Page 28 - Conveniece World Magazine Nov/Dec 2020

INDUSTRY INSIGHT WELCOME BACK MELBOURNE! Melbourne is finally out of lockdown and the jubilation from small businesses there is palpable. By Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell AO. Retailers have been waiting for this moment for months and now they can finally open their doors again – hopefully forever. It brings me so much joy to see people are getting out and about enjoying the simple things that were once taken for granted – a coffee at a café, shopping for a summer wardrobe or browsing a bookstore. It’s hard to believe so many Victorians have missed out on these little pleasures for so long. One thing is for sure – Melbourne wouldn’t be the city it is without its vibrant small business community, including retailers. Of course, we know many small businesses in Victoria and around Australia are struggling and we are continuing to ensure government understands the challenges they are facing and the need for ongoing support. Even with easing restrictions, we must accept that Covid-19 will remain with us for some time. It’s important your business has a plan to keep your workplace healthy and safe. There are a number of online resources, templates and guidelines available through your state or territory government to create a Covid Safe Plan. These can be accessed via our My Business Health web portal. For retail stores, signage and posters will be an important way to communicate to your customers. Safe Work Australia has developed Covid display materials to explain to customers what actions are being taken to stop the spread of the virus. Most states and territories have made branded posters and signage available. The links to these are also included on our My Business Health web portal. I can’t predict what will happen next year, but the glimmer of hope I would offer is that more Australians are wanting to buy local. Recent reports that the Australian Made campaign has seen a 400 per cent increase in businesses requesting to use the iconic kangaroo logo, indicates the rise in demand for Australian-made products. A recently released survey of more than 1000 Australians conducted on behalf of NBN Co, revealed close to half (49 per cent) of respondents had increased their online shopping during the pandemic shutdown period and 70 per cent have been consciously supporting local businesses online. But more than two-thirds of those surveyed, said even though they would like to support more local businesses, they were restricted by the limited digital presence. It’s clear that small retailers can no longer rely on outdated business models and bricks-and-mortar stores. Digitisation is now essential for small businesses to be truly competitive. The recent Buy from the Bush campaign is an excellent example – in just four months the 275 regional businesses profiled saw an average revenue increase of 300 per cent. The campaign delivered $5 million to those featured small businesses – all of which had an online presence. In Victoria, a similar campaign, Click for Vic, has also taken off. Launched by the Victorian Government, Click for Vic connects consumers with Victorian businesses offering at- home, virtual or delivered to your door experiences or products. From our experience, the most common roadblock to digital adoption has been not knowing where to start. There are a number of online workshops that offer good tips to small businesses. SkillFinder (skillfinder. com.au) is a new initiative, backed by the likes of MYOB and Xero, which offers free upskilling courses to SMEs. Everything from cloud computing to digital marketing. In the lead up to Christmas, it’s important to ensure your business has an online presence and it’s equally critical to make a plan. Sit down with a trusted, accredited financial adviser and make a plan that is tailored to your business. It’s absolutely vital that small businesses are considering the future now and how they will not only survive the challenges they are facing now, but also thinking about what happens when JobKeeper ends and there is a return to paying bills, loans and rent. For those small business owners experiencing financial stress, the sooner they seek professional advice, the better the outcome will be. About Kate Carnell AO Since being appointed Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman in March 2016, Kate Carnell has been a powerful advocate for small business. The Ombudsman has provided direct support to thousands of businesses involved in disputes. She has served as CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which represents 300,000 Australian businesses, and was awarded an Order of Australia for her service to the business sector. Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman’s office The ASBFEO's role is to support small businesses and family enterprises to enable them to grow and thrive. The ASBFEO was launched in 2016 and has two key functions: to assist and to advocate for small businesses and family enterprises. 26 CONVENIENCE WORLD NOV/DEC, 2020