Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions. Please let us know if you have a question we haven’t answered here.
- Why do you operate on a monthly fee as opposed to an annual membership fee?
- Why do you charge more if I choose to pay using a method other than monthly credit card/BPAY?
- What business structure are you operating under now and why?
- Why are you proposing to convert to an incorporated association?
- How is Wynnum Business run?
- Do you have a special rate for not-for profit organisations and charities?
- How are your networking meetings different?
- I’d like to volunteer to help with Wynnum Business events and promotions. Is there an option for this?
- My business is based in Wynnum Central. What events and promotions are you planning to hold to reinvigorate the Wynnum Central shopping precinct?
- My business is not based in Wynnum Central. Should I join?
1) Why do you operate on a monthly fee as opposed to an annual membership fee?
In many membership organisations, a lot of time is spent issuing annual membership invoices and chasing these. There is always a tremendous amount of uncertainty at renewal time as to how many members will renew. A better approach, and one that frees up admin staff time to get on with performing the main functions of a business association, is to ask members to pay regularly via a monthly credit card payment, with the option of cancelling at any time (after the first three months). More and more business is conducted this way today, and for good reason.
2) Why do you charge more if I choose to pay using a method other than credit card/BPAY?
As above, because the admin time tied up with other payment mechanisms is a high burden for a lean operating organisation. We believe this payment mechanism allows our members to get the maximum benefit from their membership.
3) What business structure are you operating under now and why?
At this point Wynnum Business is operating under a proprietary limited (pty ltd) structure. It is providing services at a fee to member businesses and was deliberately set up with this structure to avoid some of the problems inherent in community bodies. Community bodies must operate under a committee structure composed of volunteers, and sometimes suffer negative impacts of this type of structure – for example, an inability of a committee to make important decisions, significant delays in decision making imposed by a (commonly monthly) meeting schedule, volunteers often reluctant to spend time outside their regular work on projects for which they are not paid. In the past few years there has also been a significant decrease in people’s willingness to volunteer for community projects (likely due to increased work obligations/work hours) which makes operating under a purely volunteer based structure very difficult to do. Having said this some community bodies work very well – those that have a very clear objective shared by all participants tend to work the best. See also question below.
4) Why are you proposing to convert to an incorporated association?
It may – at a certain point – be appropriate to set up Wynnum Business as an incorporated association. There is a small cost to setting up and maintaining this structure and a small committee will need to be appointed. The pros and cons of changing to this structure will need to be discussed by the members (and a majority of members must want to move to this structure). An incorporated association structure will enable us to apply for and receive grants from government and other bodies for specific projects.
5) How is Wynnum Business run?
Wynnum Business is run as a lean organisation, using technology (such as online polling, email/SMS communication, online event booking and payment) to minimise admin time required to operate. A critical component of this approach is the strong encouragement of membership fee payment via monthly credit card (see above).
6) Do you have a special rate for not-for profit organisations and charities?
Yes, we do. Please contact us for details.
7) How are your networking meetings different?
It is clear that most people who come along to ‘networking’ style meetings want to meet new business contacts, but have limited time available for these meetings, often outside business hours. Some networking events can become bogged down in announcements and other business when many attendees just want the chance to meet other business people. Wynnum Business networking meetings are different in the following ways…
- A short (1 hour) timeframe
- All registration information – food/drink choices, brief description of the business and payment – is made online via an online booking system only, thus saving time at the meeting itself
- Attendance limited in number (generally max 30)
- All attendees announced (and business description given in registration process read out) by an MC (this takes around 15mins) – so everyone knows ‘who’s who in the room’
- A speaker talks about an aspect of business they have experienced or are expert in (the rule is that they must not merely ‘spruik’ their business but must give at least two nuggets of information that would be useful to any business and that does not require a business to become a customer of theirs) for 10mins max
- Remaining time is purely for networking
- Event officially ends one hour after it starts although attendees are welcome to stay later
- All networking events are ‘stand up’ events ie cocktail style – breakfast includes a drink and eg a croissant/bun etc, after work events, depending on location include a drink and cocktail style food
- Meetings are only held at Wynnum Business member locations and Wynnum Business and the host member split the cost of providing food/drink
- Meetings are held monthly (either breakfast, lunch, or after work) and, when events are fully booked anyone on the waiting list is automatically registered for the following event ahead of other registrations
8) I’d like to volunteer to help with Wynnum Business events and promotions. Is there an option for this?
Yes there is. As described above, the general approach is one of not needing to rely absolutely on volunteers to keep the organisation running. However, volunteers are welcome for various activities. As explained above, we will operate a small committee when/if members agree that it should be set up an incorporated association. Members serving in this capacity will have the option of either having their membership fee rebated to them for each month they are on the committee, or of upgrading their membership to the next level for the same period.
9) My business is based in Wynnum Central. What events and promotions are you planning to hold to reinvigorate the Wynnum Central shopping precinct?
(Projects listed here are currently impacted by COVID-19 restrictions) The following is a shortlist of proposed WynnumCentral/Wynnum Business events and promotions in the Wynnum Central shopping area…
- Relaunch of Wynnum/WynnumCentral shopping vouchers/eCoins
- Wynnum – Open For Business
- Republic of Wynnum – Independence Day
- Shop Wynnum online shop
The aim of these promotions is to re-establish Wynnum Central as a destination shopping precinct, as per the current tagline ‘Not Just A Station, A Destination’.
Relaunch of WynnumCentral shopping vouchers/eCoins
WynnumCentral offered shopping vouchers via a monthly draw ($150 given away each month) until late 2015. This was successful in driving shoppers into WynnumCentral member businesses and driving email subscriber numbers for the WynnumCentral website. WynnumCentral soft launched a rewards program using $5 tokens as rewards for shopping at member businesses. In each case the vouchers/tokens are funded entirely by the scheme and ‘bought back’ from member businesses at face value/agreed rate.
Wynnum – Open For Business
A fundamental aim of WynnumCentral has always been to encourage the central shopping precinct retailers to open longer hours over the weekend. Wynnum Central shops are competing with other shopping centres which open longer hours at the weekend, and for shoppers who work full time Monday-Friday, WynnumCentral shopping is generally not an option after 1pm on a Saturday.
A ‘Wynnum – Open For Business’ campaign would involve encouraging a large number of outlets to commit to opening longer hours on a Saturday, for example until 4.30pm, for a limited trial period of 13 weeks. During the 13 week period WynnumCentral/Wynnum Business would organise small scale events every afternoon eg music, art, fashion, food, movie focused events, footpath and alleyway based (ie not requiring road closure). Also tying in with other events eg seafood festival (Oct), Republic of Wynnum independence day (Nov) etc. Other promotions and giveaways would be tied into the project.
Republic of Wynnum – Independence Day
November 12th is ‘Independence Day’ for the Republic of Wynnum.
Shop Wynnum
This project, already launched, allows locals to shop online for products sold by local retailers. Shop Wynnum can be accessed here.
10) My business is not based in Wynnum Central. Should I join?
Maybe! A large area from a short distance west of the Gateway motorway and south and east towards Capalaba is not served by any existing business association. Potential members must be based in one of the surrounding suburbs to become a member, and must be aware that one of the principal aims of Wynnum Business is to contribute to the Wynnum Central shopping precinct reaching its full potential. At the same time Wynnum Business will perform all of the other functions of a business association as described on this website, so if these are of interest to you, please apply to join.
If you have any other questions please feel free to email them through to us at wynnumbusiness@wynnumbusiness.org or call us on 07 3040 1972.