CARVING a niche in the world of Internet copy writing promised to bring in the money for the 26-year-old WA businesswoman, when Business News spoke to her early last year.
A year on and Belinda Chisari has had to resort back to public relations and copywriting old-fashioned newsletters and brochures, as demand for out-sourced Internet services dried up.
“In the past few months it’s been a bit quiet really. It’s almost as if people have been over-inundated with the Internet and have had enough,” Ms Chisari said of her business Mad Olive Communications.
She said business confidence since the September 11 events was also a factor behind the quiet business activity.
“I’m hoping things will turn around. The Internet is still growing as a communication tool and I still feel I have a niche. There is a big difference in web writing compared to writing for other mediums,” she said.
Chisari’s income has also been squeezed with the Government cutting back on the use of consultants, particularly in PR.
“It (public relations) has been a little bit quieter than last year and other consultants are saying a similar story,” she said.
“I know that the new Government spending less money
on outsourcing has had a big impact on our industry. We just hope they will begin to spend more.”
Top-end fashion designer and retailer Claire Metcalf, who operates C.design, which has outlets around Australia is also finding conditions are quieter than they were last time Business News spoke to her.
“It’s been very interesting over the past year. People haven’t focused so much on fashion,” Ms Metcalf said.
She said particularly after September 11, a noticeable change had occurred among consumers.
“People have been more focused on their home lives and family and less on luxury items and travelling,” she said.
The late start to summer also had an impact on sales. However, despite the quieter periods, Ms Metcalf said it had been a very strongly performed year, particularly in sales coming from the United Kingdom, which was set to continue during 2002.
