Profits Through the Pain

Let’s Talk: Financial Resilience – Profits Through the Pain

As the devastating floods hit the Shire for the second time, a topic that no business owner really wants to talk about, became the highlight of the Let’s Talk Community Series. 

The Community Hub, in collaboration with the Byron Community Centre and supported by Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce has pivoted quickly to provide a timely, virtual alternative to its event at the Byron Community Centre that was scheduled for 7 April. 

Interviewed by BayFM on Tuesday 29/3/2022, the two facilitators Cameron Arnold [Chair of Destination North Coast and CEO Regen Tourism], and Susan Wanmer [Business Strategist, and CXO at Ausana Marketing Institute], spoke frankly and passionately about their own journeys through financial distress – and out the other side to greater opportunities. 

Cameron acknowledged that in his specialty – Tourism – “there is a lot of support, yes, but not enough direct assistance to the businesses that contribute directly or indirectly to the Tourism economy.”

“The two big burdens which were already weighing heavily on businesses by our two years with Covid, have only increased now with the flood events. They are labour shortage, and housing.”.

An impromptu meeting on the last day of NSW Small Business Month [31.3.2022] decided that the topic of educating, supporting, and strengthening Financial Resilience in the Northern Rivers region would take the model of the Virtual Event scheduled for 13.4.2022, and then run it as a monthly streamlined and structured Virtual/ Hybrid event. Jason Bentley [President of Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Aurora VR & Revolution Shopper Marketing] will step in assisting with the technology that exists – but is not used often enough – for stunning virtual/ hybrid events.

This optimistic pathway of problem-solving will be opened to all Chambers of Commerce in the region, and truly provide a grassroots ‘Hub’ for the devastated business community that matches its need for urgency, to be heard, and for the burden of the lived daily reality to be understood.

Susan Wanmer - a two-time flood survivor, said the decision to pivot online rather than accept another cancelled event came from her own experience of leveraging ‘what you can’ to create outcomes. 

“We brainstormed around 100 ideas of how businesses could innovate, cross-pollinate, and disrupt the old ways of doing business”, she said. “We are excited to see what business people come up with when presented with this opportunity to co-create new thinking and there is no better time than when we are pushed toward the brink” 

She added: “There is no ‘going back’. We work in a region demonstrating tremendous resilience, care, and creativity, and with robust support via this program, we could mutually rise up and showcase what the event title intended - Profit Through the Pain. Profit Despite the Pain.”

The Let’s Talk series presented at and in cooperation with the Byron Community Centre have been supported by funding under the Byron Shire Council’s Community Initiatives Program 2021/2022. Let’s Talk was the brainchild of Sabine Muschter, she also founded The Community Hub online community directory as a user-friendly site collecting and collating the rich activities and events of the region.  

Event Details

Let’s Talk: Financial Resilience – Profits Through the Pain Virtual Event are 

Wednesday 13th April 2022, 6:00pm - 7:30pm. Tickets: Free

Register here: https://fb.me/e/YHzH4D9F

The Let’s Talk: Financial Resilience – Profits Through the Pain Hybrid Event is then planned for 12 May, 2022 @ Byron Community Centre

A community Facebook group has been set up as part of this Financial Resilience program to listen, share, and steer towards tips and resources as a resilient business community finding its feet.

Previous Events - Let’s Talk: Menopause, The Community Hub Let’s Talk: Women in Leadership (in cooperation with Sourdough Business Women), Let’s Talk: Women in Politics

The Community Hub is an online platform to distribute knowledge, further education and support local business. Its vision is to facilitate a more inclusive, resilient and connected Byron and beyond community. Contact Sabine Muschter: info@thecommunityhub.com.au 

Speakers:

SUSAN WANMER

A two-time flood veteran, Susan has authored The Bulletproof CEO, and The Bulletproof Brand. Navigating back from the brink of financial distress due to unexpected and volatile challenges, Susan upskilled in business turnarounds and realtime marketing financials, adding an 'iron core' and depth to her business consulting and coaching. She has survived through waves of business challenges and successes, and her promise is 'not only can we help business make money, but we now reverse-engineer all strategy from facing bankruptcy, mitigating the risk of that happening'. Susan is Brand Strategist and CXO for Byron-based Ausana Marketing Institute.

Cameron Arnold

Cameron has a long and celebrated career in the tourism industry and owned restaurants, accommodation and Glamping businesses across Australia including the Byron Region. From an industry perspective “I have seen the prolonged Impacts of Bushfires, floods and the pandemic pile up for business owners and have looked at how I can gear myself to support the recovery. I knew the major pain points would be seen financially and the staff shortage issues and have been ready myself when required to assist by completing a Financial Counselling Diploma and researching technology solutions to fulfil the staffing gaps.”