Welcome to our August newsletter!

In this month's newsletter:

News from CEO David Baumgarten
Waverley Council continues its support
Channel 7 Business Entrepreneur program seeks inventors/ innovators
Chambers of Commerce

Ride for Life - Prince of Wales Hospital
Update on the Business Enterprise Centres Network
Hughenden Boutique Hotel - new conference room
Sydney Business Advisory Service in Bankstown and Burwood

Calling all Home-based business in Canada Bay
Business Clusters - let's get them happening!
Want to link to our websites?
Randwick Small Business Awards
Made in Australia -Our Business Heroes Reveal their Secrets
Business Lounge is here


DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Stepping up Program - Information Session 23rd August
Community Noticeboard
Humour in Business - networking workshop 9th August
Australian Businesswomen's Network (ABN) Expo 13th August

What keeps you awake at night? - Small Business Expo 26th-28th August
National Business Roadshow (first day of Small Business Expo)
Sky Channel Satellite Breakfast 1st Sept - 'Smart ways to succeed in the 21st century'
Business September - Technology webinar

News from CEO David Baumgarten

August is gearing up to be another monster month for small business. However before we look at what is coming up, let me share with you my July.

In one word it was the Australia Post launch of their small business awards. Just in our Sydney Business Advisory area we were involved in four launches. What great networking, venues and speakers! We had over 570 attendees and I had a ball. It was David at his best……. Networking, networking and more networking!

Ita Buttrose was at the Canada Bay Launch, what a lady!What an inspiration to us all. Olympian gold medallist Mark Tonelli had us all doing swim strokes at the Bankstown launch. Not a good look in a business suit (but when I think about it, a better look than in my swimmers!)

Andrew Daddo at The Eastern Suburbs launch kept us all entertained with his insight into his career and the world of TV. The official launch was at the Wentworth Hotel where lingerie guru Peter Alexander took us through the launch of his multi million dollar business. A great home-based business success story (and ladies, he tells us he does not wear PJs!).

Also at the city launch it was great to see David Campbell, The NSW Minister for Small Business.

In July I was a guest speaker at the Torch Newspaper monthly business lunch and caught up with Helen Westwood, Mayor of Bankstown and John English, Managing Director from the Torch.

At Burwood we had the third of the Burwood Business Breakfast Series. David Weiley, Mayor of Burwood, and Pat Romano, General Manager, joined over 100 business operators to hear networking guru Robyn Henderson talk to us about the dos and don'ts of effective networking. These breakfasts are sponsored by Burwood Council, Clearly Business, RM Gregory and The Inner West Courier. Thank you to all sponsors.

Looking now to August, we have the Australian Business Network (ABN) Expo on 13th August. I recently had coffee with ABN board member Amy Lyden from Bow Wow Meow and she tells me they are all geared up for a great expo.

Over at Kings Cross, Karen Watkins from Business Connect is putting the finishing touches to the Small Business Expo which is on the 26th to 28th August. Pre-register for this event and gain a free entry. Further details on both of these events are in the body of our newsletter.

Read on and catch up on our home-based business program in the Inner West, what's new on our community noticeboard, where to find your local chamber of commerce and a reminder about the Randwick Small Business Awards and our new initiative, the Business Lounge.

Plus our next networking event is 'Humour in Life, Humour in Business' on the 9th August - lets put the F word back in our business (thanks Di). I am talking about the F word FUN, of course!

We hope to see you at one of the business events in August and do not be shy - please come up and say hello.

Have a great month.

Regards
David Baumgarten, CEO

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Waverley Council continues its support

Our organisation and all small business owe the Waverley Council a big vote of gratitude. Back in1988 the council was one of the organisations that came together to plant the seed that has grown to what the organisation is today.

Every year they provide funding under the Community Grants program to allow us to provide the service in the Eastern Suburbs BEC. A big thank you to Kim Anson, General Manager, and Mayor, Councillor Peter Moscatt.

