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Shirt Studio�s New Essentials Line

Thu, 27 Aug 09

Shirt lovers will just love the new essential line to hit stores in mid April. We've created a business range that covers all the fundamental styles and colours you need for you work wardrobe, hence the name 'essentials'.

What's great about the essentials line is they come in the same quality 2 ply Italian cotton fabrics you have grown to expect from Shirt Studio, and will be priced at an affordable $129.

Shirt Studio has arrived in Melbourne

Thu, 27 Aug 09

Due to popular demand, Shirt Studio has finally branched outside their Brisbane hometown to launch their first flagship store in beautiful Melbourne's CBD. Owners Fiona and Anoop Anchal are excited about the opening and giving the shirting fans a new place to shop for their corporate wear.

Through their online store and national corporate division, Shirt Studio recognised increasingly favourable attitudes for their products in other major capital cities of Australia, in particular Melbourne and Sydney. Eager to open a store interstate, Melbourne was the first city to present an opportunity for Shirt Studio.

Shirt Studio's new store can be found at 550 Bourke Street, part of a trendy new precinct, CBW, on the corner of Bourke and William Street.. There will be an incredible special offer for Melbourne city goers in the first few weeks of opening. It has already proved to be a success, with Melbourne shoppers curious of the Shirt Studio boutique.

Shirt Studio Turns 5

Thu, 27 Aug 09

The Shirt Studio Story

Shirt Studio opened its first store in Tattersall's Arcade in 2004 and since then has grown to three stores in Brisbane with Paddington opening in 2005 and Indooroopilly in 2006. Following Indooroopilly opening was the launch the online store in 2007.

This month Shirt Studio launched nationally and opened its first store in Melbourne.

To compliment Shirt Studio's retail division, the corporate division was launched in 2006, offering Australian companies an opportunity to custom design a shirting uniform to compliment their existing corporate identity.

Interview with Business Chick's Emma Isaacs

Thu, 27 Aug 09

At just 29, Emma Isaacs has achieved more than most three times her age - she has bought four businesses and sold one, all of them successful and profitable. Superwoman? Maybe. A serial entrepreneur? Absolutely. She bravely bought into her first business, recruitment company Staff it, at the age of 18. Under her leadership, Staff it was named Australia's Favourite Recruiter for three consecutive years and also won the Westpac 2005 Small Business of the Year award. She is currently Chief Chick at Business Chicks, the largest national membership network for women in business; Managing Director of Last Thursday Club, Director of Studio Bodyfit; and President of the Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO) Sydney.

You've been in business most of your adult life and manage a number of companies. What drives you and what do you attribute your success to?

I've never actually been an employee so I don't know any other way! I love business and love the challenges and spontaneity it brings. Business is a way to find out what you're really made of and it's an opportunity to impact others and move beyond your comfort zone. I'm just driven by learning, being a better person and trying to enrich the lives of others - whether that be my team members, family or customers. Besides, it's all I know now - between my husband and I we have eight companies, so it's just what we do!

Business Chicks is a fabulous membership network for all women in business. What's been your biggest challenge in growing Business Chicks to become a national organisation and recognisable brand in Australia?

We stepped in to help Kids Helpline with Business Chicks over three years ago and are still very much involved with the charity, working to fundraise and lift their profile. Being so committed to a charity and working to raise as much funds as possible means that our budgets to market the brand are limited and we rely on word of mouth, which surprisingly has been incredibly effective. People love to talk about brands and causes they believe in, and this has been the reason why we've grown on average of 65% year on year and now have strong communities in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.

What advice do you have for people with an ambition to start their own business?

Surround yourself with positive people and strong mentors; never be afraid to ask tough questions and have straight conversations; do something that scares you every day; invest in a viable product or service and if it's not viable, walk away and look for another; build your networks and be nice to everyone; continuously do favours for people no matter how inconvenient they are (the universe loves reciprocity); work hard and believe in yourself and go for it!!!

In 2009, what do you see the biggest challenge businesses face?

Managing the changing economic conditions and being quick to make hard decisions in relation to doing business differently. People and companies who do what they've always done just won't remain sustainable in this market. Keep marketing, keep networking, keep innovating, watch your cash flow and get creative with cost-cutting and revenue raising.

With three companies, the Business Chicks magazine Latte; your role as President of EO and your first child on the way in a few months how life must be very hectic. How do you go about achieving balance in your life?

I've given up trying to be Superwoman and am a lot kinder to myself these days. I'm very fortunate to be supported by incredibly talented people in my businesses and make a point of setting an example in relation to work life balance. My team are encouraged to exercise in their lunch breaks (it helps that one of our businesses is a fitness studio!) and to leave early to nourish their friendships/ relationships. I've just moved to working four days per week so I can prepare for our first child and while it was challenging not to reach for my laptop at the start I'm loving being able to rest and be good to myself. Other quick tips? I regularly leave my laptop at the office and turn off my phone at nights; have a personal trainer that keeps me accountable for my health and fitness; I measure my success as a well-rounded person on how much I'm relaxing (instead of just working) and I engage others in my efforts to be balanced - in fact I get kicked out of the office by my team members if I'm overdoing it these days!

