Just imagine .....

.....what our lives would have been like without that first Mac experience in the early 1980's, or the fun of an iPod, iPad or iPhone app which plays our favourite songs, films, shares our ideas, and our twitters. As a society we have embraced and fallen in love with all this funky technology which barely registers on our psyche anymore as we flip, slide and tap away -- all day, everyday. Behind this fun and inventiveness was an entrepreneur -- a thinker that was not bound by convention, or the limitations of the known.

We all acknowledge former Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs for his enormous and unparallelled contribution to the way we interact online, store our photos, and do our business. Steve Jobs stands tall in his achievements but not alone.

There are many examples of pure inventiveness, entrepreneurship, and unbounded thinkers amongst the social enterprise sector. Examples such as the two retired farmers who used the income from a section of farmland to begin and maintain an emergency response unit, when no State or Federal government would kick in the funding. Such as the community who invested in the only petrol station in town to keep the town alive and thriving. And such as the development of high-tech mailing and printing equipment to engage young people in fulfilling employment. Such as, such as.......

The list continues across every community, region and sector. Have a think about some of your own inventiveness, or others you know of. Come on over to the Social Traders facebook page and lets bring these entrepreneurs to light.

The end of the year is only a few weeks from now. From all at Social Traders we wish you a peaceful time and fabulous new year.


Jessica @ Social Traders

There is a time for chocolate and there is a time for work

The range of enterprises within the SES project show just how imaginative the people and communities of Australia are; recycling, maintenance, building, cafes, catering, wineries, fashion, multimedia, and so much more.

The 37 social enterprises we are working closely with across Australia -- in regional and urban areas -- has provided insight into the everyday-ness of  people involved in social business experience; the barriers, the opportunities and the breadth of scope and learnings which are obtainable and extra-ordinary.

Mahesh -- our business development adviser -- spends much of her time working with individuals within the sector. She is teaching and coaching through the development process of useful financial management processes; identifying meaningful key figures, how to capture these figures and most important of all, how to interpret and use this information.

Providing this hands-on approach will train enterprise managers and increase their capabilities to effectively control and manage the business. And refining business concepts may open up sustainable funding options -- either through grants (many have already embraced these) and low interest/no interest loans.

Social Traders has been working closely with two Social Enterprise Development and Investment Funds (SEDIF). The two funds -- Social Enterprise Solutions and Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA) -- deliver community finance to create sustainable pathways for the social enterprise sector. Both these funds open up opportunities for new and existing social enterprises, non profits and individuals to access finance in a fair and equitable manner. Take some time to examine these offerings and match business ideas with finance opportunities.

The depth of enterprise and the need to provide a vehicle for social procurement has led Social Traders to develop the Social Enterprise Finder (The Finder), Australia's first online social enterprise directory. Registration is free to all Australian social enterprises and will allow Government, the corporate sector and the general public the means to actively search for social enterprises to engage and procure.

 

Social Traders defines social enterprise as businesses that are led by an economic, social, cultural or environmental  mission consistent with a public or community benefit; trade to fulfill its mission; derive a substantial proportion of income from trade; and reinvest the majority of its profit/surplus in the fulfillment of its social mission.

In the spirit of Tasmania

Social Traders headed south in October to support Tasmania's burgeoning social enterprise sector. With Oak Tasmania, TasCoss, UTAS Institute for Regional Development, and Tasmanian Regional Arts collaborating with Social Traders to present to a forum to over 60 interested people, the national social enterprise space was able to highlight the opportunities for communities and governments to support and foster the sector.

The day was able to bring together and provide guidance to Tasmania's social enterprise sector, allowing discussion and actions to be determined. A major outcome for the event has been the development of a networking group to continue movement in this area.

Whilst in Tasmania, the national social enterprise sustainability project team was able to meet and explore ideas with some of the Launceston and Hobart based enterprises. Visiting the highly innovative "Castle" program (flat packed castle accommodation for young people), the Northern Suburbs Community Centre (boxed produce to low income earners), and TOOL (training in woodwork and crafts) provided great insight into the opportunities and barriers the social enterprise sector faces.

The SES project team will be providing a range of hands-on and strategic assistance to these social enterprises in the coming weeks.

Why them and not me?

With SME's leading the way in creativity, innovation and design, how is it that some just seem to "get lucky" whilst the rest of "us" don't? What is it that sets these two groups apart - is it really down to luck, to personality types, or is it more ingrained and intrinsic that determines outward success?

With special thanks to smartcompany.com.au - a regular news feed I follow - I have plated up some insight into the "why them and not me" scenario.

