18 Aug RUBBER GLOVES, ANYONE?; BABY, YOU CAN DRIVE MY (OLDER) CAR
RUBBER GLOVES, ANYONE?
Ansell, the Australian company that describes itself as a global protective clothing company, reported a 6.6 per cent drop in profit in the last financial year, after sales hit record highs during the pandemic.
It seems hospitals and other healthcare providers stocked plenty of rubber gloves and aprons during the crisis and are only now slowly clearing their stockpiles.
BABY, YOU CAN DRIVE MY (OLDER) CAR
Bapcor, the company that owns motor vehicle parts group Autobarn, reported record revenue of over $2 billion in the past financial year.
CEO Noel Meehan revealed that much of that revenue growth is due to the fact there are more cars on Australian roads …and the average age of those cars is also increasing.
The perfect Bapcor customer? Motorists driving cars that are four years old, or older.
CHEAPER SOFAS ARE IN
Meanwhile, online furniture retailer Temple & Webster posted a 30 per cent drop in full-year net profit.
CEO Mark Coulter told media that the retailer’s Millennial-focused customers were “trading down”.
Instead of fancy Tuscan-inspired lamps and expensive bedside tables, customers are opting for “furniture staples” … like budget-friendly couches.
“That’s our sense – and you can see it in the demand for sofas, for example,” Coulter said.
FEMALE CEOs ON THE RISE
Much as expected (the announcement was conveniently leaked to some media earlier), road toll operator Transurban announced this week it was appointing its finance boss, Michelle Jablko, as the new CEO of the $43 billion company.
As a result, The Australian newspaper reported, more than a quarter of Australia’s top 20 listed companies are now being run by women – a record.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT …
Shock, horror … the rich didn’t get richer last year.
According to figures released this week by UBS and Credit Suisse economists, global wealth declined by 2.4 per cent in dollar terms last year – the first drop since 2008.
And, Americans were hit hardest as stocks and bonds plunged in value, which meant about 1.7 million US adults are no longer millionaires.
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