Loving Think Local Month
Think. Look. Shop. Love. Frankston City this March and beyond.
Our Think Local Month is in full swing with momentum building around the city throughout the community.
This campaign is more than just a "buy local" campaign! It focuses not only on asking customers to support local businesses, but it also encourages businesses and workers to think about buying and booking local first when it comes to products, trades and services. It's asking you to change your mindset.
Furthermore, the campaign also provides education, free upskilling and training, access to free events and networking, spend local competitions and much more!
When you buy from local businesses, you’re supporting the Frankston City community, reducing your carbon footprint and helping create a strong local economy and workforce.
Buying local also creates connection and builds local trust.
So, what has Think Local month involved so far and what is left on the agenda?
Check it all out below!
From the Economic Development Team.
Think Local Launch Event!
On Tuesday 5 March we officially launched Think Local Month with a FREE business event at Red Gum BBQ at home. More than 60 Frankston City businesses attended the Seaford factory, met our Economic Development team, heard from Frankston City Mayor Nathan Conroy, Red Gum BBQ owner Melissa Goffin and Frankston Business Collective CEO Jeff Rogut. Attendees enjoyed drinks from local breweries Banks Brewery and Dainton's and delicious food provided by Red Gum BBQ at Home. A overview of Think Local Month was provided and included information about the workshops (see below) and Council's new Business Directory (see below). Attendees enjoyed meeting and making new connections with other businesses throughout the fantastic event which celebrated all things Frankston City business! If you attended, we'd love you to send us an email with your feedback!
Think Local Entertainment
This Month we've been delivering you the tunes while you shop as part of our Think Local campaign.
We've dropped 10 amazing local musicians to your shopping strips on 10 days throughout March so you can enjoy some entertainment while you visit your local shops! The initiative also stimulates the local economy by providing work and exposure for those in the entertainment industry. Many of the musicians are also music students ready to start their career.
Here's what's left;
22 March: Daniel Nobelius is playing at Mahogany Ave, Frankston, shops from 12 - 2pm.
26 March: Amadou Kalissa is playing at Nepean Hwy / Station St, Seaford Shops from 12pm - 2pm.
28 March: Adele Leona is playing ar Foot St, Frankston, shops from 4pm - 6pm.
Small Business Expo!
Frankston City Council will be hosting a Small Business Expo at the Frankston Arts Centre on 26 March from 3pm - 7pm as part of Think Local Month. The expo will showcase 45 businesses from a number of different industries including retail, IT, business and more and is open to the public. All businesses exhibiting are registered Frankston City businesses as the expo is designed to highlight the diversity and quality of businesses we have right here in Frankston. Just by attending you will receive a gift bag and you could also win one of five $100 vouchers to spend with one of the exhibitors. Whether you are a business, worker, member of the community, entrepreneur or student come along to the expo and see what Frankston City businesses have to offer. Everyone is welcome to the event and entry is FREE. If you want to know whose exhibiting at the event check out our website.
Think Local Workshops
Throughout March we have been running a series of FREE business training workshops to help local businesses of all industries upscale and grow! So far we have delivered 18 sessions with more than 70 business owners attending! All workshops are free and hosted by local Frankston City industry experts. Here's what's still to come;
21 March: Video Marketing Made Easy - Hosted by Stuart from Final Focus Videography.
21 March: Banking Scams & Fraud Lunchbox Session - Hosted by Jamie from the Commonwealth Bank (FREE LUNCH PROVIDED!)
22 March: Business for Good Workshop - Social Enterprising - Hosted by the Frankston Social Enterprising Hub.
Places are limited and bookings are essential.
Think Local Stars!
This month we are highlighting just how awesome and diverse our Frankston City small businesses are. To help you make some new connections and collaborations, we're introducing you to some local small business owners from a range of different industries who are doing their bit to Think Local too!
Meet TJS Accounting in Carrum Downs.
Whether you’re a business owner in need of support with financial growth or an individual seeking advice on work related tax deductions, TJS Accounting in Carrum Downs offers a full suite of financial services with its expert team of bookkeepers, accountants and financial planners. And they’re all about local.
“There is something special about clients being able to pop past the office on their way home from work for a cuppa and face-to-face catch up with our friendly advisors. While it can be common in the financial services industry to outsource work to offshore teams, at TJS we firmly believe in hiring locally," said Co-owner Melanie Perry.
“It is important to us that the community Think Local first, because success breeds success. If local businesses band together in support, we can continue to build Frankston up to be the place everyone travels to for the very best of what we have on offer.”
Visit www.tjsaccounting.com.au to find out more.
Click below to read about more about our Think Local Stars.
Pictured: Tory O’Brien and Melanie Perry from TJS Accounting.
Event funding program now Open
Applications are now open for Frankston City Council’s Destination Event Attraction Program (DEAP). Now in its third year, the program provides cash and in-kind sponsorship to support creatives, collaborators, and event organisations to curate and deliver a single or series of events and further strengthen Frankston City as an arts, culture and tourism destination. The program supports events across three tiers with a total funding pool of $250,000 available to significant major events. Applicants are invited to specify the investment
they are seeking from Council to create, relocate or host their event in Frankston City. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your event concept or possible locations, reach out to the Creative Destination Events Lead via tourism@frankston.vic.gov.au.
Round 1 funding applications are open until Friday, 5 April 2023.
Big Picture Fest 2024
Big Picture Fest is on now!!! From 18 to 24 March, Frankston’s buildings and laneways will once again be transformed in a celebration of the world’s most iconic street artists. Frankston’s Big Picture Fest is one of the City’s most significant events. Named a finalist in the 2023 Australian Street Art Awards for Best Street Art Festival or Event, BPF promises to entertain all ages with bursts of colour, movement and music. In 2024, digital projections, exhibitions, miniature dioramas, as well as national award-winning daytime and twilight tours take things up a notch, to create a truly immersive experience worth writing home about. The event culminates at The Block Party in Park Lane on Friday 22 March. Grab a drink, a bite to eat as you watch the artists paint in real-time before hitting the dance floor with live music into the evening. Make sure you're there!
Business Victoria eNews
Are you signed up to the Business Victoria eNewsletter?
We highly recommend signing up to receive information and resources to help your business. This week topics included;
*Grants for startups in AgTech, MedTech and more - LaunchVic has multiple grants open to support startups across a wide variety of sectors in Victoria.
*Build AI-powered solutions with the AI Sprint - Apply by 21 March! - Australia’s AI Sprint is a new initiative supporting innovators to rapidly develop new, novel and viable artificial intelligence solutions across various industries.
*Supermarkets inquiry consumer survey - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is examining the pricing practices of the supermarkets
*Security tips for social media and messaging apps - Tips to help secure your social media accounts and messaging apps.
*In-person and online workshops for small businesses - Generating Cash Flow Workshop on 26 March.
Cyber security for manufacturers
South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) is hosting a Practical Cybersecurity for SME Manufacturers event in Dandenong at 9am on 26 March. Did you know, in 2024, one in three SMEs will be hacked! For manufacturers, the stakes are high with the potential for significant operational downtime. ASIC's scrutiny signals personal liability for directors. Costs of inaction can be from $90k to $5m factoring in reputational costs and fines. Join Shane Williams for an essential 1-hour information session on cybersecurity. Followed by Q&A, networking, and light refreshments. A must-attend to protect your business. Cost is $50.
Business planning session
Frankston Business Collective is hosting an April Education Session on Overcoming Obstacles: New Business Planning Perspective on 10 April from 9.30am - 11.30am at the Frankston City Library. Presented by Jack Farrell, Director of the Trusted Advisor Network (TAN) – Frankston and Mornington Peninsula and founder and CEO of several successful businesses, the session will entail;
*Planning Breakthrough Model
*Focus on what’s holding you back or getting in the way, and a fresh viewpoint to free you up.
*Energise your next quarter with a fresh planning perspective.
*High degree of interaction with Jack and other attendees
The event is also a great opportunity to mingle with other local business owners. Light refreshments will be on offer but numbers are strictly limited so register early for this really insightful session brought to you by the Frankston Business Collective.
Cost is FREE for members or $50 for non members.
Get your business involved in South Side Festival
South Side Festival Frankston, held in May involving thought provoking performances, comedy, installations, visual arts and fun for the whole family, is seeking business involvement!
Neon Fields - A world of glowing enchantment at Beauty Park held from Friday 17 - 19 May. Sessions held between 5pm – 10pm. South Side is keen to promote local businesses in tandem with this family event. It could be dinner deal special or activity that attendees could do pre or post Neon Fields.
South Side Soak - Celebrating Frankston Life Saving Club's centenary, South Side's winter beach, Saturday 11 May, 8am – 10am, Frankston Foreshore. South Side are keen to promote local businesses close to the foreshore in tandem with this event. It could be brekkie or coffee offer special or activity for attendees pre or post Sea Soak.
New Local Business Directory coming soon!!!
We have exciting news! Frankston City Council's Economic Development team are soon launching a Business Directory for businesses located in the Frankston City municipality!!
Whether you are a business in Carrum Downs, Frankston, Frankston North or South, Sandhurst, Skye or Langwarrin your business, whatever industry you may be in, can get listed on a trusted directory for both customers and businesses to use.
The Business Directory is being developed to support, connect and promote local business to the community from a trusted source.
If you are interested in registering your business, click here!
You will receive an email from the Economic Development team when the site is ready for businesses to register.
We can't wait to get this one up and running! Stay tuned!
Want more tips and support for your business?
Follow @investfrankston on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & LinkedIn or visit the Invest Frankston City website.
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