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Newsletter February 2008 |
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Welcome to our February 2008 newsletter! In this month's newsletter: News from CEO David Baumgarten Century 21 Chairman shares his inspirational story Some straight talk about selling Get a great deal on a new laptop, PC or printer Want to do business in China? Your chance to advertise in our show bags
Our Business Thursdays will be starting in March. Keep an eye out for the invitation in your email inbox. To find out more and book online see our Networking Calendars:
News from CEO David Baumgarten Welcome to our first newsletter for 2008. I know, you're wondering, 'What happened to the January newsletter?' It is quite simple. In January I relaxed. Ok, half relaxed. The laptop is never far away. What a year 2008 is going to be for us. The Business Breakfast Series in Burwood, Marrickville, Randwick, Waverley, Canterbury and Bankstown; Business Thursdays in the city, Bondi Junction and Bankstown; a new series of IP workshops; Accelerate Your Business Growth workshops; business skills workshops; eBay and import/export workshops; and the City of Sydney Business Seminar Series. There's also a new initiative, Clearly Growth, (for 3 year plus businesses), and networking events such as the Business Lounge, cocktail events and business luncheons. Programs on offer include the Women In Business Mentor Program, Home Based Business, Pathway and Business Buddies programs, the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme and a new initiative, 'Clearly Business - Talk'. We look forward to working with all our councils, Chambers of Commerce, business groups, state governments and the Federal Government in 2008. I am also looking forward as Deputy Chair of BEC Australia to working with our 2008 National Strategic Alliances, such as HP, the ATO and NAB, to name a few. I look forward most of all to working with you, to help you start a business, grow your business and empower you to reach your business potential To kick the year off we have Charles Tarbey, chairman of Century 21, as guest speaker at the Burwood Business Breakfast on 10 March, and economist Dr Kim Houghton at our Randwick Business Breakfast on 3 March. I hope to see you at our next networking event. David Baumgarten
The new Federal Government has committed to funding a select number of BECs, with Eastern Suburbs BEC and Clearly Business in the initial round of recipients. The Rudd government has committed funding for our BEC for a three years. The extra funding will allow us to offer staff job security, employ more business facilitators, ,extend our service reach ,help cover overheads and to allow me some time to stop and smell the roses. Well done to Small Business Minister Craig Emerson for acknowledging the important role of the BEC National Network. The challenge for us as a National Network is to deliver, and to work towards securing funding for the remaining members of our network.
We need people with small business expertise to help with a new initiative for businesses that have been established for at least three years and that are going through a growth phase or at a business crossroad. This sector needs information and often someone to talk to about topics such as promotion, IT, branding, staffing, finance, council regulations, IP, advertising, or networking, just to name a few. I am seeking volunteers to commit to two half days per year to be available to spend 45 minutes with a small business operator. We will have a calendar of topics and business operators can come to have a talk with our experts. To express your interest email me, david@easternsuburbsbec.com.au, with a short background on your area of expertise.
Century 21 Chairman shares his inspirational story Burwood Business Breakfast Series I was watching the evening news last week and a friend from the past was being interviewed. Century 21 Chairman Charles Tarbey and I go back 20 years to when we were both young men carving our niche in life. I am pleased that Charles has agreed to present at our next Burwood business Breakfast on 10 March. His topic is 'Anything is possible when you don't know what you are doing!' Charles will share with us his amazing story; a true inspiration. I was privileged to see the journey begin and it is a true inspiration. To find out more and book online see our Networking Calendars:
Small Business Futures - prospects for the next 5 years A powerful speaker and expert on small business will launch our 2008 City Of Randwick Combined Chambers of Commerce Business Series. Economist Dr Kim Houghton melds his passion for small business with a great communication style, to help identify future opportunities for your business. Kim's presentation draws on up-to-date economic data, especially consumer purchasing patterns, labour force and disposable income data. He will look at the data for the Eastern Suburbs area and your customer catchment, and offer insights into national and international patterns, with a critical eye to finding the trends and opportunities favoring small businesses. To book, please see our Networking Calendars:
Women in Business Mentor Program Applications for the 2008 Women in Business program are now open. The program is aimed at women who have been in business between six months and two years and now wish to grow their business. You can also read about the personal experiences of previous participants in our online case studies. Further details, application forms and timetable are available on our website or contact the office on 9212 0555 or reception @easternsuburbsbec.com.au. This program is delivered on behalf of the NSW Department of State & Regional Development.
Some straight talk about selling Canada Bay Council Home Based Business Workshops Get some insider tips to improve your sales skills at Canada Bay Council's first Home Based Business Workshop for the year. Date: 26 February 2008 To register for these events you must be a resident of the Canada Bay Council area. To book, contact Stella Coe on Stella.Coe@canadabay.nsw.gov.au or phone 9911 6524.
Flexible work available - reception and admin Our business is growing and we now have the need for a pool of staff we can call on for reception and administration work. Training is available in our Bondi Junction and city receptions. We are also looking for a team of administration staff. NEIS participants are restricted but not exempt from applying. If you are currently doing a NEIS course with us we must hold your application until you finish the program. Please forward your resume to diane@clearlybusiness.com.au.
Adult Training and Assessment Course starting this month A Certificate IV in Training and Assessment Course is beginning this month, for people wishing to train adults in a variety of workplace and vocational settings including TAFE, the VET sector and many corporate and community-based organisations. This course provides the key skills and knowledge required to deliver training and conduct competency-based assessments in a variety of workplace and industry specific contexts. It is aimed at learners who can access a training and assessment environment and requires a high level of language and literacy skills and basic computer knowledge. This course will be run Fridays 22 February - 9 May. For further information please contact the trainer Joanne Barrington on 9089 7619 or via email at training@barringtonconsulting.com.au. PDF TAA Flyer PDF Schedule Fees
Get a great deal on a new laptop, PC or printer Hewlett Packard and BEC Australia have entered a strategic alliance to acknowledge and support small business operators part of our BEC network. Next month we will email you a web link where you can purchase computer hardware online at special member rates.
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:
Designedge Training and Mentoring Fashion Workshops Fashion industry business workshops Morning Session (cost $30.00) Product Development - 9.00am-10.00am Promotion and Marketing - 10.00am-11.00am Business Development - 11.00am-12.00pm Lunch Break 12.00pm-1.00pm Afternoon Session (cost $30.00) Pricing and Costing, 1.00pm-2.00pm Cash Flow Management, 2.00pm-3.00pm TCF Global - Sourcing offshore manufacturers, 3.00pm-3.30pm You may be eligible for 3 nights free accommodation for first time buyers in the TCFWA Buying Mission to Hong Kong Fashion Week. TCF Victoria / Designedge Sydney Online Shop - 3.30pm-4.00pm To find out more and book online see our Training Calendars:
China Forum, 19 March 2008 Australian Business leaders in China will share their secrets from the inside. How to crack the code and create a winning business in the world's largest market! Anyone thinking of doing business or already dealing with China should attend this event. Venue: Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont More information and booking form
Input required for book on recruitment in small business BEC member, small business owner and recruitment specialist Deborah Barit is teaming up with Damien Lynch, senior journalist at The Australian Financial Review newspaper, to develop a practical resource book on how to be successful employers and employees in the small business sector. The authors would like to talk with small business owners and employees from a cross-section of industries to hear their thoughts and experiences on recruitment and employment in small business. They want to know the processes you follow, and your tips and solutions. Subjects they are looking for include:
To register your interest in participating please visit the website www.workinginsmallbusiness.com.au, email info@workinginsmallbusiness.com.au, or phone Deborah Barit (M)
Meet people NOT business cards Networking events are about making a connection with the people you want to get to know and making an impact with what you say. Business cards can be a useful tool at a networking event, but they can be over relied upon. Use the exchange of cards as a way to conversation; not AS the conversation. Listen and share Lead with something that starts the other person's story. "What have you seen that's interesting today? What are you passionate about?" Starting with the other person's story gives them a chance to feel comfortable with a subject. Okay, sometimes people are shy. Then you can start with your story, but with a pass to them at the end. "I'm Chris Brogan. I've been listening to great speakers today, and I'm really excited about the party later tonight. Did you hear anyone interesting?" The card comes last Your business card should come near the end. Do you know why? Because before you communicate, how should you know that you want to continue conversations? Yes, ask for business cards, and yes, communicate about how to contact someone next, but lead with the story. The strength of everything in this digital community and culture is still humanity-driven. Learn that. Be that. Live that. (Author unknown.)
Your chance to advertise in our show bags We get many requests to advertise through our organisation. This year we have decided that we will give our members the opportunity to promote their business via our show bags. The show bags are used for our Business Breakfasts, workshops, business advisory clients, trade shows and business skills workshops. Each show bag will include 10 local advertisers and 5 BEC sponsors/alliances. No two like business brochures will be placed in the same bag. Either one-off event or regular advertising is available. A maximum of 3 months continuous advertising is allowed. Those interested should email reception@clearlybusiness.com.au or phone 9212 0555.
Are bad debts affecting your business? A positive cash flow is imperative to the success of any business. Unfortunately, poor cash flow is posing a serious threat to the continual viability of many businesses. More and more companies are finding it difficult, even impossible, to retrieve monies from customers that simply do not pay their invoices. So what can you do? Professional advice can help you assess your circumstances and investigate a number of possible debt collection measures tailored to your situation. However, to avoid poor cash flow and rising bad debts we strongly suggest that you take a more proactive approach and manage your risk. Professional services available in the area of debt management include:
Michael Quinn, director of the Quinn Group, is an experienced lawyer, accountant and educator. For more information visit www.quinns.com.au or telephone 1300 QUINNS (784 667).
Newsletter edited by Harvest Communication |
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