General News
25 June, 2024
Business booster from the bold and the purposeful
Business influencers from across the region gathered near Horsham recently to outline their visions for a healthier local economy.
Hosted by West Vic Business and Horsham Rural City Council in Taylors Lake Football and Netball Club, the take-home message from the forum was that small business can succeed despite perceived negatives.
The forum drew on the positivity and experience of entrepreneurs as well as administrators to highlight opportunities to empower success - and ways to combat negatives and pitfalls.
Speakers included Small Business Victoria executive director Ylva Carosene, Mainstreet Australia secretary Cinzea Crea, Gunn and Parkinson principal Iain Gunn, Chan Uoy from Dimboola Imaginarium and HRCC director Kevin O'Brien.
Ms Carosene urged businesses to create a business plan. Of Victoria's 700,000 businesses, only five percent of these ran to a business plan.
"And without a plan they are less likely to succeed," she said.
Iain Gunn, owner of Horsham's The Capital and businesses in Ararat and Ballarat, said one in 10 hospitality businesses were expected to fail this year. Small business owed a challenging $34 billion to the tax office.
"Authorities have to make doing business easier," he said. "There's already a lot of cost involved. I'm up against a tired industry that faces challenges."
Chan Uoy of Dimboola outlined his business experience in Yarraville followed by a disastrous enterprise in Docklands, eventually settling on a country location, attracted to a disused bank building in a highway-bypassed town ranked in the state's top 40 "dying towns".
Chances taken paid off. His health improved and the community embraced the Imaginarium. Soon other businesses followed, as did his highly successful biennial Steampunk festival.
"There's so much opportunity in this area," he said. "Diversity and vibrancy are important, and a balanced lifestyle is important. Set up art, culture and a vibe and people will follow. There's opportunity in this area."
Chairperson Mark Clyne praised Horsham council for its proactive approach after Mr O’Brien outlined many projects underway or in the planning to make the area more attractive to work, visit and invest.
Mr O'Brien said Horsham's centre was a thriving commercial, cultural, civic and recreation hub that would continue to evolve over time to meet community needs, support and grow business activity and draw visitors.
Many plans centred on its greatest asset, the Wimmera River. He stressed the council's aims of sustainability, livability, accessibility and community.