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Economic Development & Tourism - City of Coffs Harbour

Coffs Coast Business News - August 2024

Each month, the City of Coffs Harbour's Economic Development & Tourism Team collates information for all businesses, large and small, across the Coffs Coast - helping you stay informed, keep connected, and feel supported.

We hope you find the newsletter valuable - please feel free to forward it to colleagues and your team. They can also subscribe to receive a copy directly.

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

Have your say: City of Coffs Harbour Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy

Business events and training

  • How to use your phone to make content - Tuesday 13 August
  • Coffs Coast Business Women's Network Cocktail & Connect - Wednesday 14 August
  • Business Professional Women Coffs Coast Equal Pay Day - Monday 19 August
  • Accommodation Revenue and Yield Management Workshop - Wednesday 28 August
  • Pitchfest: 2024 Regional Innovation Program - Thursday 29 August
  • LinkedInLocal: What's stunting your growth in business? - Friday 30 August

    Online Webinars
  • Leveraging AI for business growth - Thursday 8 August

  • Keeping your team motivated and engaged - Wednesday 14 August

  • DNSW Choose Tourism: Professional development program - Wednesday 21 August

  • Smarter finance: Cashflow is king - Tuesday 27 August

  • Proven strategies for successful sales - Thursday 5 September

Local news and opportunities

  • Destination Coffs Coast - Marketing Update
  • North Coast Tourism Awards
  • City of Coffs Harbour Open Day
  • Business NSW Conditions Survey

Grant funding and business support

  • Coffs Harbour Grant Finder
  • NewAccess for Small Business Owners

  • SafeWork NSW - Small Business Rebate 

  • National Sustainability Framework and Toolkit for the Visitor Economy

What's On Coffs Coast and major event calendar

 

HAVE YOUR SAY: CITY OF COFFS HARBOUR WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY STRATEGY

Have your say: waste and resource strategy
FIND OUT MORE
TAKE THE BUSINESS SURVEY
REGISTER FOR BUSINESS WORKSHOP ON TUESDAY 27 AUGUST

The City of Coffs Harbour is crafting a new Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy, and we need your insights to make it as effective and inclusive as possible. 

There is a specific survey and workshop for Coffs Coast Businesses to explore current challenges, opportunities to reduce landfill waste, and how the City of Coffs Harbour can enhance support for our community.

Why Your Input Matters:

  • Share Your Experiences: Discuss your current management practices.
  • Collaborate on Solutions: Work together on ideas to reduce landfill waste.
  • Enhance Recycling: Suggest improvements for recycling and resource recovery.
 

LOCAL BUSINESS EVENTS

 
How to use your phone to make content

How to use your phone to make content

Elevate your mobile content game with insider tips and tricks for content creation using your smartphone.

Tuesday 13 August,
9.30am - 11.30am
Business@Yarrila, 27 Gordon St, Coffs Harbour

MORE DETAILS & REGISTER
BWN Coffs Coast logo

BWN Cocktail & Connect

Join the Coffs Coast BWN for a cocktail or mocktail and connect with other women in business.

Wednesday 14 August,
5.30pm - 7.30pm
King Tide Brewery, 1 Studio Lane, Coffs Harbour

MORE DETAILS & REGISTER
Business Professional Women

BPW Equal Pay Day

BPW Coffs Coast and The Big Banana are spotlighting the Gender Pay Gap with a highlight on urgent action.

Monday 19 August,
From 5.30pm. Cost $35.
Big Banana Fun Park, 351 Pacific Highway

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
 
Coffs Agrifood Living Lab event

Accommodation Revenue and Yield Management Workshop

This FREE Workshop will be aimed at accommodation owners and managers, accommodation senior leaders and front of house staff and anyone involved in pricing and rate setting.

Subjects covered will include:

  • Understanding the Guest's Pathway to Booking
  • Advanced Market Segmentation & Distribution Strategies
  • Revenue Strategy and Profit Optimisation
  • Forecasting, Inventory Management, and Performance Monitoring

Wednesday 28 August, 9.00am - 11.30am
The Link Pavillion, 631 Hogbin Drive, Toormina

MORE DETAILS & REGISTER
 
Regional Innovation Program

Pitchfest - 2024 Regional Innovation Program

The RIP Accelerator has supported 7 local innovators from Coffs Harbour to Taree including a mix of innovations from Tech & Software to Medical Device & Pet Hardware. Participants we’re involved in a 2-day Intensive & 10-week virtual program to bring their Innovation Action Plans to fruition.

