Copy
View this email in your browser
October Special Edition
Keep a lookout for the Support Local Campaign launch

The upcoming campaign will encourage the East Gippsland community to spend more with local businesses during difficult times and shall support the reopening and lead up to Christmas. Many local businesses have been doing it tough and by shopping locally, we are not only supporting small businesses, we are also supporting local job growth and helping to build strong, vibrant communities.

Here are some ways to continue to support local businesses: 

  • shop locally at one of your local businesses
  • use a local tradies for your project
  • purchase locally made goods
  • interact with small businesses via social media to show your support 
  • purchase gift cards and gift vouchers
  • order takeaway
  • explore what businesses are offering online.

Let's celebrate local!
Would you like to share your empowering journey of your business in our next newsletter? 
Contact Anne Kaiser on 0488 700 034 or send an email to economic.development@egipps.vic.gov.au.

Visual Merchandising Workshops
A return to Brick and Mortar Retail
The time is NOW to offer your customers an unforgettable shopping experience!

Join our FREE visual merchandising workshops with Kylie Fordham and learn how to...
  • get them back
  • get them in
  • and keep them coming back!
With over 30 years’ experience in the Retail and Visual Merchandising Industry, East Gippslander, Kylie Fordham from Smashing Windows Design and Display shares her expertise and insights, offering tips and tricks for creating a Visual Impact in your space to help build your image, increase traffic and improve sales.

Secure your spot now!
Fur further question contact Anne Kaiser on 0488 700 034 or send an email to economic.development@egipps.vic.gov.au 
Celebrating local businesses - the value of collaboration
Meet Katrina and Neil from "The Farmer and the Cook" in Metung
We started our gourmet deli and fine food store in September 2020. Operating in the middle of a lockdown we had to source all our products online. We set up the store to support Australian made and owned businesses of the highest quality available. We advertised on social media for local businesses to come forward with products and from there we grew our specialty range consisting of coffee, preserves, smallgoods, cheeses, our own eggs, fresh baked breads, local honey, local chocolates, local olive oil, local wine and beer and many more. 

Why is collaboration important for your business?
We collaborate with other businesses to support the community, to grow our brand, to support small business and to offer more for visitors to the area. We offer in house catering to guests staying in surrounding accommodation. We purchase goods from twelve regular local suppliers and our hampers are made with their products.

We received a recent order of 100 hampers made up solely of East Gippsland product. During these hard times when most of these small local businesses were struggling it meant the world to us all. My favourite part of working direct with these small businesses is having the pleasure in making someone’s day. I rang Graham owner of Exquisite Treats in Bairnsdale and he picked up on the first ring hoping it would ring with a big order. I laughed and told him he better sit down because I needed to order 100 bags of his chocolates. Through the generosity of a business wanting to support local, we were able to return the gesture to further six businesses, making a difference through a tough winter period.

Working together in business kept our business growing and with so many local contacts and friendships we are blessed to do what we do. We love to share and display local products and supply local businesses with the best of East Gippsland.

 Follow their stories on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website.
Meet Craig and Michelle from East Gippsland Variety Tours
We are Craig and Michelle Perry and we started East Gippsland Variety Tours October 2020. Both our families are generations of Gippslanders. Michelle growing up in Glenaladale and Craig in Orbost, we have a strong passion for our region. We love getting out and about and we could see an opportunity for a tour bus to connect so many attractions, events and businesses together to provide a seamless hassle free experience for locals and tourists. After the 2020 bushfires we felt that it was important for us to support our local businesses. Craig had also worked frontline on those fires, and 12 summers of fighting fires had taken its toll, so we decided to have a go at a dream of ours, owning our own business.
 
Why is collaboration important for your business?
At the time we didn't comprehend the ongoing impact Covid-19 would have, but all things considered we have had a great first 12 months starting out and the local support has been overwhelming. Collaborating with a number of different businesses in between the lockdowns has been exactly how we envisioned it. We are so grateful for their support and collaborating with other businesses brings so much joy and a sense of purpose to what we do. Our most popular tour is the Winery and Brewery Tour. Our first stop is Nicholson River Winery, where customers enjoy a wine tasting and cheese platter. Next is Tambo Wines, with a wine tasting in a beautiful garden setting. Lunch and another wine tasting is enjoyed at Wyanga Park Winery. Our final stop is a brewery, with a choice between Red Bluff Brewers or Bullant Brewery. 

We are continuing to build on our collaboration and relationship with other businesses. We love working with others and think it makes for a strong economy working together. East Gippsland has been through so much, so now more than ever, is the time to work together.

Do you have any tips and tricks to share?
For businesses looking to collaborate with other businesses our advice would be to just reach out. Openness and honesty are values instilled in our businesses and we put ourselves out there and we have found the majority of the time businesses are more than happy to give it a go. We believe our business is bringing together businesses for an ultimate experience of East Gippsland and we will continue to include and highlight more of our local businesses as we further develop our business. If anyone has a business and wishes to connect with us please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Follow their stories on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website.
Meet Andrea from La Riva - Luxury Retreat and Experiences in Eagle Point
Making the career and location move from Melbourne to East Gippsland in April 2020, to embrace the restoration of La Riva, has been quite the journey. After 18 months we were able to open for business, albeit subject to COVID-19 restrictions.
La Riva is a Luxury Retreat & Experiences tourism service for East Gippsland. Our purpose is to provide unique luxury accommodation stays with tailored experiences and activities that draw in the areas natural beauty, whilst feasting on local produce and beverages. We believe that La Riva is a catalyst for bringing together people, offering various local services and produce to promote reconnection with Mother Nature and oneself.
 
Why is collaboration important for your business?
Our mission is to provide an exceptional, memorable experience for our guests. We value the collaboration with key local partners to showcase the beauty of all components of our region as together we grow, prosper and celebrate. There is such a multitude of spectacular offerings in East Gippsland and we cannot do this on our own so the best option is to collaborate. We are really proud to be able to offer in-house private chef, massage and other health and wellness services from locals who are extremely gifted.  External partnerships for land, water and air experiences include Lakes Entrance Helicopters, Venture Out & H20 Tours & Adventures.  We are blessed to also have multiple local culinary and beverage offerings which enables us to create and bring all of these partnerships together to provide exceptional, memorable experiences via collaboration.
 
Do you have any tips and tricks to share?
It has been really helpful to always consider the offering from a client's point of view.  Sometimes we get so caught up with “white noise” that we miss the fundamentals.

Follow their stories on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website.
East Gippsland Business Awards 2021

After a rigorous judging process, East Gippsland Shire Council is thrilled to announce the finalists in the Federation University East Gippsland Business Awards for 2021.  
 
Despite the challenges of Covid-19, East Gippsland businesses have demonstrated their resilience and ability to adapt and thrive in these unprecedented times.  With 76 nominations, we were excited by industry’s enthusiasm for this awards program. The judging process was challenging due to the number of high-level applications, illustrating a strong and growing business community in East Gippsland. 

Reminder - Business Confidence and Training Survey
East Gippsland Shire Council is seeking feedback from businesses and industry in a Business Confidence and Training Needs Survey designed for Council to better understand the training and development needs of businesses across the region. 
 
Our previous business and training development program has been inspired by your input and our survey will help Council plan the 2022 Business Development Program and advocate on behalf of businesses to state and federal government, industry and other agencies about training needs and business confidence.
 
We value your feedback and appreciate your time to complete the survey (8min). 
The survey will close on 28 October 2021.
COVIDSafe - Victoria is reopening
Information for Businesses and Industry
As Victoria hits double dose vaccination thresholds on the Roadmap, businesses need to do everything they can to keep their business, workers and community safe. To support business owners to reopen, a Business Stakeholder Pack has been developed. This stakeholder pack incorporates customisable content and downloadable artwork.

For the latest information go to the Coronavirus website or call Business Victoria on 13 22 15. 
Reopening VTIC Webinars Series
Victoria Tourism Industry Council, Victoria’s peak tourism industry body has produced a series of reopening webinars to support our tourism and event industry at this critical time. These free webinars have been designed specifically to focus on providing you with practical information, insights, resources and tools to help set you up for success in the coming weeks and months ahead. 

Customer Aggression Management Training - 26 October, 11.00am-1.00pm

Visit Victoria Industry Initiative - 27 October,  1.00pm-2.00pm

Back to Work Wellbeing Workshop - 28 October, 11.00am-12.00pm

What To Do if with a Confirmed COVID Outbreak at Your Business - 29 October, 11.00am-1.00pm

Wellbeing and mental health support
Mental health support for Victorian small business owners include:
Partners in Wellbeing provides business owners access to financial counsellors and business advisors. 
Telehealth services are available if you or your employees need additional mental health support. 
Beyond Blue has tips to help you run your business and information on managing your mental health.

Get in touch

You can get in touch with the Economic Development Team by phoning 5153 9500 or via email.
 

Handy links

 
Website Website
Facebook Facebook
Twitter Twitter
LinkedIn LinkedIn
YouTube YouTube
The information in this newsletter is correct at time of publishing - please check each source carefully for up-to-date details. This newsletter is for information only, and does not constitute financial or legal advice.

Copyright © 2021 East Gippsland Shire Council, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are a registered business in East Gippsland, from time to time our Economic Development team at the Shire will forward information relevant to supporting the regions business operators.

Our mailing address is:
East Gippsland Shire Council
273 Main Street
PO BOX 1618
Bairnsdale, Vic 3875
Australia

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.