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 Newsletter February 2009
 

Are you having increasing problems with debtors?
Is this having an impact on your profitability?
 FREE Seminars for Small Business
 “Managing Credit in Tough Times”
 Presenter: Dick Bradley, Small Business Consultant, RDA Illawarra

Corrimal                  17 Feb   5.30 – 8.00 pm

 Corrimal Leagues Club, 54 Railway Street

Wollongong      19 Feb 9.00 – 11.30 am

 Auditorium, City Diggers, 82 Church Street

Shellharbour    24 Feb 9.00 – 11.30 am

 Shellharbour Links, Golf Drive, Shell Cove

Industry statistics indicate that the debtor payment time cycle for 30 day accounts rose in the last quarter by 4 days with the average collection days for all industries now at 55 days.

 Dick Bradley, Small Business Consultant with RDA Illawarra says that late payment or non-payment of debts by customers wreaks havoc with cash flow and business viability and that this increasing adverse trend in payment terms could have a further detrimental impact on local small business.

 There is evidence tough trading conditions combined with the affects of the credit crunch have lead to an 11% increase in business failures. This has come about mainly from the effects of poor cash flow management and there are currently quite a few reports in the market place of slow payment, in some cases by major companies and consequently many smaller traders and contractors are doing it tough.

 In recognition of the difficulties being faced by small business including increasing problems with debtors, RDA Illawarra is facilitating a FREE seminar entitled “Managing Credit in Tough Times”. It will be held at Corrimal, Wollongong and Shellharbour over coming weeks and will outline ways of developing a systematic approach to credit policy including methods of assessing creditworthiness, the collection process and debt recovery measures available through the Small Claims Division of the Local Court.”

A FREE seminar booklet including guides and templates will be available to participants.

 RSVP within 3 days prior to event  Email: dick@rdaillawarra.com.au

  

 

 

Final Message for 2008

A big "thank you" to all those of you who have provided letters of support for our program funding application. It may well be several months before we learn the outcome of our request for extra grant income to run workshops for small business across the Illawarra. In the meantime, our FREE advisory and support service will continue in 2009. So, if there is any area that you may need help with in the new year please don't hesitate to contact me. Also, please don't hesitate to pass on details to any small business proprietors you know of who might benefit from our services.

At the end of what has been a very difficult year for many people a little humour seems in order. This "Stock Market quote of the week" was my pick of the best for 2009:

"This stock market crash is worse than a divorce - I've lost half my wealth and still have my wife" 

SEASONS GREETINGS

Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and good health, happiness and prosperity in the New Year. I look forward to working with you again in 2009.

Kind regards,

Dick Bradley 

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MEDIA RELEASE

  28th May 2008

  Small Business Outreach Service to Continue

  In recognising the success locally of the Small Business Field Officer Program, the Regional Development Australia, Illawarra is pleased to announce it will continue to deliver a similar FREE service after 30 June. It will be known as:

“Illawarra Small Business Assistance”.

Mr Eddy De Gabriele, Chairman of RDA, in making this announcement said that, following the decision to close the Small Business Field Officer program at a national level, he had been impressed by the strong and vocal support across the Illawarra for the continuation of this outreach style of support. “The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received has motivated RDA to find a way to maintain the service”.

  He added that the Board of RDA is pleased to confirm Dick Bradley will remain with RDA. “We appreciate the great contribution Dick has made in forging strong ties and delivering valuable support to a large number of small business customers from Helensburgh to Gerroa” Mr De Gabriele said. “One of the great strengths of this program has been its delivery of broad based advisory services direct to the door of small business.”

“It is very fortunate at this time that we possess a degree of autonomy and flexibility within our business plan to facilitate this ongoing service to the small business community of the Illawarra. RDA’s Executive Officer, John Grace, has ensured that our organisation has built the capacity to make this possible.”

  Whilst the service provision will continue Mr De Gabriele said, “Unfortunately at this point, RDA will not have the funding capacity to continue to provide the hugely successful business workshops facilitated by Dick Bradley within the Small Business Field Officer program. Over 500 small business owners have participated in a range of valuable workshops over the past 12 months. We will continue to work with industry partners and with our supportive Members of Parliament to find ways of restoring this highly important ingredient in building the knowledge and skills of small business proprietors. We are highly conscious of the fundamental role small business plays in the economy, and see it as our responsibility to assist and support wherever possible”, he added.

  Contacts: Dick Bradley / John Grace              Phone: 4227 4500

 

Small Business Field Officer Program to CLOSE 30 June 2008

  • Minister for Small Business announces closure of program

May 2008 Newsletter

  1. Wollongong Small Business Club
  2. FREE workshop  - "Don't Waste your Website" Kiama Community College Thursday 22 May commencing at 8.45 am through to 12.15 pm thence light lunch. FREE
  3. 5 Tips to Help You Grow Your Business

January 2008 Newsletter

  1. Just How Powerful is Word of Mouth Marketing?
  2. Wollongong Small Business Club
  3. FREE workshops  - "Developing Competitive Advantage"
  4. at Gerringong, Jamberoo, Corrimal and Helensburgh during the last week of February

November 2007 Newsletter

  1. FREE workshops  - "Customer Service Strategies to Grow Your Business"
  2. at
  3. Kiama;
  4. Austinmer;
  5. and Corrimal

September 2007 Newsletter

  1. FREE workshops  - "How to Charge What You're Worth"
  2. at
  3. Kiama;
  4.  Austinmer
  5. and Wollongong

August 2007 Newsletter

  1. Superannuation - Wollongong Small Business Club 14 August
  2. FREE workshops at Kiama and Austinmer
  3. Survey of Workshop Preferences
  4. Workplace Relations Fact Sheet

July 2007 Newsletter

  1. 2007 Business Awards
  2. Succession Planning
  3. FREE workshops at Kiama and Austinmer
  4. Superannuation - WSBClub 14 August
  5. Scrinemarketing - guest speaker for July
  6. Business Profiles

June 2007 Newsletter

  • Local Trading Conditions
  • Do you need to know about the Do Not Call Register?
  • Are your employees covered by a NAPSA ?