G'day, everybody! 👋😄 It’s Tim here and I’m thrilled to announce plans for 2025 that will place small businesses in the spotlight.
Let me share a personal story that inspired this vision. While on holiday in a beautiful part of WA, I was searching for a massage. Despite having plenty of options, finding clear information was like playing digital hide-and-seek. One place had an unclaimed Google Business Profile with a phone number but no website. Another had a Facebook page but no map listing. After finally booking an appointment, I couldn’t even find the location. Frustrating, right?
This experience drove home a simple truth: many incredible small businesses in WA’s regional areas, from Fremantle to Busselton, are struggling to connect with potential customers. The tools are there—websites, Google profiles, and social media—but without proper setup, these tools often fall short of delivering value.
Our new brand value, Connecting with Local Communities, is about bridging that gap. It’s about showing small businesses how a strong online presence can do more than attract customers—it can create thriving local connections. Imagine a cozy craft store using its website to bring hobbyists together for weekly workshops, forming a creative community in the South West. Picture a bookstore sparking regional book clubs, where readers from all walks of life meet and share stories. Think of a café partnering with nearby artisans or small wineries to host tasting nights, offering a local experience that tourists and locals alike won’t forget.
These aren’t just ideas; they’re opportunities to build bonds and drive growth in the very communities where these businesses operate. When small businesses connect with people—not just customers—they create something bigger than transactions: they create community.
Ethical digitalisation requires respecting and preserving this ancient land and its culture for future generations. I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the South West, the Noongar people, and their connection to Boodja, including the Pinjarup, Wiilman, Wadandi, Pibelman, Kaneang, Menang, and Koreng communities.
We’re calling it “The Year of the Small Business,” with a focus on empowering local legends in WA to build stronger connections through their digital presence.
2025 is the year we turn these ideas into action. Whether you’re a small business owner looking for guidance or someone with a story about your own digital challenges, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s make this the year of transformation for small and regional businesses across Western Australia.
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