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Channel 7 Business Entrepreneur program seeks inventors/ innovators

The Channel 7 program 'Dragons Den' is seeking inventors/ innovators to participate in the show.

'Dragons Den' gives innovators, inventors, small business owners or anyone with a great business idea the opportunity to pitch their concept to a panel of actual investors - in front of a national TV audience.

In each episode, some business pitchers will receive actual investment capital from panel members, for a negotiable equity share in their company. Others might go home empty-handed, but hopefully wiser for the advice offered.

The panel of investors has already been assembled - they  have been selected for their business expertise and for their readiness to invest their own funds in viable new Australian products and businesses.

Channel 7 is currently advertising nationwide for prospective business pitchers and this is where you come in. The first show will be recorded in Sydney.

If you are interested then email your contact details to Emma Scanlan escanlan@seven.com.au for further details and an application form.

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Chambers of Commerce

I am always getting small, business operators asking me ""Where is my local chamber of commerce?" In my travels I am getting to meet the chambers that come within the Sydney Business Advisory Service area.

We are looking at ways we can complement what they are doing by referring members and promoting their events. As would be expected I have a very good relationship with the chambers in the Eastern Suburbs and am involved in a number of their initiatives.

I must congratulate Steven Lucas from the Bondi Junction chamber for the sterling job he is doing. We have been invited to assist with four functions over the next 12 months.

I also sit on the Randwick Small Business Awards, run by the chambers in the Randwick area, and I can tell you we are having lots of fun!

At the Bankstown Australia Post Awards I caught up with Sean and Kerrie from the Revesby Chamber and I recently had coffee with Barry from the Pyrmont Ultimo Chambers.

One of the major supporters of the Burwood Business Breakfast is Doug Sutherland (former Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney and President of the Burwood Chamber. I was very pleased to see at the Burwood Breakfast the ladies from the Croydon Park Chamber of Commerce.

If you know of any other chambers I would appreciate their contact details.

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Ride for Life - Prince of Wales Hospital

One of our members Richard Christie from McMahon Lawyers is one of the sponsors for this year's fundraising event for the Prince of Wales Hospital.

This event comprises a bike ride and dinner on Saturday 13 August 2005. The ride is in Centennial Park and the dinner at Randwick Labour Club. All proceeds raised go to the Prince of Wales Hospital Oncology Department.

I just noticed on the flyer that they have a raffle with the major prize being a 10 day intrepid cycling holiday to Vietnam. For us non-cyclists that could hurt!

To apply fill in the entry form: Ride for Life Entry Form

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Update on the Business Enterprise Centres Network

I thought it timely to give you an update on the BEC Network. I am really pleased to advise that we have 37 points of representation across the state. What a resource for small business!

The strength of the network is the diversity of services, resources and linkages into the local business community in which they operate. Our network extends from Casino, where you will find Shirley McNaughton, down to Cooma, run by John Mercer.

We extend westwards to Broken Hill and Parkes/Forbes, and northwards to Tweed Heads. As you can see, we cover the whole state.

We are also a national organisation, with 130 BECs across Australia. Plus there are also BECs in New Zealand. We will soon have a listing of all the centres on our website.

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Hughenden Boutique Hotel - new conference room

As you may be aware we have our cocktail functions at the Hughenden Boutique Hotel at Woollahra. I was at the hotel the other day and have seen the new conference room that has been built.

So if you are looking for a venue that offers something special, this is it. And if you want to book in just mention that you have come through this newsletter and Elizabeth Gervay will look after you.

To contact the Hughenden Hotel call (02) 9363 4863

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Sydney Business Advisory Service in Bankstown and Burwood

We deliver the Sydney Business Advisory Service on behalf of the New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development. I am very conscious of the needs of small businesses in all parts of the patch. I am working very closely with the local councils looking at ways I can add some value to the initiatives that they already have in place.

