Hi there!
Haven’t been in touch for a while as life has been crazy. I have started a new job and my parents were over here for three weeks and they then got stuck in Singapore because of the Icelandic volcano – life has been pretty interesting.
I got invited to a pot luck party the other week. I don’t know about you but I had no idea what that was – but one of my Aussie colleagues explained to me it basically means you go to your cupboard or fridge and bring something from there – bring a plate with a difference I guess. I ended up making cheesecake as I figured people wouldn’t really want alfalfa sprouts and carrots for dinner!
So what’s going on here?
Cigarettes puffed out?
Well the Government recently announced a 25% federal government tax increase on cigarettes. The Government is hoping that more people will quit and also are moving to ban logos and branding from all cigarette packs. Quite a big impact on anyone working in that industry from a marketing perspective.
iPad – the gloves are off!
The iPad is finally going to be launched here in Australia at the end of the month. I am so excited as being an Apple convert with my iPhone, iMac and iPod – I can’t wait to get another toy!
The Telco’s have now started a major battle here for a slice of the action with Australian provider Optus being the first one to reveal its packages. I will probably go for the Wi-Fi only iPad rather than the 3G and Wi-Fi as mobile providers here are so expensive compared to the UK. I miss 02and the great deals they offered, none of that here. Broadband is expensive too compared to the UK and you don’t get as much for your money – whereas when I lived in London it was offers that gave you ‘unlimited’ here it is a very specific amount like 2GB which makes me panic that I will go over my allowance, and it isn’t cheap either.
I’m enjoying my new job working for a digital agency as an Account Manager that also is a marketing consultant – it’s a really varied and diverse job and I am learning loads of cool new things that I had previously ignored such as AB testing using Google Web Optimizer. In fact if you work in that area I’d thoroughly recommend a book just passed my way called A/B always be testing – the complete guide to Google Website Optimizer by Einsburg, Quarto-vonTovadar and Davis (2008).
I’m also helping CIM Australia increase its communication here in Brisbane. We’re starting small with a newsletter and will build from there.
Anyway, bye for now
Zoe
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