Hi fellow networkers.
HAPPY NEW FINANCIAL YEAR!!!
What a year it has been. We have seen some recovery in the various economies around the world, and we have seen some further falls in others.
Like business, those that changed the way they did things through the boom times (wether it was the best way at the time or not), became more efficient, and put measures in place, have survived and will go on to become even stronger than before. Those that did not, are now suffering the pain and are having to make massive changes to survive.
The same can be said about business.
I have spoken to several business people recently, who did make changes during the GFC and are now starting to reap the benefits. They are experiencing growth in turnover and/or profit; the opposite to the stagnation or decline that those business, who did not change, are still going through. In my own business, we implemented changes when the GFC hit. Someone questioned me as to why my turnover had not grown from the GFC period, as had some other companies. My response was that the things we implemented to combat the GFC, were not about maintaining/increasing turnover, but for increasing profit. Which we have now done and now we can begin to work on increasing sales.
But business development is about growth. If you don't continually move and grow, you get run over by your competitors!
WELL NOW IS THE TIME FOR OUR ASSOCIATION TO GROW!
The CBD has a diverse range of businesses. Walk around the streets and you will constantly see the visible retail shops and big business branding, but as we know, there are many SME businesses tucked away and often "out of sight". MBN has, for a long time now, helped many of those businesses connect and grow, but we have never really had a focus on the retail sector of the CBD.
Well now we have that chance.
The City of Melbourne has been in the process of re-developing the Precinct Program it has run for many years. Part of this development was to change the way the program is administered. The program now has a Board, that is made up of 7 separate Precinct Associations, which will have a pool of funds to distribute, (as it sees fit), to the 7 Precinct Associations for marketing, events and membership development. The Board will also have access to management and support services. In addition to this, each Precinct has been given an amount of guaranteed funding, (based on membership numbers), to help with operational costs, each year.
MBN was provided the opportunity to apply for the Central Business District, to create a new association and adopt a "B to C" model, based on the very successful "B to B" model we have operated in MBN.
After several months of work, we have now been given the opportunity to undertake this challenge.
CAN I NOW ANNOUNCE THE NEW ARRIVAL OF "DISTRICT CENTRAL NETWORK"
The new DCN will operate in parallel with MBN, so no change to the present, but we will have the opportunity to work together and create fantastic opportunities for all businesses within the CBD.
As with all Associations, we have to form a Committee and in the interim, at the MBN AGM last week, a motion was passed to appoint Greg Robinson as the interim Chairman of DCN. We are working through some logistical items at the moment and will be keeping you all informed of all developments in the next few weeks.
At the AGM, we also formed our new Committee. I would like to welcome back Terri Mandler, Greg Robinson, Alan Knipe and our new Committee members, Casey Peldys from Westpac, Simon Mossman from Daymark PR and Russell Kelleher from Drake International. We look forward to all working together and taking MBN and DCN to the new levels we know and believe we can.
Times are exciting for us all and I look forward to seeing many of you at our next event coming up in August. Also don't forget that we have a great calendar of events, so please check our website for further details.
That is all for the moment, so happy networking.
Regards
Dave King (AKA Obama)
Incumbent president of MBN