ust 2015 August 2015
Warrandyte Diary 15
Expo time Morgan Gries, Clare Fountain and Geoff Brown will present at the expo. By SCOTT PODMORE
THE inaugural Greater Warrandyte Business Expo is all set for take-off on Wednesday August 19 with a full house of 30 exhibitors and a full day of informative presentations scheduled. A Small Business Festival Victoria featured event, the expo is aimed to provide a boost for business and the local economy, and is the brainchild of The Woo, a marketing and project management company owned by locals Bambi Gordon and Greg Rowell. “It’s a full day of information and inspiration for the owners and operators of micro, small and medium size businesses from Hurstbridge to Park Orchards, Donvale to Kangaroo Ground, Eltham to Warranwood,” Bambi told the Diar y. “In other words, the business community of Manningham and Nillumbik.” To be held at the Warrandyte Community Church, 57 Yarra St, the expo will comprise 30 exhibitors – all who provide products and services to the local business community – together with more than 20 business development seminars on topics such as cash flow, search engine optimisation, business planning, life/work balance and marketing. Presenters include Morgan Gries, the Bendigo Bank’s small business banking manager, Geoff Brown, the Victorian Small Business commissioner, and successful businesswoman Clare Fountain from Sorted4Life. A first for Warrandyte, Bambi told the Diary it’s a great opportunity for businesses and locals to come together. “There is a vibrant and robust range of businesses accross the region, some of who are represented by the Warrandyte Business Association, and the Manningham
and Nillumbik Business Networks, but until now there hasn’t been an opportunity for all of them to come together,” she said. “The event aims to provide an opportunity for local businesses to network – together with access to business development seminars to give them quality information they can immediately apply to their business.” The Woo has put on many expos throughout regional Australia over the years and Bambi says the best take-away from these events is “motivation”. “Business people get to learn from others, they get to meet people face to face who perhaps they have only connected to online, and importantly they find out that they are not alone; that many people are going through the same challenges as them,” she said. “The impact from the event continues on for many months with lots of new business being done. It helps the individual, of course, but it also has an impact on the local economy. The Greater Warrandyte Business Expo opens at 9am on August 19 and will run all day. It is free to attend, but you must register before the event at www.warrandytebusiness expo.com.au The event can be put on at no charge due to the generous support of major sponsor Warrandyte Community Bank Branch, Bendigo Bank; together with support sponsors Manningham Business, Enterprise Nillumbik, Curlew Creative and Thinking Printing. The complete program is on the expo website, together with free online registration and a list of all exhibitors. Please visit www.warran dytebusinessexpo.com.au
Olivigna…your great Italian escape
Winners: Tony and Tristan Welsh of H2-Pro Plumbing, second and third from right, scored the big one last year.
Manningham Business Excellence Awards SEVERAL Warrandyte businesses have put up their hand and nominated for this year’s Manningham Business Excellence Awards. A nomination workshop will be held for the Manningham Business Excellence Awards on Tuesday September 8 from 9.30am-11am at the Manningham Function Centre. This year marks the third Manningham Business Excellence Awards, a joint initiative of the four Rotary Clubs in Manningham; Doncaster East, Templestowe Village and Warrandyte Community Bank branches; Manningham Business and the Manningham Business Network. The awards provide a platform for business owners to not only celebrate their success but to undertake a more detailed analysis of their business strengths
and identify potential areas for improvement. Event manager for the awards Liz Small says they are a great way for businesses to review their activity and an opportunity for businesses to look at their operations in a much deeper, analytical sense. Nominations close at 5pm on October 2 and the Manningham Business Excellence Awards Gala Ceremony will be held at the Manningham Function Centre from 6pm to 10pm on Thursday November 12. Businesses operating within Manningham or servicing suburbs within the municipality are encouraged to nominate for the 2015 Manningham Business Excellence Awards. For more information on the nomination process and to make bookings, visit www.manninghambea.com.au.
WINERY OLIVE GROVE RESTAURANT MASTERCLASSES ENOTECA 54-56 BRUMBYS RD STH WARRANDYTE (03) 9844 4676 OLIVIGNA.COM.AU