http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/stephen-cartwright/ Stephen Cartwright is the CEO of NSW Business Chamber.  The Chamber works directly with small business members, and in conjunction with 120 local chambers of commerce throughout NSW and the ACT. Prior to joining the Chamber, Stephen started two small businesses, one of which Chandler Macleod went on to ASX listing, and is now one of the largest recruitment companies in Australia. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-good-retailers-will-survive-the-internet/ Change and innovation are always feared, and therefore always resisted.  When the first ATMs were introduced, the banking unions fought against them because they feared it would mean the end of tellers (who can forget the lines we used to endure at banks in the bad old days). Instead, we saw the rise of electronic banking with the banks now involved in almost every transaction.  When the video player was first introduced, film industry experts predicted the end of cinemas, but today we are seeing a resurgence in cinema attendance numbers because the industry was forced to become more innovative, and now delivers a significantly enhanced customer experience via new developments such as 3D. In recent weeks, some of Australia’s larger retailers have vigorously argued that the ability of Australians to buy online will destroy retailing in Australia, with thousands of jobs going off-shore, and that we need to tax the internet to “create a level playing field”.  This is despite the fact that less than 3 per cent of all retail sales in Australia are transacted online! feedback@thepunch.com.au (Stephen Cartwright) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-good-retailers-will-survive-the-internet/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/why-good-retailers-will-survive-the-internet/#item4827 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:50:58 +0000 Stephen Cartwright | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ok-banks-youve-had-your-fun-with-interest-rates/ As a child, my parents read to me the classic childhood tale of the boy who cried wolf, a tale that cautions against repeatedly claiming danger when there is none. Last year, businesses throughout the world experienced danger associated with the global financial crisis.  The risk of a catastrophic collapse of confidence was very real and to the credit of the Australian Government, and other governments around the world, there was quick action to restore investor confidence.  The stimulus package might not have been perfect, nor was it always directed in the best way possible, but it did its job. But if you have been listening to the banks of late, you might get the sense the crisis has not passed, that profitability is under grave threat and that interest rate margins are too low. I dispute this. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Stephen Cartwright) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ok-banks-youve-had-your-fun-with-interest-rates/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/ok-banks-youve-had-your-fun-with-interest-rates/#item1963 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:30:11 +0000 Stephen Cartwright | Author bios | The Punch