GPT Designs, the manufacturer of I-Amp, is an Australian manufacturer of induction loop amplifiers for the hearing impaired. These listening devices assist the hearing impaired significantly and the company has just begun to get export ready to take the technology global. Their Blitz challenge will be to develop a compelling story to tell to industry and the community about the benefits and requirements of the technology in preparation to their export push. Duncan Amos, GPT Designs - 2 October
The best part of the past months exercise has been the input of five business minds (this includes Lisa LaMaitre, Therapy Masters and Rowena Hand, Striped Mouse now Books and Bas) to our business. Their input has been most valuable. The ideas they have proposed have often been left of centre and not something we may have considered living in our wee bubble. This said our journey is in no way over. In fact we believe the true benefits will only be felt over the next six or so months. For any future Blitz participants, I highly recommend you entre next year’s Blitz...it will help catapult your business more than you could imagine. As for the future we intend to continue working with the Blitz leaders on future developments. Finally, thank you to the Blitz team and our fellow participants. I look forward to working with them and hearing of their continued success. I urge everyone to review the processes and offer up a vote for one of the participating businesses. If you have or will vote for us THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Cheers Duncan Amos – Phillip Jones, Schmooze - 1 October
The event provided the opportunity for some 'show and tell' and to gather some votes! Duncan and the GPT Designs set up a hearing-loop demo for the i-Amp, and cleverly set up a laptop with wireless so the impressed listeners could then vote for them on the spot via our Blitz website. The very positive response to the demo really brought home how important it was to be able to have a hands-on or 'ears-on' demo that explained what the system did for those new to it as hearing impairment touches so many people in the community. Lisa brought her team of therapists along to provide complimentary massages which were very well received. She also worked the room confidently with chocolate frogs to entice votes and well, schmooze everyone! Rowena and her husband were at a slight disadvantage since what they do doesn't involve massages or technical demo's, however they did a fine job attending one of their first networking functions ever and making lots of new contacts in the informal atmosphere that Schmooze provides and they both enjoyed themselves and were able to build their profile further. Finally, to cap off a networking focused few days, we all attended the final event of the Focus in Business Month at a very stylish high tea at the Hyatt. It was a great opportunity to unwind a little after an epic month of hard work and collaboration that has been very rewarding for all of us involved. It would be fair to say we've all become friends during the process, as the levels of trust were high from the get-go, with the openness and courage of the competitors to listen and take on our advice was wonderful and courageous of them all. Once the voting is over, we'll do a formal debrief and take in the whole experience and plan for what we can do next year to make it even better! Phillip Jones, Schmooze - 25 September
Another theme for this week is networking skilling for Duncan and his team and he shared with me that during a briefing session for a tender recently, he was able to use some of the tips I gave him to establish some rapport with some of the decision makers to good effect. That was great feedback, and we'll be reinforcing some of the key aspects of networking and how it can integrate into a marketing/communications campaign this week, along with the other Blitz competitors. They'll all be coming along to the September Schmooze next week and be introduced to everyone and put some of their new-found networking mojo into practice. I also arranged for Rowena from Striped Mouse to attend one of our Schmooze member-only discussion groups this week to meet some fellow small business owners in an informal setting. Steven De Costa, Link Digital - 25 September
Phillip Jones, Schmooze - 18 September
Having recently completed a project for Austrade I was familiar with the wide range of services and resources available for exporters. So I sourced a range of Austrade contacts for the US West Coast, preparatory courses to get them 'export ready', and plenty of light reading on the opportunities and requirements of doing business in the US. In addition, I reached out to the American Chamber of Commerce who, as the name suggests, are an organisation devoted to fostering business contacts and opportunities here in Australia. I spoke to their GM in Sydney and will be receiving membership info for GPT Designs as well as details of upcoming events which will provide a good starting point to meet other Australian companies doing business there, as well as US representatives. So, together with their new promotional material being developed by Link and Threesides, a strong value proposition and the networks to pitch it to, plus a good foundation of the how-to's and other support from Austrade, they'll be on their way in the coming months to making the next step to export success. Coming up next for me will be spend some time with each company to provide networking tips and advice on a strategy to support their business goals. They've all be sent a range of networking resources such as short articles and podcasts on various aspects, as well as a comprehensive Guide professional networking written by myself as pre-reading. Duncan Amos, GPT Designs - 17 September
The other exciting area of development is the inroads into the networks Phillip has created for our overseas push. There is much homework to be done on this. Thus far the Blitz has been like a Magnifying glass on our business. I look forward to the next few months of results... Duncan Amos, GPT Designs - 10 September
Firstly we needed to clarify our value proposition. This was achieved by meeting with Phillip to brain storm ideas. Once we had settled on the narrative we began breaking it into the core requirement and assigning them to members of the GPT Designs team. These tasks included contacts from community organisations, architects, builders, building certifiers and the ACT government. We also began the task of identifying who in AusTrade would best serve our dream of exporting our induction loop systems overseas. Thus far we have been able to establish a contacts list 300 strong and have begun qualifying them. Amazing what we have achieved with a good plan! The next step is developing email contact letters and an E-brochure of our story with Link Digital and Threesides help. This, I am excited to say, will be reported on in the next blog. With the Business Blitz team's help we are well on our way to obtaining our dream of being Australia's leading Induction loop manufacturer and integrator for the hearing impaired, based on our customers most needed requirements. Thanks for your support...Regards Duncan Amos GPT Designs Team I-Amp Phillip Jones, Schmooze - 4 September
The discipline on focusing on what can be achieved in four weeks has been a useful one for GPT Designs. We've developed a model that, if it proves effective, will be rolled out subsequently with different sectors, or target markets and progress in a way that doesn't detract from the daily operational requirements. The process is also focusing minds on the key value propositions and messages to deliver to the various stakeholders we think can drive a wide adoption of the system and in turn generate sales. We have already identified about a dozen really good promotional or marketing ideas as well in our discussions, and whilst we can't use all of them during the Blitz, they'll be there, ready to progress, in the coming months! I'll also be contributing to the work of Striped Mouse and Therapy Masters by including them in some of the upcoming Schmooze events that will bolster their contacts, and help polish their networking skills in a relaxed setting of fellow small business owners. |
You can read the weekly progress reports from the competitors and their account managers by clicking on the links below. Each week the companies had a range of work to progress depending on their challenge. Therapy Masters - Our winner for 2009! Blitz Finalists at the BMW Schmooze Please enter your email address to receive updates about the Canberra Business Blitz progress:   |
The program has been most Blitz-interesting. Working with Clint, Phillip and Steven has been brilliant. Getting to know them throughout the Blitz process has been a great introduction to their remarkable set of skills. As we are a well established company the Blitz process has helped us realise the importance of engaging outside organisations with very different skill sets to move us forward. Our team has been exposed to the best ways to network, and the benefits of being associated with a professional group such as Schmooze. Link Digital and Three Sides have helped formulate a fantastic E-Brochure and the power of utilising modern marketing methods through YouTube and email awareness campaigns. (All will soon be revealed)
This past week, I was able to give some coaching on networking strategies and skills to the competitors. We first had a discussion session looking at the activities that undertook currently, and their follow-up techniques to ensure the contacts made are maintained and cultivated. Then I arranged for them to be at the September Schmooze hosted by BMW.
This week has seen Link commence work in the studio on the narrative animation for GPT. After meeting with Duncan only last week we’ve already moved on to a second, improved version, which is nearing completion. We’ve had to place some limits on the visual elements to make sure we could get the narrative complete this week, but I think it will still be an excellent device for quickly and succinctly communicating the need for, and applications of, I-Amp, not to mention the notable social and economic value of the product. The plan now is to attach an audio track of the narrative.
