June’s Breakfast Before Business was a chilly one, so thankyou to our members for braving the cold and coming along for a really worthwhile morning.

We had Jennifer Jeffreys as our guest speaker. Jennifer speaks to corporations throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, sharing practical real-life strategies that help people to improve their health, wellbeing and productivity by finding balance in their lives.

Refreshingly down-to-earth, Jennifer is engaging and informative speaker who leaves her audiences feeling empowered about the things they can do to achieve balance in their lives, rather than feeling guilty about what they’re not doing!

The morning was really enjoyable, with Jennifer well liked and sales of her books and other business tools were one of the best we have seen.

Once again our thanks to Mark Nancarrow from Zoom Coffee for his sensational espresso coffee.

If you are interested in attending one of our Breakfast Before Business meetings, they are held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Ballina RSL. You can contact us at Ballina Chamber on 66815049 for more information.

Nominations are now open! The Ballina Chamber of Commerce is now taking your nominations for Businesses of Excellence within the Ballina Shire.

You can nominate a business based on Excellent Customer Service or a Business Excellence Award in the categories of;
1. Retail Outlet- 5 Workers or Less
2. Retail Outlet- Over 5 Workers
3. Trade and Industry
4. Food and Beverage
5. Tourism Operation
6. Professional Services- 5 Workers or Less
7. Professional Services- Over 5 Workers
8. Service and Sporting Club (registered clubs)
9. Health and Lifestyle
10. Best New Business
11. Business of the Year- Top marked business out of categories 1-10
12. Community Service

To nominate you can call the hotline 66815049, fax 66865810 or email your nomination to info@ballinachamber.com.au

Entries will also be accepted via mail; P.O Box 444, Ballina, NSW 2478

Completed submissions close 31/7/2007

For more information call Nadia at the chamber on 66815049

June’ Business After hours was held at the new Rakuu Japanese Take Away
& Truck Stop SK8: Skate and Street Wear on River Street.

Our host’s Paul, Koya and Emi provided drinks and Japanese nibblies. Paul also celebrated Truck Stop’s 3rd Birthday. Congratulations Paul!

The winners of our lucky business card draws were Sheila from BBQ’s Galore who won a platter from Raku and Kim from The Northern Star who won the fabulous street and skatewear prize.

If you would like to come along to one of our Business after Hours events or would like to host one of your own, just contact Nadia at info@ballinachamber.com.au or phone her on 66815049.

Our guest speaker for May was Tom Senti, the Executive Director of the Tweed Economic Development Corporation Ltd. He delivered his projections for Economic Development in the Northern Rivers and, in particular, Ballina. Tom also spoke about the Tweed Economic Development Model implemented in several Local Government areas throughout New South Wales and Queensland and gave examples of how economic impacts can be monitored using this tool.

Once again the Ballina RSL provided us with a fabulous venue and great food and Mark Nancarrow kept us all going with his delicious Zoom Coffee Espresso machine.

Bruce Loxton from Kimberly Kampers was our inspirational guest speaker for the April HBBN meeting, held at the Ballina Council Chambers. Bruce provided us with a Business Case Study; Capturing Business Growth through Internet Marketing. During the meeting we were introduced to the concept of a “hot market” and other internet business growth strategies. His insight and experience made for a informative and interesting morning.

Bruce is a fabulous speaker, and he is also a highly motivating and motivated entreprenuer. We appreciate his words of wisdom and look forward to hearing more about his successes.

You can view Bruce’s website at www.kimberlykampers.com

If you would like to take part in our monthly HBBN meetings just contact Nadia at the Ballina Chamber of Commerce; info@ballinachamber.com.au or Jane from the Economic Development Unit; janel@ballina.nsw.gov.au

Wow! What a great morning, guest speaker Linda Hailey came to deliver a wonderful presentation on Branding Your Business. The presentation was highly motivating and full of practical and cost effective ideas that can be applied to any business. We had a record number of businesses attend and the feedback was excellent.

More information about Linda can be found on her website www.lindahailey.com.au

The Ballina Shire Home Based Business Network is a non-profit group that meets monthly to establish networks with other business leaders. A’Series of Conversations’ will provide an opportunity for members to talk about issues relevant to running a homes based or small business with a leading business facilitator.

For more information on upcoming HBBN events just contact Nadia at the Ballina Chamber of Commerce at info@ballinachamber.com.au or Jane at janel@ballina.nsw.gov.au

Our marvellous May meeting was all about ‘Planning and Preparing your Website’. We had Dom O’Brien from Laughing Buddha Designs provide his very informative and easy to understand presentation to a packed room of Home Based Business Operators.

The morning was held at the Ballina RSL and a scrumptious morning tea and lunch was provided. The HBBN monthly meetings are a great way to network with the business community and keep in touch with industry training and local business information, as well as keeping you motivated and stimulated. The meetings are held on the 1st Wednesday of each month.

For more information feel free to contact Nadia at info@ballinachamber.com.au or Jane from the Economic Development Unit; janel@ballina.nsw.gov.au

The Ballina Chamber of Commerce and Industry Race Day was held on the 18th of March. It was a beautiful March day and there were plenty of smiling faces and gorgeously dressed people enjoying a flutter.

Many thanks to Janelle from Sublime Clothing and Alan from Laneway Labels for sponsoring our Fashions on the Field. Categories were Best Dressed Female, Best Dressed Male and Best Dressed Couple.

Our race sponsors were: GIO
The Northern Star
Ballina RSL
Ramada International Hotel Ballina
Ballina Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Coopers Shoot Orchards
Marriot Foreman

Many thanks to Summerland House With No Steps for hosting our May Business After Hours and congratulations on the opening of your new waterpark.You can see the great facilites they offer, so check them out on www.summerlandhouse.com.au

A great evening was had by all, with plenty of networking and laughs,with Air T&G winning the lucky business card draw prize, which was the a bottle of red and white and sparkling wine, a new label launched by Summerland House With No Steps called Turning Point.

We welcome all new businesses to come along for our entertaining and informative Business after Hours,they are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 5.30 to 7.30. If you are a new business and want some great publicity you should host a networking event, for more information just contact us at the chamber.

Rob & Helen Stutfield and their team at the Telstra Licensed Shop put on a great after hours on Tuesday 13th March in their fabulous new premises at Ballina Central. Sue Passmore, General Manager of Telstra Country Wide, spoke about the Next G mobile network and wireless Broadband solutions whilst the drinks flowed and canapes circulated. It was a great night with quite a few new faces. Craig from Savvy Human Resources won the lucky door prize - a new phone!! Congrats to Craig and thanks to the Telstra team for their hospitality!!