But how do you ensure that your advertisement, brochure or web stands out from the competition? How do you create headlines that get attention? And what is an effective call to action? Writing great copy requires good technique and skill.
Among your varied roles as an owner of a business, you're probably your own advertising agency. This means you need to be able to write compelling messages that get the attention of your target market and position your product. You'll have to be able to write in a range of genres for different communication channels - brochures, online, direct mail or advertising copy.
Michelle Spooner from Spoonfed is the next guest speaker at the Wollongong Small Business Club. Michelle has spent a career writing and proofing copy. Bring your existing brochures and advertisements and decide whether they need improvement or if you've got it right!
The Wollongong Small Business Club is sponsored by Illawarra ITeC, RDA Illawarra, Wollongong City Council and the NSW Department of State and Regional Development and is therefore FREE to attend.
Time : 5.15pm for 6.00pm until 7.30pm
Date : Tuesday 14 July 2009
Cost : FREE
Venue : Rydges Hotel Burelli Street Wollongong
RSVP : Ring Lee at RDA Illawarra on 42274500
Industrial Relations Workshops
The Office of Industrial Relations has the following small business workshops planned for the next couple of months:
• Employing Staff in Kindergartens and Childcare Centres
This workshop will provide employers who already have an understanding of basic employment conditions, with a more thorough working knowledge of employment conditions specific to this industry.
Date : Wednesday, 8th July 2009, 9am – 12pm, FREE
• Workplace Arrangements – understanding awards and agreements
This workshop is designed to provide employers with a general introduction to awards, and the various types of agreements that can be made in both the state and federal jurisdiction.
Date : Wednesday 5th August 2009, 9am – 12pm, FREE
Date : Wednesday, 30th September 2009, 9am -12pm, FREE
• Workplace Policies
This intensive workshop helps employers and managers plan, write and apply workable policies to suit their individual workplaces.
Date : Wednesday, 26th September 2009, 9am – 1pm, $99.00
• Managing Employees
The workshop helps employers implement good employment practices to deal with the challenge of keeping staff motivated and performing well.
Date : Wednesday, 16th September 2009, 9am – 1pm, $99.00
• Employing Clerical Staff
This workshop will provide employers who already have an understanding of basic employment conditions, with a more thorough working knowledge of employment conditions specific to this industry.
Date : Wednesday, 28th October 2009, 9am – 12pm, FREE
• Employing Staff in Hairdressers and Beauty Salons
This workshop will provide employers who already have an understanding of basic employment conditions, with a more thorough working knowledge of employment conditions specific to this industry.
Date : Wednesday, 4th November 2009, 9am – 12pm, FREE
• Industrial Relations in NSW
This workshop is designed to help you understand how the current industrial relations legislation affects your business, whether you are covered by state or federal law.
Date : Wednesday, 18th November 2009, 9am -12pm, FREE
All workshops will take place at the Hotel Ibis Wollongong, Corner of Market and Church Street Wollongong. To view more detailed outlines of the workshops please visit www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au and click on Workshops.
Spaces are limited so you will need to register asap. For further enquiries please phone 02 9020 4612. AUSTRALIAN BUYING MISSION TO 43rd INDIA INTERNATIONAL GARMENT FAIR
New Delhi, 15th – 17th July 2009
The Textile Clothing and Footwear – Western Australia (TCFWA) Inc is hosting a Buying Mission to India International Garment Fair (Spring Summer - 2010) on behalf of the International Garment Fair Association, India.
The buying mission is suitable for:-
• Retailers - looking to source and import fashion, men’s, women’s, children’s, accessory and jewellery labels
• Manufacturers / Buying Agents - looking to source new manufacturers, suppliers
• Designers - looking to source CMT factories, accessories, costume jewellery to manufacture off shore
There will be 350 established apparel, accessories and costume jewellery exhibiting at the Garment Fair. Entry to the fair is Free. To view more information on the event visit www.indiaapparelfair.com
There is sponsorship available – please contact either sarita.rodricks@tcfwa.com or carol.hanlon@tcfwa.com for further information.
