Andrew Kay (ILF2014) & Allan Morichaud (ILF2023)
A busy Mad March period has provided a slight injection of confidence into business owners in South Australia, according to a South Australian Business Chamber survey, but rising energy, wages and rent costs are proving an ongoing challenge for local operators.
South Australian Business Chamber chief executive Andrew Kay said that while the recent festivals and events in South Australia provided a short-term lift in sentiment, spirits remained low due to ongoing economic pressures and the “cost of doing business crisis”. “The main concern on the minds of business owners this quarter is the on going cost of doing business, with profitability, government policies and staff and skills shortages trailing not too far behind,” he said.
Adelaide-based IT business Solutions Plus Partnership, which provides consulting and software services to clients across Australia and New Zealand, has grown rapidly since the onset of Covid-19, growing its team to 41 staff and opening offices in Brisbane and Auckland.
However founder Allan Morichaud, who established the business 10 years ago, said the uncertain economic outlook was causing a slowdown in project sign-ups and customer investment in new technologies, while rising operational costs were eating into profitability.
“Cost pressures are undeniably challenging,” he said.