I am very pleased to advise that Bankstown Council have agreed to provide a room once a month - and if needed one day a week - for us to provide a free business advisory service to the residents of the Bankstown area. Our facilitator David McLeod will be at Bankstown this month on the 17th August.

In addition to offering free business facilitation he will also be running a free Introduction to Business workshop. To book into the workshop or the Business Advisory Service phone 1300 650 058.  

The Torch Newspaper has agreed to support this initiative by advertising the service. A big thank you to Bankstown Council and the Torch newspaper for their continued support of the small business sector.

I am also pleased to advise that Burwood council have also offered a similar arrangement. We will advise in a future newsletter when this initiative takes place.

We already offer Business Facilitation at our City and Bondi Junction offices 5 days a week. For more information or to book a consultation visit our Sydney Business Advisory Service web page or email dmcleod@clearlybusiness.com.au

Also part of our Business Advisory Service is a range of business skills workshops on starting a business, business planning and marketing. We are constantly updating our Training and Workshop Calendars (click on the links below to view the calendars).

ESBEC Training Calendar
Clearly Business Training Calendar

ESBEC Sydney BAS Workshop Calendar
Clearly Business Sydney BAS Workshop Calendar

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Calling all home-based business in Canada Bay

I recently met with Stephanie Kelly from Canada Bay Council and she has agreed to assist us with the running of the State Government's Home-Based Action Program. We hope to commence the first of these action plans, on marketing, on 21st September.

The program will be offered at Five Dock Library, compliments of the Canada Bay Council. Stephanie Kelly is a veritable tornado, sweeping all before her with the enthusiasm to assist small business in the Canada Bay area! So now we are looking for your support.

This is the first of our initiatives in the area with many more to come. A recap of this program can be found on our Home-Based Action Program web pages:

ESBEC: Home-based Business Action Program
Clearly Business: Home-based Business Action Program


Once again, a big thank you to Canada Bay Council.

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Business Clusters - let's get them happening!

Industry and business collaboration has long been recognised as one of the most practical and strategic options for successfully negotiating today's increasingly competitive and global marketplace. Working together for growth helps overcome the scale and capability limits inherent in operating an individual enterprise.

Facilitation of new ideas and ways of doing things, creating momentum, productively tackling obstacles and barriers and opening up new and successful commercial opportunities are just some of the benefits to be gained from working together.

Employment growth and jobs retention, increased investment and enhanced domestic and export performance are just some of the positive economic spin-offs from the "collaborative" approach.

The NSW Department of State and Regional Development recognises the enormous potential in working together and through its Business Cluster program can provide tailored non-financial and financial support to established small and medium enterprises to maximise this potential.

Business Cluster funding supports the facilitation and growth of substantive and critical geographical and/or industry sector collaborative efforts. With a large range of benefits, Business Cluster funding encourages feasibility and formation through to operational and strategic ongoing sustainability.

These cluster structures typically include many organisations such as private companies, government and other public institutions and not-for-profit organisations that share a mutual goal to address a significant economic issue.

Business Network funding seeks to support smaller groups of companies, which strategically choose to work together to develop a specific domestic or export opportunities.

As I continue my discussions with councils, chambers and industry I will be looking for opportunities to further discuss the creation of business clusters.

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Want to link to our websites?

I am looking for organisations or individuals that provide services to the small business sector to link to our websites www.easternsuburbsbec.com.au and www.clearlybusiness.com.au from their websites. We will then add your business to our Helpful Links web pages.

Should you wish to add a link please send an email to webmaster@easternsuburbsbec.com.au including a brief description of your business (no more than 50 characters)

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Randwick Small Business Awards

Our organisation has been associated with these awards since their inception. I am very proud to be involved as a committee member together with Kensington, Kingsford, Coogee and Randwick Chambers of Commerce and The Spot Business Association. The Southern Courier is again a sponsor of the awards.

I strongly encourage all businesses located in the Randwick municipality to make themselves aware of the awards and submit an entry form.

