The Connector - Northern Business Breakfast - May 2023

Net Zero Essentials Program

Take the first step towards achieving net zero for your business by applying for a new Net Zero Essentials program run by Business SA.

Through the program you’ll learn to run a sustainable business and capitalise on the opportunities as a result.

Starting in June, the program consists of one-on-one coaching, face to face seminars, and online training to help your business achieve net zero.

Places are limited: https://business-sa.com/lp/netzeroprogram

Women in Business

Networking Event: Employer of Choice

Wednesday 31st May - 5.30 - 8.30pm

The Village Tavern Function Room

Keynote speaker is Ruthy Chileshe, CEO of Friendly & Graceful Care Services (FGCS).

In 2017, Ruthy and Emma, alongside two other founding partners, recognised a need for a different type of NDIS service provider. One that didn’t just connect people to services but became part of each person’s family.

From this, Friendly & Graceful Care Services (FGCS), was born. FGCS is an employer of choice.

Come along to hear Ruthy’s passionate story and get some great takeaways but also engage with other like-minded women for great networking opportunities.

Cost: $35.00 - Don’t miss out, book now! https://tinyurl.com/4yn65m8u

NEL Circular Economy Breakfast

The Northern Economic Leaders invites you to attend their upcoming breakfast - Profit from the Circular Economy designed to educate, inform, and collaboratively motivate SMEs to actively transform their businesses practices to become more sustainable.

Guest Speaker: Göran Roos - The future of Business in a Circular Economy.

Göran Roos was the appointed “Manufacturing for the Future” Thinker in Residence by the South Australian Premier. He has had substantial impact on both the industry policy domain and the private sector activities relating to manufacturing in Australia and worldwide.

Friday 16th June, 7.30 – 9am

Salisbury Community Hub, 34 Church Street

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW! $50 per person. https://nel.org.au/future-of-business/

Consumer Shift

In today’s digital age, social media has become an indispensable part of our lives.

Not only do these platforms connect people around the world, but they also provide incredible opportunities for businesses to reach and engage with their target audiences.

According to Hubspot, in the past three months, 41% of social media users feel comfortable purchasing products through apps like Instagram Shop or Facebook Marketplace. This is compared to the 12% of users in May 2022.

This shift means businesses need to be where the customer is, and ensure that your marketing is taking advantage of this shift in consumer behaviour.

To help you make the most of this opportunity, here are some things you can implement within your business:

• Optimise your social media profiles: Ensure that your business profiles on platforms like Instagram and Facebook are complete, professional, and showcase your products or services effectively. Use high-quality images, compelling captions, and relevant hashtags to attract your target audience.

• Create engaging and shareable content: Focus on sharing content that builds interest and trust among your followers. Use a variety of media formats, such as photos, videos, and infographics, to capture attention and encourage sharing. Incorporate customer testimonials and user-generated content to increase authenticity and credibility.

• Use social commerce features: Explore the various social commerce features available on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Set up your product catalog, enable in-app shopping, and optimise your posts with product tags and links. Make the purchasing process as seamless as possible for your customers.

promote your products or services through sponsored posts, stories, or reviews. Encourage your customers to share their experiences and tag your business, amplifying your reach and engagement.

• Engage and respond to your audience: Social media is all about building relationships. Take the time to respond to comments, messages, and reviews promptly. Engage with your audience by asking questions, running contests, or hosting live sessions. Show your customers that you value their feedback and opinions.

• Track your results: Regularly monitor the performance of your social media campaigns using analytics tools provided by the platforms or third-party applications. Identify what resonates with your audience, analyze conversion rates, and make datadriven adjustments to optimize your marketing strategy.

By incorporating these steps into your marketing efforts, you can tap into the growing trend of consumers purchasing products through social media apps.

Remember, building interest, trust, and engagement through social media will be key to your success in this evolving landscape.

For more tips on marketing, social media and email marketing, follow me @becalisonau via Instagram or Facebook.

Rotary Club of Elizabeth meets at the Elizabeth Tavern on Monday nights 6.15pm for 6.45pm. Membership enquiries welcome.

Rotary Club of Salisbury (SA) meets at the Old Spot Hotel on Monday nights 6pm for 6.30pm. Membership enquiries welcome.

National Volunteer Week 2023

This month we celebrate National Volunteer Week, with this year’s theme being The Change Makers

National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering and will be held on 15 – 21 May 2023.

The week-long event recognises the vital support that the millions of volunteers in our country provide to their communities and encourages people to consider volunteering.

National Volunteer Week 2023 is a celebration of our power to drive change and ensure volunteering is inclusive of all members of the Australian community.

Across our community, volunteers contribute millions of hours with organisations caring for our environment and our children, in animal welfare and the arts, in community service clubs and emergency service organisations, in sporting clubs and schools, cultural groups, disability support, community and welfare services and so many other vital areas. The list of organisations and opportunities is almost limitless.

What are the benefits of volunteering?