Basic Bookkeeping Workshop
It is very important for any small business owner to know how to keep sound financial records but more importantly understand how to use those financial reports to make informed decisions.
This workshop will provide an overview of record keeping responsibilities and provides practical exercises in the tasks required to manage a business through record keeping. You will develop an understanding of financial control and the importance of cash flow and how to complete petty cash, cash payments, cash receipts, daily bank balances and bank reconciliations.
Time: 9.00am to 12 noon
Date: Thursday 17 July 2009
Cost: $45.00 per person – light refreshments provided
Office of Industrial Relations and Human Resources
Marketing Workshop
It is not enough to just have a fantastic product or service, you also need to be able to understand how to market your product or service to potential customers and clients.
This two-and-a-half hour workshop will help you understand the different aspects of marketing, how your product / service fits into the whole market and how you can market your business more effectively. We will discuss:
• Conducting Market Research
• Who is Your Target Market / Competitors
• The Four Ps of Marketing
• SWOT Analysis
• Requirements of Developing a Marketing Plan
Time: 9.30am to 12 noon
Date: Thursday 2 July
Cost: $40.00 – light refreshments included
Intro to Business Planning Workshop
A good business plan will increase your chances of business success. It will help you identify your customers, market area, pricing strategies, financial and operational goals. By completing a business plan you will better understand your competitive advantages, new opportunities, current weaknesses and longer-term objectives for the business. Having a business plan is also an important requirement for gaining finance from financial institutions.
The aim of this workshop is to provide an overview of the business planning process and increase the skills of participants to enable them to complete a business plan for their business. Business Plan templates will be provided.
Time: 12 noon to 1.30pm
Date: Friday 31 July 2009
Cost: $33.00 – light lunch included
Serviced offices available
Are you looking for serviced offices in the CBD of Wollongong for a reasonable cost?
Illawarra ITeC has fully serviced office space available now
No LEASE – Monthly Rental Agreement only.
Run your business from established offices in a prime location or utilise Illawarra ITeC’s virtual office facility.
Benefits include:
• Short term / Long term availability
• FULLY services offices
• Reception/Mailing/Cleaning
• Your phone answered in your business name
• Business name signage
Additional services available:
• Broadband Internet Access
• Undercover parking available
• Training/Casual Interview Rooms for hire
Premises located at:
1/336 Keira Street (Cnr Keira and West Streets) Wollongong NSW 2500.
Contact Sarah on (02) 4223 3100 to arrange an inspection and discuss rates.
Free Business Advisory Services
If this current economic situation is really getting you down and you find that you are struggling and really need some business advice – call Illawarra ITeC and make an appointment to see one of our Business Advisers.
Illawarra ITeC has five Small Business Programs to either :
- help you get started in your business venture; or
- further develop your business skills and improve your business.
All programs provide free and confidential business advice. We have offices based in Wollongong, Nowra and Mittagong - but we are also a mobile service and can come to you.:
• Illawarra Business Advisory Service (IBAS)
• Business Enterprise Centre (BEC)
• New Enterprise Development Scheme (NEIS)
• Illawarra Innovation Advisory Service (IIAS)
• Aboriginal Enterprise Development Officer (ADEO) Program
Call Illawarra ITeC today on 1300 065 058.
If you require further information please don’t hesitate to contact me on 4223 3100 or 1300 650 058.
Do you receive our weekly Illawarra ITeC Small Business News Newsletter? If not, email Virginia today on ibec@illawarraitec.com.au and we will automatically send you a copy.
This is only a brief outline of the types of small business advice and assistance that we can offer. Want to know more? Remember I am a FREE service and can assist you in developing your business in many ways. Call me today on 4223 3100 or check out our website at www.illawarraitec.com.au
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