different, go the extra mile and fully be present and enjoy what you do. Look Good Let's face it, we all like to look good. Whatever 'good' means to each individual. It could be feeling clean and fresh after a shower, dressing up for a special event or wearing your most comfortable and favourite t-shirt and jeans combo. Ever noticed how good it feels after even a simple haircut? Or having a good run at the gym? We want to give that brilliant feeling to businesses that share their stories here. When businesses look good, they gain more confidence and get that extra boost of happy hormones that makes them not just enjoy what they do but also pushes them to go even further. At Brilliant-Online, it´s not just about showcasing brilliant businesses. It´s also about sharing happy business stories. Many of these businesses and stories enhance the lives of our readers, sharing what it means and how to live one´s best life, whether it is physical or mental health. “If you look good, you feel good, and if you feel good, you play good.” - Deion Sanders, Hall of Fame cornerback One can preach that beauty is skin deep, but psychology tells us that looking good can help even athletes play better . Feeling self-confident in how you look gives you an edge, not unlike a placebo effect. It´s something many of us have experienced - when we wear something that we think looks good on us, when we are delighted with our new haircut, there is a spring in our step that we didn't have before, and there is an openness to the body that feels more ready to tackle anything. Brilliant-Online has been showcasing businesses that help their communities look good from the inside out, and from the outside in. When you take care of what´s going on inside, your joy comes out as a brilliant glow - looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. TG's Child Care recognises the importance of healthy nutrition from an early age , which is why their mealtimes are fun times and healthy to boot! My Body My Pilates has been promoting awareness of mental health in Japan. They organised free or donation-based pilates twice a month as well as a 30-Day Pilates Challenge to encourage as many people as possible to take that step to care for their physical and mental health. My Body Pilates helps you look good and feel good Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good We create a Brilliant impact on the businesses we feature by making them look good. Businesses feel good with us, and they get excited about the services they provide or the products they create. It is about empowering businesses to take ownership of their business journeys, helping them stride towards their fullest potential. When small businesses grow, so do their communities, and everyone feels good. Are you excited about how your business story would look and feel when we make it Brilliant? Learn more about how our Brilliant advertising works its magic. Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .

Editor’s Story What’s your definition of feeling good? Feeling good about yourself? Or feeling good about others and the wider world in general? We think both these definitions of feel-good feelings can – and should - be rolled-up into one big ball of universal goodness, radiating upbeat vibes of optimism. Although it’s true that all these good feelings have been hard to come by of late, it’s reassuring to see some cheer at last with flickers of light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. It all bodes well for the future – and we’ve been feeling pretty good ourselves after our first issue of Brilliant took off to spread its multi-media content far and wide. With a profusion of embedded QR codes, pop-ups and links in various formats that deepen messages and information, Brilliant’s been likened to the magical Daily Prophet newspaper of Harry Potter books and films. How delightful – in this bright digital age - that fantasy can quickly become reality and spread the feelgood factor! A Tale of the Ox Another reason to feel good this February is the dawn of the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Metal Ox, the second animal of the Chinese zodiac – with characteristics of hard work, positivity and honesty for the coming 12 months. For those of a more analytical persuasion, the Chinese astrological calendar rotates in 60-year cycles based on 12 earthly branches represented by an animal year; and five element years of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each earthly branch has an element, and a Yin or Yang force. Of course, no-one anywhere will be lamenting the end of the previous Year of the Rat. Appropriately, with everything that happened in 2020, the traditional Chinese interpretation of the Year of the Rat’s force is fast, hard and active Yang with a water element denoting continual change. With all this celestial symbolism, it’s hardly surprising that 2020 turned out to be filled with so much rapid tumult and tragedy. But 2021 is the Year of the Metal Ox, regarded as grounded, loyal, gentle and trustworthy. Its earthly branch is associated with Yin, which is slow, soft and passive, and its element earth represents stability and nourishment. Chinese astrologers say all the characteristics and associations of the Ox have synergy and point to a favourable year ahead. Here you see us tossing for good fortune! Yusheng, a salad dish to toss for good fortune Down-to-Earth So, does that mean 12 months of docile plodding and slow progress as some might perceive the character of an Ox to exemplify? As always, life is what you make it – and the Ox also embodies traits of strength, industry and perseverance. The past year has been a torrid one, and all of us are looking for encouragement that it will be the platform for us to move on and create a brighter, happier year. What better inspiration than the hard-working and down-to-earth Ox to help us achieve that? Embrace the Ox, feel good with its strength and move forward! The Sustainable Scene While there’s no doubt that hard work inspired by the Ox will bring its rewards, it’s worth considering the symbolism of the Ox in our global drive for sustainability across all aspects of daily living. Down on the farm, sustainable practices – some of them involving oxen and cattle – are reaping dividends in terms of healthier animal lives and better produce. From Farm to Plate has become the watchword for those seeking foodstuffs that are better and more ethically sourced, with focus on animal welfare and environmental protection. The 23rd edition of the National Sustainable Living Festival in Melbourne is held for the entire month – albeit with Covid restrictions in place - to once again encourage widespread cooperation in the pursuit of social and ecological sustainability. This long-running festival has helped push sustainable living into the mainstream and continues to present creative opportunities to connect with the positive, while empowering social movement of sustainability. This year’s festival themes of: Culture of Care ; Emergency Lessons ; Local Matters ; and Reboot & Respond stress the need to keep firm sight on the bigger picture of the need to sustain the planet, despite environmental, social and economic disruptions. Its laudable mission should resonate with all of us in our efforts to maintain and enhance sustainable practices both at home and in the workplace. Ethical Practices in the Outback With all the devastation wrought by climate change-linked bushfires, drought and flooding, it’s no wonder that Australia has such prominent efforts such as the National Sustainable Living Festival focusing attention on the need for determined sustainable practices. Elsewhere in the country, others have taken up the crusade to make sustainable living part of everyday life. A fascinating example of this is actually far distant from the hustle and bustle of urban life more associated with wasteful practices. Way outback in the Goldfields of Leonara, Western Australia, is Marnta Sandalwood , an Aboriginal-owned sandalwood harvesting, seeding and oil product company. Originally set up by Kado Muir and his wife Deeva, Marnta Sandalwood is committed to the sustainable harvesting and management of Sandalwood trees in the wild. It also creates employment and opportunities for Aboriginal people in the northern Goldfields region. Kado, who grew up living in the bush has a passion – expressed in Marnta Sandalwood’s operations – to: “Look after country, community and culture.” He achieves this by creating oils for luxury skin care and fragrance products, living and working on the land and caring for a plant that’s supported and sustained Aboriginal people for generations. Marnta Sandalwood only harvests dead Sandalwood trees in the wild, planting seeds to promote new growth and sustain the species, and working with others who share the same vision and ethics of sustainability. It’s a picture of earthly harmony that many would do well to emulate in this forthcoming hard-working Year of the Ox. Here's Noel Ong from Samso interviewing Kado Muir, Founder of Marnta Sandalwood Go as Bare as You Dare But before you knuckle-down to all this earnest toil, perhaps there’s time to celebrate earthly harmony in a more prosaic – end certainly eye-catching - fashion at the end of February. The World Naked Bike Ride is scheduled to be staged in Melbourne on Sunday, 28th February – Covid considerations permitting - as one of many such rides to be held in different cities around the world during the year. This highly-visible event has the serious purposes of promoting cycling as an alternative to car culture, as well as highlighting vulnerability of cyclists to motorists, and furthering positive body images for all. It’s clothing-optional, so more modest cyclists keen to show their empathy with these ideals without showing all at the same time, can join in the ride. And only the most severe weather, or Covid restrictions, will put the brakes on and cover up this spectacular yet worthy event. Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .

✦ The purpose of Vermilion Pinstripes is to create Happy Businesses and to help them thrive with confidence. Through the last decade, many clients have rekindled their passion for their business with a boost from Vermilion Pinstripes. Vermilion Pinstripes is an international modern sales marketing and communications agency based in Australia and Singapore. By harnessing the power of the team's collective expertise in business, communications, marketing and technology, Vermilion Pinstripes has helped brands deliver definite business results. With their trademark Modern Marketing Framework , they have been guiding teams to Sell Without Selling, orchestrating the customer's journey as one voice, one brand. “Marketing is really just about sharing your passion.” — Michael Hyatt, NY Times Best Selling Author Vermilion Pinstripes is a modern marketing agency And that's what Vermilion Pinstripes has been doing through the years. It's not just the team itself that enjoys the creative impulse of Modern Marketing, but they have also been helping their clients find the joy in their business, and to generate a passion for really growing it. Find out how Vermilion Pinstripes has been helping their clients achieve the results they desired. Old school marketing Think old school marketing and you'd probably conjure up images of posters, flyers, leaflets handed out in the street, huge billboards on long drives, cheesy advertisements on TV or a radio ad jingle you just can't get out of your head, cold calls, snail mail, door-to-door sales. The messages we received from all these ads, regardless of their industry was mostly about how they are the best and that it'll be really good for us to purchase them. Could your grandparents ever have imagined what Tik Tok is or even how powerful and extensive its influence could be? Or that you don't need to have a physical human salesperson in front of you to deliver a product and collect your payment, that you could just click on a screen and that's it? Marketing in even just the last few years has changed. And that is one thing that stands out about Modern Marketing. You have got to keep up. Adapt. Be agile. Be flexible. Never stop innovating. Vermilion Pinstripes has certainly seen their fair share of the evolution of marketing. What are some of the highlights of the changes over time in marketing? Customer is still king But that's not new, you say. The customer is always right. We've heard that for eons! Yes, businesses may have put customers on a pedestal but businesses did not really know their customers well. At all. Marketing in the past placed importance on the company or brand itself. That's why brands were always saying how they are the best, and one brand's message was not that different from the next's. They didn't care who the customers were. As long as there's a human, the business would want to start selling how great they are. “Content marketing is really like a first date. If all you do is talk about yourself, there won’t be a second date.” – David Beebe, Founder & CEO, Storified Hospitality Group Nowadays, marketing is not about yakking about your brand. You need to shine the spotlight on the customers, for real. Modern Marketing is customer-centric. What this means is it prioritises the needs and interests of customers in everything marketing does. It's no longer about trying to win over the hearts of every human. It's about being very specific who your customers are, the type of customers, what drives them, what repels them, what attracts them, what creates desire in them, what problems they have and the solutions you can offer. You really have to know your customers well. The key point here is business now want to know how their product or service can improve some aspect of the customer's work or life. McKinsey found that “companies with a customer-centric, data-driven marketing and sales platform improve marketing ROI by 15-20% or more .” (Source: HelpScout ) Get a free worksheet from Vermilion Pinstripes to help you define your customer avatar. Having an accurate profile of your customer type can help you focus your marketing strategies and campaigns, ensuring a more focused and relevant approach without wasting valuable resources aiming for customers who wouldn't be interested in you. Does your brand have a voice? Gone are the days where a business is just a business to facilitate the transaction of services and products. Nowadays, if your brand doesn't have a voice, you're not going to get very far. “A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories, and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another.” — Seth Godin, Founder & CEO, Do You Zoom That's why brand messaging is so important. It is what helps customers to understand your business. It gives your brand a voice. One that is easily recognisable immediately and anywhere. It's incredibly powerful. Just think Disney. What comes to your mind? Magic. Happiness. And your brain simply takes off and generates a whole series of beautiful images, and endorphins flood your system. Disney's marketing department certainly worked hard to put all the right ingredients in their magical cauldron of brand messaging. Your brand message expresses clearly why your business is useful, and what your values are, thereby triggering a deep desire for these products and services. When people joke about how their business is like their baby, it's not just about the amount of time, effort and money spent on growing it. It's also really about giving their business an identity, a look, a feel that makes it unique. Do your brand messaging well and you'll stand out from the crowd. Vermilion Pinstripes uses their Modern Marketing Framework to help clients find and refine their brand message to help them stand out in a competitive marketplace. The first step is precisely the Brand Message. Winning example: TG's Child Care has been a long standing client with Vermilion Pinstripes. Their brand messaging is a strong one. As the stewardship of the children's future, TG's Child Care is leading the way in Playing is Learning for Life, and Playing it Forward into the future. From revamping their website to handling their blogs, social media posts and articles on Brilliant-Online magazine, Vermilion Pinstripes makes sure their brand message is kept consistent across the different mediums. Even when a new customer first gets to know TG's Child Care, the message they walk away with is this is a truly loving and fun environment where children grow under safe and warm wings to their fullest potential, a place where children and Educators love going to every day (it's like going home!) and where parents can entrust the care of their children and have peace of mind when they go to work. Join the TG's Family Embrace social media In the past you could probably get away with just having a website, and in fact if you actually had one it would seem pretty impressive. Nowadays, that's just not enough. The pandemic has forced businesses into cyberspace, whether you liked it or not. When you can't be there physically to sell, you simply have to get creative and find another way. Those with techno phobia had to switch their mindset and turn techno savvy. Businesses had to establish some sort of digital presence, whether it's revamping their website to keep it relevant to the times, getting on the appropriate social media channels, learning what posts attract and what videos were popular, and being really responsive in the digital space. The upside is, cyberspace opened up the range of customers for businesses from merely local or national to global. The world is your oyster has never been more true. “Don't use social media to impress people; use it to impact people.” — Dave Willis, Writer & Pastor Be careful you don't fall into the trap of using social media as a way to blow your own trumpet. It's still not about you! Make sure your content is targeting at your specific customers. It has to be something that they are interested in, not what you think they should know about you. "85% of consumers say that they will change their buying behaviour in response to social media content." (Source: The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web ). Tell a good story Stories are a great way to engage customers, invite them into your world, encourage them to identify with you and what you have to say may resonate with their personal needs and wants also. (Do your research well to understand your target customer profile to know what kind of stories would appeal to them.) It generates an emotional hook and makes your customers get curious about you and want to get to know you better. When you meet someone new, you're likely to forget their name and profession if that's all you know about them. But if this person shares an anecdote with you that catches your attention, you're more likely to remember their name and a lot more about them. It even makes you hope you can see them again soon. That's the power of stories. For eons it has been used as a way to pass down wisdom and knowledge to the next generation. It is a key aspect in the history of humanity. “Nothing sticks in your head better than a story. Stories can express the most complicated ideas in the most digestible ways.” — Sam Balter, Sr. Marketing Manager of Podcasts, HubSpot Vermilion Pinstripes gets to know each client so well they can help each business to create stories that accurately reflects the brand's unique values, voice and identity. No two businesses are alike when Modern Marketing is done well. With Port AdVenture Cruises , their web views jumped 10 fold, all thanks to good SEO management and storytelling. Make yourself memorable. Tell good stories. Winning example: Vermilion Pinstripes has been working with Samso to help them create compelling ASX stories. Yes, even in the mining and investment industry, storytelling is key to creating interesting information and making people sit up and notice companies on the ASX. By telling relevant and reliable stories that pique the investors' interests, customers naturally want to follow this brand. Noel Ong, CEO of Samso calls it his Red Seagull strategy, where he creates digestible, manageable bitesized stories that enable companies to show their passion and explain why their projects are worthy of investment and also allow investors to visualise the opportunities offered by these companies and participate in them. Samso tells compelling ASX stories that pique investor interest If it's anyone who can make Modern Marketing sound exciting and is passionate about it, it's Vermilion Pinstripes. With proven strategies that work and statistics and data to build confidence in campaigns and strategies, marketing can become something exciting to be involved in, and not something to be dreaded or feared. Check out their list of resources small businesses can use to bring that spark into marketing their businesses. Contact Vermilion Pinstripes a/ P.O. Box 9339, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444, Australia Australia: +6140-777-9828‬ Singapore: + 65-9681-7045 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VermilionPinstripes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vermilionpinstripes/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vermilion-marketing/ Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .

✦ Celebrations for 2022 are not over yet… Not with Lunar New Year on its way! Year of the Water Tiger. CNY 2022 It is the biggest, most auspicious date in the Chinese calendar, a time when record numbers of human migration is witnessed and prosperity and luck for the year ahead is welcomed with a myriad of customs. Come the 1st of February 2022, millions of people around the world will be celebrating a new year - the Lunar New Year. Just what is the Lunar New Year, who celebrates it, why is it the Year of the Water Tiger, and how is technology remaking old traditions in today’s pandemic times? Let's start with Lunar New Year 101 kept simple so you can focus on enjoying the festivities! Lunar New Year 101 The Lunar New Year is a 15-day festiva l to celebrate the start of a new year in the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, this celebration marks the end of winter and the beginning of the spring season. Each year, the first day of the Lunar New Year will be based on the new moon that will appear between 21 January and 20 February. For 2022, Lunar New Year will be on February 1, 2022. Some interesting Did You Know points to perk up dinner conversations: Lunar New Year dates from 2600 BC A complete cycle takes 60 years, divided into 12 year elements Each of these 12 years is named after an animal favoured by the Buddha The year you were born in is said to influence your personality (source: BBC ) Chinese zodiac Every year an animal is assigned to the year ahead as per the Chinese zodiac, or Sheng Xiao, which is a repeating 12-year cycle of animal signs and their ascribed attributes, based on the lunar calendar. In order, the zodiac animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. This year’s animal in the Chinese zodiac will be the Tiger, an animal known for its power, fearlessness and passion. At Brilliant-Online , while we may not be fortune tellers, we are looking ahead to the year with a confident roar! We envisage a fierce year ahead that can turn inevitable challenges into invaluable opportunities. For those who are interested in knowing what the Tiger year may bring, watch this video here: The Lunar New Year is celebrated by people in the Greater China region (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau), Brunei, Indonesia (Imlek), Korea (Seollal), Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam (Tết Nguyên Đán), and Suriname in South America. Common greetings for the Chinese are: Happy New Year 新年快乐 Happy New Spring 新春快乐 Gong Xi Fa Cai / Kong Hee Fatt Choy (wishing you happiness and prosperity) 恭喜发财 (source: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/new-year/greetings.htm ) Bon Appetit! There are a myriad of customs and traditions around the Lunar New Year period that have been practised for generations, in addition to an array of superstitions and myths that are respected to ensure good fortune in the coming year. In a similar vein to Christmas and New Year festivities in the west, huge significance is placed on the value of families convening and celebrating on Chinese New Year’s Eve, typically over a reunion dinner with pork, fish, dumplings, sticky rice cake, spring rolls and other traditional dishes that make up the usual staple items on the menu. Some of these foods have a special significance, and eating them is believed to bring good luck! If you are planning to put together your very own reunion dinner, why not check out this recipe. Yu Sheng Lo Hei Toss for Good Luck Recipe: https://www.brilliant-online.com/post/tossing-for-fortune Tidy Up! Prior to the reunion dinner and family arriving en masse, houses are thoroughly cleaned and prepared prior to the gathering to symbolise the riddance of any bad luck and to make way for incoming good fortune. However, people are extra cautious not to clean on New Year’s day as it could mean sweeping away any good luck that had just been brought into the house. That's a brilliant reason not to do any housework that day! It is a day of festivities after all! Fire Away! Fireworks and firecrackers are ubiquitous during the Lunar New Year period Given that fireworks were invented by the Chinese, it comes as no great surprise to learn that they play a major role in Lunar New Year celebrations. Fireworks and firecrackers are ubiquitous during the Lunar New Year period, designed to welcome the New Year and ward off any evil spirits simultaneously. They are set off immediately as New Year arrives and it is believed that the louder the firecrackers are means the more luck that will be coming in the year ahead. With huge Chinese expat populations all around the world it is common to see cities stage impressive firework displays when the skies come alight with colour. Seeing Red! Red represents happiness, beauty, vitality, good luck, success and good fortune Red is an auspicious colour in Chinese culture and no more apparent will this be seen than during the Lunar New Year period. So if you see red during this time of the year, don't get all wound up - it's really good luck! Red is the national colour of China representing happiness, beauty, vitality, good luck, success and good