As we near the end of another month, I reflect on how our business world has changed in the last two years. We all have had to adapt to this pandemic, including changing business hours, the number of patrons at our businesses and the constant wearing of masks.
So it is timely that I remind you of our Christmas in July event on Thursday 29th July 2021. A time for us to enjoy each others company with some motivational speaking to boost us for the next six months. Have you bought your ticket? You can find the link to purchase further down in this newsletter.
Do you have a promotion, course or something special happening in your business? We would love to hear what is going on for you. Would you please email details to admin@malenycommerce.org.au
A friendly reminder that From September 1, 2021, certain single-use plastic items will be banned in QLD, including plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls and expanded polystyrene cups and containers.
The Glasshouse Small Business Awards are on, with the winners announced on 20th July 2021. Congratulations to all of the businesses and employees nominated. We look forward to announcing the winners. Maleny Commerce will continue to promote this great initiative from Andrew Powell MP Office.
Did you know that Small businesses employ more than one million Queenslanders in our state: they’re our friends, our neighbours, and the lifeblood of our communities.
The Palaszczuk Government calls for business owners and entrepreneurs to help deliver the Big Plans for Small Business Strategy by joining the reinvigorated Queensland Small Business Advisory Council (QSBAC).
Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer encouraged people running businesses in Queensland to submit an expression of interest by 5 pm Tuesday 27 July 2021. To submit an Expression of Interest to join the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council www.advisoryboardcentre.com/qsbadvisorycouncil.
CCIQ June quarter Pulse Survey is now open. The quarterly Pulse Survey measures employment levels, turnover, business profitability and business confidence – information is used to advocate on your behalf to the government with your business needs at the forefront. Have your business voice heard. We encourage all businesses to fill in the survey. www.cciq.com.au/pulse
That’s me for another month -looking forward to seeing you all on the 29th!
Use of the app, and responsibility of business to ensure customers have checked in:
Use of the check in app is mandatory for all business premises that are listed in the health directive as a ‘restricted business’. We understand the types of business premises on this list will expand on over time. Businesses are required to make a reasonable effort to ensure customers check in to their premises. This means the business must place the Check In Qld scan code in a variety of easily visible and easy to locate areas around the business premises. As was explained by Qld’s Chief Health Officer Dr Young in a recent conversation, the customer is responsible for checking themselves in:: https://youtu.be/qYxrVT2-_s4. Dr Young also explains that she does not wish for staff to put themselves at risk of altercations with patrons who refuse to do so.
If staff wish to verify a customer has checked in (for example they didn’t see the customer come into the premises and aren’t sure), this is the answer on the QH website:
“Your patron should display the successful check in screen to you on entry to your venue. You can approach the patron and ask to see their check in history in the app to verify that their check in was successful.”
Customers without a smart phone:
Mandatory use of the check in app means that it must be used. If a customer is unable to use the check in app they still have to provide their contact information by some other means. We can’t see advice published on the QH website that answers the question whether a business can lawfully refuse entry by customers who refuse to supply their contact information.
According to the QH website, if a customer is unable to check in via the app themselves (eg they don’t have a smart phone), a business can manually enter the customer’s contact information directly into the business profile of the app. There is reference on the website to temporary offline collection and storage of customer information however this is intended to apply only in extenuating circumstances such as an internet outage or no internet being available. Temporarily collected and stored customer information can occur digitally or on paper, but there does not appear to be any instruction regarding the type of paper or in what form. What is clear however is that manual collection and storage of customer contact information that is not via the app, is intended as temporary only and must go into the back end of the app within 24 hours. It would appear that leaving a piece of paper at the entry of the business (either as a single use form or a spreadsheet) for customers without a phone to write down their details, is not going to meet with these requirements.
As always: businesses should manage the risks as best they can. Making it clear to patrons that it is a condition of entry in your business for people to use the Check in Qld app or wear a mask will make this easier for you and your staff to manage a customer that does not want to. A lot like when stores have conditions of entry to check bags or requirement to wear shoes in store. When a customer says they have an exemption from wearing a mask, or refuse to use the check-in app or supply their details for manual entry of contact tracing information, staff could consider making a diary note to confirm the steps they took and the requests they have made. This information could help explain to authorities the efforts that were made at the time to manage the risk. You might also consider talking to staff about offering options to people not wearing masks or checking in such as: offering them a mask or offering to manually check them in, or offer contactless pick-up arrangements so they don’t have to enter the business at all. These steps will help to demonstrate to authorities and to your customers you are making reasonable efforts to manage the risks.
Restrictions for South East Queensland will continue for another 7 days until 6am on Friday, 23 July
This applies to Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Noosa, Redlands, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Sunshine Coast local government areas.
Restrictions will ease in the local government areas of Townsville and Palm Island at 6am tomorrow (Friday 16 July) as planned.
Face masks – you must continue to carry a face mask with you at all times. You must always wear a face mask when outside your home.
Business restrictions to continue:
All businesses must have one person per 4 square metres on their premises indoors, one person per 2 square metres outdoors, or 100 per cent capacity with ticketed and allocated seating.
Businesses with an indoor floor space of less than 200 square metres can have one person per 2 square metres, up to 50 people at a time.
