Social commerce website Community Engine is helping to raise money for nine Lismore groups through their “Community Engine giveaway”. Just under $25,000 has been given already through the giveaway, and there is over $75,000 left to give.

“Lismore is an incredible community” said Community Engine’s Dean Power. “There is so much creativity and passion here”.

Lismore groups involved in the Community Engine Giveaway include Our Kids, Lismore PCYC, North Coast National, Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, Northern Rivers Roller Derby, the Stella Network and Youth Connections North Coast.

“The North Coast National is about showcasing the colour and talent of our community” said Janelle Hancock, North Coast National Exhibition Secretary. “So we’re proud to be working with Community Engine. Please click to follow us and help us keep this wonderful community asset viable and keep up to date with what’s going on with our fabulous show”.

Every time a person clicks to “follow” a group on Community Engine, that group gets $1. If they are a business they donate it and if they are a not-for-profit group they keep it. All you have to do is sign up to the giveaway and you can raise up to $5,000 for each not-for-profit group.

Community Engine offers a web presence, email, social media and networking at no cost for both individuals and groups. For those wishing to utilise the world class e-commerce facility, a fee of 6% is charged upon sale for businesses and 2.85% for not-for-profit groups. Two of the most popular functions are the database and membership management facilities. “We are about providing easy presence on the internet” said Dean Power. “There is now no excuse to be offline, it’s all rolled in and it’s free”.

Following their successful pilot in the Northern Rivers, Community Engine is now focused on how they can help small business to get the lions’ share of online sales. $16 billion is spent annually on online sales in the local economy, yet according to research by Frost and Sullivan* 75% of Australians who shop online make purchases from offshore sites, with a total of 45% of online expenditure goes overseas.

For more information go to www.communityengine.com.au call 1300 266 686 or email hello@communityengine.com

* http://www.pwc.com.au/industry/retail-consumer/assets/Digital-Media-Research-Jul12.pdf

Downloadable high resolution images:

Photo 1 – Janelle Hancock and John Gibson from the North Coast National
Photo 2 – Farmer Display at the North Coast National 2012
Photo 3 – Side Show Alley at the North Coast National 2012
Photo 4 – Community Engine’s Dean Power – photo by Carly Brown