fortune and is believed to help ward off evil spirits and any form of negativity while promoting prosperity and good energy. Streets everywhere in mainland China, as well as Chinatowns the world over, are decorated with red lanterns and associated paraphernalia. Everyone Wants a Hong Bao! Hong Bao/red packets are symbols of good wishes and luck for the new year ahead The giving and receiving of red envelopes known as hóngbāo is an especially popular custom during Lunar New Year. Red packets are symbols of good wishes and luck for the new year ahead. Filled with money, the red packets are given out as gifts to the young and unmarried. It is also given to friends, family, colleagues and many other relatives; different amounts of money are customary for each relation. Gifting red packets is a long standing practice and Lunar New Year tradition. In recent years, technology has given this tradition a new twist! Culture Goes Digital We're talking E-red packets, believe it or not! In China, people use the payment mode of their messaging app, WeChat, to send these “hong baos” to friends and family. In Singapore, there is a movement towards “e-hong baos” for various reasons. According to the Monetary Authority of Singapore , using e-hong baos in place of physical red packets and currency notes is “environmentally more sustainable as it reduces the printing and subsequent wastage of new notes that are returned by the public to banks after each Lunar New Year.” Check out Channel News Asia’s story on e-red packets for 2022. E-hong baos are monetary transfers done using banking apps. Simply login to your bank’s app on your smartphone, scan a QR code or select your recipient’s name from your phone list, and you can just make that transfer. Major banks in Singapore such as Citibank, DBS, OCBS, Maybank, Standard Chartered and UOB offer e-hong bao services. To show users how easy it is to send e-hong baos, banks such as DBS have created videos or guides for users. [image credit: DBS Bank https://www.dbs.com.sg/personal/promotion/dbs-qr-gift ] Even culture has to keep up with the times, so perhaps this is the year to go digital and who knows, maybe even the elderly in the family may be eager to learn how to get nifty with these apps! Dance Off! Revered dragon or lion dance One of the most common aspects of Lunar New Year that people identify with outside of mainland China is the revered dragon or lion dance that is witnessed each year, geared to bring good luck and fortune. A huge part of the celebrations in Chinatowns around the world, and frequently becoming more and more common in offices and work spaces, the dance entails performers mimicking a lion or dragon’s movements in appropriate costume in line with music played by accompanying actors on drums and cymbals. These tend to be more popular overseas than on the mainland, especially in countries such as Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. Respect the Past The honouring of ancestors is something that is taken very seriously during Lunar New Year. Families will visit the graves of relatives and ancestors on Lunar New Year’s Eve to offer sacrifices such as food, joss sticks and joss paper. This is done prior to the big reunion dinner as a sign of respect in letting the ancestors eat first. It is widely believed that in return ancestral spirits will both help protect their descendants and help them become prosperous. Going Home The New Year period is assigned as a public holiday in mainland China with a 40-day window around the main date where widespread travel is witnessed every year as people head back to their hometowns and families. In 2018 and 2019 there were almost 3 billion trips made in mainland China alone via planes, trains and automobiles as people travelled thousands of miles to be with their family, for many the only chance they have each year. Then COVID hit. Last year this number dropped by almost 50% to 1.45 billion and China’s Transport Ministry expects that to fall further still this year to around 1.2 billion trips . Critics argue that widespread travel in 2020 should have been curtailed given the Chinese government knew all too well that there was a deadly disease rampaging through the country. Allowing hundreds of millions of people to intersperse was hugely irresponsible and, ultimately, ensured the virus had plenty of opportunity to spread, and quickly. Allowing Chinese citizens to travel overseas during this period was grossly negligent and resulted in the spread of COVID to the devastating and life-altering levels it has become today. COVID will literally dampen celebrations this year, as it did last, not only in China but wherever the occasion is celebrated around the world. It also means there will be a significant number of people this year who are unable to visit their friends or relatives. Spirit of Adaptation Still, there are many ways to celebrate Lunar New Year even in today’s pandemic environment. At Brilliant-online, we have learnt through the pandemic that adaptation, creativity and community have been vital in helping many businesses survive and even thrive through challenging times. Perhaps that is something we can also bring to our Lunar New Year celebrations if we are not able to celebrate it as before. Here are some simple ways to bring a bit of joy into your celebrations: 1) Be House Proud, Spring Clean anyway! Is there a particular room or just your work desk that you have been thinking of re-doing? Focus on clearing last year’s clutter, or put on a fresh coat of paint for the room. Perhaps rearrange some furniture and decorations or bring in something new that will brighten up your day or year! Even if guests are not coming to your house, it still feels good when we tidy up our living spaces. We can be house proud whether or not someone is there to compliment it! 2) Mini Reunion Dinner Focus on a small group such as just your immediate family or closest friends. Invite them to a dinner on Lunar New Year’s eve which falls on January 31, 2022. Popular meals for gatherings are hotpots (or “steamboats”) in which everyone gathers around a piping pot of soup in the centre of the table. Lots of fresh ingredients such as meats, seafood and vegetables can be added into the pot, cooked and eaten. Frankly, anything and everything can be added to the soup pot and eaten. It involves minimal preparation, you eat as you cook, and it is a great way to bond! If you have family or friends who are unable to travel to be with you, they can always Zoom in from wherever they are. 3) A Breath of Fresh Air On the first day of Lunar New Year, wake up early to welcome the new year by opening your windows and doors. Invite in the fresh, clean air, and a new surge of good luck and fortune! There is something about fresh air flowing through living spaces that somehow seems to help clean it up and drive out any old residual negativity. 4) Dress Up! Dress up whether you are going out or not! Whether or not you are going out to visit relatives or friends, dress your best anyway. This means colourful clothes, no sombre blacks, blues or greys, and certainly none of the pandemic-style house-clothes that are too posh to be pyjamas and too lame to be seen outside in! Thing is, we all feel better when we put in a bit of effort to pamper ourselves and look good, and new clothes during this time is a way to welcome good fortune. So go ahead, don't be shy, dress up whether you are going out or not! 5) Connect with Your Community There is always something we can do to make a connection with someone and reaching out to others is a way to remind ourselves we are part of a larger whole. Make it a point to share what you have - why not gift someone your newly baked cookies or send an e-hong bao to your favourite charity? Do you have your unique way of making the Lunar New Year festivities special in spite of limiting circumstances? Share with us! We love hearing creative ideas and feeling the warmth of people all over the world who are putting their best foot forward come what may! If you are celebrating the Lunar New Year, then we at Brilliant-Online wish you all the very best for a healthy, safe and prosperous year ahead - Gong Xi Fa Cai! Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .

