Cowra Business Chamber Newsletter May 2016

What an amazing month for Cowra with the arrival and departure of more than 600 CWA delegates who enjoyed five days of meetings and activities around town.

Congratulations to the organising committee for hosting the event and all of the groups and individuals who helped to make the Conference run so smoothly.

The $10 Cowra Cash Card was a great hit with the visitors and more than $2.5 million dollars was generated throughout the town on accommodation, food, entertainment and of course retail therapy. Thank you to the sponsors of the cards and Cowra Council for their support in having them printed.

Christmas Festival

Planning is already underway for the Christmas Street Festival. The Business Chamber will again run the massive Christmas Cracker and will be encouraging all businesses to donate something for the huge giveaway which will be drawn on the night of the Carnival, December 16.

As always, there will be plenty of food and entertainment for the children as well as promotions and giveaways during the night when the main street will be closed from 4 to 9pm to hold the event.

Federal Budget

The Chamber Executive discussed the Federal Budget and will be making a submission through the NSW Business Chamber about some budget items particularly changes to superannuation and the requirement for small business to be incorporated to attract the 27.5% tax rate, which will mean thousands of businesses will not qualify.

General Meeting

The next meeting of the Business Chamber will be a General meeting for all members hosted by Steel Walsh and Murphy on Wednesday, June 8 at 6pm. Please RSVP to the Secretary Nicholette Savage at secretary@cowrabusinesschamber.com.au

Cowra Business Chamber Newsletter April 2016

There is plenty of activity in the town as we ready for 600 delegates to the CWA Annual Conference.  Rowena Casey, Conference organiser, attended the last Executive meeting to thank the Chamber for their generosity in providing $10 cash cards for each of the delegates. The Chamber with the PCYC will also provide a shopping map and shuttle bus between town and the Showground so delegates can take advantage of their time off to explore.

President Simon Davis urged all main street retailers to dress up their windows to welcome the visitors, many who will be in town from Sunday, May 1 to Thursday May 5

The Conference starts on Sunday, May 1 with a church service at St Raphael’s and then an official opening by the NSW Governor, General David Hurley on Monday, May 2.

Keeping up with Digital presence

Cowra businessman David Patterson gave the Chamber an explanation about a new Digital Application he is developing for Cowra Businesses. Once downloaded residents and visitors will be able to see what services are available locally on their mobile devices.

Cowra merchants will be able to attend a Digital/online and collective social media training course coming up soon.

Cash Cards

Cowra has embraced the Cash Card concept and there are now 50 businesses signed up to accept the cards and 10 load up stores in town. They make an ideal gift or sponsorship alternative.

Cowra Shire Council is sponsoring the cost of printing the new Cowra designed cards.

NEW BUSINESSES

Congratulations to all the businesses which have moved or opened. Ilfracombe and Co, a lovely new coffee shop and centre at 127 Kendal Street has opened its doors alongside hairdresser, Ambience Hair, a new fashion boutique Bo and Ree and Eye Spy Beautician.

Ginger and Gelato Trading Co. have moved to the Logan Court Arcade, the Cowra Trophy Factory has been included at Rapt in Kendal Street and The Mill restaurant in Vaux Street has re-opened for Breakfast and Lunch. Country Built, a transportable home builder, has built new showrooms in Mulyan Street.

Fantastic to hear about Cowra Toyota which won, Dealer of the Year at the recent Toyota Awards- a very big honour for a country dealer.

All businesses are welcome to join Cowra Business Chamber. For more information, contact Nicholette Savage at secretary@cowrabusinesschamber.com.au

Cowra Business Chamber Newsletter February 2016

Cowra Business Chamber Newsletter February 2016

2016 Business Awards

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners of the Cowra Business Awards held last Friday night at The Quarry Restaurant.

Everyone had a great time and it was fantastic to hear about so many successful businesses operating in Cowra, providing services to regional and state customers as well as locals.

Thanks to Ed Fagan, NSW Farmer of the Year, for providing an insight into Mulyan’s horticulture enterprises.

Winners were

Entrepreneur of the Year- Larissa Pullen Cowra Dance Factory

Hospitality and Tourism Award -The Oxley Wine Bar

 Innovation in agribusiness-  Le Barre Olives

Excellence in Business-  Cowra Auto Electrical

Business Leader-  Len Oliver and Noel Smith

Environmental Award- Cowra Material and Recycling Facility

Cowra Cash Competition

The Cowra Cash Cards have gone from strength to strength and there are now over 50 businesses, clubs and venues where you can redeem the cards.

Children can win cash cards by entering the Business Chamber design competition which will be run at schools during the next few weeks. Primary Schoolchildren will be asked to draw “What they Love about Cowra” and the winning design will be used on the new cashcard face.

