May 2008 Newsletter

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	Newsletter May 2008

	Welcome to our May 2008 newsletter! In this month's newsletter: News from CEO David Baumgarten Marketing for Non-Marketers Workshop Let's Talk Business Seminar Series, Seminar 3: Technology Today The Secret to Tapping Into Other People's Advertising Dollars - Joint Ventures Made Easy Home-Based Business Week Develop Your Own Marketing Strategy Think Big, Act Now Staff Changes at the BEC NEIS Remains Top Performer Business Speakers Wanted Free Help for Sydney Businesses Business Support Wherever You Are in Australia Look BIG, Work Smarter Microenterprise Loans for Small Business CeBIT Australia Business-to-Business Event Family Business Association NSW Conference DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Marketing for Non-Marketers Workshop - 5 May Small Business Basics, City - 5 May Burwood Business Breakfast - 6 May Import Export Business Workshop, City - 10 May Family Business Association NSW Conference : 15th May Randwick City Breakfast - 20 May CeBIT Australia Business-to-Business Event : 20-22 May, Darling Harbour, Sydney Small Business Basics, Bankstown - 24 May Small Business Basics, Bondi Junction - 27 May Let's Talk Business Seminar Series, Seminar 3: Technology Today - 27 May To find out more and book online see our Networking Calendars: ESBEC - Networking Calendar Clearly Business - Networking Calendar News from CEO David Baumgarten I know you have been asking: where has our monthly BEC newsletter been? To be honest, the last two months have been testing. I am sure you will relate to the word 'balance'. Sometimes we pay lip service to this concept. And sometimes we are forced to balance our time. As practitioners in small business, we all work very hard. However sometimes things come out of left field and you are left wondering, 'Where did that come from?' Recently, my father became ill. Like you, family must take priority, yet we all continue to try to fit everything in a day. Sometimes something has to give and in this instance it was the BEC monthly newsletter. We have endeavoured to keep you informed via our e-invites. I hope that you have been able to attend one of the events that we have held in past two months. I am very excited about our partnership with the City of Sydney 'Let's Talk Business' seminar series. Our first seminar drew 130 people, including Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore MP. We've also continued to have good attendance at our Business Advisory Service and workshops, delivered on behalf of Department of State and Regional Development. Our Randwick and Burwood Business Breakfasts are coming up this month. I hope to see you at either or both of these events. In closing, a reminder that 19 to 23 May is Home-Based Business Week. David Baumgarten CEO Back to Top Marketing for Non-Marketers Workshop This workshop is a unique opportunity to work with one of Australia's leading marketing experts. Rob Harnett, author of the Sensis book, Small Business Big Opportunities, will cover: key marketing tools what is a brand and why does it matter why sales and marketing must be aligned defining the ideal customer developing your UBR (unique buying reason) understanding the customer of the future learn how people buy how to combine promotional tools the impact of direct and online marketing. To find out more and book online see our Networking Calendars: ESBEC - Networking Calendar Clearly Business - Networking Calendar Back to Top Let's Talk Business Seminar Series, Seminar 3: Technology Today 27 May 2008 Doing business online may not be the maze you imagine it to be. Don't get left behind. Take home simple steps to maximise your online presence and fast track web success in a bustling, ever-changing environment. Did you know… Australia has 10 million internet users 55% of people shop online, spending $45 billion in 2006 alone 85% of purchases are from local Australian businesses. So are you getting your share? In this, the third seminar of our Let's Talk Business seminar series, we look at doing business online. Making money while you sleep is not rocket science, despite what you may have been led to believe. To find out more and book online see our Networking Calendars: ESBEC - Networking Calendar Clearly Business - Networking Calendar Back to Top The Secret to Tapping Into Other People's Advertising Dollars - Joint Ventures Made Easy Home-Based Business Workshop 23 May 2008 If there were only one strategy you would activate in your business for guaranteed success, this would be it. Joint ventures go by many names: JVs, strategic alliances, host beneficiary relationships, and the list goes on. At this exclusive event you will learn: what is a joint venture and how they work how one business went from $400,000 turnover to more than $5 million in 18 months using joint ventures the 8 steps of setting up a joint venture the 7 finer details of making a joint venture work how to pick the best joint venture partner for your business. To find out more and book online see our Networking Calendars: ESBEC - Networking Calendar Clearly Business - Networking Calendar Back to Top Home-Based Business Week 19-23 May 2008 The NSW Government is again highlighting this important sector by facilitating Home-Based Business Week. The Department of State and Regional Development, together with major sponsor NRMA Business Insurance and local event partners, has put together a package of events for 2008 that will give home-based business operators the skills and confidence to grow. The theme this year captures the energy and potential of the hundreds of thousands of NSW businesses operating from a home office or workshop. This sector now constitutes the majority of the state's small businesses and contributes significantly to the economy. More information is available at http://hbb.