1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: This is what the Flux I'm brand and I'm justin 2 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:10,239 Speaker 1: ads Monday to third of February, does it boy. 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 2: The government got a bit of a shock when it 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 2: released the taxes received from tobacco had dropped to a 5 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 2: nine year low. And no it's not because of a 6 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 2: dramatic drop in smokers here in Australia, but because smokers 7 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 2: are turning to the black market for cheaper cigarettes. And 8 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 2: just get this, in the last financial year the government 9 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: pocketed nine point seven billion dollars from the tobacco tax, down. 10 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: From over sixteen billion the year before. Very very interesting man, 11 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: Flux man. It's the beginning of a brand new month, 12 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: which means it is a brand new opportunity to check 13 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:40,520 Speaker 1: whether your credit score has gone up, whether it's gone down, 14 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: and how it's changed over the past month. We have 15 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: it all covered in the Flux app with a very 16 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: simple and easy to understand credit score is all to 17 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: make sure to download the Flux app and check your 18 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: credit score. February three. 19 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: Refreshing stories today, Dozy boy, Let's do it for our 20 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 2: first Levisa. The jewelry chain is facing a class action 21 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: from its employees after allegedly forced staff to work for 22 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 2: free outside rosted hours. 23 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: Jeez, Lavisa's team sparkle may be losing its shine. Be man, 24 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 1: so tell me more well, Juzyboit. 25 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 2: Lavisa started in twenty ten as a fast fashioned jewelry 26 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 2: chain with budget friendly bullying. Yeah, they release hundreds of 27 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 2: new styles of jewelry every single week, and over the 28 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 2: past fourteen years, the company has grown to over six 29 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 2: hundred stores around the world. 30 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: Including listing on the ASEX in twenty fourteen, and now 31 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: worth a casual three point two billion dollars. 32 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 2: But behind the glitz of Lavisa, things might not be 33 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 2: so golden. 34 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 1: Lavisa's facing a class action lawsuit from its employees for 35 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: allegedly breaching workers' rights That includes paying them the wrong 36 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: base rate. That includes not paying staff for attending training, 37 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: as well. 38 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:46,119 Speaker 2: As forcing staff to perform duties before or after they're rosted. 39 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: Chiff and the man, we are just talking about five 40 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: employees or fifty employees alleging this behavior. Wow, how many 41 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: are we talking? We're talking three hundred employees, most of 42 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: who are young women in high school, in university and Joseboit. 43 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: If this lawsuit is successful, it could have a significant 44 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 2: impact on Lavisa's financial results and its reputation. 45 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: So what is the key learning here? 46 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 2: When a company is hit with a workplace lawsuit, the 47 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 2: implications can extend far beyond legal fees. 48 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: We often see class actions result in in pretty hefty 49 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: settlements that can drain companies resources. 50 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 2: For example, in twenty twenty one, Woolworth's was forced to 51 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 2: repay five hundred and seventy one million dollars after underpaying 52 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 2: Star and that had. 53 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 1: A significant impact on its profit for the year. 54 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 2: But jus boyd, there are also serious implications beyond direct 55 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 2: financial losses. 56 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: These type of lawsuits can also erode brand trust, particularly 57 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: if it's so public in the. 58 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 2: Media like this is Yeah, we know that consumers today 59 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 2: are more socially conscious, so any negative press can drive 60 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 2: customers away. 61 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: And be man. It seems like this lawsuit isn't the 62 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: first time Levisa has been criticized for its workplace practices. 63 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 2: Nope, its employer rating on SEK is two point seven 64 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 2: out of five, two point four out of five on Glassdoor, 65 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 2: and one point six out of five on Product Review. 66 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 1: Yikes, So be man, Levisa might need more than a 67 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 1: quick polish to fix it. Class action. 68 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: For our second story, Bunnings has begun rolling out three 69 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 2: hundred large in store LED screens throughout its hardware stores 70 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 2: to build a retail media behemoth. 71 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: It's only a matter of time that the partnerships moved 72 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: from the ads on TV to the ads in the stores. 73 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: Tell me more, b Man, Well we know. 74 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 2: Bunnings is the iconic Australian hardware store with the so 75 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 2: bare they're kind of good, jingle heavy ads and. 76 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: The iconic snags that haven't changed in years. 