Success Stories

Small Business Development Grants

The SSBEC has assisted businesses through the application process and represented them in front of the Grant review Panel. Successful applicants to date are,

Waterlab Pty Ltd – receiving $135,000 grant with an expected 7 new employees

Beaches & Wine – receiving $158,750 grant with an expected 6.4 new employees

Oz Feathers

Linda & Kevin Sanders from OzFeathers were invited guests at the 2009 IGA Coolum (QLD) Kite Festival recently, where they released their new series of “FEATHER BANNERS” called “Opera House”.

This now completes (for the present) their installation known as “Australia”, where the Opera House and Uluru scenes combine to present a waving-fabric mural, which measures a stunning 30m x 5m.

The 45,000 crowd that attended the festival found the display most useful as both decoration and shade. Linda Sanders (OzFeathers) was re-elected for a second 3 year term onto the Board of Directors of the USA based kite-club, the American Kitefliers Association (AKA).

With over 4,100 club members worldwide, the AKA’s International Region covers all countries (outside of the U.S. mainland), where kite activities take place on every weekend somewhere around the world.

Linda collected two prestigious Awards during the 32nd Annual AKA Convention, in Rochester, MN, USA and she didn’t even leave her office in Willunga. She managed to secure wins with a specially designed FEATHER BANNER which was donated to AKA to be sold during the Convention Auction. The winning bidder entered the banner into the challenge for “Best Kite Accessory”, and it won both the Judges’ and the Members’ prizes! Her banner series “Women of the World” also won Members Choice Award at the AKA’s 30th Annual Convention.

Willunga Business & Tourism Association

Strategic Planning

The township of Willunga is well known for its weekend markets, Festivals and Events while keeping its country lifestyle image. The majority of businesses are directly associated with tourism, with the Willunga Business & Tourism Association (WBTA) being the driving force for the businesses.

As with all not-for-profit organisations, the WBTA is reliant on the volunteer office holders and committee who are all small business owners. The Southern Success Business Enterprise Centre (SSBEC) works through the Business Associations in the region to reach the small businesses associated with the associations.

The WBTA approached the SSBEC for assistance in planning for the future with the key focus being on tourism and the promotion of the region. The SSBEC facilitated three strategic planning sessions with up to 40 WBTA members present, resulting in a Strategic Plan being developed.

Now the WBTA is united and focused with a strategic plan giving direction to promote the region’s, markets, festivals and events thus generating more tourism dollars. The businesses have the advantage of knowing the strategic plan for the WBTA. They are able to make sure their businesses take full advantage of the opportunities that are expected to be generated in the region.

Members of the WBTA who went through the strategic planning process have realised they need to do the same for their own businesses.

Southern Success Business Enterprise Centre has enabled up to 40 businesses to see the potential for their business growth in a vibrant region.