Edition 4 - Summer 2020

Have your say in the 2020 Business Directions Survey for Greater BendigoThe City of Greater Bendigo and Be.Bendigo are inviting businesses to have their say by completing the 2020 Business Directions Survey for the region.

The survey aims to provide critical information to gauge current and future needs in the business community and the health of the local economy. How will this help you? With results of the survey, we can find more ways to support and help your business grow, including developing relevant programs and services.

Please complete the quick online survey by Friday April 3 to go into the draw to win a $500 voucher for a business product or service of your choice. Simply enter your details at the end of the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020BusinessDirections

To provide feedback on Business Matters, we encourage you to email bhd@bendigo.vic.gov.au

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The City of Greater Bendigo’s place

for news and upcoming events for our region’s local

businesses.

Inside this issuePAGE 2• An innovative design for clutter

PAGE 3• City of Gastronomy success!• Business workshop bucket list for 2020• Building local jobs – Arena Theatre

Company

PAGE 4• Expressions of interest open for new

Bendigo Health Accelerator Program BHx

PAGE 5• Discover the latest engineering products at

Bendigo IICA Technology Expo• Bendigo bucking the trend for regional

Victoria

PAGE 6• Emerging trends focus at Bendigo NEXT

Tourism conference• Marketing your business• Retail lease checklist

PAGE 7Calendar of events

An innovative design for clutter Justin Lange was able to solve clutter and lack of space in his garage by aiming high.

“I was becoming increasingly frustrated with clutter that was limiting access to cars and stored items in my garage,” Mr Lange said.

“I realised what I needed, storage shelves high up on the garage wall above my head that would just come down to me at the click of a button. You’re using space that it is not normally available but could be used.

“I had an idea of what I wanted but I couldn’t find a product with that kind of functionality either locally or internationally. Everybody I spoke to said it was a good idea and so obvious.

“I was a project manager so I took redundancy to give this product a go. It was the scariest thing that I’ve ever done.”

It has taken 18 months of research and development to pursue his dream.

“It is a real challenge bootstrapping these things and the risks that go with it.”

His innovative storage system, Stow High™, is positioned high up on a garage or other household wall and can store up to 40kg of items such as tools, sports equipment, toys and chemical products. The clever design means that items are enclosed in a secure metal cabinet when they are not needed and accessible at the click of a button. A remote control activates the inner shelving system to travel down so the items can be easily accessed and used. It does not touch the wall during activation.

Mr Lange has been recognised for his unique design. He was named the

overall winner of the Be.Bendigo Invention and Innovation Awards for his innovative design in late 2019. He also won the open category. He has applied for patents as well as design applications with IP Australia.

“Winning the Be.Bendigo awards was a milestone for the development of the product and it validated that the functionality, speed and materials were viable, and that consumers wanted this sort of product” he said.

To help him take the product to the next stage, Mr Lange participated in the La Trobe Accelerator Program (LTAP) that assists startups and equips them with the right knowledge, tools and networks to turn an idea into a business and a greater understanding of marketing a product.

“My expertise is in design and project management and most of that has been relevant, but there have so many new areas that I’ve had to learn to understand how to execute to market.”

Mr Lange said Stow High™ was initially conceived to appeal to those who were keen to keep a clutter free garage, but LTAP, builders and end-consumers also identified more merits for the storage system. It could be modified to manage clutter in laundries, apartment blocks car parks, kitchens, hallways, small flats and houses in the future.

“The response for the product has been really good. You can fall into the trap of constantly modifying the design and potentially never executing to market. LTAP taught me to stay focused on getting the first Stow High™, called ‘Model 1’, for garages onto the market this March.”

The storage system can be installed in an hour with no specialised tools. For more information visit www.stow-high.com.au

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I was a corporate project manager so I took

redundancy to give this product a go. It was the

scariest thing that I’ve ever done.

What’s your business workshop bucket list for 2020?The City has partnered with the Australian Taxation Office, Small Business Victoria and the Australian Small Business Advisory Services to bring a suite of high-quality workshops to the region. If you’ve got a business bucket list that you wish to accomplish in 2020, these new hands-on workshops can help you to work more productively and effectively or take your business idea to the next level.

These practical and informative workshops target digital essentials, exporting, innovation, mentoring programs and tax essentials, designed to increase capacity and capability of businesses. A calendar of upcoming workshops is available to view on page 7. Bookings are essential so don’t miss out.

Bendigo has become the 246th member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network which recognises Creative Cities around the world in seven different categories - Design, Film, Music, Crafts and Folk Art, Literature, Media Arts and Gastronomy. In October 2019, Bendigo was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy which is the first in Australia.

How will it benefit Bendigo and the region?

Gastronomy isn’t just about high-end restaurants and fine foods and wine. It recognises the diversity of our city and region’s food and beverage culture from Indigenous food systems and small-scale producers to innovations

in sustainable agriculture and creative educational food programs. The region covers Mount Alexander, Macedon Ranges, Hepburn, Central Goldfields, Loddon Campaspe, Buloke and Gannawarra.

Mayor Cr Margaret O’Rourke said the benefits from being part of the Creative Cities Network was far-reaching for the entire Bendigo region.

“Being part of the Creative Cities Network opens up so many opportunities in sustainable development, international partnerships, jobs, tourism and investment,” Cr O’Rourke said.

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Bitesize facts about gastronomy• $1.6B gastronomy industry in

Greater Bendigo in 2017• 46 per cent of manufacturing

employment is in the food sector in Greater Bendigo 2016

• The region is home to over 130 wineries and breweries

City of Gastronomy success!

Building local jobs – Arena Theatre CompanyWith support from Creative Victoria and City of Greater Bendigo, Arena has become the first theatre company in residence at The Engine Room on View Street.

Since moving to Bendigo just 18 months ago this small professional team has produced an incredible output with considerable impact for the Greater Bendigo community.

Arena’s presence in Bendigo is providing benefits for local teachers, children, employment, business, artists and our small towns. It is attracting members of the creative industries to our city from around the country and in 2020 the globe. The company is supporting creativity and innovation, access and inclusion as well as actively seeking and obtaining funding from federal, state and private investment.

Expressions of interest open for new Bendigo Health Accelerator Program BHxMegan Gomez was a journalist working in remote Queensland where she witnessed the severe impact of natural disasters and arid conditions on the mental health of the regional community.

Surrounded by grief, isolation and hardship, Megan Gomez felt she needed to help.

“It seemed like every other week I was talking to someone who was struggling but had been unable to access professional help,” Ms Gomez said.

Ms Gomez had an idea of creating a secure online video platform that linked people to psychologists from their own home. That idea became a reality in September when Rural Health Connect was officially launched.

She credits the Melbourne Health Accelerator (MHx) which helped her to develop and test the program to ensure it was market ready. The MHx gave healthcare-related startups access to clinicians in a hospital setting to refine, test and re-evaluate ideas.

“It gave me a really clear direction of what I needed to do, sometimes when you’re working on an idea on your own you can get a bit lost and don’t know how or where to focus your time,” she said.

Megan will be the startup in residence, a mentor in effect, for the first Bendigo Health Accelerator (BHx) Program, due to begin in May 2020.

She urged anyone with an idea, regardless of how advanced it was, to consider the program.

“It’s a considerable time commitment but it will give you an understanding of whether your idea will work. You don’t know unless you try,” she said.

Funded by Launch Vic, The Bendigo Health Accelerator (BHx), based at Bendigo Hospital, will be the first regional health accelerator in Victoria and will commence in May 2020. The BHx 13-week program will provide early-stage health startup companies the opportunity to access a world class digital hospital to validate, test and potentially accelerate their startup into the health sector.

Participants will have access to 16 research fellows that connect businesses to relevant clinicians to workshop ideas and improvements for their products.

Ms Gomez will be the startup in residence, a mentor in effect, for the

first Bendigo Health Accelerator (BHx) Program, due to begin in May 2020.

She urged anyone with an idea, regardless of how advanced it was, to consider the program.

“It’s a considerable time commitment but it will give you an understanding of whether your idea will work. You don’t know unless you try,” she said.

Bendigo Health Director of Research and Innovation Dr Angela Crombie said the new program had regional benefits.

“This program is particularly exciting as it will bring all the brightest minds together to find solutions to regional health problems,” Dr Crombie said.

Expressions of Interest in the program are now open until end of business day on March 6, 2020. For more details, please visit www.bendigohealth.org.au/bendigohealthaccelerator or read the FAQs available at www.bendigohealth.org.au/BHXFAQs

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Discover the latest engineering products at Bendigo IICA Technology ExpoOver 45 international, national and local exhibitors will showcase the latest innovative engineering products on the market at the Institute of Instrumentation Control and Automation Australia (IICA) Technology Expo in Bendigo on March 18. This annual exhibition is suitable for those working in the engineering field from designers, engineers, technicians and operators to purchasing staff and managers and provides a rare opportunity to network with manufacturers, suppliers and experts

about the best products on the market and learn about solutions to suit your business needs.

IICA Technology Expo Engineering Industry Products – From the Shop Floor to the Top Door

• Wednesday March 18, 2020 from 2pm to 6.30pm. Free admission.

• All Seasons Bendigo Hotel, 171-183 McIvor Rd, Bendigo, Vic 3550

For more information, please call 0425 824 508, email vic@iica.org.au or visit www.iica.org.au

Bendigo bucking the trend for regional VictoriaGreater Bendigo has enjoyed above average growth in the past financial year, due to activities in the region’s health care and education sectors, according to the latest report into the economic performance of Australia’s cities and regions. Bendigo’s gross domestic product increased to $5.2B, an increase of 1.9 per cent in 12 months1. 1 SGS Economics and Planning

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Retail lease checklistFor most business owners, signing a retail lease is a big decision so it’s important to understand the finer details of a retail lease agreement. These include costs, limitations and other factors that could seriously hinder the operations of a business and potentially result in financial loss. Disputes between landlords and tenants make up more than half the applications to the Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC). This equates to more than 900 retail tenancy disputes a year.

The VSBC has published an information brochure ‘Retail Leases – important facts for tenants’. This fact sheet is designed to educate, inform and direct tenants to undergo due diligence before entering into a retail lease agreement to avoid the risk of future conflict. The fact sheet is to be given by the landlord and/or commercial agent to all prospective tenants at the start of lease negotiations.

If you are in doubt, the VSBC recommends you find a commercial lawyer to assist you. The cost invested in obtaining legal advice at this stage can be insurance against any hidden liabilities that could cost your business in the future should a dispute arise.

For further information, please visit www.vsbc.vic.gov.au or call 13 8722.

Emerging trends focus at Bendigo NEXT Tourism conferenceBendigo Tourism, in partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo, is hosting Bendigo NEXT, a one day tourism conference on Monday February 17 at The Capital. With a focus on networking, emerging trends, visitor experiences and technology, the day will feature a mix of trend experts and leaders in the tourism industry. They will share their insights into the future of tourism and offer practical advice for businesses in the industry.

The latest data from Tourism Research Australia shows overnight visitor

numbers for the Bendigo Loddon Region grew by 19.5 per cent in the last year. Over the past 10 years, the City of Greater Bendigo has been working hard to attract and market our major cultural and sporting events, and exclusive Bendigo Art Gallery exhibitions. More recently, a greater focus for the tourism industry is to develop and promote food, wine and other cultural experiences.

To make a booking, please visit www.bendigotourism.partners/event/bendigo-next

Marketing your businessMarketing is a vital tool to establish your brand and build a loyal customer base. Learn how to set marketing goals that work, get to know your customers better, clarify your Unique Selling Proposition and choose the right marketing activities to match your business. Then learn how to measure the success of your activities so you can make sure you’re achieving your goals.

Spanning market research, online, social media and customer service,

this workshop will arm you with practical tools and templates, expert tips and advice, and a head start on where to access the right support in future.

Date: Monday March 16, 2020

Time: 6pm - 8pm

Cost: $20

To register: Visit www.bendigoregion.com.au/explore-bendigo/cogb-business-events-marketing to book your place

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Calendar of eventsThe City of Greater Bendigo is presenting a series of workshops and events to support local business. The following provides a list of opportunities to assist in the expansion of your business or business idea. A full list and an overview of each workshop is available at www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/business. Bookings are essential and can be completed through following the links below.

FEBRUARY12th Wholesale Investor Masterclass www.eventbrite.com.au/e/capital-raising-masterclass-bendigo-

tickets-89181812201 Free

18th Business Planning Essentials Workshop

www.bendigoregion.com.au/explore-bendigo/cogb-business-events-planning $20

MARCH2nd Taking Your Business Online www.bendigoregion.com.au/explore-bendigo/city-of-greater-bendigo-

business-online $20

16th Marketing your Business www.bendigoregion.com.au/explore-bendigo/cogb-business-events-marketing $20

17th Finance Fundamentals www.bendigoregion.com.au/explore-bendigo/business-events-finance-fundamentals $20

18th

IICA Bendigo Technology Expo www.eventbrite.com.au/e/iica-bendigo-technology-expo-free-entry-tickets-85028238751

Free

FEATURED EVENT: The newest and most innovative Engineering industry products will be on show at a Technology Expo hosted by the Institute of Instrumentation Control and Automation Australia (IICA). The exhibition is designed for everyone involved in the engineering field - from the shop floor to the top door - including designers, engineers, technicians and operators, purchasing and management. Meet with 45 Plus National, International and local exhibitors for an afternoon of networking and to show off cutting edge developments in the instrumentation control and automation industry. For more information, please call 0425 824 508, email vic@iica.org.au or visit www.iica.org.au

25th Record Keeping (GST) www.eventbrite.com.au/e/record-keeping-gst-registered-bendigo-vic-tickets-75806145221 Free

25th Record Keeping (Non-GST) www.eventbrite.com.au/e/record-keeping-not-gst-registered-bendigo-vic-tickets-75806401989 Free

26th Tax Essentials www.eventbrite.com.au/e/tax-essentials-bendigo-vic-tickets-75951148931 Free

26th Single Touch Payroll Introduction

www.eventbrite.com.au/e/employers-single-touch-payroll-bendigo-vic-tickets-75955072667 Free

APRIL21st Winning Government Business www.bendigoregion.com.au/explore-bendigo/cogb-business-events-

government $30

ONLINEOnline Building Export Capability

(Online) - Module 1 of 11 Onlylearnonline.export.org.au/courses/introduction-to-growing-a-global-business Free

Online Building Export Capability (Online) - All Modules learnonline.export.org.au/courses/growing-a-global-business $540

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

P: (03) 5434 6000E: bhd@bendigo.vic.gov.auW: www.bendigo.vic.gov.au

The City of Greater Bendigo’s place for news and upcoming events for our region’s local businesses.

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