Volunteering is all about making a difference in your community; it also benefits you personally as it offers the chance to:

• Don’t multitask. More than just setting your device aside –be act on your values, passions and interests

• make new friendships and create professional networks;

• gain work experience and learn new skills;

• enjoy new social and cultural experiences;

• develop personally and build confidence;

• enjoy better physical and mental health;

• challenge yourself in a supportive environment;

• feel warm and fuzzy about helping your community;

• and most importantly, have fun!

Volunteers are happier, healthier and sleep better than those who don’t volunteer. Just a few hours of volunteer work can make a difference to your happiness and mood!

Now is a great time to consider volunteering, so contact our friends at Northern Volunteering SA Inc - 58 John St, Salisbury or give them a call on 8250 1582 or email nvsa@ nvsa.org.au + check out their Facebook page for upcoming training opportunities https://www.facebook.com/ northernvolunteeringsainc

Supplied by NBB:

Exhibitor pull up banners, promo materials, giveaways, business card draw, etc and a 2 minute promotion of their business.

June to December available (excl. October), 1 booking per business per calendar year

$100

2023 Federal Budget

This month, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the 202324 Australian Federal Budget with updates to key economic forecasts.

Below we have shared items specific to businesses. For the full budget and overview documents, visit https://budget.gov.au/

Supporting small business - Easing immediate pressures and boosting resilience

Energy Price Relief Plan

The Government is helping small businesses manage high energy prices through its Energy Price Relief Plan, which is shielding small businesses from short-term high energy prices by intervening to limit Australia’s exposure to international energy price shocks and providing around 1 million small businesses with direct bill relief.

Small Business Energy Incentive

The Government is introducing a new tax break - the Small Business Energy Incentive - to help small and medium businesses electrify and save on their energy bills. This incentive will provide $310 million in tax relief and support up to 3.8 million businesses make investments like electrifying their heating and cooling systems, installing batteries and upgrading to high-efficiency electrical goods. Businesses with annual turnover of less than $50 million will have access to a bonus 20% tax deduction for eligible assets supporting electrification and more efficient use of energy, from 1 July 2023 until 30 June 2024. Up to $100,000 of total expenditure will be eligible for the incentive, with the maximum bonus tax deduction being $20,000 per business. *This is in addition to $62.6 million towards energy efficiency grants for small/medium enterprises previously announced.

Small business instant asset write-off

The Government is making it easier for small businesses to invest and grow by providing $290 million in cash flow support through the $20,000 instant asset write-off. Up to 3.8 million small businesses with annual turnover of less than $10 million will be able to immediately deduct eligible assets costing less than $20,000 from 1 July 2023 until 30 June 2024. 38 A stronger and more secure economy Stronger foundations for a better future |

Budget 2023–24

Improving small business cash flow

The Government is providing approximately 2.1 million eligible small businesses with cashflow relief by halving the increase in their quarterly tax instalments for GST and income tax in

2023–24. Instalments will only increase by 6 per cent instead of 12 per cent, which better reflects the economic conditions currently faced by the sector. It strikes a balance between improving cashflow for small businesses and managing income tax and GST liabilities.

Cyber security

The Government is investing $23.4 million to help small businesses build their resilience to cyber security attacks by training in-house cyber wardens. Small businesses have rapidly digitalised in the past few years, bringing new opportunities but also increasing their vulnerability to cyber-attacks. This measure will help mitigate and reduce the harms associated with cyberattacks on small business. The small business Cyber Wardens program will be delivered by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia.

Industry Growth Program

Access to finance is important for supporting small business innovation. A new $392.4 million Industry Growth Program will help support small to medium-sized businesses and startups develop new products and services to grow their operations.

Buy Australian Plan

The Buy Australian Plan is a comprehensive program that will improve our approach to Government procurement and use the Government’s buying power to help industry grow by competing for and winning more government contracts, provide more diversity in our supply chains, and invite innovation.

Other items of interest include:

• Further investing in skills and training

• Changes to Medicare to support local GP’s

• Supporting stronger wages

• Cost of living support for households

·

trestle, table cloth and chairs

Promote your business with an expo table.

Enquiries on the day with Toni Anne

The NBB June Networking Event

Wednesday 28th June 2023 6:45am coffee 6:45am – 8:30am.

Old Spot Hotel, 1955 Main N Rd, Salisbury Heights SA 5109

Applications that make a low-cost difference to your business.

Computer and phone applications have developed significantly in the last 12 months – these are the top six we think your businesses should be investigating to see if they can help you. All either have a free entry level point or are low cost.

(www.canva.com)

Looking good in your socials, physical media and communications is a big part of your corporate brand. Canva makes it possible to self-manage your graphic design when you can’t afford an inhouse graphic designer.

(www.mailchimp.com)

Mailchimp is the industry leading way of maintaining a direct email list of contacts, developing communication campaigns (emails, invitations, newsletters), allowing people to selfregister into newsletter, complying with Australia’s opt out SPAM legislation

Fourth Wednesday of the month.