Further information can be obtained at Randwick Business Awards

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Made in Australia -Our Business Heroes Reveal their Secrets

Made in Australia provides an extraordinary insight into the success stories of Australian entrepreneurs from many different walks of life.

The authors have deliberately chosen to profile small and medium enterprises (SMEs) because they represent by far the largest portion of the market in Australia.

As many of the entrepreneurs highlighted in this book reveal, often the difference between being a successful small business and a large one is simply having an entrepreneurial spirit and the hunger to grow.

Meet the business heroes of Made in Australia

• Ros & John Moriarty - The Jumbana Group
• Dr Fiona Wood - Clinical Cell Culture
• Anthony Bell - Bell Partners
• Jason Lea - Darrell Lea Chocolates
• Bob Thorn - Super Cheap Auto
• David Gaul - CEA Technologies
• Simone Zimmerman - Zimmerman Wear
• Rob Lynch - Stellar Inflight
• Andrew Bassat - SEEK
• James Stevens - Roses Only
• Kirsty Dunphey - M&M Harcourts Real Estate
• Julian Tertini - Fantastic Furniture
• Simon Brown - Resourceco
• Christine Kininmonth - Fertile Mind
• Peter Nichols - Footwear Industries
• Andrew Shanahan - Andrew's Airport Parking

This book is brought to you by IBM who themselves were once a relatively small business. As IBM has grown over the years, it has never lost sight of its roots and the drivers that have been at the core of its success: innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Made in Australia is published by Switzer Group 2005 .

The book cost is $29.95 with all proceeds going to charity

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Business Lounge is here!

We have now launched this initiative and are currently preparing invites to our fortnightly invitation only events.

The purpose of the Business Lounge is networking. We run the lounge at our city office every fortnight and invite people who we believe operate in a common industry or may be able to do business with each other.

We are offering business lounge events by industry sector, geographic locations or for a particular project.

Events last no longer than 2 hours and take the form of a cocktail function but with a limited number of people. They are by invitation only.

To register your interest in attending one of this events or offer suggestions for a theme/industry sector, please email nichole@clearlybusiness.com.au.

On your email please put 'Business Lounge' as the subject heading and specify the theme /industry sector you are interested in.

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Stepping up Program- Information Session 23rd August

Have you been in business more than two years with a turnover in excess of $200,000? Are you committed to growing your business? If so then this program is for you.

The Stepping Up Program includes up to 10 hours of small group workshops and seminars on topics such as cash flow management, pricing and costing, marketing, risk management, strategic planning and innovation planning. The specific topics will be determined prior to commencement of the program, to suit participants' needs.

Participants will also have access to an experienced business person as mentor who has been screened and assessed by the NSW Government's business development agency, the Department of State and Regional Development (DSRD).

These mentors will be available to participants for up to 10 hours over the course of the program to help them develop strategies to overcome a business hurdle or pursue an identified business opportunity or market.

We have an information session on the 23rd August from 6-7pm at our City offices, Level 19, 323 Castlereagh Street and are currently taking applications for the program starting in September.  

For more details about the Stepping Up Mentor Program see our web pages:

ESBEC - Stepping Up Mentor Program
Clearly Business - Stepping Up Mentor Program


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Community Noticeboard

In this month's Community Noticeboard we advise of a new networking group forming in Canada Bay and looking for members. I have also found another group in Canada Bay called the Olympic City Referral network.

In Bankstown we have a business growth workshop for Arabic business operators and in the Eastern Suburbs we have several events in August - including a Chamber of Commerce breakfast with the taxman!

For more details click on the links below to view our Community Noticeboards:

ESBEC Community Noticeboard
Clearly Business Community Noticeboard


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Humour In Business - networking workshop 9th August

I updated our website last week with this workshop. I have since received over 30 emails commenting on the theme and supporting this initiative to bring humour back into our lives and businesses.

At this workshop everyone can use the F word - FUN! We are back to a founding sponsor, the Swiss Grand, for this event. I look forward to showcasing this majestic building.

More information on this networking workshop can be found on our Networking Calendars:

ESBEC Networking Calendar
Clearly Business Networking Calendar

To secure a place email Deb at our Bondi Junction office on reception@easternsuburbsbec.com.au or download Humour in Business and fax back on 9387 6441

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Australian Businesswomen's Network (ABN) Seminar & Expo Day 13th August

Join in this one-day wonderland of keynote presentations from successful entrepreneurs together with a business development workshop, doorprizes, showbags and an extensive expo. Great networking opportunities - so don't forget your business cards!

Speakers:

Lena Malouf - Lena Malouf Events
Paul Cave - Bridge Climb
Bahar Geddes - Brandmakers
Sharon Williams - Taurus Marketing

For further details see the ABN 2005 Expo Brochure

This organisation is very proud to be associated with the ABN.

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What keeps you awake at night? - Small Business Expo 26th-28th August

Free Entry if you pre-register - SAVE $15!

This expo is a must for those in small business, offering a smorgasbord of events, advice, inspiration, resources, motivation, connections and ideas. More than 500 brands will be on display from over 100 companies showcasing all the latest products, services and technology to improve the productivity of your business.

Where: Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour
When: 26th -28th August Times: Friday & Saturday 9 am to 5 pm,  Sunday 9.30am to 4 pm
Cost: Entry is free if you pre-register   Register online

Some of the speakers are:

• The Hon David Campbell, NSW Minister for Small Business
• Rod Macqueen, AM
• Simon Reynolds, Love Communications
• Donna Hay, Donna Hay magazine
• Karen Matthews, Ella Bache
• John McGrath, McGrath Real Estate
• James Stevens, Roses Only
• Dr John Tickell

View seminar program

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National Business Roadshow (first day of Small Business Expo)

Microsoft Australia and Quicken Australia are undertaking a National Business Roadshow which gets underway on 1st August and which will be hosted by Sydney on 26th August.

Other companies participating in this national event, which will take in some 30 cities and towns throughout Australia in a six-week period, include Hewlett Packard, Harvey Norman, Telstra, American Express and Bigpond.

As you can see from the above, Australia's leading names in business technology have joined together to bring the latest in this technology to small businesses right across Australia.

You are invited to each of the 30 events where you will be able to see demonstrations of the latest in small business technology and learn how technology choices can affect the growth and efficiency of businesses.

A special invite to the accountants on our database as they play a vital role in the small business sector. More information about this event can be found at the www.businessroadshow.com.au

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Sky Channel Satellite Breakfast 1st Sept - 'Smart ways to succeed in the 21st century'

The launch of Business September is via the above broadcast which links up the 18 Business Advisory Centres across the state, who in turn gather their business communities together for breakfast, networking and to listen to a panel of experts.

Our panel this year will anchored by: Peter Switzer from Switzer Communication, small business editor for The Australian newspaper, author of the book '350 Ways To Grow Your Small Business', host of Talking Business for Qantas and a lot more. The panel will comprise:

Westpac - David Dandie, National Manager, Business Advisory and Training
Telstra - Jenny Roche, Head of Small Business, Telstra Consumer & Marketing
Australian Business Limited - Kevin MacDonald, General Manager, Operations

We have two locations to choose from: the City for those in the Inner West and Bondi Junction for those in the East.
Breakfast starts at 7.15am for a 7.30am start, finishing by 8.30am. See our Networking Calendars for further details:

Bondi Junction: ESBEC Networking Calendar
City: Clearly Business Training Calendar

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Business September - Technology Webinar

During Business September we will be launching our first webinar - online seminar - aptly titled 'Extend Your Business Reach with Technology'. Yes, you can now access expert tuition from your own desk! The workshop is conducted entirely online.

This workshop is designed for those with little or no knowledge of communications technologies. It will introduce you to the various technologies available to extend your business reach. It will give you an overview of the latest features and practical examples of audioconferencing, videoconferencing, web conferencing, blogs and podcasting

You will learn: