These are some of the hardest times our local businesses will ever see, and we want to share some positive success stories with the community.
Our Business Community Unites campaign was developed to showcase how local businesses have shifted the way they work to reach new customers while facing the challenges of COVID-19.
Business Community Unites videos
We hope that these videos encourage other businesses not to give up and show how other business owners have pivoted their operations.
Each short video features the business owner talking about how they have adapted. Videos will also be aired on Council's media channels between August and September 2020.
Cheese on Wheels
Meet Aurore, a cheesemonger in Balgowlah who created an online market where stallholders could sell their produce during COVID-19.
Vale Plastics
Phil and his team in Brookie had to work quickly to help a local medical centre who wanted to keep their staff safe during COVID-19.
Literacy Circle - Killarney Heights
Jaki and her team in Killarney Heights adapted their teaching style during COVID-19 to make sure they could continue supporting their students.
Pottery Cafe - Collaroy
Collaroy café owner Bobbi kept her customers not only well fed but entertained during COVID-19 restrictions.
Newport Yoga Centre
COVID-19 forced Tania to shift her Newport yoga classes online but she wanted to do more to protect the health of her clients.
Campaign objectives
- To showcase successful businesses and providers on the Northern Beaches who have been able to transition their business through COVID-19 and beyond.
- To highlight innovative changes, positive stories to encourage other business owners to not fear transition and change.
- To provide businesses with the following;
- Visual case studies.
- Practical examples and readily accessible ways of pivoting a business model.
- To provide collaboration opportunities within the business community.
- To drive conversation/engagement between local business.
Assessment criteria
Applicants were required to submit (100 words or more) how their business has been able to adjust and continue trading during COVID-19.
To enable a cross section of industry, business also indicated their industry type - arts, childcare, beauty, massage therapy, hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, professional services, real estate, retail or wholesale, sports and recreation, weddings, funeral services or places of worship.
Applications were comprehensively reviewed after submissions closed on Friday 3 July. Five businesses across the Northern Beaches were selected (not in any specific order): Cheese on Wheels - Balgowlah, Vale Plastics - Brookvale, Newport Yoga Centre - Newport, The Pottery Café - Collaroy, Literacy Circle - Killarney Heights