Month Date Format

Subject to change

June Wednesday, 28th 7am Breakfast

July Wednesday, 26th 7am Breakfast

August Wednesday, 23rd 7am Breakfast

September Wednesday, 27th 7am Breakfast

October Wednesday, 25th 6pm Cocktail

November Wednesday, 22nd 7am Breakfast

Dec Wednesday, 13th (TBC) 7am Breakfast

January No breakfast

February Wednesday, 22nd 7am Breakfast

March Wednesday, 27rd 7am Breakfast

April Wednesday, 24th 7am Breakfast

$30 (Or $55 for two people) includes a keynote speaker, food, prize draws and networking. Book your tickets via eventbrite, https://tinyurl.com/326ycrfw

(www.hootsuite.com)

(www.heropost.io)

Hootsuite and HeroPost are both social media scheduling tools that allow you to post to multiple platforms simultaneously (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn) and schedule posts in advance – allowing you to plan a campaign in one session.

(https://joinhomebase.com)

Homebase is a rostering tool allowing you to create rosters, you and your staff to visualise rosters from anywhere, staff can make approved swaps whilst maintaining skill requirements, open shifts can be put to casual pool for acceptance, staff communication

(www.zoom.us)

Zoom is a online video communication tool for 1:1 or 1:Many. It includes shared screen or power point, interactive whiteboard, chat functions, break out rooms and embedded tools for business and engagement. The SME plan is low cost. Avoid the cost of travel but maintain the visual connection of meeting.

(www.squareup.com)

Are you still paying monthly EFPOS fees or more than 1.9% flat on your transactions via EFTPOS. Square point of sale offers a variety of levels from the basic receiver paired with a smart phone, to a stand along EFTPOS machine with receipt printer, web sales integration through to a full tablet based touch screen customer service point with inventory.

Disclaimer: Every business is different, please use your own discretion to ensure that the application is correct for your business.

Speaker: Matt Burnell

Rotary’s Green Investment

The Rotary club of Salisbury launched this week the next element of their significant environmental project which commenced in June 2018.

Based at Cobbler Creek Recreation Park (Managed by national parks) the area informally known as “The Rotary Patch” is part of a 266-hectare protected area located in South Australia about 19 kilometres north of the Adelaide city centre in the suburb of Salisbury East.

Rotary Patch is on the east side of The Grove Way adjacent to the walking trail leading up the old ruins.

Over the last 5 years (with the sixth year this June) approximately 1200 native plants have been planted across the patch, weed control, mulching and now the installation of a shelter.

The shelter is a $35,000 investment with majority of funds from the club assisted by grants from City of Salisbury and the Federal Governments Stronger Communities Program.

Spanning numerous Presidents of the club President Mignon, Past President Kym, and Past President Norm all had key roles on the launch day. The Hon Tony Zappia MP also spoke, as did National Parks manager. The team celebrated with the throwing of native confetti (Native grass seeds!).

Massive shout out also to the members of the Friends of Cobbler Creek group, as dedicated environmentalists they have been great help and on every step of the journey with Rotary. If you are interested in joining

a local community service group who are passionate about making the community a better place and are available Monday nights – look to connect with Rotary Club of

Does your business have a customer service focus?

Small and medium businesses often face unique challenges when it comes to providing excellent customer service. Here are the top five customer service errors that small and medium businesses commonly make:

1. Inadequate Training: businesses may overlook the importance of investing in comprehensive training programs for their customer service representatives. Without proper training, employees may lack the necessary skills and knowledge to handle customer inquiries effectively. This can lead to frustrated customers and a negative perception of the business.

2. Lack of Responsiveness: businesses may struggle to meet customer expectations for prompt responsiveness due to limited resources or inefficient communication systems. Delayed responses or ignoring customer inquiries can leave customers feeling neglected and dissatisfied. It’s crucial for small and medium businesses to prioritize timely and attentive communication to maintain positive customer relationships.

3. Inconsistent Service: businesses may struggle with maintaining consistent service quality across different customer interactions. Inconsistency can lead to confusion and erode customer trust. It’s important for small and medium businesses to establish clear service standards and ensure that every customer receives the same level of quality and professionalism.

4. Failure to Listen and Understand: Small businesses may focus more on delivering their own message rather than actively listening and understanding the customer’s needs. This can result in a lack of empathy and personalized service. Small and medium businesses should prioritize listening attentively to customer concerns, demonstrating empathy, and finding suitable solutions to their problems.

5. Ignoring Feedback: Small and medium businesses sometimes overlook the importance of customer feedback or dismiss it altogether. Ignoring feedback can prevent businesses from identifying areas of improvement and addressing customer concerns. By actively seeking and engaging with customer feedback, small and medium businesses can gather valuable insights, enhance their products or services, and demonstrate their commitment to customer satisfaction.

Overcoming these customer service errors is crucial for small and medium businesses to build strong customer relationships and differentiate themselves from competitors. By investing in training, improving responsiveness, maintaining consistency, listening to customers, and actively seeking feedback, small and medium businesses can provide exceptional customer service that fosters loyalty and drives growth.

WANT MORE? Check out this blog https://www.proprofsdesk. com/blog/small-business-customer-service-tips/