If you enjoy Dragons Den or Shark Tank, be sure to come along to see the live Pitchfest. 

Thursday 29 August, 5.30pm - 7.30pm
Yarrila Place, 27 Gordon Street, Coffs Harbour

FIND OUT MORE & REGISTER NOW
Linkedin Local

LinkedInLocal: What's stunting your growth in business?

LinkedInLocal is all about getting to know the people behind the LinkedIn profiles, however, having a LinkedIn profile is considered optional. 

Joining this month's event is Sarah Eifermann and Hunter Leonard to discuss what might be stunting your growth in business.

Morning tea will be provided, BYO coffee. 

Friday 30 August, 10.00am - 12.00pm
The Vin Natural Wines, Unit 2/4 Forge Drive, North Boambee Valley 

FIND OUT MORE & REGISTER NOW
 

ONLINE TRAINING

Leveraging AI for business growth

Explore the transformative potential of AI in content creation while gaining foundational knowledge in AI basics. Discover the art of crafting audience-specific messaging, enhancing your marketing effectiveness. By the end of this session, you'll leave with a clear understanding of AI's marketing value, ready to take the initial steps in implementing AI-powered strategies. 

Thursday 8 August: 1.00pm - 3.00pm

REGISTER HERE

Keeping your team motivated and engaged 

One of the most cost-effective outcomes for a business is to retain good staff and not be constantly recruiting new staff. In order to retain staff, you must understand what motivates staff to stay in a job. in this webinar we will share what factors truly motivate employees to stay, and how you can improve employee retention.

Wednesday 14 August: 1.00pm - 2.00pm

REGISTER HERE
 

DNSW Choose Tourism: Professional development program 

Being an employer of choice helps put your business ahead of others when recruiting and retaining staff.

The NSW Choose Tourism Program is holding a webinar to update visitor economy business on the latest techniques for attracting and retaining quality staff.

Wednesday 21 August: 9.30am - 11.30am

REGISTER HERE

Smarter finance: Cashflow is king

The research is very clear - the more frequently a business owner reviews accurate financial reports and makes informed decisions the more likely the business is to succeed. Staying the distance whilst you start up and grow your small business enterprise is all about understanding, strategically managing, and preserving your greatest asset - your cash. 

Tuesday 27 August: 1.00pm - 2.00pm

REGISTER HERE
 
REGISTER HERE

Proven strategies for successful sales

To succeed in the current business world, we absolutely need to know some 'old school' sales fundamentals. Join us in this refreshing online session to learn the techniques so that you can not only survive, but also thrive.

Hosted by local business advisor Sarah McPhail from SJA Consultants

Thursday 5 September: 10.30am - 12.00pm

 

LOCAL NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES

 
Coffs Coast

DESTINATION COFFS COAST - MARKETING UPDATE

Check out this monthly snapshot of Destination Coffs Coast's current and upcoming marketing activities, campaigns, and news stories. These are created and managed by our team, in collaboration with local businesses and partners including Coffs Harbour Airport. Here's what's happening:

  • Better Homes & Gardens TV episode featuring three Coffs Coast stories will be aired nationally late in October and early in November.
  • The latest QANTAS in-flight magazine features a double-page ad for the Coffs Coast. ​​​Check it out here!
  • Coffs Coast Blog: Explore the Botanic Garden Interactive Trail with the Coffs Coast Explorer App 
  • Australian Traveller: Everything to do at The Big Banana in honour of its 60th anniversary
  • Rex TrulyAus: 8 must-try restaurants in Coffs Harbour for a superb bite to eat

ALL COFFS COAST BUSINESSES are invited to share these campaigns in their business marketing. This is a great way to bring people from out of the area to your business - and the content is already created for you!

Coffs Coast digital marketing snapshot May
 

Congratulations to the Coffs Coast winners and finalists from the North Coast Tourism Awards which were announced on Thursday! 