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Christmas in Italy...What will you be doing this Christmas?

Thu, 27 Aug 09

In Italy Christmas is known as "Natale," literally meaning "birthday" celebrating of the birth of Christ and "Unconquered Sun".

Italians really know how to celebrate Christmas. Like everything, they are especially passionate about their festivities. So passionate in fact, they begin religious celebrations in early December when their holiday season starts and right up until early January. Italy's holiday period represents eight special holidays to be celebrated.

The main celebration takes place on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas day and in contrast to western society there is far less commercialisation of Christmas. For example, children do not write lists to Santa Clause. Instead, children write letters of love to parents, placing them under their father's dinner plate to be opened after the large Christmas Eve feast.

Similar to our tradition of Santa Clause the Italians celebrate one of the best known old legends of Italy, a mystical figure called La Befana a kindly old witch who brings children toys on the last day of their celebrations in January on the feast of the Epiphany.

Christmas in Italy is celebrated by singing carols and traditional Italian Christmas foods plays an integral part of Christmas celebrations in Italy, dishes such as tortellini, vermicelli, panforte, and pandolce. Christmas tapers are lighted in every household and special prayers are offered. The Italian Christmas tradition represents the true meaning of the rich Italian culture.

What will you be doing this Christmas?

It seems the Italians have full Calender of events to follow each year for their holiday season. The widespread celebrations over the two months shows their passion and dedication to their beliefs.

Australian's also have simple traditions that are carried out each year. Normally this would be Christmas parties and plenty of food with the family! Some of us choose to use our Christmas spirit a little more than others and get creative with our time. Read on for some ideas that might encourage you to get more productive this year.

Make your Christmas Cards - Why not make your own. This is like a gift in itself and is so much more special when it's made with love. Buy some nice coloured cardboard and stick small decorative pieces on it. Even something as simple, a small part of a pine tree leaf (Christmas tree) would work nicely.

Enter a light display competition - Go all out and make your home a light fantastic display for others to admire. It is becoming more common nowadays in Australia and you can even win a competition.

Donate to charity - Make a difference this Christmas and help contribute to a good cause. These charities would like a gift this Christmas just as much as we do.

Do some volunteer work - If you really want to put a smile on someone's face, why not put a few hours aside around Christmas and do some volunteer work. You can help spread the Christmas spirit to those less fortunate.

Go outdoors - Venture outside rather than staying indoors. Get your family together and head to the beach, go fishing, have a picnic or even go camping this Christmas. Make the most our summertime Christmas!

Don't forget about others in your life - For some of us Christmas can be a sad and lonely time. Some don't really have family around to spend their Christmas with. If you know someone like this why not invite them to your family gathering on Christmas day.

It's nice to sometimes do something a little different at Christmas, or to even just do more than you normally would. What will you be doing this Christmas?

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Massive Christmas Competition

Thu, 27 Aug 09

Win a massive Christmas hamper filled with lots of the yummiest foods and nice Italian Christmas treats! Some of the goodies include some traditional Italian foods, chocolates, a panettone Italian dessert, Shirt Studio products plus so much more! It's perfect for the silly season!

Purchase a shirt or tie at Shirt Studio before Christmas and go in the draw to win one of THREE cool Italian Christmas hampers!

Get into Shirt Studio to do your Christmas shopping and take home a little extra this Christmas to surprise your loved ones.

You've got to be in it to win it!

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Traditional Panettone Recipe

Thu, 27 Aug 09

While there are variations of panettone found all over Italy, the classic version is from Milan. The Milanese take panettone seriously. This version is created for bread machines. Be careful not to add the candied fruit with the other ingredients. Most machines have a timer for adding fruit to bread. I prefer to wait until the dough is mixed and add the candied mixed fruit. It needs more chopping than the raisin or citron.

Bread Machine Panettone

Ingredients

1 Tbs sugar
2/3 cup warm milk
1/4 cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups bread flour
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast
1/4 cup candied mixed fruit
1/8 cup raisins
1/8 cup citron
1 tsp anise or fennel seed
1 Tbs lemon zest, grated

Directions

Place the first 8 ingredients into the pan of your bread machine in order listed.
Select the dough cycle.
Add the chopped fruit 15-20 minutes before the last kneading cycle ends.
When the nut or fruit signal sounds add the remaining fruit, lemon zest, and anise seed.
If you need to allow the dough to rise, place in a warm spot, covered with a cloth. Let rise for 1 - 1 1/2 hours, until double in size.
When the dough is done place the pan in a preheated oven and bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes. A skewer should come out clean when done.

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