Ballina shire powering on Community Engine


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

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