For APAC brands looking to invest in an Australian presence, you’ll be happy to hear that Australia’s ongoing urban development is making it easier to secure commercial real estate, and establish your own HQ down under.

Urban areas like the Brisbane CBD, for instance, boast rental rates significantly lower than Melbourne and Sydney, alongside Brisbane and Cairns also acting as Australia’s gateways to the wider APAC region. With faster flight times when compared to departing from Sydney or Melbourne, setting up a Brisbane headquarters is becoming a no-brainer for many APAC brands looking to expand.

But expanding out to Australia involves more than just setting up an office space. Below, we’ll be sharing some top strategies for making sure your Australian brand launch is a definite success.

Adjust your Brand Style Guide to fit Australian Demographics

Firstly, you’ll want to adapt your branding to better align with the preferences of Australian consumers. Whilst APAC consumers may be drawn in by colourful packaging, Australians typically prefer a more understated, timeless, and even minimalist look from their branding.

Thankfully, you can partner with Australian brand specialists to consult on your brand style guide refresher. You can also work with printing services in Brisbane to create custom posters, banners, business cards, and other marketing materials that are ready to roll out to Australian consumers. With these materials ready-made and waiting for you upon your arrival, you can start promoting your brand as soon as you have boots on the ground in Brisbane – no need to ship any marketing materials overseas at all.

Build Local Partnerships to Solidify your Industry Presence

Alongside partnering with local marketing consultants and media providers, you can also benefit greatly by finding other local partnership opportunities within your industry or market niche. That way, you can start creating a strong Australian market network, as well as look for any collaboration opportunities that can help further support brand recognition.

For instance, you may opt to find some Australian retailers who’d be happy to stock your products before you establish your Brisbane HQ. That way, you can better ensure a stronger demand for your products and/or services prior to your move.

The same goes for social media partners. If you have any Australian influencers in your network, you can ensure strong digital visibility for your brand before your move down under. When you do finally start to post content from Australian shores and perhaps even start hosting your own events or open your own storefront, there will be enough brand recognition to inspire stronger foot traffic and higher rates of eventgoers.

Similarly, if you expect you’ll need logistics partners (i.e. supply chain managers, fleet services, third party warehousing, etc.), it’s best to finalise these arrangements prior to your move so you can hit the ground running and start trading as soon as you arrive in Brisbane.

Invest in Regulatory Compliance for a Strong AU Foundation

Australian compliance requirements may likely be different to regulatory requirements in your home markets, so it’s well worth familiarising yourself with all relevant industry or market regulatory requirements before you even apply for your ABN.

Here, Australian business consultants and legal professionals may be able to offer their support. Simply speak with these professionals about what market or niche you’re looking to begin trading in for your business, and they can offer their support in ensuring your company meets all regulatory requirements outlined by industry bodies.

If you’re looking to qualify for government tenders, you may even benefit from securing ISO Certification for your Australian business to act as an additional trust signal for prospective clients. As ISO Certification is internationally recognised, you can either partner with your own ISO consultants or find Australian consultants based in Brisbane to offer hands-on support with establishing ISO processes.

Accrue Local Talent to Expand your AU Team

Finally, there’s no better way to establish a strong Australian brand than by investing in local talent to help build up your community and support your networking. Australia’s vibrant landscape of educational institutions has equipped local Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney markets with a strong population of talented professionals. You can establish graduate roles within your business or even secure remote talent. Some professionals based in Melbourne or Sydney may even be open to relocating to Brisbane for the right opportunity.

Here, your network of local partnerships may also aid in finding the right local industry talent. Be sure to put feelers out into your network to see if any of your Australian business partners may be able to put you into contact with any suitable job candidates. Even just a simple introduction to the right person or people can help invigorate your brand launch in Australia.

Adapt your Brand for the Australian Market with Confidence

Launching a brand in Australia will always require plenty of research and due diligence from business owners, managers, and their wider team of stakeholders. But the good news here is that Australia’s business landscape is set up for international injections of industry. With the right local partners for supporting your brand building, a strong industry network for securing industry talent, and the right expansion approach that’s mindful of branding, audience demographics, and regulatory compliance and other legal considerations, you can make sure your brand is set up for success upon entering the Australian market.

Be sure to follow the quick guidelines we’ve provided above before you start mapping out your migration planning. Doing as much preliminary prep as possible can help ensure you can begin trading effectively immediately upon arrival, cutting down on your downtime and bolstering your profit margins.