Restaurants and cafes must have seated eating and drinking, no standing allowed. Contact details must also be collected for takeaway customers in an impacted area.
Wedding ceremonies are allowed 100 people and limited to 20 people dancing at any one time.
Funerals are allowed 100 people.
Dancing is not allowed except at weddings (for 20 guests at a time) and dance studios or dance classes.
Eligible QLD businesses can access up to $15,000 of Government funding opening 30 July 2021
The Business Boost grants program provides support to businesses to advance improvements in their efficiency and productivity.
This support includes funded activities in 3 project areas:
Future planning
Specialised and automated software
Staff management, development and planning
Specifically, you could use this funding to engage us for:
Website development and upgrades
Set up of Active Campaign CRMS (Automations, email marketing, sales pipelines and CRM)
Call for Small Businesses to sit on Advisory Council
The Palaszczuk Government is calling for business owners and entrepreneurs to help deliver the Big Plans for Small Business Strategy by joining the reinvigorated Queensland Small Business Advisory Council (QSBAC).
Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer encouraged people running businesses in Queensland to submit an expression of interest by 5pm Tuesday 27 July 2021.
“Small businesses employ more than one million Queenslanders in our state: they’re our friends, our neighbours, and the lifeblood of our communities.
“That’s why we put backing small business at the heart of our COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan, underpinned by $14.2 billion of investment.
“And that’s why I travelled across Queensland earlier this year and spoke to thousands of businesses as part of our Small Business Roadshow.
“We took the clear and unambiguous feedback given on that roadshow to develop our Big Plans for Small Business Strategy. Now we want small businesses to sit on the QSBAC, to be our eyes and ears on the ground to ensure that Strategy is being delivered effectively.
“We already have regular contact with industry associations and peak bodies, but what we are looking for here is individual small businesses owners to sit on this council and speak directly to myself as the Minister about how the Strategy delivery is going. In this fast-changing environment we want to hear about the opportunities and challenges as and when they present themselves.
“We want to create a well-informed, dynamic and energetic QSBAC that is current and responsive.”
Minister Farmer said the Big Plans for Small Business Strategy was already delivering.
“The Strategy includes a $100 million Business Investment Fund, $30 million in grants to increase skills and capability, and will make the Queensland Small Business Commissioner a permanent position,” Minister Farmer said.
“We’ve also exceeded our SME government procurement of 25 per cent, hitting 28.5 per cent in the second half of 2020. That’s a $2.67 billion spend with Queensland small and medium businesses.
“Revitalising the membership of QSBAC is an important element of how we will work closely with small businesses to ensure they’re at the heart of what we’re doing.
“Receiving robust advice from people with varied on the ground experience will be vital, including women, young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
“So, if you are a small businesses owner and want to be involved in making sure the Big Plans for Small Business Strategy makes the biggest possible impact on the ground, then get your EOI in before 5pm on July 27.”
The council is expected to meet four times a year in person or online, including in regional Queensland.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A MEMBER
Email admin@malenycommerce.org.au
As you may have heard, the current version of the Digital Solutions - Australian Small Business Advisory Services program is coming to an end on Saturday 31st July, 2021. A new version will be taking its place.
What this means for you
From the 1st August, 2021:
All workshops and webinars are being made 100% free and there will no longer be a limit on the number of these events that you can attend. Find out which events are running by visiting our Events Page. To allow new clients access to the program, we are no longer able to offer one-to-one sessions to clients registered before 31st July 2021.
Why the program is changing
The Commonwealth Government has been running Digital Solutions across Australia for a number of years now and have gained many insights from how members like you are interacting with the program. The new program is built from these insights and is designed to give small business owners a more rigid pathway to business success.
The Commonwealth Government wants to expand the influence of the program and support previously-unassisted business owners with the resources available and so full access is only being provided to new ABNs that haven't engaged with the program before.
LinkedIn is for business and if you are not on LinkedIn your Competitors definitely will be. Learn how to use LinkedIn to create connections and build relationships and brand awareness About Digital Solutions - Australian Small Business Advisory Services Digital Solutions is one of the most generously supported digital transformation… read more click link ... https://www.businessstation.com.au/.../how-to-use.../
How to Nail Social Media
LinkedIn is for business and if you are not on LinkedIn your Competitors definitely will be. Learn how to use LinkedIn to create connections and build relationships and brand awareness About Digital Solutions - Australian Small Business Advisory Services Digital Solutions is one of the most generously supported digital transformation… read more click link ... https://www.businessstation.com.au/.../how-to-use.../
MEMBERS WE WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU!
Again we call for any member that wishes to promote their business to please email admin@malenycommerce.org.au and Nicole will liaise with you to complete a social media and newsletter profile and advertising campaign.
We have created a list of our cafe and restaurant opening hours to assist visitors and locals to find out who is open, when they are open, what they serve and how to connect with them.
This document will be printed for Maleny Visitors Information Centres use and be provided the accommodation houses. To view please click here
Our organisation’s operations are supported by council through a Community Partnership
About Maleny Commerce
Maleny and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. is an incorporated body representing the business community since 1986. Check our website for upcoming events.