Top smart SME tips from around the world....

Carolyn Creswell of Carmen's Fine Foods keeps her team happy by employing an office nanny to do errands, believes in lunch sharing and arranges for her staff cars to be washed every couple of weeks - "you create greater long-term productivity and dedication to your business if your people love working there".

The famed creative thinker Edward de Bono says everyone should have a creative thinking hit list stuck to their computer, and each organisation have a "listen and receive" ideas person to gather these creative thoughts.

Phillip Weinman - Australia's ultimate serial entrepreneur - beleives it is always about the people never the business, never the product. And when finding the right people, David Snoad of Pinz uses "bring a friend to work" to find the best people in the industry. "When we need people, our staff are the first point of contact".

Costa Anastasiadis of Costa Gourmet Pizza engages with online customers through daily conversation - "if you call a friend and they don't call you back, you give up in the end".

Young Rich List entrant Dorry Kordahi beleives he sells a service not a product. Founder of merchandising and marketing company DKM, he used Richard Branson's "Power to Act" theory to go out and meet his customers, and uses that relationship to gain leverage.

"We grow people from within, because I focus on my people and I look after them, and they look after me", says Abraham Hatoum founder of clothing alteration franchise LookSmart Alterations.

Entering industry and "peoples choice" awards will gain traction for your product of service said 99Designs entrepreneur Mark Harbottle. Mark used his nomination to reach out to customers through social media to gain winning votes. And whilst on social media, engage with one or two forms and do it well. James Griffin of SR7, an online reputation management group, says "pay attention to what is being said about your organisation online. Use people interaction to reinforce positive comments whilst addressing the negative".

And the final entrant for advice is Peter Ritchie,mMcDonald's Australia ex-chief executive. Peter says by providing the "extra service the customer will notice it, and you get the credit".

Whilst this is a mixed bag of advice there will be one or two or three that resonates with you and your business. Just run with it ....

Are you a social enterprise in Tasmania?

Social Traders takes a lead role in supporting and nurturing social enterprises across Australia and will be co-hosting a forum in Cambell Town (Tasmania) for a conversation about the challenges, experiences and opportunities surrounding the social enterprise sector. All the details can be found here.. Tasmanian Social Enterprise Study: A forum for Tasmania’s social enterprise sector.

Match social outcomes with economic reality

With the pressures of economic realities, social enterprises have entered a new phase in the Australian landscape. Working towards often seemingly clashing goals, the sector has seen the need to regularly review and revisit social objectives.

Harnessing these thoughts, the Social Traders SES project team headed to the north eastern coastal areas of Byron Bay and Nambucca Heads.

Armed with 17 years of small business financial management, and a desire to make things right, Social Traders Business Development Advisor Mahesh with public relations expert Jessica arrived in Byron Bay on a sunny afternoon to spend time with the crew at the Byron Bay Community Centre.

If looking for an example of how community has pulled together the vital ingredients to build a cultural and social hub for a town bursting with transient people, here it is. Byron Bay Community Centre is a refurbished original building in the centre of town. It plays host to a delicious choice of arts and theatre productions, cultural creations in artisan markets, is the home for community businesses including local radio and counselling services. Add to the mix 200 homeless regulars - who arrive weekly to collect fresh produce from local farmers, feast upon the warming foods of local cooks and have a place to be welcomed - the building is central to Byron Bays sense of purpose.

And if all that is not enough - just ask the 300 volunteers who work every month in making the centre open, close, be warm, be happy and safe.

Amongst all this activity and intent is the Community Table Cafe - a burgeoning social business which creates freshly baked goodies, brews chai tea over two days to enhance the flavours, and presents the funkiest chilli choc this side of Barcelona.

Heading South towards Sydney, the team slid through the rain delighting Mahesh with a brief viewing of native 'roos to the area. Taking a right off highway no.1, Nambucca Pride Cafe appears through drips of water.

This training and employment cafe works with disadvantaged people from the local area providing a formal and practical training experience, driving skills leading to licensing, and most importantly, the exposure to real employment opportunities.

Using this training platform to create healthy low cost meals for the community, preparing homemade packaged meals to take away, and skilling groups of young people in budgeting and cooking, has enabled this cafe to make a place for itself in the Nambucca community.

Facing the barriers of matching social objectives with economic sustainability has meant so many social enterprises need to review, revisit and re-engage with their social aspects to achieve the long term goals. It is tough, it is challenging - however with the right focus and skills the balance between the social and economic will become complementary.