SERVING THE COASTAL VILLAGES OF THE NORTHERN ILLAWARRA SINCE 1996
Presidents Report
Hi Everyone,
What terrific feedback we have had on our two new networking events, Mix@6. Thank you to all members who brought along other non-member business colleagues and to our hosts – Bevans of Thirroul and the Centennial Hotel in Helensburgh. Special thanks must also go to Warwick Erwin from Stanwell Tops Technical Services for supplying both business card draw prizes.
In July we resume our normal General Meetings at the Cliffhanger Function Centre at Bulli Tops, the last before our Annual General Meeting to be held on the 3rd August, with a special Business Presentation by Caroline Wade-Martens from Attitude to Burn.
Nominations for positions on the 2010-2011 Executive Committee are now being called in advance of the Chamber's Annual General Meeting, where all Executive Committee positions will be declared vacant. If you are interested in standing for a position on the Executive Committee but would like more information, please feel free to have a chat to any one of the current Executive. More information can be found on the website.
The Chamber is also in the early stages of organising Safe Food Handling courses for our Hospitality and retail food service businesses in both Helensburgh and Thirroul, to eliminate extra travel for our members – more details in next month’s Blast.
Renewal notifications have now been sent out to all members and so with the end of June fast approaching we would like to remind you that annual membership fees are now due. Effective 1 July 2010 fees will be set at $120 for the Member Level and $500 for Platinum Level.
Take advantage of the early payment discount and pay your membership fee by 30 June at the reduced rate of $110 (Member Level). Pay by direct deposit to NICC or mail your cheque to the Secretary, NICC – full details are available here.
Take your positions - Executive Committee 2010-11
Would you like to be more involved in the direction of Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce in 2010-11? The AGM will be held on Tuesday 3rd August 2010 and nominations are being now called. Holding a position on the Executive Committee is very rewarding as you play a key role in the policy, strategic planning and marketing activities that directly support and promote the interests of the business community of our region.
The Executive Committee meet once per month to discuss and coordinate meetings, events, media, marketing campaigns and membership. So if this sounds like you, or another worthy member you think would be interested, nominate now via the Nomination Form on our website or email the Chamber Secretary, Andrew Hedley at secretary@nicc.net.au. If you prefer to discuss things in more detail before deciding to nominate, please feel free to contact any one of current Committee.
MS and the Chamber collaborate
The relationship with the MS Sydney to Gong Ride organisers is progressing well in terms of the opportunities to market our region and our member businesses to 10,000 of their event participants, and also to be involved with the organisers in traffic management plans for the upcoming event. In return, the Chamber has offered its support to help MS recruit volunteer marshalls for event day. Stay tuned for more information about this in next months Blast.
The Chamber will offer MS as as competition prize, $500 worth cash vouchers to be spent at any NICC member business as a marketing initiative giving the winner a reason to return to our region and spend with our member businesses.The $500 prize will be promoted through the MS Sydney to Gong Bike Ride event website and in their direct mail campaign. MS have also given the Chamber the opportunity to have exhibitor presence at the Finish Line at Stuart Park enabling us to futher promote our region directly to the event participants. We will have more information about this opportunity in the coming months.
April Business Promotion Wrap up
Thank you to the all of the member businesses who participated in this year’s April Buy Local Business Promotion collecting 1867 entries, three times the number collected last year.
The top 10 businesses collecting the most entries were Oat and Honey 526, Otford Pantry 131, House Warehouse Helensburgh 123, Heritage Cellars 118, Thirroul Optical 116, Boutique Thirroul106, Helensburgh Car Services 100 Stanwell park Physiotherapy 86, See Side Optical 80 and Scarletts of Thirroul 75.
Our breakdown analysis showed that of these entries customers originated from the regions of Northern Illawarra at 87%, Northern and Southern Wollongong suburbs 10% and South Sydney 2%.
The Chamber has decided that based on its success in generating media exposure to drive customers directly to our member businesses, the April Business Promotion will become an annual marketing event.
Facebook page for Tourist Trails
After the recent success in launching the Chamber’s Tourist Trails of the Northern Illawarra Coastal Villages on the NICC website, through the Northern Illawarra Visitors Guide and at the Southern Gateway Centre, the Trails now have their own Facebook page. To view the page you will need to have joined Facebook - a name and email address is all you need to get started!
It is hoped that by opening up the Trails as a Travel Product in a social media environment, travellers can post information and interact with each other about their experiences on the Trails and about our region; and the participating businesses on the Tourist Trails will be able to inform and market themselves in another medium directly to their target audience. So we encourage members to tell everyone about the Tourist Trails - check them out and download them from the NICC website, and then 'start the Facebook conversation'.
The Chamber is also investigating opportunities to partner with a local tour operators as well as liaising with government funding sources in order to promote the Tourist Trails more broadly.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Membership Renewals Due 30 June.jpg)
Would you like to be more involved in the direction of Northern Illawarra Chamber of Commerce in 2010-11? The AGM will be held on Tuesday 3rd August 2010 and nominations are being now called. Holding a position on the Executive Committee is very rewarding as you play a key role in the policy, strategic planning and marketing activities that directly support and promote the interests of the business community of our region.(4).JPG)
MS and the Chamber collaborate
April Business Promotion Wrap up.jpg){kind=small}
