With fuel prices the way they are, it is nice to know that Wangaratta has the cheapest fuel for many miles around.
Currently Wangaratta has unleaded fuel available at 125.9, and even cheaper with shopping docket and other discount schemes. This is much cheaper than surrounding districts and towns. Furthermore, Autogas is currently available at 56.9
Since Wangaratta is also a great place to shop, why not save both ways and do your shopping in Wangaratta, while filling up with cheaper fuel?
VECCI Business Relief Fund
Written by Executive Officer
Friday, 27 March 2009
The State Government and VECCI have combined their efforts to develop the VECCI Business Relief Fund to assist those businesses who have been affected indirectly by the devasting bushfires this past summer.
While Government financial assistance is being made available to businesses directly destroyed or damaged by fire, those indirectly impacted are not eligible for assistance.
The State Government has pledged $500,000 to kick start the fund which can be contributed to by concerned businesses anywhere.
An overview of the fund and how you can contribute is contained in the following documents:
There are four things that can be said about the worldwide credit crunch everybody has been talking about for many months now :
It is not a new confectionary line available at the corner shop or supermarket
Businesses are finding it tougher to compete and stay profitable
It is causing rising unemployment both around the world and in Australia, and
With the drive for businesses to be increasingly more competitive coupled with rising unemployment, now is the time for individuals and/or businesses to turn to skills training as a potential short, medium or long term solution to lessening their impact of difficult times in the commercial world.
Call 'The Centre' today to discuss your training needs with us today, regardless of whether or not you find courses specific to your needs this course guide. The Centre can help you plan and keep your training local, which lowers your training costs and supports your local community.
Call our helpful Customer Service people at Wangaratta on 5721 0200 or Benalla on 5762 4311 or vist our website at www.thecentre.vic.edu.au
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TOGETHER The Centre - your Community College
Last Updated ( Sunday, 31 May 2009 )
Victorian Bushfire Donations
Written by Executive Committee
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
THERE are several ways you can help the victims of Victoria's worst ever bushfires. Victoria Police and the Red Cross have requested people wanting to donate should not use any numbers listed for emergency use only.
Businesses have another avenue to assist those in need after being devestated by the bush fires. Business Victoria have set up a registry for those who can donate services and assistance to businesses who have had their business wiped out. simply go to the Business Victoria website. Another option is to register your help or see what help is required by visiting the Fitzroy Oxfam wiki pages.
Click the Read More... for other options to give assistance
Design Victoria launches an online sustainability kit to help SMEs grow their business through design.
Design Victoria today officially launched Sustainable by Design, a practical online sustainability ‘how to’ kit for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) at designvic.com.
Sustainable design is a dynamic capability that achieves the best results in both form and function without compromising quality, the environment or unnecessarily increasing costs.
Sustainable by Design is a practical online ‘how to’ kit for Victorian SMEs and manufacturers, developed by Design Victoria. It is a rich source of information on sustainable design (also known as eco design) and the value derived from it that businesses can access to find out how to approach sustainability issues in a commercial setting. Sustainable by Design empowers organisations embarking on – or already following – an environmental path to improve their performance and build competitive advantage through sustainable design.
“Victoria is home to a great number of businesses and manufacturers where sustainable design initiatives can have a great impact on the environment - and the business’ bottom line,” said Michele Azzopardi, Director, Design Victoria.
Last Updated ( Friday, 27 February 2009 )
Smart Water Fund
Written by Executive Officer
Friday, 30 January 2009
Welcome to the January 2009 edition of Smart Water Fund News.
In this issue you will find articles on:
the first Meet the Innovators tour
GHD's waterless toilet block
sports projects by Tennis Victoria and Beckley Park
Knox City Council's pool backwash recycling project
an online water saving toolkit for food manufacturers
industrial ecology opportunities in Melbourne
the Creating Water Sensitive Cities in Australia workshop series
The Smart Water Fund is always on the look out for other innovative water management solutions within the community and business to promote through the Knowledge Bank. If you know of an innovative project, send your story ideas to
.
Last Updated ( Friday, 27 February 2009 )
New Council for the Rural City of Wangaratta
Written by Executive Officer
Friday, 05 December 2008
The bell has sounded and the reults are in - we have four new councillors plus three existing councillors who have been voted in to represent the rate payers for the next four years.
The councillors elected are:
Roberto Paino
Previous Councillor / Mayor
Rozi Parisotto
Previous Councillor
Ron Webb
Previous Councillor
Lisa McInerney
New
Lauren O'Neill
New
Anthony Griffiths
New
Doug McPhie
New
Business Wangaratta looks forward to discussing and resolving the issues that affect businesses within our region with our new council in the future.
NEWSFLASH!!!
Cr. Ron Webb voted in as Mayor for the first 12 months of the new Council. Business Wangaratta wishes Cr. Webb well in his new role as we all look to a mixed future in the months ahead.
Last Updated ( Monday, 08 December 2008 )
ACCC institutes proceedings against Australialink
Written by Executive Officer
Monday, 08 December 2008
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court, Brisbane against Australialink Pty Ltd; its director, Ms Rachel Dargie; and general manager, Mr Desmond O'Keefe.
The ACCC has alleged that Australialink engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct and unconscionable conduct, in breach of sections 52 and 51AC of the Trade Practices Act 1974.
Today, inexperienced workers aged 15-24 are 21% more likely to be severely injured than their older workmates. The fact is, they need more supervision so they know the risks involved.
Across the retail sector, common injuries for young people are: • musculoskeletal injuries from slipping on wet/greasy floors, and • injuries from lifting heavy items or being hit by moving objects.
We have just received the latest newsletter - the November edition of Learn to Return. In this edition WorkSafe focus on some best practise tips about how to manage return to work (RTW). You are given a sneak peak at some of the upcoming Employer RTW Network events for next year, which include some new session topics and regional locations. Also considered in this edition is depression in the workplace and the new publication jointly developed by WorkSafe and Beyond Blue.
Business Wangaratta now subscribes to the Our Community Newsletter. We receive a copy of the newsletter each month. We will post these newsletters for the benifit of our members to the Members ONLY section of this site. They will be available in the Business Documents section of the Downloads Area.
NB: If you are a member and you have forgotten your access login to the Members ONLY section, then please contact our Executive Officer and your access will be sent to you.
Last Updated ( Monday, 08 December 2008 )
ANGRY CUSTOMERS
Written by Customer Service
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
How do your people deal with angry, abusive and threatening callers?
Do you train your customer service staff to handle these people?
Do you know to deal with these people and still retain them as valued customers?
If they did all these things most customers wouldn’t get angry or would be calmed by the professional approach. It’s simple really:
Listen - What does the person want and why are they angry?
Let them vent - Don't cut them off, instead say "I'm listening"
Summarise to ensure you have understood - Get all the facts, and focus on the just the facts
Stay calm - Don't take it personally
Your customer probably has a good reason to be frustrated and if they are not being listened to – they just get angrier
