How Aussie are Aussies?

From Bonza Tiles in Broome to Bonza Bloke Rentals in Hobart, as we celebrate Australia Day, Australian businesses are showing their allegiance to the lucky country when it comes to naming their business.

In the lead up to the country's biggest celebration of pride and patriotism, Aussie icons the Yellow Pages® and White Pages®, have asked the question: How Aussie are Aussies?

The results from Yellow Pages® show that as individuals, we're more likely to be up for flying the Aussie flag, displaying Australiana products and souvenirs, buying a barbecue and calling into a bottle shop to prepare for Australia Day celebrations.

The results from White Pages® show how thousands of Australian businesses and organisations are showing their Aussie spirit by using terms such as pub, tucker, grub, grog, digger and chook in their business names.

Looking at what Australians are searching for on yellowpages.com.au in the lead up to Australia Day, chances are Aussies are feeling particularly patriotic this year and are getting decked out in Aussies flags and Australiana gear for a traditional barbeque celebration on Monday. Over the last week, searches on www.yellowpages.com.au for flags are up 52% and searches for Australiana products are up 97% on the annual average.

The Yellow Pages® website has also seen an 18% increase in searches for BBQ's throughout the week, cementing the tradition of Aussies enjoying a BBQ with a beer on Australia Day. In addition, searches for Liquor stores are up on the average this week and overall, are up 60% over the summer period compared to the average throughout the rest of the year.

In a review of its 2 million business and government listings, the White Pages® found there are more than 320,000 businesses containing a uniquely Aussie term. Looking at some of the most popular Aussie terms used, the review showed:

The most popular Aussie term used in business names, other than the Australia, Australian or oz is ute. There are 24,086 business listings with ute in their name. Other Aussie terms making up the top 10 were loo, pub, tucker, Aussie, ocker and dag.

Overall, the most popular patriotic term used in business names was Australia, with 172,896 business listings, giving the nation pride of position in their name. Of these business listings, the top five most searched for on whitepages.com.au were Australia Post, the Australian Tax Office, National Australian Bank, Australian Air Express and Energy Australia[1].

Of the businesses with other Aussie terms in their name other than Australia or Australian, the top five most searched for were Aussie (loans), Billabong, Aussie Disposals, Ozcare, Oz Design and Oz Minerals.

Yellow Pages® Group Marketing Manager, Stephen Harvy, said the nation can be proud it is well served by a large number of true-blue companies and that Australia Day is so well celebrated.

"It's fantastic to see so many Australian people and businesses showing their true-blue spirit for all things Australian.

"Our Aussie identity and culture comes in many forms and clearly at this time of the year we love to put it on show for everyone to see and enjoy," Mr Harvy said.

The Yellow Pages® has been connecting buyers and sellers for more than 80 years in Australia. Its growing range of print, online, voice and mobile products are used by 9 million Australians[2] on average each month who are looking to buy.

The White Pages® has been providing businesses, government and residential contact information in Australia for 128 years. Its print, online and voice products are used by half the Australian adult population on average each month[3].

-ends-

Media enquiries:

Red Agency, Emily Bellemore, ph: 03 9670 8350, email: emily.bellemore@redagency.com.au

Sensis, Stephen Ronchi, ph: 03 8653 7828, mob: 0417 138 649, email: Stephen.Ronchi@sensis.com.au

Yellow Pages® OnLine - Aussie searches by Australians

White Pages® OnLine - Aussie terms in business names

Top 20 most popular Aussie terms in business names[1]

1.     Australia                 172896

2.     Australian                34736

3.     Oz                          19516

4.     Ute                         24086

5.     Loo                         18815

6.     Pub                         15129

7.     Tucker                     4154

8.     Aussie                    3999

9.     Ocker                      3147

10.  Dag                        2110

11.  Mug                        1205

12.  Grub                       1163

13.  Grog                       780

14.  Digger                    533

15.  Swag                      503

16.  Wombat                  367

17.  Yarn                       365

18.  Ripper                    335

19.  Corker                     306

20.  Chook                     297

Top 10 most searched for businesses with Australia in their name[1]

1.     Australia Post

2.     Australian Taxation Office

3.     National Australia Bank

4.     Australian Air Express

5.     Energy Australia

6.     Mission Australia

7.     Australian Red Cross

8.     Australian Unity

9.     Credit Union Australia

10.  Relationships Australia

Top 10 most searched for businesses with Aussies terms other than Australia or Australian in their name.[2]

1.     Aussie Home loans

2.     Billabong

3.     Aussie Disposals

4.     Ozcare

5.     Oz Design

6.     Oz Minerals

7.     Ozmosis

8.     Aussie Car Loans

9.     Aussie Living

10.    Aussie Farmers Direct

[1] Ibid

[2] Ibid

[1] Searches conducted on whitepages.com.au in the Oct to Dec 2008 quarter

[1] Searches conducted in the Oct to Dec 2008 quarter

[2]  Roy Morgan Single Source Australia: monthly average across Australia (including all YellowTMDirectory markets), January-December 2007.

[3] Roy Morgan Single Source Australia, monthly average, April 2007 - March 2008.