Distilled Community Business Assist

Do you have a desire to support small business development in your community or professional network?

Small business development represents the heart of economic and business development for many communities, regions, industries, clusters and networks.

Most communities and networks are conscious of the need to support small business but most lack a coordinated, collaborative, systematic approach for doing so.
 
In turn, small business owners often feel isolated with only limited support.

This product enables communities and networks to develop an agreed plan of action to help local small businesses succeed using what some regard as the world’s leading edge small business marketing approach, Duct Tape Marketing. (Distil is the first and only authorised Australian coach of Duct Tape Marketing).

The plan is systematically developed with the input and involvement of all relevant stakeholders.

Optionally, the focus of the plan can include helping small business to be more sustainable as well as more successful.

Why this approach?

Why not just get small business owners involved to learn about and implement the Duct Tape Marketing approach?

Well, that approach certainly has very positive results and is one which we actually do use to assist individual small business owners.

However, getting the whole community or network involved in developing a plan of action up front takes it to a whole other level.

Outcomes

The outcomes of this program include:

• learning around the Duct Tape Marketing 7 Steps to Small Business Success
• total agreement as to the key strategic areas that require focus
• collaborative working teams for each strategic area
• specific action steps developed by each team
• high energy and goodwill
• a pool of constructive ideas
• a report detailing the outcomes of the program
• fast implementation

Without preempting what any particular community or network might come up with, an example of the strategic areas might include Getting Involvement, Funding, Governance, Communication, Bulk Buying, Sharing Facilities, Sharing Ideas, Collaborative Learning, Collaborative Marketing, Follow Up and Ongoing Support.

In essence, the process provides a structured collaborative approach to small business success where none previously existed.

Program

But achieving all that requires a reasonable amount of input from a cross section of stakeholders and it is important to be realistic about how long it takes for key issues to be expressed, trust to build and creative issues to emerge. What is involved requires changing perceptions so that people think and act more collaboratively.

The reaction of some community leaders to the amount of time required to achieve this is scepticism about the possibility of engaging the right crowd. However it is only with the benefit of understanding and applying our approach (including the incentives that can be provided) that you will know whether this is possible. (Our FAQ’s briefly cover this further).

What it requires is four 4 hour workshops. Prior to workshop 1, planning is undertaken by a Steering Committee in accordance with our process checklist.

• Workshop 1 – Introduction to The 7 Steps to Small Business Success and Current Strengths and Possibilities – Includes an Understanding of What Has Been Described as ‘The World’s Most Practical Small Business Marketing Approach’ (Duct Tape Marketing)

• Workshop 2 – Identifying Current Trends of Significance – this provide an understanding of the ‘whole system’ (both inside and outside the community) and provides the necessary foundations for moving forward

• Workshop 3 – Agreeing on the Desired Future – identifies the 5-8 strategic areas agreed upon by literally everyone in the room. (When people have their say and come to agreement on the future, it is much more likely to be achieved.)

• Workshop 4 – Developing an Action Plan for Getting There – plans are developed around each of the agreed strategic areas based on voluntary involvement.

The workshops are held at times that suit the community (including week or weekend days or evenings) across no more than a period of 2 weeks.

Where it is possible, maximum benefit is achieved where the 4 workshops are held over 3 consecutive days with the final workshop on the morning of the final day. (Just one example of this is a Thursday evening, Friday and Saturday morning.)

Benefits and Cost

What are the likely benefits to your community or network of generating high energy, enthusiasm and commitment around implementation of what many regard as the world’s leading edge small business marketing approach?

Well, with the proper application of this approach for just one small business, it is not unusual for that business to at least double their revenue and profits over the ensuing 3 years.

Now imagine that benefit multiplied across an entire community, region, industry or network.

Of course, the overall benefit will depend on the size and circumstances of your particular community or network. But for an average sized community, it translates into millions of dollars of increased GDP and increased employment, along with associate social benefits such as enhanced wellbeing and quality of life for all those affected.

It is also usually the case that spin off benefits occur in other unrelated areas as a sheer result of the enhanced goodwill and community spirit that is developed.

A summary of the program and work involved includes:

• Pre-planning meetings and liaison
• Supply of guiding information and checklists
• Preparation for and facilitation of 2-3 planning meetings
• Liaison between meetings
• Preparation prior to each of the 4 workshops
• Preparation of Workshop Worksheets
• Facilitation of workshops (2 facilitators)
• Preparation of report

Additional to the above, as part of the costs, the community receives:

• 5 copies of The Duct Tape Ultimate Marketing System (usual value $2,500)
• 20 copies of the Duct Tape Marketing book (usual value $600)

Our fee for all the above is $29,500 (ex GST). Where needed, travel and accommodation are charged at cost.

Other incidental costs can include venue and catering. Sometimes communities also choose to incur costs to advertise the program. You may wish to discuss these ideas with us before developing a budget.

Of course, there is also the cost of people’s time in being involved but you should not underestimate the benefits that can ensue.

Communities who are interested in this product but do not have the funds may be interested in our Distil Fund.