Time has flown since we onboarded four more ventures in the middle of this year. Amidst the many unique challenges brought about by Covid-19, each project leader is working incredibly hard to get their social enterprise off the ground! We’re so proud of them. Here’s an update from each on what they’ve achieved since becoming an All Good Venture, and what their hopes and plans are for the coming months.
Restore Enterprises: Brisbane, Australia
Project leaders: Seath Holswich and Peter Murphy
Progress to date
- Our partnership with All Good Ventures has allowed us to get some foundations in place and establish our brand – including launching our website, purchasing business cards and marketing collateral, purchasing team uniforms – all the basics we need to establish a professional presence.
- We have been successful getting a local Council grant to purchase $2,000 worth of tools to help us undertake furniture restoration.
- We have signed a partnership with a local business to receive a large donation of office furniture and equipment, which will be sold to fund Restore’s ventures in 2022.
- We have been working with Impact Consulting. Their first deliverable was fantastic. We’re really enjoying and benefitting from this partnership.
Focus for remainder of the year
- Secure a premises (this is a prayer request too – without a premises before December, we will have nowhere to store the huge amount of furniture we’re about to have given to us – this is a huge stress at the moment).
- Sell donated furniture to raise funds.
- Prepare to launch our first venture from our premises in early 2022.
Ministry of Chai: Hamilton, New Zealand
Project leader: Esther Burnett
Progress to date
- It's been really affirming working with Rod and Heather to get Ministry of Chai (MoC) off the ‘ideas shelf’ and into something real! Progress has included creating a comprehensive business budget and plan as well as some much needed seed funding (which I am so grateful for!)
- With Rod's guidance around numbers and figures as well as my brother-in-law who works in the auditing industry we've built a solid budget that we're now able to pressure test.
- Heather's complementary strengths around the reality of running a business and her background in marketing and PR have helped with the business planning and the future of what MoC will look like.
- Both have been very helpful with guidance and encouragement with the primary goal of getting a business up and running successfully to build a viable social enterprise.
Focus for remainder of the year
- There's quite a lot in the pipeline for MoC! These activities will be ongoing for the next 3 -5 months but for now here's what's going on:
- Sign-off the budget for the next two years and continue to review it regularly.
- Work closely with Sunroom Studio creative brand agency who are delivering a comprehensive brand package for the business.
- Complete the final fit out of Marigold the travelling chai caravan, including hand painting her in line with the brand identity.
- Begin building the website and digital presence of MoC, which will involve some beautiful photoshoots of Marigold.
Ridi Trading (Adili Africa): Nairobi, Kenya
Project leader: Peninah Wambua
Progress to date
The urgency to help our Kenyan artisans earn a living from their work means a lot has happened since we came on board with All Good Ventures mid-year. Key progress includes:
- We now have Google Workspace up and running. This means everyone working on Ridi Trading/Adili Africa can easily connect, create and collaborate.
- We’ve been working with a local photographer to get high quality images of our artisans and their products for our website (coming soon).
- Two local marketing experts have been helping us pro-bono on a variety of marketing-related things. They’ve worked with artisans, so have a good understanding of our people ‘on the ground’.
- We’ve also been working on developing a contract for our artisans. It is important that each artisan knows exactly Ridi Trading/Adili Africa sets out to do and how we can help them earn a living.
- Website development has started!
Focus for remainder of the year
- Continue to refine our market positioning. The Impact Consulting team and two local marketing experts are part of this process.
- Ultimately we need to get our website up and running so artisans’ product can be sold. This is top priority.
Thunderbird Studios: Fort St. John, Canada
Project leader: John Lambert
Progress to date
- Since coming on board with All Good Ventures, I’ve purchased an iPad Pro in tandem with an Adobe bundle. This has significantly streamlined my artistic (carving) process and expanded my capacity to produce work for sale.
- I’ve been able to consult and hire accountants and lawyers in order to officially incorporate Thunderbird Studios as a federal non profit/society.
- We are starting our first social impact course in the local middle school, called Guitar Build Camp. Indigenous, high risk youth will meet to design and make their own guitar. I’m very excited because this is the start of our journey towards social impact amongst indigenous youth.
Focus for remainder of the year
- Get Guitar Build Camp up and running in the local middle school.
- Continue working with Impact Consulting on refining Thunderbird Studios’ business model.