Births and New Beginnings are wonderful reasons to celebrate. Our Brilliant-Online first came brightly into the world of cyberspace on January 2021 and we decided to have a Brilliant Shower to celebrate that. Better Late than Never We feel grateful to be able to hold our Brilliant Shower event and celebrate it with so many familiar faces in our community. It was originally planned for March but the floods came and for a period we could not think of anything else other than how to help each other and keep our spirits up. Brilliant-Online stepped in to offer free ads for businesses that had been affected by the floods . We wanted to hear their stories, share them with the community and help them to recover and contributed $7,000 worth of ads in April. As businesses gradually started to pick up, we were able to finally organise our Brilliant Shower event. Even though it was later than we planned, it was made even more precious because it really felt like we all worked so hard to get here and come together in spite of so many challenges like waves crashing upon waves. It has been a wonderful opportunity to have our community come together at our Brilliant Shower. And when we look at how everyone has a part to play in bringing Brilliant-Online to life and bringing our Brilliant Shower into fruition, it has given us so much drive and definitely something that is helping to charge our batteries to keep going. Veronica Lind, CEO Brilliant-Online with Maree Kelaher, Owner of DiggerBit Business Community Coming Together We are overwhelmed by the support from our sponsors. Our Brilliant Shower took place in a space provided by Optex . We love our gift bags and Barbara Smith has made it beautiful with her Arbonne products. Billabong Zoo gave us a $104 Family Zoo Pass which is the winning prize for those who subscribe to Brilliant-Online . We also had 30 passes for the RIU Round-Up Sydney Conference for investors on 4th, 5th and 6th May. Each pass was worth $1375 sponsored by Samso , who is our new investment story partner for Brilliant. We are also very grateful to Utopian Living BOHO jewellery maker, and Hilberts Hardware who has been in business in Wauchope for more than 50 years. Growing a Better World Brilliant-Online is about stories that inspire us to want to push for a better world in the digital era. Digital technology is not a cold and intimidating space. It is a rich, fertile arena for inspiring stories - this is where we can bring our interactive online magazine and blog stories which are reaching more than 10,000 subscribers around the world. We bring in stories from inspiring people and dynamic businesses, big and small discussing leadership, sustainable efforts, market and fashion trends, finance and investments, property, travel, love, humanity, pets, luxury, life. Brilliant-Online is a living, growing entity that is guided by a Moral Compass. It stands out with its human-ness and it has core values which are central to how we live as an individual and how we conduct business. Our new baby has: AUDACITY, being passionate and bold in setting modern pathways IMPACT, making a positive difference to those who come in contact with us ACCOUNTABILITY and own every action KINDNESS and treat everyone and everything with respect Brilliant Team Behind Brilliant-Online is a team of humans from a variety of backgrounds. Sabina is our visual communications and technologist who has moved up to Port Macquarie from Sydney. Mehreen is another technologist based in Canada and they are the ones making our Brilliant baby dazzle with technological magic. Giving Brilliant-Online its meaty content is Robin, our editor based in Thailand, and Yann Tyng our writer based in Spain. Making Magic Happen Brilliant-Online has a strong foundation in marketing and communications stemming from the modern marketing expertise of Vermilion Pinstripes . We have been telling stories and know how to help clients gain more visibility than traditional advertising. We are able to tell clients how their ads are performing. This is where our interactive ads come in. It is a way to help businesses sell without selling. It helps them to reach out to new audiences and engage with stakeholders to get their stories heard. We do this through a multi-dimensional platform designed for business growth. Brilliant-Online fills a gap in the global marketplace for a new type of publication. If you have seen Harry Potter's Daily Prophet newspaper, you will know magic can be quite real and not that far from reality. This new Brilliant baby is set to grow in interactive features and its ability to engage fully with audiences. We thank everyone for being a part of our Brilliant Shower celebrations, and we are looking ahead to growing our Brilliant baby and celebrating Brilliant Birthdays in the future. Let us continue to grow and thrive together and inspire each other telling our stories. Thank You! Thank you for being there. It means so much to us. And special thanks go to award-winning photographer, Craig Mason of East Coast Photography for his beautiful photos. Craig can be contacted here - https://eastcoastphotography.com.au/ Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .

✦ Can businesses not just operate but also find a way to thrive in a Never Normal World? No doubt, it has been a major challenge for businesses in the past two years since the COVID-19 pandemic has pulled the rug from under the feet of the entire planet. And it continues to be a challenge for businesses. People are trying to make some sense of their lives and it has made the term 'normal' lose weight. How do we even begin to define 'normal' after all that has happened? Yes, the world has coined the terms 'New Normal' or 'Never Normal' but what do they really mean? It seems somewhat trite, as if we are all grasping at straws. Thing is, with or without COVID, the landscape is always changing. Change is the only constant in life. Society and businesses have to continuously try to adapt. Businesses in Australia and all around the world did not get much of a breather in 2021 as a raft of regulations, lockdowns and reduction in consumer spending hit hard. The uncertainty, worry and fear of what the future holds is unfortunately something people are feeling in such times. Humankind has experienced all sorts of adversities throughout history. How will we write this new chapter of our modern times? Perhaps it is kinder to allow ourselves the time we need to accept that nothing is going to return to 'normal' and while coining terms can be interesting for a while, we can also take a deep breath and take the next best step ahead. For businesses, the willingness and ability to pivot, learn and change is going to be key to not just surviving but to thrive in this new phase. It is not something a single business does alone - our communities are a big source of comfort, support, innovative ideas and a treasure trove of skills and experiences. Yes there is uncertainty always looming ahead but the truth is nobody has a crystal ball to be able to predict what's to come. It would be more useful to think about some useful changes businesses can implement in 2022 to put that next foot forward with confidence. 1) Community Engagements It has been clear through the pandemic years that Community has been an important source of sustenance for so many businesses. For Vermilion Pinstripes , an international modern sales marketing and communications agency based in Australia, Singapore and Canada, community engagement is in their very DNA. It drives what they do. Modern marketing in Vermilion Pinstripes is not about just looking at numbers. There is a huge part of the way they work that sees the human behind each business, and the humans that this business is reaching out to engage with. At the risk of sounding like a marriage vow, communities need to come together to connect, inspire and empower each other, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. An example of community engagement is when Vermilion Pinstripes launched their Knowledge Sharing series in early 2020 where they gathered several business executives to share how they were operating in the Never Normal World. It was not just about picking up business tips. It was the coming together of people who understand each other's challenges and who know that it is by generously sharing ideas that everyone can grow together. When one business grows, another benefits. The pandemic has a dangerously isolating effect on the human mind, and when Vermilion Pinstripes made it possible for people to connect on a common shared interest, it provided the space for businesses to air their concerns and find motivation from one another. Questions for your business: How can my business engage with the community around me? Is there something useful I can share? What about partnerships and collaboration opportunities? Who are the people and businesses in my community I am interested to engage with? For more ideas on this, you can download Vermilion Pinstripes' eBook " Ideas for businesses in the never normal world ". COVID-19 changes the way businesses work 2) Hybrid and remote work models Working from home became the modus operandi for the majority of workers and businesses