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au. Back to Top Develop Your Own Marketing Strategy Randwick Business Breakfast 20 May 2008 Can you or anyone in your business answer these six fundamental questions that hold the secret to marketing success and improved returns on your marketing tactics? What do you need to be saying? Who do you need to say it to? What makes you different from your competitors? Can you say what you do? Can you say it for best effect? Do you know when to say it for maximum impact? In this exciting breakfast presentation, our presenter Jason Eisner from BrandQuest will explain how you can unlock the answers to these fundamental marketing questions when you develop your own marketing strategy. To find out more and book online see our Networking Calendars: ESBEC - Networking Calendar Clearly Business - Networking Calendar Back to Top Think Big, Act Now Burwood Business Breakfast 6 May 2008 If you are a senior executive, sales professional or business owner responsible for driving business growth then you cannot afford to think small and you certainly cannot afford to sit still. To be successful in today's cluttered, time-poor market you must be innovative, creative and trusted. This requires superior selling and marketing skills and a team that understands who you are, what benefits you deliver and what makes you uniquely different from your competitors. Join Rob Hartnett, Managing Director of Business Performance International, for an entertaining, informative presentation loaded with examples from the business, sporting and entertainment world of how 'big thinking' combined with 'agility' can transform business and personal performance. To find out more and book online see our Networking Calendars: ESBEC - Networking Calendar Clearly Business - Networking Calendar Back to Top Staff Changes at the BEC I would like to advise that Deva Braakensiek, who has been my NEIS Manager for the past three years, has moved on to another job. I know that many clients who started their businesses with Deva's help will join me in wishing Deva all the best. Vanessa Taylor has taken over the role of NEIS coordinator. Other new additions to the BEC office are: Andrew Vassey - Client Liaison Officer, Bondi Junction Amy Johnson - Trainee Client Liaison Officer, City and Bondi Junction Yesim Soyak - Events/WIB and Training Coordinator Back to Top NEIS Remains Top Performer I am pleased to advise that we again received the highest rating of any organisation in the Sydney Metro area for the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS), a program we deliver on behalf of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. NEIS is a small business program that enables unemployed people to put their business ideas into practice. Eligible participants receive: training in business skills and business plan development (we also offer Flexible Pathways to approved applicants) income maintenance (NEIS Allowance) for up to 52 weeks business advice and mentor support for the first year. To apply for this program download an application form from the website at http://www.easternsuburbsbec.com.au/esbec/NEIS/. Read about some of our success stories in our case studies section at http://www.easternsuburbsbec.com.au/common/CaseStudies/. Back to Top Business Speakers Wanted Every six months we put out the call inviting expressions of interest from potential speakers for our Business Thursdays, Business Breakfasts and Business Workshops. If you are interested please email yesim@easternsuburbsbec.com.au with an outline of your topics, target audience and outcomes. Please also include testimonials and a speaker profile. Back to Top Free Help for Sydney Businesses As we approach the halfway mark in the year it's a good time to remind you of the Sydney Business Advisory Service. Are you planning to start a business and need some professional advice? Or are you an existing business in need of help? Free, independent and confidential advice is available through the Sydney Business Advisory Service. Our qualified professionals can advise you on a range of business issues including: business planning understanding regulations financing management skills marketing and market research mentor support. We also offer business skills training and a range of self-help tools and resources. This service is available to all businesses in the local government