  • Tiga Cross (Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary) - Gold, Outstanding Young Tourism Business Leader 
  • Coffs Harbour Trike & Private Tours - Gold, Tour and Transport Operator of the Year 
  • The Big Banana Fun Park - Gold, Tourism Attraction of the Year
  • Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary - Silver, Tourism Attraction of the Year
  • Giingan Gumbaynggirr Cultural Experience - Silver, Excellence in Cultural Tourism
  • Pacific Bay Resort - Bronze, Event Venue of the Year 
  • Shearwater Restaurant - Bronze, Excellence in Food Tourism

Plus Coffs Coast finalists:

  • Coffs Coast Tickets by Paradox Media
  • Gumbaynggirr ECO immersive stand up paddle tours
  • Lindsay Russell – Broken Open Productions
  • The Hoey Moey
  • Yarrawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre
  • Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM)
READ MORE HERE
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
 
FIND OUT MORE!

City of Coffs Harbour Open Day

The whole community is invited to the first ever Open Day! See the diversity and variety of services provided by the City of Coffs Harbour.

Entry to the Open Day is FREE, and food and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Sunday 11 August. 10am - 2pm.

 
TAKE THE SURVEY

Business NSW Survey

The latest Business Conditions survey is now open. This survey is critical for Business NSW to understand what is happening across the Coffs Coast and most importantly to report these findings to the State government. 

If you can please spare 5 minutes to reflect on your business challenges and prospects, Business NSW will use your insights to advocate for your needs.

 

GRANT FUNDING & BUSINESS SUPPORT

 
Coffs Harbour Grant Finder

COFFS HARBOUR GRANT FINDER

The City of Coffs Harbour provides a free service for locals to find grants and grant writing tips. Register to be notified of specific grants for your business or organisation.

COFFS HARBOUR GRANT FINDER
 
 
NewAccess Developed by Beyond Blue

NewAccess for Small Business Owners

Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners (NASBO) is a guided self-help mental health coaching program. It’s free, confidential and convenient. Available nationally by phone or video call, no GP referral is required. 

Over 6 sessions, your mental health coach will work with you to manage stress and overwhelm using straightforward problem-solving approaches.  

All mental health coaches are specially trained and have a small business background so they understand your unique challenges. 

FIND OUT MORE
SafeWork NSW rebate

SafeWork NSW - Small Business Rebate 

This program aims to support small business owners in NSW to purchase safety items (up to $1,000) to improve work health and safety.

Categories for eligible items include:

  • Slips, trips and falls
  • Being hit by moving objects or isolated at work
  • Heavy lifting, carrying or doing the same task often
  • Moving machinery, plant or vehicles
  • Hazardous noise, chemicals and sun exposure
FIND OUT MORE
 
National Sustainability Framework and Toolkit for the Visitor Economy

NATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK AND TOOLKIT FOR VISITOR ECONOMY BUSINESSES

Over the last six months, we have covered the National Sustainability Framework and Sustainable Tourism Toolkit by introducing the four pillars of sustainability, as well as covering the ins and outs of promoting your sustainability story and what it means to back up your claims.

This concludes the monthly dissemination of these two documents. In case you missed, previous editions of the Coffs Coast Business News can be found here.

No matter where you are on your sustainability journey, by continuing to make changes to your business for the good of the planet and people around you, you can:

  • improve profitability and reduce costs
  • form new partnerships with local communities and suppliers
  • build your reputation and stay competitive
  • appeal to new customers
  • attract and retain employees
  • reduce your carbon footprint
  • adapt to climate change.

It's fine if your sustainability journey looks different to that of other businesses. What matters most is that you start now and keep going. A sustainability action plan helps you figure out what to do and stay on track. You can download a free template here.

 
 

WHAT'S ON @ COFFS COAST

Fashion Warehouse Sale

Fashion Warehouse Sale - Coffs City Centre
8 August

Bellingen Community Markets

Bellingen Community Markets
17 August

Top Dog Film Festival

Top Dog Film Festival
17 August 

Made with Love Markets

Made with Love Markets
25 August

SEE ALL EVENTS
PLAN AHEAD - DOWNLOAD THE MAJOR EVENT CALENDAR
 

Please reach out to our team at City of Coffs Harbour if you have any questions.

Check out our 6 degrees business support website for business events and resources.
For tourism industry and visitor economy business support and information, go to our Coffs Coast tourism industry hub.

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City of Coffs Harbour logo

City of Coffs Harbour 
Locked Bag 155
Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450

T: 02 6648 4834   E: industry@chcc.nsw.gov.au

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