WELCOME TO THE
EASTERN BAY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Eastern Bay Chamber is an active and vibrant business organisation that connects Eastern Bay Businesses with each other, provides services and consults with local government. If you are operating a business of any size in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, you should join the Chamber.

Why join the Chamber?

1. B-Heard. The Chamber represents its members in the Eastern Bay by facilitating debate and working with the Councils and other organisations to achieve the best outcomes for business. The Chamber is your voice.
   
2. B-Connected. To network with Eastern Bay business leaders, provide connections, promote third-party organisations and provide access to mentoring services. The Chamber is a powerful business network.
   WOW retail Group - to promote and grow the retail sector in Whakatane partnered with the Eastern Bay Chamber of Commerce.
3. B-Fit. To provide access to training opportunities, professional development and training organisations.
4. The Chamber has access to Training for you and your staff.
   
5. B-Global. To provide assistance to members in regard to importing, exporting, trade documentation and overseas contacts to stimulate export. The Chamber can assist you to Export your products and services outside of the region or country.
   
6. B-Ahead. To offer members savings on high use/cost items including petrol, stationary, vehicles, financial services, business insurance, medical insurance, telecommunications, computer hardware, liquor and more. Chamber member receive discounts on some goods and services.

If this is your first time to the EBOP Chamber Website:

This website is provided as a resource to Chamber members and to the general public and new information is added on a regular basis. Here are some good starting points.

• Browse a list of our current members
• See a list of upcoming events
• Subscribe to our email newsletter
• Read the latest CEO Chat

Latest news:

CEO CHAT

Supported by Ford NZ

Another month and maybe spring is around the corner.
Nationally business confidence has been slow and a number of commentators are still warning that we may not be out of the woods yet. As a result of this the Chamber decided to conduct a local business confidence survey. It makes for interesting reading. The results will be emailed out soon.
The Horizon AAA Business Excellence Awards 2010 are now open. To register your interest contact us now.  These are great awards to enter to benchmark yourselves and also to win. This year we have a great gala event planned for Wednesday 10th November at the War Memorial Hall.   

New Members
Welcome to our new members during the month:
* New Zealand Home Loans

Events
Horizon Legends In Business 28th July 
Thanks to everyone who came to our Horizon Legends in Business Breakfast with Rob Fyfe.
It was a fantastic turnout and he was an inspiring speaker. Someone commented to me that she felt it was like sitting down and having a cup of coffee with him.
He certainly gave some great messages that I am sure our businesses will pick up and act on.
Business can be simple and it is about people and keeping it simple. If Air NZ can change its culture and become people focussed both with staff and customers then why can’t our businesses. A company this size has set a benchmark and removes any excuses. 
I want to thank Horizon and Bay of Plenty Regional Council for their support in being able to hold these Legends in Business series here in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The calibre of speakers we have been able to attract is very high and their support enables us to keep them affordable.
I also wish to thank Awanuiarangi for the venue and in particular to Waiariki and Craig and Ros Searle and the invisible team in the kitchen. What a great breakfast they provided and I look forward to hearing of the future success that these students move on to. Thanks to Angell Sound Vision for stepping up at the drop of a hat to ensure everyone heard the presentation.
What I enjoy about my role is the way members of the Chamber step up at a minutes notice to support what I do.
An event like this doesn’t happen without a lot of support and my role is made easy with Kirsten’s support and Cheryllea Schwass from Horizon who did registrations on the day.
Finally if you know someone who enjoyed the event and isn’t a member then give them a nudge and suggest that it could be a good move to join and be part of a business organization that has a positive approach to getting things done and aiming for business excellence in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Community Event
Whakatane West Rotary is organizing an evening to discuss the concerns held about the use of drugs in our community, particularly methamphetamine or P as we know it. The evening will include well known anti-drug campaigners Paul Holmes and Pat Buckley as guest speakers alongside Senior Sergeant Bruce Jenkins and Mike Williams the CEO of The Stellar Trust. The overall purpose of the evening is to highlight the concerns of drug use in our community and to educate young people and adults so they will make better choices specifically when concerned with P.

This event will be held on Monday 16th August at the Liberty Centre starting at 7pm.
Tickets for the evening are $25 each and are available from Radio 1XX, Sportsworld and Holiday World of Travel.

Horizon AAA Business Excellence Awards 2010 Eastern Bay of Plenty
Entry forms are now available, so please contact Kirsten at the office for an entry form.  After receiving entry forms, we will ask for your submissions which will be due back mid September. 

Business After 5
Visique - We had a great event here. Interesting to see the technology that is available and everyone took a chance to see how this all worked. The winner of the draw for the night was from O'Hagan Home Loans & Insurances.  Our next BA5 is on 26th August at O'Hagan Home Loans & Insurance.

AGM
The Annual General Meeting for the Eastern Bay Chamber will be held on Tuesday 24th August from 5pm at Global Thai Restaurant.  The Whakatane WOW AGM will follow from 5:45pm.  We look foward to seeing members there.

Tall Poppy Award
The winners of our McCafe Tall Poppy for August are Jenny and the team from Whakatane OPD. The persons who have nominated them said that they enjoy going into the shop and being greeted by friendly staff. “Nothing seems to be too much trouble to get and they are competitively priced.”
Congratulations to Jenny and the team. They win a $40 platter from McCafe.

If you have any one who deserves to be nominated for this award please email it in.

Next TV Star?
Also congratulations to Rosemary Sloman at New World.  She competed at the Auckland Food Show for Pams Masterchef Stand. While there she was scouted for the next TV series of Masterchef and is now in the running to appear in the next series. Another budding star from the Eastern Bay of Plenty. 

Walkway Award
Whakatane's Warren Cole walkway won the national Golden Foot Walking Awards.
The awards are run by Living Streets Aotearoa, a government-led organisation that supports the development of walking initiatives across the country.
Whakatane District Council community facilities manager Paula Chapman was delighted with the win. There were thirty three nominations for the award.
The Warren Cole walkway was officially opened in December and stretches from the Landing Road bridge to the Whakatane gardens and amphitheatre.
Consultants Opus International designed the walkway,  and managed the physical works.
A number of local contractors were involved, including Tracks Concrete, Horizon Energy, FX Networks, Sisson Engineering and Ngati Awa Master Carvers.
The project cost $1.1 million, funded by the district council, New Zealand Transport Agency and the Eastern Bay Energy Trust.  

Whakatane WOW
This week Whakatane WOW is running the "Best Shop" competition.  Vote for your best shop by clicking on this link:

 http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y7CQ7VZ  All entries must be submitted by Wednesday 18th August.
Every entry received goes into the draw to win a $200 restaurant voucher.  The "Best Shop" will be announced at the AGM, along with the lucky prize winner.  The "Best Shop" as voted by the public will win a $400 advertising package.

Hot Deals
Sunny Gymz has an offer for you.  Click here to see details.

Sponsors
As always a big thank you to our foundation, cornerstone and elevator sponsors.  Without the support of these businesses we wouldn’t exist.  Please ensure wherever you can utilise their services.
Don’t forget about our national sponsors who offer significant rebates.  For example Shell offer 5c off the pump price when you use your Shell Card.  Applications available at the Chamber office.

Thought of the Month
A good leader inspires people to have confidence in their leader.  A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.

This report from the NZTE has valuable information for all businesses in the current economic climate. Very Useful information

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The Small Business Relief Package is a welcome investment in the small-business (SME) sector, said Eastern Bay Chamber of Commerce President Gerard Casey...

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Coming Events