areas of Ashfield, Bankstown, Burwood, Canada Bay, City of Sydney, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Randwick, Strathfield, Waverley and Woollahra. Consultations are based at: Level 19, 323 Castlereagh Street (near Central Station), Sydney 1A Newland Street, Bondi Junction (Eastern Suburbs BEC) Bankstown at Bankstown Council, Bankstown Civic Tower, 66-72 Rickard Road (cnr Jacobs Street), Bankstown. This program is delivered on behalf of the NSW State Government Department of State and Regional Development. To book a one hour consultation at any of our sites call the Sydney Business Advisory Centre on 1300 650 058 or to book into one of our free start-up seminars see our Pathway Workshop Calendars: ESBEC - Pathway Workshop Calendar Clearly Business - Pathway Workshop Calendar Back to Top Business Support Wherever You Are in Australia Did you know the BEC national network has 110 points of representation Australia-wide? If you are visiting regional New South Wales or interstate, you can contact your local centre to ask for a referral to the BEC in the area you are visiting. Most BECs have networking functions or can introduce you to the local community. Our national website http://www.beca.org.au has details of our national network. Back to Top Look BIG, Work Smarter Clearly Office is a dynamic and versatile environment designed to foster new and emerging businesses and assist existing businesses to achieve their strategic goals. At our Castlereagh Street office, we offer: serviced offices virtual offices board room, meeting and interview rooms casual office training rooms. Conveniently located in the Sydney CBD, our offices also provide: easy access to light rail, trains and buses park and city views cafés, post office and other facilities within close walking distance. For more information visit www.clearlyoffices.com.au or email mara@clearlybusiness.com.au. Back to Top Microenterprise Loans for Small Business NAB and BECA join forces to support small business The National Australia Bank (NAB) and Business Enterprise Centres Australia (BECA) are offering an innovative program for eligible small businesses to access finance to start or grow their business. Microenterprise loans are unsecured business loans of between $500 and $20,000 for people on low incomes who may have difficulty accessing normal credit. The loans are available to help start up or support existing businesses with five or fewer employees. This includes sole traders and businesses operating from home. This initiative through the NAB will assist many entrepreneurs who, previously, could not access normal loans. Too often, good ideas go begging solely because the entrepreneur cannot access funds to get started. The NAB Microenterprise Loan will assist many of these people kickstart a whole new career that could change their life. The program aims to support businesses that undertake training and support through our BEC. To be considered for a NAB Microenterprise Loan, applicants must: have completed BEC Australia approved training in Small Business Management, Business Skills, and Business Plan development have been operating a business for at least 6 months be seeking a business loan of between $500 and $20,000 to continue an enterprise with 5 or fewer employees be 18 years and over be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Australian Resident be willing to continue to work with a BEC mentor for at least 12 months. ensure that they are not eligible for a normal NAB business loan. To apply for loan or to receive an information pack contact daniel@clearlybusiness.com.au. Back to Top CeBIT Australia Business-to-Business Event 20-22 May, Darling Harbour, Sydney An opportunity not to be missed - free entry to CeBIT Australia (exhibition only) worth $65 to every BEC member. CeBIT Australia is the largest business-to-business event in Australasia for information and communications technology. Join over 35,000 professionals to understand, analyse, sample and select the right technology solutions for your business from over 750 solutions providers. If your seeking in depth knowledge about how technology can transform a business check out the CeBIT Australia conference program, or for high level networking join the ICT Celebration Dinner. BEC members also receive discounted conference tickets ($100 off). Please contact reception@clearlybusiness.com.au to take advantage of this great offer. For more info please visit www.cebit.com.au and use promo code: becaca08 Back to Top Family Business Association NSW Conference Critical issues for family business Who should attend? Family business owners Family business management teams Non-family members working in a family business Small, medium and large family businesses Date: Thursday, 15 May 2008 Venue: Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour Time: 8:00am - 9:00am Conference registration 9:00am - 5:00pm Conference program 5:00pm - 6:00pm Conference networking drinks For more information or to register visit www.fambiz.com.au. Back to Top Newsletter edited by Harvest Communication.

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