How fabulous was the weather and atmosphere for the holidays and Easter/Anzac break. The village was abuzz with many visitors who thoroughly enjoyed the laidback Lennox feel. I was quite stunned at the amount of Bluesfest attendees who chose to stay in Lennox Head this year and travel by bus to the festival. We are getting a very good reputation for the relaxed affect while still enjoying all the activities available.
There is a new art space opened in Lennox with Mark Waller offering classes for kids and adults alike. We encourage artists to apply to hang their work and to be in residence for a day or week. The art space is designed to be a living, evolving place for all those inspired by art. Please go to the gallery in Ballina St, next to Mulcahy Lawyers, and talk to Mark and the team. Congratulations on filling one of the vacant shops with an inspiring idea.
Biz-X is ready to assist you get your business on track and ready for the changes coming with the new government. Call Dean Atkins direct for more very important information. Ballina Byron Mini bus hire did a wonderful job taking us to the Bluesfest. Tony Bortolin and his bus are available for you to go anywhere in the region, a great way to travel so everyone can have fun.
Now that we are headed into the slower and quieter months there is one thing that business owners should look at and that is the appearance of their business. Shopping Centres require a refit of businesses every five years and the reason they do this is because concepts start to look tired and fixtures and fittings look worn and this has proven to be a turn off to customers.
Next time you step into your business try and do it like you are the customer and ask yourself these things,
- How is the lighting, is it appropriate to your business are there any lights not working?
- Are the walls and ceiling freshly painted or marked and scuffed?
- Are your floors worn, damaged or dirty?
- Are your shelves clean or covered in dust?
- Is your stock clean with fresh, clearly displayed prices?
- Are your tables and chairs looking worn?
- Is your signage faded and outdated?
- Are your menus tatty and torn?
If your business looks unkempt outside and/or inside, out of date or just plain grubby this will be impacting on your bottom line. Just like when selling a house, appearance is everything. If you don’t have a roster in place for cleaning and maintenance then you should implement one. This ensures the staff is accountable and that things are getting done, daily and weekly. Signing off when jobs are completed usually ensures they are being done. The bigger jobs are obviously an owner’s responsibility and should be looked at regularly. We live in a sunny place and shabby, faded signs around town are not conducive to good business. This is often the first thing visitors see and as a business owner you need to ask yourself is this the first impression you want to give people.
Our free Network Night is on May 11th at 5.30pm and will be the opening of the art space mentioned earlier. Everyone is welcome so please mark it in your diary now and come along to a wonderful evening.
Louise Owen
President
Ph: 0488 247887
