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Mayor's Message - 28 AugustI recently attended the Bass Coast Business Awards presentation evening held at Silverwater Resort. It was a great night, and I congratulate all the businesses that entered the awards - in particular those that were finalists, By Bass Coast - 29th August 2014 - Back to News runners up and winners in their respective categories.
The Business Awards are a great way for local operators to step back and have a look at their business operations through ‘fresh eyes’, as well as comparing themselves to other businesses across the region. Businesses get a lot of promotion online and via the local media as a result of entering the Business Awards. Well done to Council’s Economic Development Team for organising another successful event this year.
Businesses, big and small, are the backbone of the Bass Coast economy, and it is vital that all businesses in the region, regardless of whether they are in tourism, construction, services or any of the other business sectors in the Shire, continue to evolve and find new ways to meet their customer’s needs. As the experts say, ‘With the growth in online retail, people don’t really have to go into shops any more…they will only do it if it is a great experience". This highlights the challenge for businesses to make every interaction with their customers a great experience, and continually find new ways to deliver services better.
This is made all the more difficult by a tough economic climate, with tightening of discretionary spending across many business sectors. Bass Coast is lucky that it has a spread of businesses across a range of industry sectors, and a strong tourism sector supporting all businesses across the Shire.
As stated in the Council Plan 2013-2017, Council is committed to ‘facilitate activities that support and promote businesses to become commercially resilient’. A new Economic Development Strategy for the Shire is currently being prepared, which will outline Council’s vision for business development and investment attraction in the Bass Coast. Council will be seeking input from the community on the draft strategy once complete.
Cr Neil Rankine, Mayor Bass Coast Shire Council
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com

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