Deloitte is proud to be a Delivery Partner within the Entrepreneurs’ Programme (‘EP’ or ‘the program’) - the Australian Government’s flagship program for productivity and competitiveness at the small and medium business (‘SMB’) level.

The program supports SMBs to improve their business, build confidence, capability, and resilience, as well as take advantage of growth opportunities. Eligible businesses have access to independent, expert advice to help them ‘shift the dial’ on their business performance.

Our new “EP Spotlight Series” will shine a light on those SMBs who have improved, grown, or transformed their business with the help of the Entrepreneurs’ Programme. In this inaugural post, we will showcase one client’s journey from second-hand equipment broker to award-winning IT solutions provider.

Truis Pty Ltd (previously known as ‘Computer Merchants’) opened its doors in 1979 as a broker of refurbished computer equipment. They spent the next four decades navigating the IT industry’s continuously changing landscape, expanding their service offering, and adapting their business model to meet the needs of the 21st century customer. Today, Truis are a multi-vendor software and hardware solutions partner who help clients across Australia and neighbouring countries to prosper and grow. Put simply, they help turn business problems into solutions with a team of technical experts who know IT, but more importantly, they know people.

Truis sought support from the Entrepreneurs’ Programme to grow their business within an industry characterised by disruption and the risk of commoditisation. Truis met with Ian Nearhos, a Growth Facilitator specialising in the ICT industry, to undergo a Business Growth Service. By observing the business with a ‘fresh pair of eyes’ and asking the ‘awkward questions’, Ian quickly uncovered the company’s pain points and identified opportunities for improvement.

“I think the value of an independent voice can never be underestimated.” Ian Nearhos, Growth Facilitator

Ian observed that Truis’ greatest asset was its reputation. The business was widely known for its commitment to exceptional customer service, expertise, and internal culture. However, Ian suggested that the company’s name, ‘Computer Merchants’, was no longer relevant and may be a hindrance given the changes that had occurred in the business (and the market) over the last four decades. Truis’ business and the industry had evolved significantly since the 1970s; it was time for their brand to do the same.

This prompted Ian to refer Truis to the program’s business design specialist offering (referred to as ‘bDesign’). bDesign helps clients achieve a deeper understanding of who they are, and why they exist, to elevate their brand and drive deeper engagement with their customers.

Truis underwent a series of workshops which deepened its understanding of its users, purpose, aspirations, and tenets. These workshops laid the foundation for a renewed brand and marketing strategy; one that would leverage Truis’ passion for helping people and its reputation for service whilst conveying their commitment to growth and innovation.

“The way I saw it – updating our name would have been a fresh coat of paint. But what our organisation needed was deeper than that. We had big goals for our culture and revenue, and the only vehicle that was going to get us there was a brand strategy. We needed to re-establish who we are and what we stand for. We needed to articulate what we do and how we do it. And we needed to create messaging that strengthened the emotional connection we shared with our clients and our people.” Jenna Brooker, General Manager, Marketing, Truis Pty Ltd

To bring their new brand strategy to life, Ian introduced Truis to ‘Driven Creative’; a Brisbane based design agency and a fellow client of the Entrepreneurs’ Programme. Truis’ brief to Driven Creative was to “revolutionise the ‘Computer Merchants’ brand with a new name and visual identity that more effectively aligned with a new focus on business growth, and [an] increasing capability in technology and digital transformation.”

Thus, ‘Computer Merchants’ became ‘Truis’ – the jargon-free, pain-free, IT experts who inject a well-needed human-touch into the tech-world.

The brand identity project for the Truis rebrand won gold at the 2022 Driven x Design Awards - the world’s largest network of Design Award Programs involving over 7,500 brands and 2,500 studios. Following the launch of the new brand, Truis observed a significant improvement in their ability to connect and engage with the market.

With the help of the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, Truis successfully reinvented their brand, accelerated their growth, and laid the foundations for future success. During their engagement with the program, the business recorded a significant improvement in their financial performance - total revenue increased by 18.5% including a 79% increase in export revenue.

“If you boil it down, I helped them put some structure and process around what they were trying to do and helped make it more repeatable.” Ian Nearhos, Growth Facilitator

Read what Truis’ Managing Director, Norm Jefferies, had to say about their experience with the Entrepreneurs’ Programme:

“We are very grateful to have been introduced to Ian Nearhos from the Entrepreneurs’ Programme. Ian took the time to understand our business and help us build a sound action plan to deliver growth. This plan enabled us to deliver many great outcomes including increased revenue and profitability and over $500,000 of capital investment (which enhanced our work environment). This allowed us to diversify our products and markets which helped create 15 new jobs. Ian's help not only delivered real and actionable plans for the future but inspired us to work harder on digital transformation and make this a priority as we grow.” - Norm Jefferies, Managing Partner, Truis Pty Ltd

We are always open to having a conversation about how the Entrepreneurs’ Programme can help you achieve your business goals.

To learn more about the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, and to determine whether you are eligible for support, please visit: https://www.business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/entrepreneurs-programme.

The Entrepreneurs’ Programme is an Australian Government initiative and funded by the Australian Government. Deloitte works in partnership with the Australian Government to deliver the Entrepreneurs’ Programme.