Cash cards make a great gift or sponsorship item

General Meeting

All members and interested people are invited to the next meeting of the Chamber at the offices of VERTO training organisation in Kendal Street at 6.pm on March 9. The Central West Business Enterprise Centre will offer an update on projects for the year.

Membership

Membership is open to anyone for $100 + GST and the membership form can be downloaded from the wesbsite www.cowrabusinesschamber.com.au  or for further information please contact Nicky at secretary@cowrabusinesschamber.com.au

Cowra Business Chamber Newsletter March 2015

Rory & Fred Fahey with President Ben Casey at our recent General Meeting

Flying High with the Faheys

About 30 Chamber members attended the General Meeting at Fahey’s Aerial Services last week.  Thanks to Fred and Rory Fahey for hosting the event which was very interesting.

Members were given a tour of the hangers which house an amazing array of aeroplanes.

It was great to see close-up the huge state of the art water bombing planes which have been used so effectively to fight the bushfires across the State.

The Faheys are called in to help with interstate fires as well. Their backup trucks of fuel are also an important part of the project and everything is on standby in top condition ready for a call out.

The agricultural planes were also on show and Fred explained how Fahey's Aerial Services had two distinct seasons.  All of the aircraft are specifically configured for either agricultural spreading or spraying or firebombing applications.  

Main Street Upgrade

Council's Director of Engineering Services, George Ridley was also on hand to update the group on the main street work.  He announces that the main street would be opened temporarily for Easter, pending good weather and then work would restart on the bridge end of Kendal Street. The work was on schedule and the dry weather had allowed the work to continue without a hitch.

The lights and banner poles would all be put up together at the end of the work schedule and the garbage bins and seats would be replaced soon.

Kendal Street Marketing

An enthusiastic group of Kendal Street business owners have got together and are coming up with plans to market the town centre when the road works are finished. They are a subgroup of the Chamber and anyone who is interested in contributing should contact Ian Grant at The Oxley Wine Bar.

Cowra Cash

Cowra Cash Gift cards can now be used at 38 businesses in Cowra and purchased from 10 of these stores. Just look for the window sign!

Congratulations – Thumbs Up!

The Mill, in Vaux Street has opened its doors and operates seven days for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Ashlea Field of Dream Body Retreat for organising donations for a local Cowra Family who has recently lost everything in a house fire.  Thank you to those Chamber Members who have donated goods and services to help others!

New Members - Welcome!

Cowra IT - Dave Farley has opened his business in the Arch's building opposite the courthouse.

Rourke & Henry Kids Boutique - Rach & Brooke have joined and are also a Cowra Ca$h business.

Aussie Hotel - Anita & Brad have also come on board as a Cowra Ca$h business.

Natural Beauty - Karen Horne is the new owner and is offering hair and beauty services.

Subway Cowra - John Bischof

COWRA CA$H

The COWRA CA$H program will be a Cowra based gift card that will allow locals to gift a COWRA CA$H card to a family member, friend or employee and the recipient will be able to redeem the value of the card at participating local retailers.

The COWRA CA$H card can be loaded with as little as $30 or as much as $250 and participation in the program is free for all members of the Cowra Business Chamber and all that is required is an EFTPOS terminal.

The key aim of the COWRA CA$H program is to support our local retailers and encourage local spending. When compared to other gift cards the key difference with the COWRA CA$H card is that it must be spent in participating local stores.

COWRA CA$H can be purchased at the following businesses:

• Bel's Super Seconds
• Cowra Newsagency
• Cowra Tourism
• Hippity Hop
• Lachlan Valley Paint Place
• North Cowra General Store
• Re'Lish Home and Living
• Studio Menswear and Style for Women
• Kendal Street Newsagency

COWRA CA$H cards can be redeemed at any of the load-up stores as well as the following businesses:

• Biz-E Bizness Essentials
• Browse Awhile
• Cowra Concrete Products Pty Ltd
• Cowra Guardian
• Cowra Motors
• Cowra Physiotherapy and Health Supplies
• Cowra Toyota
• Datavoice Communications Cowra
• Dream Body Retreat
• Helloworld Cowra
• Holmwood Wreckers
• Imperial Hotel
• Lachlan Engineering Services
• Lamps ‘N Things
• Perfect Health Centre / Yoveda
• Shoes 4 You
• Sovereign Inn
• Furphy’s Brasserie
• Townhouse Tavern
• The Closet
• Webster Optometrists
• Cowra Paint Plus & Phill's Blinds and Awnings
• All Service Motors
• Inside Out Cowra
• Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant