Tag Archives: community engine

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Mayor Simon Richardson thanks community engine

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Dean Power with Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson

Just under $20,000 has been raised for Byron Shire not-for-profit groups since June through social commerce platform Community Engine.

“This is a remarkable achievement and on behalf of Council I would like to sincerely thank Community Engine for their visionary and grass roots approach to doing business in the Byron shire” said Mayor Simon Richardson. “Community Engine allows local businesses to support, refer and recommend each other. It keeps online spending local, which is something we must focus on in this shire. Australians spend $16 billion annually on online sales. With so many online businesses in the Byron shire we need to ensure that we are getting the lions’ share of this expenditure”.

According to Community Engine’s Dean Power there is still around $73,000 to give through the Community Engine giveaway.

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 group.

“There is now no excuse to be offline” outlined Power, a Bangalow based father of four who headed up Community Engine’s pilot program held earlier this year. “We are about providing easy presence on the internet in a way that supports local communities”.

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 between 2.85% and 6.5% is charged. Two of the most popular functions are the database and membership management facilities.

Byron shire groups active on Community Engine include VIA Byron, The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa, the Byron Community Centre, the Byron Beach Café, WIRES Northern Rivers, Byron Youth Service, Tallowood Ridge Estate and the Byron Bay Writers Festival.

“We encourage anybody who hasn’t checked out the platform to come on board and have a play” said Dean Power.

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

Downloadable high resolution images:

Photo 1 – Dean Power with Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson (photo by Carly Brown)
Photo 2 – Community Engine’s Dean Power (photo by Carly Brown)

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Clarence Valley gets on Community Engine

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Social commerce website Community Engine is helping to raise money for Clarence Valley groups through their “Community Engine giveaway”. Around $27,000 has been given already through the giveaway, and there is around $73,000 left to give within the Northern Rivers region.

Groups involved in the Community Engine Giveaway include Anglicare North Coast, Empty Arms, Yamba Surf Life Saving Club and Yamba District Chamber of Commerce. Other groups using the engine include Clarence River Tourism, Grafton Paddle Sports, Clarence River Historical Society and Clarence River Wilderness Lodge.

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 group.

With their head office in Grafton, Anglicare North Coast service the region from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie, providing migrant services, community housing, financial counselling and support and a broad range of community services to local people in need. “We rely heavily on local donations to keep many of our programs operating” said Jim Hodge, Anglicare North Coast’s Director of Client Services. “It’s a continual struggle and so we are grateful to Community Engine for making it easy for us to raise our profile and raise funds.

“Please go to www.communityengine.com.au and click to follow Anglicare North Coast”.

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 between 2.85% and 6.5% is charged. Two of the most popular functions are the database and membership management facilities.

“There is now no excuse to be offline” said Community Engine’s Dean Power. “We are about providing easy presence on the internet in a way that supports local communities”.

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 – Community Engine’s Dean Power (photo Carly Brown)
Photo 2 – Community Engine’s Dean Power (left) with client David Styles
Photo 3 – Jim Hodge, Director Client Services with Anglicare North Coast
Photo 4 – Chris Davis from Empty Arms Grafton

North Coast National powering

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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

Ballina shire powering on Community Engine

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Community Engine is now making its presence felt across the country, with more and more people signing up every day to talk and trade.

“I want to stress to the dynamic Ballina community that we are here for support” said Community Engine’s Dean Power, who is based locally. “Melissa is at the end of the 1300 number and you can email any time. There are so many new features on the engine, we have added a host of new features over the past two months”.

Following the successful pilot in the Northern Rivers, Community Engine is now focused on how their tools can be used by small business to keep the $16 billion spent annually on online sales in the local economy. According to research by Frost and Sullivan* 75% of Australians who shop online make purchases from offshore sites, with 45% of online expenditure going overseas.

Community Engine offers a web presence, email, social media and networking at no cost. 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”.

43 Ballina Shire organisations are signed up to the Community Engine Giveaway, which is donating $125,000 in a bid to entice more people to check out the platform and support their community. Every time a person clicks to “follow” a group, 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.

“We are over the moon to have raised over $3,600 for Ballina Shire groups so far” said Dean Power. There is still $90,000 left to give so please encourage your networks to follow you”.

Ballina shire groups involved in the giveaway include the Heartfelt House, Ballina Soccer Club, House with No Steps, Biala Support Service, Rainforest Rescue and Ballina Community Mens’ Shed. Businesses raising money to give through Community Engine include IGA, Summerland House Farm, Ballina RSL Club, Elevation Lennox Head and Northern Rivers Financial Planners.

Until December 31 buy a $30 voucher at the Lennox IGA through Community Engine and receive a voucher for $50. Go to www.communityengine.com.au/lennoxheadiga

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 res images:

Photo 1 – Renee and Carly from Shortys Lennox Head, who are active on Community Engine
Photo 2 – Rachel O’Connor from IGA Lennox Head (portrait)
Photo 3 – Rachel O’Connor from IGA Lennox Head (landscape)
Photo 4 – Dean Power from Community Engine
Photo 5 – Community Engine’s Dean Power with client David Styles