Sparky, if you don't want to buy into an arguement, then don't slag people off. Simple really.

The 2c an hour for the loss of all entitlements is no big secret, nor is it a union-led conspiracy theory either.
The figures have been in circulation for some time now, and have been reported by both the print and tv media across the country.
Spotlight came under a lot of fire for them.
Not just from the media, but also from family and social sectors.

So, if you are going to fire a bullet, make sure you load it properly first, eh?

I agree with you 100% of the way...they "should" be elected by the members rather than the board...because it limits the conflict of interest between board and there individual influence...

But is it there fault they were invited by Smorgon to join the board?

It’s Smorgon and the current boards fault that these people were given such an easy road to join the board...

Let’s see what the new guys bring to the table... and make our judgement during February

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"Dont count the games, make the games count"

Umm... I think you may have misconstrued. Where exactly in my post did I slag off anybody (let alone your good self)?! Stating that I'm *QUOTE* '...not entering the discussion in any way' is nothing like me saying I don't want to 'buy into any argument'... a little bit of a play on words there dontcha think 4everBlue? And by my comment I meant that I didn't want to get involved in the semantics of business politics and plans and whatnot of the past 5-6 pages...

Then I simply stated that your reference to the 2c an hour deal (which I completely am against, as it embodies everything negative in the new IR laws) was widely reported in the media (the first time I read it was the IR rally leaflets!) - and that, beyond that (as it is now public knowledge), any details involving Spotlight's business workings would only be known (I'd presume) to those on the board and those 'in the know'... and anything else would have to be speculation. And that comment was meant to be directed at everybody - and if it felt like it was directed your way, I apologise...

So, if you are going to sling crap - better make sure the fan isn't facing your direction, eh?

Touche Sparky!

To me it just seemed like you thought that the figures were "plucked from nowhere," when I had known of them for awhile.

Personally though, I don't care who's on our board as long as they are a) elected b) successful c) don't bring bad vibes to the club.

...and it wouldn't hurt if d) they brought their cheque books to the table with them...

S'all good mate, I DO have a way of explaining things arse-about.

Why would anyone have to sit on the board of Spotlight to have and insight into their business dealings?

I have been involved with them now for 6 1/2 years on and off (and prior to this was involved in the local textile industry for another six). I can tell you know that everytime we get back involved with them I object stongly.

Not becuase they are so astute at their negotiations and screw you right down becuase I can tell you im happy with the prices we have negotiated but becuase of their deliberately dubious business practices and the contempt for their own suppliers.

The manner in which they operate is extremely inefficient (I could go on forever here with my firsthand knowledge of their buying, distribution and accounting practices ) and would hate to see someone bring their practices to our already beleagured club. If people think we are badly managed now and have no direction god help us if we adopted any of their practices especially employment becuase our previously bad recruitment practices would like positively enlightened in comparison.

Some people assume they must be good becuase they are a big privately owned company. Well the other big one Lincraft went belly up not all that long ago and their business practices were identical - again first hand knowledge of their practices.

Just becuase they appear big doesnt mean they are any good. Remember We are Carlton and @#$%&! the Rest - look where that attiude got us .

"Spotlight is growing at a rate of almost 7% per year" - quote drom BRW rich 200 book pg 146 may 2006 addition

Does that answer your question

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"Dont count the games, make the games count"

Not really as their only competitor went broke and is trying to rebuild. They have pretty much a monopoly on the market. Over the last six years the craft industry has experienced a large upsurge in popularity amongst young women. For example one title we publish in the young craft category was a nothing title 6 years ago when it started. Three years ago the revenue generated by advertising wasnt much to write about however over the past three years that revenue was grown 350% per issue. Of more note however is the fact it went Bi-Monthly (6issues pa) to Monthly (14 issues a year) so in reality it has experienced 817 % growth. It is now considered one of our top craft titles and is the market leader in Australia.

Now 7% growth for a business that has a Monopoly on a market and is riding on the crest of a wave doesnt really impress me all that much.

As I said I have an understanding of their business practices as they are very very poor from my point of view. Its pretty bad when a new buyer questions why we are making life complicated for them when in fact as he learned we are only doing exactly what they requested .

I can tell you right now if they took a hard look at their proceedures and implemented a few changes to improve effiencies that 7% would rise greatly.

Good to hear your account of what has been widely reagarded as a disreputable company for a long time now.

As you say 7% pa increase is absolutely laughable considering the 817% increase in the industry.

These sort of business principles (or lack thereof) are exactly what I was referring to when I posted that I don't care who comes onto the board as long as they don't bring bad vibes with them.

Carlton don't need that sort of rubbish when we are try to re-establish ourselves as a premier club in the competition.

As far as a shopping experience goes my Mother-In-Law rates "Spotlight" as one of the worst places to shop in. The staff are generally rude and disinterested (which I would argue is a function of poor management).

If my Mother-In-Law says it is a poor shopping experience then I listen (she knows how to shop) .


As for Fried's business acumen - he backed Poppy King the Lipstick Queen and lost a motza there, the fallout from that failure is legendary.

Not sure if he has the business acumen to be responsible for growing the Carlton Brand and more importantly increasing our revenue base.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

I am continually suprised at all our "experts" who bitch all the time about anything dont stand for the board. With all their Knowledge we would be on top in no time.If the new members can help our club good but dont bitch before they have a chance to try

We live in a democratic society less22.

I always found it suprising why we dont have 20 million candidates running for Parliament around election time as well.




Although with multi-member electorates becoming more into vogue the time might not be too far off.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

I don't see anyone claiming to be an expert?????
Just people commenting on what has been reported by various means for quite some time.
people can only comment on the record that is there before them to comment on, and Spotlight has a poor record in a lot of management aspects.

No-one has claimed that they know how to run the CFC board.

Ralph Carr does.

What with his 'sexy' parties and all.

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

Firstly, read my post - in particular the part about me not wanting to get into the intricacies of business management (esp. Spotlights, of which I have no interest of whatsoever)... and to further that, I didn't say you have to sit on the board to know Spotlight's business working, I stated that you either had to do that or be 'in the know', that obviously being you - somebody whose business is working with Spotlight in some capacity... so how about re-reading before hitting 'reply'?

That said, privately owned (or 'family run') businesses are the worst kind, I've been involved with quite a few and, well yes... there are a myriad of issues that often arise from just that - I've seen companies bust, get brought out by banks, MDs, and Coca Cola - that's why I now work for a stable, enormous national institution (no, not the gov.!) that truly knows the worth of decent business practices... and I don't have to worry about insolvency or redundancy... Carlton on the other hand...

If you ask me, Spotlight are shit...

...I much prefer to purchase my chenille and silk from a little reatiler down the road...

Sparky you are splitting hairs there mate. I did read your first post.

Anyway Im not looking for an argurment with you becuase at the end of the day we are on the same team.

My initial point was I would be very dubious about having him on the board given the dealings and constant headaches that I have endured.

Our board may infact be doing a good job at getting us back on track but that is not how it appears. At a time we need unity at the club we look like a rabble on all management fronts with everyone having their own agendas.

Im just an ordinary supporter who is fanatical about my love of the club and I really hate to see what is happening at present.

At work all our walls are adorned with magazine covers in frames but also amongst them is a numbers of frames with quotes, some of which are " a dream is an objective without a plan", focus on your objectives", "when we fail to plan we plan to fail", "the harder we work the luckier we get". Now these dont really inspire me but the do make me think about the state of our club. Where is our plan?

I dont care who comes on board so long as together they bring a workable plan and work together as a tight knit team to achieve it, no more individuals who seek glory for themselves but rather a comglomoration of talented individuals working together to ensure that club as a whole achieves the glory. Sure some will stand out more than others but at the end of the day that is in the eye of the beholder. Look back at 79, 81 and 82 those teams gave us so much and they were filled with stars and we all had our favourites mine was Kenny closely followed but the Dominator but others would have had Doull, Jezza, Harmes, Fity, Swan etc etc. At the end of the day though its the overall team that made it so special.

As much as I hate to say this we need people on board like Eddie who can unify the club and its supporters and stop the factional infighting.

Nice post MarkNo3, but 1979-1982 was one of the more turbulent times off field that the club has ever had, despite the success on the field. It has often been argued that off-field issues were one of the main reasons the Blues did not complete 4 premierships in a row.

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Certainly the vote at the end of 1979 was as divisive as anything in our history. We rewarded Percy Jones in 1980 and it didn't get us over the line. Can't put all the blame at Percy's door either.
However, when we replaced him and picked up some very good recruits, we were damn good in 1981. By then Ian Rice really had us going in the right direction off the field as well. Pity he couldn't stick around - history has shown he knew what he was doing in OUR boardroom probably better than anyone.

Jars I fully understand that, my reference was more to highlight the fact that the team of the time although full of stars were a star team, something we need with our management at present. Bring in a boatload of stars but make sure they know that they are part of a team.

As much as I love Jezza - I dont think he would have been able to deliver us those 4 flags in a row from (79 to 82) had he been in command for that period.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill