GOLD COAST, Australia - s4story -- After working with businesses across multiple continents, award-winning entrepreneur Justin Herald says small businesses worldwide have drifted away from the one thing that has always driven their growth: the human connection between customers and the businesses they love.

Herald, who built the global clothing brand Attitude Inc. from just $50, says the world has become so dependent on digital ads, algorithms and automation that the oldest and most trusted driver of business — word-of-mouth — has been left behind.

But new consumer behaviour research across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US reveals a surprising global problem: up to 80% of recommendations people intend to make never actually reach the business. Herald calls this "The Referral Gap", a modern challenge that is costing small businesses billions in lost revenue.

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"This isn't an Australian issue. It's global," Herald said. "People everywhere still rave about the businesses they love, but life gets in the way. The referral never gets passed on. The intention is there, but the action isn't."

A global problem made worse by economic pressure

With cost-of-living pressures rising worldwide, small businesses are being hit harder than ever. Margins are shrinking, the cost of operating is rising, and digital advertising is becoming more expensive while delivering less return.

"Small business is doing it tougher now than at any time I've seen," Herald said. "They're being told to spend more on marketing, but the return just isn't there. What they really need is a cost-effective way to make what already works actually work again."

This belief became the catalyst for ReferUs.

A modern fix built on old-school connection

To close the referral gap, Herald developed ReferUs, an Australian-built platform now being adopted globally. It brings back the old-school simplicity of sharing trusted recommendations — but modernises it so it fits today's fast-paced world.

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"When you're already talking about a great business, you should be able to pass them on instantly," Herald said. "ReferUs captures that moment. It's the evolution of scribbling a number on a scrap of paper — except now it takes ten seconds and never gets lost."

And because small businesses are under financial pressure globally, Herald priced it at just over $1 a day to ensure accessibility worldwide.

Global uptake underway

Although built in Australia, ReferUs is already being used in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, South Africa and Israel, with strong interest across trades, automotive, real estate, beauty, finance, fitness and professional services.

"This isn't reinvention — it's reconnection," Herald said.

www.ReferUsNetwork.com