77 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 2: The place where you walk in for a pack of 78 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 2: screws and somehow leave with a trolley full of power tools. 79 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: Yilty and be Man. Bunnings has grown into an absolute 80 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: behemoth over the past decade. 81 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 2: In fact, its revenue has topped nineteen billion dollars in 82 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 2: the last financial year. 83 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: But Bunnings isn't just about hammers and host fittings anymore, 84 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: b Man, It's building a retail media empire. 85 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 2: Bannings has started to roll out LED screens across its stores, 86 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: sprooking products of its hardware suppliers. 87 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: In exchange for a very tasty fee, of course, and. 88 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 2: These screens will be placed in strategic positions around their stores, 89 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 2: a bit. 90 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: Like how Woollies, Coals and Chemists Warehouse do it as well, 91 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: and the retail media intr is growing rapidly. In Bunnings 92 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: wants a little slash enormous piece of the pie. Yep, 93 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: So what is the key learning here? 94 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 2: Retail media has become the latest shiny new tool in 95 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 2: the retail shed to expand revenue out of existing stores. 96 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: It's all about using data to target shoppers right when 97 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: they shop. 98 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 2: Whether that's a cheeky digital billboard in Bunnings for a 99 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 2: Reobi drill just as you're shopping in the drill section, or. 100 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: An instore radio ad for Telfast when you're shopping at 101 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: Chemist Warehouse and Juzyboy analysts reckon. 102 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 2: This retail media industry is already worth more than one 103 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 2: point six billion dollars in Australia. 104 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: Will Worth already makes five hundred and fifty mil from it. 105 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 2: And just for the record, Juzzi Boy Woolly's digital media 106 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 2: business has grown at thirty four percent over the past 107 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 2: four years. 108 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 1: So Bunnings is own our West Farmers be thinking let's 109 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 1: get in there, starting with trusty old Bunnings. 110 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,840 Speaker 2: For our third and final story, Microsoft has seen its 111 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 2: profit jump by more than ten percent from a year before. 112 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: But not all is as good as meets the AI 113 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 2: very good. 114 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: I say what you did there, be man, so tell 115 00:04:58,320 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: me more. Well. 116 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: Microsoft is one of the great eight success stories of 117 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 2: the past couple of decades. 118 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 1: Juzzy boy. Yeah, it's always been a behemoth, but in 119 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: the early two thousands, Microsoft kind of lost its way. 120 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: Back in twenty fourteen, it pivoted the business to have 121 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: a much bigger focus on cloud computing, which has now 122 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: become a core part of its revenue and now b man. 123 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 1: Microsoft has said its revenue is jumped by twelve percent 124 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: to nearly seventy billion US dollars for the last twelve months, 125 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: and profits up ten percent as well, both of which 126 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: beat Microsoft and the investor markets expectations. 127 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 2: But Microsoft also flagged that it would spend about eighty 128 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 2: billion US dollars on data centers this financial year, not. 129 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: What investors want to hear just a few days after 130 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: they hear about deep Zeek. Oh interesting, juzzy boy. So 131 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 1: what is the key learning here? For big tech companies? 132 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: Balancing high growth with high spending is an ongoing challenge. 133 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 1: On one hand, investors cheer when revenue beats expectations like 134 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: Microsoft did right here. But on the other hand, investors 135 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: also get nervous when a company hints at massive spending 136 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 1: like Microsoft's eighty billion dollar data center investment. It's a 137 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: classic case of you got to spend money to make money. 138 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: The good news for Microsoft is that it's AI business 139 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 2: generated an annual revenue run rate of thirteen billion US dollars. 140 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 1: But b Man investors are worried about when they'll start 141 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: to see an actual return on the AI investment, which 142 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: keeps getting higher and higher each year, particularly since the 143 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: announcement of Deep Seek creating very very cheap AI models. FLUXPAM. 144 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: Your credit score is one of the key attributes that 145 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: a banged or a lender, or even your mobile phone 146 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 1: provider will looked at before you apply for a product, 147 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 1: so make sure you see what they can see about 148 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 1: you in the Flux app. This month, we've got it 149 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: all covered with easy to understand explainers and highlighting what's changed. 150 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 1: It's hunt, so make sure to download the Flux app 151 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 1: and check out your credit score. 152 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening, and we'll see you on Wednesday.