in the last two years as the pandemic forced our hand. Particularly prevalent in the white collar sector, employees have become accustomed to working remotely. While it gave some a much needed flexibility, home also started to feel oppressive where workers remained in the same four walls day after day. Meanwhile, offices the world over have been gathering dust as companies worked out their numbers and wondered if it would be worthwhile to give up rental space completely or reduce their office size to hot-desking capacity for a smaller number. These have been tough decisions to make and will continue to be a challenge as companies find their way around the most manageable option. There are a variety of considerations depending on the legal requirements on companies in different countries when it comes to allowing staff to work from home. And individual countries and companies have to keep testing and adapting until they find a model that works. As the global vaccine rollout took effect, it gave a bit of breathing space to companies. Restrictions were somewhat relaxed and what we are seeing is many companies introducing a hybrid work model whereby employees could choose to combine office and remote work. This is something that experts predict will grow in popularity in 2022 although further surges in infected cases, should they emerge, may well put the brakes on. What companies need to remember is to allow a bit of flexibility to adapt to how things are at any given moment. Think of the bamboo plant - it doesn't actually break when there's a gale blowing because it's flexibility allows it to adapt to the sway. Its flexibility is its strength. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to this. Every company is different and you'll have to find what works best for you, and how you plan your hybrid model. “Home offices will be designated for desk work while company offices will be reserved for creating a sense of belonging and company culture,” Addie Lerner, Founder and Manager Partner at Avid Ventures told Forbes . “Many companies will offer hybrid remote work policies and pay for office spaces designated for in-person relationship building activities, such as employee onboarding, quarterly team sessions, meetings with employees from other cities and celebrating milestone wins,” Lerner added. Questions for your business: Is your office space prepped for the relevant safety or security measures for your staff e.g. distancing, signing-in procedures? How flexible is your office space if it were switched to a hot-desking model? Do your employees have the necessary infrastructure or resources at home to work comfortably? Are you aware of any legal requirements for staff working at home? Have you listened to your employees to understand what they need? Do you have the relevant tools or platforms required to keep your staff seamlessly connected? Read our article on the Future of the Workplace to find out more . Flexible working environment: FoodXervices Inc 3) Manpower & Money And this brings us on nicely to the next point - having real humans in a physical space doing the work. One aspect that has become increasingly problematic for many businesses is around the actual staff themselves. As COVID cases surge, so do the number of people who self-isolate, be they directly infected themselves, living in a household with infected family or friends or merely not wanting to expose themselves to the outside world for fear of contracting the virus. It is something that is impacting businesses such as those in the food & beverage industry who have staff hiring and retention challenges. Subsequently, many have converted to a take-away model (including click-and-collect), using technology to take orders and improve efficiency. The click-and-collect business model will remain a permanent feature for these businesses. The challenge of staff hiring and retention will continue to be a challenge that requires serious consideration and focus in 2022 although innovation and a willingness to pivot the business can be vital to helping a business continue to grow. Supply chain will also be a key priority for many businesses this year as getting inventory will be a challenge, prices will go up and end-users are going directly to manufacturers. “Supply prices are going up almost monthly and businesses are having to buy months in advance,” says Amy Vandenberg of Vandenberg Consulting. “We’re only starting to see how complicated supply and demand can be.” Managing cash flow within a business has, naturally, become a major challenge for many, with 56% of small businesses still facing cash flow pressure, according to Xero . There seems to be more borrowings and inflation can eat into profitability. Take time in 2022 to look at your pricing structure and how you transact - decide on payment terms with your customers and consider adjusting prices to ensure you have enough cash to service debts. Questions for your business: How flexible is your business model? If having staff physically in a space is a challenge, can technology be used to reduce the impact? Does your company and staff have the resources and opportunities to adapt and change? Are you aware of the needs of your staff? Their thoughts can help guide you to implementing a model that works for both staff and company. What changes and benefits can you provide to encourage staff to adapt to changing business models? Are you clear about the financial side of your business? If finances are not your strong point, do you have access to a financial professional to guide you? With increasing prices, you may need to think about other avenues for revenue or look at your current expenses and find ways to spend smart. To get cashflow advice, reach out to local Port Macquarie Tax Accountants John Clarke, Success Tax Professionals or Lyndall Ward, CATS4Tax . 4) Let’s get digital... So clearly, technology is a necessary tool to deploy. We need to go digital with our businesses. Increasing the digital footprint of your business is the most obvious strategy to employ during these uncertain times where lockdowns mean in-house customers are on hold. The recent Small and Medium Business Trends Report by Salesforce.com interviewed over 2,500 small and medium business owners and leaders worldwide. The results showed that 71% of SMBs say their customers expect online transactions and nearly the same proportion have an ecommerce presence. Similarly, more than half of growing SMBs accelerated investments in sales and customer service technology over the past year. Consumers have been increasingly turning online prior to the pandemic but the past 24 months has only escalated the trend, resulting in a huge rise in the ecommerce space. That doesn’t necessarily mean that 100% of your business needs to switch to online but if you have not yet got a presence in that space then it is time for you to rethink your strategy. Take food delivery, for instance. Ordering in has always existed but it was mainly for convenience - dial a number and in half an hour you have piping-hot pizza at your door. Great for movie night when you can't be bothered to cook or go out. When COVID-19 landed, food delivery shot to stratospheric levels. Food delivery has become a global market worth more than US$150 billion, having more than tripled since 2017, according to McKinsey . It allows customers to choose from a wide variety of cuisine choices, and it allows local businesses to continue to trade despite the number of in-house customers decreasing. Not to mention it also provides work for delivery drivers or delivery cyclists. Expect this trend to continue this year and beyond. Food delivery may well become a lifestyle norm than a convenience or a temporary band-aid solution. If even the food industry, which produces something tangible, concrete and involves so many of your senses and has a limited shelf life, is going digital, then what more other industries? Digital marketing is now a necessity, not a luxury. It is a way to connect with customers to share your brand, product and services. It is no understatement to say that every business is ramping up their digital marketing efforts these days as customers are searching for products and services online more than ever. Just look around you. Count the number of people who are looking at their phones. No, wait. Count the ones who aren't, it'll be much faster. One can judge all we want about needing digital detox and the reality of it is, the digital channel is how we all connect, inform, work, engage nowadays. This means businesses need to ensure their website, messaging, social channels are updated, on-point, and modern. Your digital platforms are where you create your first impression nowadays, and not necessarily your physical shop space. The other practical consideration is goods and services need to be paid for, of course, and as such contactless payment methods and digital wallets will continue to rise so it is critical that you ensure you have the correct systems in place to manage this. Likewise, expect QR codes to make a comeback and become an increasingly prevalent factor. They can be an invaluable tool for small businesses to connect and engage with potential customers, be it providing information on goods and services, accessing to download digital brochures or getting direct links for purchasing. Questions for your business: Do you have an online presence for your business? When was the last time you updated your website? Is your brand voice clear across your digital channels? Is your messaging aligned? Do you know the platforms (free or paid) available to you to help boost your digital presence? Do you know enough about your potential customers to create relevant and timely online content to grab their attention? How are you engaging your customers online? Get a better understanding of Why Social Media is Important for your Brand . If you want to know what kind of marketing will work for your business, contact Veronica Lind, at Vermilion Pinstripes. For local businesses in the Port Macquarie area, help is at hand for all your technology demands - David Peake of Lighthouse Beach IT and Barbara Smith of The Roving Trainer are two such trusted companies that can help you get started. So with these four trends taking root this year, businesses do have something that they can work on. Yes there is uncertainty and changes, and we also have choices and possibilities to explore. The importance of the pivot Being willing and able to pivot has become essential to businesses large and small as we strive to contend and adjust to the ever-changing landscape around us. Many of the points touched on above illustrate how businesses changed their approach over the past two years, something that will continue to be factored into an organisation’s trajectory moving forward. Becoming more digitally savvy, connecting with customers, and managing employee issues are all fundamental to a business’ adaptation and development. Likewise when contending with supply chain issues, being able to innovate and create new products to complement existing range is key. Liz Paine of Learning Insight has brought her courses online. These are self-help courses which you can just pay and learn. My Body My Pilates also innovated to offer free or donation based pilates classes twice a month online. Subscribers to their 30 Day Pilates Challenge receive a daily email with an instructional video on how to carry out the practice safely and effectively. Look at the businesses in your community - there are lots of creative juices flowing freely around you. Why not get curious, make a mental note of some of the ideas you have seen and liked, and give it a thought as how to implement it in your business? Embrace opportunity Benjamin Franklin once stated that “Out of Adversity Comes Opportunity.” Many may struggle to apply this wisdom during these turbulent times but it is, like it or not, true. We all adapt and progress, often emerging stronger and wiser from the various challenges life throws at us. Sure, COVID and its associated fallout is arguably the biggest challenge many of us have faced in our lifetime, but there is a path through it. And we can take heart that we have a multitude of small businesses and advisories who can guide us by lending an expert hand to ensure that an uncertain future can still be bright. In doing so, we embrace the meaning of the Chinese word for Crisis – 危机 (wēijī) - where Wei means danger and Ji means opportunity. Check out this eBook from Vermilion Pinstripes - Reasons to be cheerful: crisis-proof strategies that we practise to stay open, ready and available, now and any time . The COVID-19 pandemic is as good a time as any to start applying these practices if you haven’t already, and it will serve you in situations beyond COVID-19. Blueprint for businesses during COVID-19 There comes a point when simply thinking about the pandemic is enough to wear one out. Why not focus instead on possibilities and opportunities? The past does not have to be dreaded. It can still be embraced. And businesses only need look around them to know they are not alone in this. We need to look beyond COVID-19, and realise that while it has been a massive change, it is not the only change in our lifetime. There have always been changes. And there will continue to be. Let's get back to business. And let's make it a good one. Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .

✦ Get ready to be brilliant with Marketing in 2023! Great minds think alike when it comes to marketing. Veronica Lind , a modern marketer herself spoke with Jenn Donovan to share her thoughts on social media and marketing for 2023 for small businesses. Jump off with social media Small businesses know social media can help them. It's a good trampoline to get them further but social media alone cannot sustain a business. Cyber threats abound nowadays and we often hear about accounts being hacked etc. If your social media were to shut down suddenly today, would you still have a business? That is why Jenn recommends also focusing on other things such as: Know who your audience is, what platforms they are on and where you should be marketing Build an email list so you can nurture them off and on platforms. It's not about getting everyone to open your email. Concentrate on your followers instead. Have a website, or if not, at least use Google Business Profile. Listen to Jenn share more about social media and marketing for small businesses. Move forward into 2023 and stand out Retail is a tough industry, and two years of shut down due to COVID-19 has made it even harder. Bringing a bricks-and-mortar business to cyberspace has been a challenge, and given the current climate, it is not exactly clear how things will go either. Jenn has observed that instead of having online retail increase over the holiday season, now that people can get out, they prefer to go into stores instead of shopping online. Jenn concludes that diversification is therefore key. A business cannot rely on just one method. It's not about only having a physical shop, or having it entirely online. With so much uncertainty and unpredictability (in general, that's how trends behave, customer preferences can change at the drop of a hat so you need to adapt quickly), businesses need to find ways to stand out and be memorable. Noel Ong, CEO of Samso has a unique Red Seagull strategy that he uses. He tells compelling stories by engaging business leaders to reveal insights that are relevant, timely and beneficial to the investment community. His stories pique interest, engage curiosity and make people want to follow them, like when you notice a Red Seagull. Diversify with omni-channel marketing Another tip that Jenn recommends is using multi-channel marketing or omni-channel marketing. This can help a business expand their outreach beyond that of their website. In cyberspace, small businesses can expand their limit by getting into Facebook groups, marketplaces and boost their SEO so they can be easily found. It is worth spending time and money to really get all the juice you can out of your SEO for your business. Veronica shares free resources for Small Business Marketing Veronica and her team of experts have put together some free resources and tools to help you do better sales, marketing and communications. They're free always ... for anyone, anywhere. Click here for free marketing resources and tools from Vermilion Pinstripes Pay to Play "Anyone who has been on social media for any length of time knows that it's a Pay to Play space. You really do have to pay to get a huge amount of traction or good return on your investment." - Jenn Donovan Paying for advertising is not a new idea. In the past, brands paid to be featured on the radio, TV or newspapers and magazines. Social media came along and it was great for a time being cheap. For businesses that do want to grow, you have to put something in. To make money, you need to spend some money. Check out this TV ad made by Vermilion Pinstripes for their client, TG's Child Care "There is a golden rule that says you should spend around 10% of your turnover (not profit) into reinvesting into your business." - Jenn Donovan A key point to spending wisely and knowing what to spend on depends on what you know about your target audience. Get a professional Should small businesses go about marketing on their own, or should they get a professional? With the amount of information and resources available now on the Internet, a business could always turn to YouTube and Google for some guidance. Others follow experts on social media such as digital coaches and marketers and get a few tips and tricks there. Once a business has got the money to invest, they should start doing it professionally. It's hard for small businesses at the beginning, so you may have to DIY for a while. Or there are local chambers or organisations that can offer resources and networking. A good example of this is Micro Business Forum (MBF) , the friendliest small business network in the Port Macquarie-Hastings region. Expanding your network is important for small businesses Small Business can Plan Better in the New Year A new year is the time for you to expand your network and renew your skills and sales. A good time to plan! So what can small business owners do to va-va-vroom into 2023? Download this eBook for 5 tips to spur you on! Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .

✦ Brilliant April 2022 Ben Tirebuck, Editor, Brilliant-Online Welcome one and all to April’s edition of Brilliant-Online. It is that time of the year once again when we all enjoy the numerous splendours that Easter has to offer – typically spending time with family and loved ones, enjoying a hearty meal, Easter egg hunts with the kids and, of course, indulging in our fair share of chocolate eggs and bilbeys! This month we’re going back in time with a focus on heritage as we take a peek into the back-stories of local businesses such as Harold Vickery & Son, the Douglas Vale Homestead and Winery, Wauchope APEX and the Hastings District Flying Club. We also learn more about the acclaimed Mrs York’s Garden and serve up a history lesson on the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. Elsewhere, we catch up with Port Macquarie’s own soon-to-be flying physio as we chat to aspiring pilot Alasdair Thomson of PhyxYou. TG’s tells us about their “Munch & Move” initiative, and Dr Namira Williams, CEO of disAbility Maternity Care, offers some invaluable maternity advice for parents with disabilities. With Easter upon us, we also take a whirlwind trip around the world to learn some of the more curious, often humorous and sometimes downright dangerous traditions for celebrating the occasion. We check in with Wauchope Creative Hub’s recent Purple Rain exhibition winner Alycia Lipovac, and last and perhaps least, yours truly shares a personal history on the generations-long heritage of being a sports club fan. We hope you enjoy the eclectic range of stories we have brought you this Easter, preferably while getting stuck into a yummy chocolate egg – go on, it’s Easter after all! Check out these April 2022 Stories Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .

✦ Our award-winning Brilliant-Online magazine is unveiling the extraordinary! Get ready for a new magic that promises to astound. Launching on 10th February 2024! Brilliant Magazine reading experience comes fully alive! Step into a world of immersive interaction with a digital magazine that transcends the traditional reading experience. Wherever you are, you'll be transported to a realm where you'll feel like you're right there with your favourite businesses and brands, seeing and hearing them. Our magazine goes beyond mere content consumption by seamlessly integrating online shopping directly into its pages. Through captivating slide shows, videos, and 360° rotations, readers can fully immerse themselves in your products, hearing your story and experiencing them firsthand. Imagine walking through a luxurious real estate property, exploring each room, or virtually strolling around the latest car model you've been eyeing, all with just a click of a mouse. Explore the vehicle featured in Brilliant Magazine and engage directly within the magazine's interactive content. The extraordinary magazine reading experience of the new century Forget about simply reading flat printed magazines. With Brilliant-Online, you'll live and breathe the experience. We're revolutionising technology, while emphasising the human element and fostering connections within our communities. Our mission is to bring together businesses and readers who share our belief in the transformative power of knowledge. We're thrilled to unveil the brilliance we've been brewing. Join our community of curious minds and embark on an extraordinary journey with us. Imagine users experiencing your product and services and buy directly from the magazine Love the innovation in our New Interactive Magazine? Nominate us now for Greater Port Macquarie's premier event - the 2024 Coastline Greater Port Macquarie Business Awards! Magic and New Beginnings in 2024! 2024 is a healthy year for action, leadership, pioneering and adventuring. It is also an optimal time to support our community and planet, and this year favours companies that are committed to sustainability and social consciousness. Find out what the Wood Dragon brings to our business in 2024 here ! Read our blog on Business Trends 2024 about why sustainability is one of the key trends to follow. Want more out of numbers? Desley Polmear is a skilled numerologist and can bring some insights into how the magical world of numbers can be a source of guide for how to lead our lives in this year of the Wood Dragon. Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .

✦ Saturday 17th of June is set to be a fantastic evening for the 2023 Wauchope & Hinterland Business Awards Gala Dinner! Limited tickets are still available if you want to join the party. Hosted by the Wauchope Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Awards are a celebration of local business and acknowledge the contributions of our local operators to the economy. Bringing opportunities for local businesses to recognise their achievements, the awards build rapport with their team, review their business journey, and consider their future plans. A night of celebration, the Wauchope RSL will once again be the venue for this auspicious occasion. The Business Awards program will include two types of Awards – Local Excellence Awards and NSW Business Chamber aligned Awards. Read some Stories from the Finalists of the Business Awards TG's Child Care takes ESG above and beyond Spoil Yourself at Spectacular Beauty ... You deserve to look great! Brilliant by Name, Brilliant by Nature Take an Epic Ride with Beth Williams Watch out, snakes about! Learning more about our scaly friends with Reptile Solutions Through the Local Chamber Alliance with the Wauchope Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the NSW Business Chamber, the aligned Awards entries will feed into the NSW Business Chamber Mid North Coast Regional Awards growing opportunities for local business to gain exposure and promotion to a wider audience. Winners at the regional Awards go through to the State Awards later in the year. A big thank you has been extended by the Wauchope Chamber Executive to their 2023 Award Sponsors - SafeWork NSW, TG’s Child Care , Timbertown Pies, Billabong Zoo, Brilliant-Online , Bago Maze & Winery, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, TAFE NSW, Heart of the Hastings, Optus, Expressway Spares, Wauchope RSL Club, Wauchope Travel and Bennett’s Steel. Award Sponsors Time to party! The night promises a one-of-a-kind experience with John Theiring (featured on Australia’s Got Talent), an amazing Sand Artist set to entertain. John is a gifted story teller like you have never seen or heard before! Lisa Mc Pherson told us, "To bring it all together we have hold-on-to-your-hat musical performances by Blue Hyp, a 25 piece band ready to get us up on the dance floor!" An evening to let your hair down and celebrate your business successes, the 2023 Wauchope & Hinterland Business Awards promises to be an event not to be missed. Contact : Wauchope Chamber of Commerce & Industry Phone: 0422 210 824 Email: wauchopechamber@gmail.com Discover the Magic of Digital PR with Brilliant-Online Welcome to Brilliant-Online, where your stories take centre stage and your brand shines in the spotlight! We’ve transformed into a cutting-edge digital PR powerhouse, designed to help businesses like yours amplify your message and captivate audiences across the globe. Here’s what makes Brilliant-Online extraordinary: ✨ Storytelling that Sells: Share your business journey with the world through authentic, creative narratives that inspire trust and build connections. ✨ Tailored Digital PR Strategies: We craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate buzz where it matters most. ✨ Maximum Exposure: Tap into a network of blogs, social media, email campaigns, and online search features to boost your brand visibility. ✨ Engaging Content Creation: From videos to articles, we produce content that informs, entertains, and converts. ✨ Trackable Success: With detailed performance analytics, you’ll see the impact of your campaign every step of the way. We’re here for progressive individuals and forward-thinking businesses ready to embrace the digital era and make a lasting impact. 💡 Let’s create something brilliant together. Visit Brilliant-Online to learn more about how we can elevate your brand! ✦ For all enquiries about advertising with Brilliant-Online, please email us .