Getting to Know Australia

About the size of mainland USA, but with only around 27 million people, most living in coastal cities.

What time is it right now?

Some holidays are national, but many are set by each state, one state can be closed while the rest of Australia works. Don't memorise dates; check the supplier's, decorator's and delivery state whenever you work to a deadline.

📌National holidays (everyone is off)

📌Same holiday, different dates by state

📌State-only holidays

📌How holidays affect orders

• 💬Suppliers and decorators close: production and dispatch pause
• 🧢Couriers don't deliver in that state; transit counts in business days
• 💬Client offices close: deliveries may fail or come back
• 🧾One order can touch three states: a holiday in any one can delay it
• 💬Christmas shutdown: most suppliers close mid-December to mid-January

Summer

Dec – Feb

South: Hot, often 30°C+; bushfire risk

North & Brisbane: Hot, humid; wet season, cyclones up north

Autumn

Mar – May

South: Mild and cooling

North & Brisbane: Warm; wet season ending

Winter

Jun – Aug

South: Cold; near 0°C in Canberra/Hobart

North & Brisbane: Warm, dry, pleasant

Spring

Sep – Nov

South: Warming, changeable

North & Brisbane: Hot; build-up to wet season

Australia's seasons are the reverse of the northern hemisphere's. Clients order seasonal products 1–3 months ahead.

📌What it means for promo

• 👕Winter products (beanies, jackets, fleece, umbrellas) ordered March–May for southern states
• 🧢Summer products (caps, bucket hats, sunscreen, cooler bags, bottles) ordered September–November
• 🧢Sun safety is big: broad-brim hats and sunscreen are popular; "no hat, no play" at schools
• ✨Hi-vis and workwear sell year-round, heavier in the south, breathable in the north
• 🚚Extreme weather (cyclones, floods, bushfires) can close roads and delay freight

Australia is huge, Sydney to Perth is about 3,900 km, further than Manila to Tokyo. Most freight moves by road; air is for urgent jobs.

Common couriers: Australia Post, StarTrack, TNT (FedEx), Toll, Couriers Please, Aramex, Direct Freight Express, Hunter Express.

📌Tips

• ✨Count transit in business days, including holidays in every state on the route
• 🧾Couriers generally can't deliver to PO Boxes, get a street address and phone number
• 🧾Pallet orders may need a forklift or tail-lift truck
• 🎪For events, deliver 2–3 business days early (more for WA, NT and Tasmania)
• 💲Interstate freight often costs more, check before confirming a quote

You don't need to be an accountant, but tax shows up on every quote and invoice. Here are the essentials.

📌GST, Goods and Services Tax

• ✨10% GST applies to most goods and services in Australia, including promo products
• 💲Ex GST = price before tax. Inc GST = price with tax added (ex GST × 1.1)
• 🔎To find the GST inside an inc GST price, divide by 11 (e.g. $110 inc GST → $10 GST)
• 💲Always state on quotes whether prices are ex GST or inc GST: most B2B quotes are ex GST

📌ABN, Australian Business Number

• 💲Every Australian business has an 11-digit ABN; it appears on quotes, invoices and email signatures
• 💻Businesses with turnover of $75,000+ must register for GST and charge it
• 💬If a supplier has no ABN, the client may have to withhold tax, always check the ABN is on paperwork

📌Tax invoices

• ✨Invoices for $1,000+ inc GST must show the buyer's name or ABN
• 💲A valid tax invoice shows: the words "Tax Invoice", seller's name and ABN, date, description, quantity, price and GST amount
• 💬Clients need a correct tax invoice to claim GST back, so errors cause payment delays

📌Imports and indent orders

• ✨Goods imported from overseas usually attract 10% import GST, plus customs duty on some items
• 🚚Shipments above $1,000 AUD need a formal customs entry, usually handled by a freight forwarder or customs broker
• 💲Factor duty, GST and broker fees into the landed cost of indent quotes

📌The financial year

• ✨The Australian financial year runs 1 July to 30 June: this is why EOFY (June) is so busy
• ✨Businesses lodge a BAS (Business Activity Statement) monthly or quarterly to report GST
• 🎁Corporate gifts to staff may attract Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT), so some clients keep gift values under about $300 per person

🚫 Do not give clients tax advice, refer specific questions to their accountant.

Australians in business are usually friendly, casual and direct. They use first names straight away, value honesty over politeness, and appreciate someone who flags a problem early.

📌Communication style

• ✨Use first names, even with senior people, "Hi Sarah" is normal
• 💬Keep emails short, lead with the answer or the update
• 📅Say clearly when something is late or wrong, and give a new date
• 🧢"No worries" is a genuine reply meaning "that's fine"
• ✨Humour and light sarcasm are common, blunt is rarely rude
• 💬Be on time for calls and confirm the time zone when booking

📌Formats to use

• 🎨Spelling: Australian (British) English, colour, organise, centre, licence
• 📅Dates: day/month/year, 03/04/2027 is 3 April. Writing "3 April 2027" avoids confusion
• ✨Money: AUD with a $ sign, always say ex GST or inc GST
• ✨Phone numbers: mobiles start 04 (+61 4); landlines 02 NSW/ACT, 03 VIC/TAS, 07 QLD, 08 SA/WA/NT
• 📍Addresses: street, suburb, state, postcode, "12 Smith St, Parramatta NSW 2150"
• ✨Units: metric, mm, cm, °C

Keep politics out of conversations with clients.

The two busiest periods are EOFY (May–June) and Christmas (October–December).

Sport matters. AFL rules Victoria, SA, WA and Tasmania; NRL rules NSW and Queensland (State of Origin each winter); cricket dominates summer. Licensed team logos always need permission.

Figures such as populations, distances and transit times are approximate. Tax notes are general, not tax advice. Check holiday dates and courier times on official websites before promising a client a date.