Thank you for a record breaking Small Business September!
Industry & Investment NSW would like to thank our sponsors, partners, and attendees for their help in making Small Business September 09 the biggest and best ever. The program relies completely on local and regional businesses getting involved, and it wouldn't happen without this support.
We are delighted to announce this was a record breaking year. Despite the economic challenges, nearly 140 partners and sponsors hosted over 375 events across NSW, celebrating their passion and commitment to their industry.
Even though Small Business September 09 is over, please make sure you visit our new website to find hints, tips and tools for your small business. It is packed with up-to-date information and has been developed for all small business owners and operators who want to start, run or grow a business. The website includes news, events, links, information and interactive resources including the Small Business Tool Kit.
Industry & Investment NSW runs events for small businesses throughout the year. Please visit the events section of the smallbiz website for more information about these events or to register your (free and/or non-profit) events.
Expressions of interest for Small Business September 2010
Small Business September is not possible without the support of our sponsors and we are keen to explore new opportunities and ideas from businesses who are interested in sponsoring Small Business September 2010. Please email your expression of interest to smallbizsept@business.nsw.gov.au.
Thanks again for your support and we look forward to seeing you next year.
The Smallbiz Team
Micro businesses sell out Flying Solo LIVE!
Over 370 micro business owners attended Flying Solo LIVE! on Wednesday 16 September and the event sold out.
“Ticket sales way exceeded expectations. After some speedy negotiations with the venue we accommodated over 370 people this year – up from the 250 strong crowd last year,” says Robert Gerrish, founder of Flying Solo.
Connecting through social media
Author, speaker, marketer and business coach Iggy Pintado gave a wrapt audience the low down on how to leverage social media tools at the Small Business September forum, The Connected Business.
At the end they were ready to ditch their business cards and sign up for Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.
The main points he made were:
Check the statistics
- 70 per cent of Australians visited a social network in June
- 95 per cent of Australian SMEs have internet access
- 71 per cent of SMEs say websites have increased their business
- Google had 10.7 Australian visits in June
- of the 12 most visited Australian websites, 10 allow user interaction.
Look at the connection opportunities
- Connect to customers
- Connect to groups
- Available 24/7 — sell while you sleep
- Global coverage
- Stay competitive
The 4Ps of online networking
Purpose — decide what you’re trying to do before choosing social media tools. Is your purpose to service customers, build a brand or prospect for leads? For example Telstra is using Twitter to respond to customer problems.
Profile — be found, find others, go where other people gather. Frumpy Brit singer Susan Boyle has used her five minutes of fame to build a profile on Facebook that will help her sell the upcoming debut album.
Participation — it’s like being at a party, you have to introduce yourself and listen to others. You can ask a question on Twitter for example to do simple, free research and winnow the responders for follow-up business contact.
Persistence — as with losing wait or creating a new body through exercise, you have to persist. Iggy recommends a 30-minute social media workout each day to activate supporters and nurture communities within your customer base.
Banking myths busted
Representatives from four banks (three big, one small) corrected some common misconceptions at a recent Small Business September seminar.
Myth 1 – Banks won’t lend for small business start-up ventures
NAB offers microenterprise loans of up to $20,000 to clients who:
- have completed the Australian Government’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) small business training
- have been approved to receive a NEIS allowance
- are willing to continue working with a small business mentor for at least 12 months.
Myth 2 — Small business can’t bank with a small bank
Smaller banks like the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank may offer:
- specialist business banking expertise at every branch
- local branch managers with decision-making authority
- face-to-face contact and direct phone access to your branch manager
- extended trading hours.
Myth 3 — Big banks won’t help small business through tough times
ANZ has:
- committed $8 billion in new lending to SMEs in 2009 to help with cash flow needs and support new investments
- extended additional support to SMEs, including specialist assistance to those in difficulty
- made dedicated specialists available through the toll-free hotline 1800 252 845
- committed to offering tailored, case-by-case solutions.
Myth 4 — You're on your own with business succession planning
Banks like Westpac can assist with advice and products to address both:
- voluntary succession
- involuntary, unexpected succession.
View the full Power Point presentation of Busting Banking Myths.
Small Business September starts with a bang
With David Koch as MC, two thought-provoking marketing presentations and choc tops at intermission, the launch of Small Business September proved a hit with the capacity crowd in attendance at Greater Union Cinemas in the Sydney CBD.
Beginning with the unveiling of the new small business website by the Minister for Small Business Steve Whan, the event explored one of the most problematic areas for many small businesses — marketing.
There was plenty for the audience to take home from the marketing strategies devised by Australian Business Marketing Services and Red Ark for, respectively, Pacdon and Your HRmanager, the winners of the Small Business September marketing makeover competition.
The recipe for success for Pacdon, makers of traditional English smallgoods from Australian Business Marketing Services was:
- create a two-tiered brand to appeal to the two different markets for Pacdon products — expats pining for traditional fare and lovers of fine food
- engage with your customers through the website by creating a competition for the best poster showing where they eat a Pacdon pork pie
- develop partnerships with other regional suppliers, for example with cheese, wine and smallgoods makers, so that you can tap in to their distribution networks and do joint marketing
- think about manufacturing smallgoods for other companies under their labels to absorb excess production capacity.
Red Ark looked at on practical solutions for Your HRmanager, which provides on-call support to small to midsized businesses lacking internal HR expertise. Their marketing solution focussed on determining what set the business apart from its competitors and putting the three elements identified — "expert", "guardian" and "personal" at the centre of all communication. Red Ark then incorporated these elements in a new website design which featured:
- an informative video from John Webster of Your HRmanager on a current people management issue, a feature which, in the digital age, is no longer prohibitively expensive
- clear statements on the benefits of doing business with the company
- customer feedback.
Red Ark reiterated the message that websites must engage and start a conversation with customers and also recommended expert search engine optimisation.
Industry & Investment NSW will track how Pacdon and Your HRmanager are utilising the marketing makeover ideas over the next few months.
There are many other marketing events running during Small Business September plus events on every other topic of interest.
Mini-exhibition but maximum export import impact
REGISTRATION is now OPEN for the Import Export Show On the Road Sydney events in Sydney CBD on Monday 7th September and in Parramatta on Wednesday 16 September 2009.
The On the Road program offers two days of practical and inspiring seminars and workshops that will leave you equipped to take on the world! The seminars are aimed at SME importers and exporters at varying stages of business development.
We have tailored the program by offering beginner and advanced streams for some sessions on 7th September and segmenting import and export as separate half day sessions on 16th September.
The Import Export Show On the Road is the only event to offer you a mini-exhibition of government agencies and private sector providers who will be available to talk about their solutions and services designed specifically to assist SME international traders.
Monday 7th September, Sydney CBD - SIGN UP NOW!
Wednesday 16th September in Parramatta - SIGN UP NOW!
We address the essentials with deeply informative sessions covering legal, financial and freight & logistics for both beginners and established businesses. Separate interactive workshops will be conducted by experts and feature successful and enthusiastic SME business owners willing to impart what they have learned along their journeys to success.
Split into Import morning and Export afternoon, these half day sessions will inspire and challenge you to think about the development of your own international trade businesses.
- Hear from importers and exporters who have taken their businesses from humble beginnings and have achieved great success
- Find out what government support and assistance is available to help you on your way
- Hear from specialist consultants whose job it is to help businesses grow and market themselves strategically and effectively
The Import Export Show On the Road seminars offer great value at $55 - $65 per session. Nowhere else will you get two days of seminars on import and export and the opportunity to meet directly with the government and business community (our exhibitors) who will be your main support network through your business journey
10 reasons why you should become a Small Business September event partner
As an event partner of Small Business September 09:
- Your organisation will be one of 150 organisations contributing to the biggest Small Business event in Australia.
- You will have access to the tens on thousands of visitors who search for events on the Small Business September website.
- Your organisation will be listed on the Small Business September website.
- You will be able to promote your organisation as a "Proud Supporter of Small Business September 09".
- You can manage your registrations online.
- You can use the Small Business September 09 webtile on your websites, newsletters or emails (available shortly).
- You can use the Small Business September 09 Media Release template.
- You will have access to event management resources including Event checklists.
- You can use the Small Business September 09 event templates including feedback form, name tag, PowerPoint presentation and invitation template in word and html.
- You will be able to upload your event presentations to provide an ongoing business growth resource and promote your organisation.
How do you become an event partner?
You can register as an event partner of Small Business September 09 for free by entering your details on this website. Please click on the Become a partner - host an event link to start the process. To manage your account once you have registered please access via the login link in the top right hand corner of the webpage.
Who can become an event partner?
Specialist service providers, training organisations, industry specific organisations and associations, local councils, chambers of commerce or any company interested in hosting an event that is aimed at the small to medium businesses market and can provide them with information that is practical, topical and helps grow their business.
About Small Business September
Over the past 10 years, Small Business September would not have been the continual success it has been without the support and involvement of our Event Partners. This year will be no different.
Since 1999, Small Business September has become the biggest event on the small to medium businesses calendar. This year, the 10th Small Business September will be no different as it continues to provide an array of events focusing on the growth and needs of small business.
300 events and counting
With events from Bondi to Broken Hill and from Wyong to Wagga Wagga, Small Business September 2009 can truly claim to have the state covered. To date there are almost 300 events on the calendar.
Small Business September can also boast of having a huge number of experts ready to advise and educate.
We have the lot: finance and trade gurus, intellectual property lawyers, social media strategists, economists, safety experts, web designers, marketing mavens, even a naturopath.
Search the website for details on events near you and register today. Places are filling fast.
Countdown to Small Business September
Events are locked in, speakers are booked and registrations are building. Everything is set for a great month of activities for the small businesses of NSW.
Be part of the best-ever Small Business September by searching for events on this website relevant to your business and registering today.
Make sure you also look for presentations from all completed major events. We'll post these on the website within a day or two. That way, everyone can get new ideas for their business to soar.
Winners of Small Business Marketing Makeover Competition
With an overwhelming response of more than 130 entrants and after much thorough consideration, it is with great excitement that Industry and Investment NSW announce the two winning businesses of a small business marketing makeover valued at $15,000 each.
The winners are:
Each winner will receive marketing tips and suggestions for their business and industry from the supporting marketing agencies, Australian Business Marketing Services and RedArk who specialise in small businesses and their commercial needs.
The Small Business Marketing Makeover will be held on 1 September 2009 at Greater Union Cinemas, 505-525 George Street Sydney. The event will be opened by Minister for Small Business, Steven Whan and hosted by David Koch, co-host of Channel Seven's popular morning breakfast program, Sunrise and host of the leading small business show - Kochie's Business Builders.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter.
If you have registered to attend the launch and cannot attend please email smallbizsept@business.nsw.gov.au to cancel your attendance as this event is oversubscribed.
