We would like to thank our clients, team and the judges (who were not bribed by the way) on helping us to win the Small Business of the Year in the Rotary Bendigo Business Excellence Award.  Without your support, we would not have achieved this.

We’d also like to congratulate our Head of Design Gabrielle Quirk who was a finalist in Employee of the Year and Tim Gentle, our Managing Director, who was a finalist in the Young Entrepreneur category in the 2011 Campapse Murray Business Awards.

It has been a massive journey and learning curve for the Design Experts team and it was nice to be recognised for all the effort to date.

Check out some pictures of the night on our facebook page.

At Design Experts we feel pretty lucky to work in an industry that moves so quickly.  We love the challenge of always keeping up with innovation and working out how to harness new developments to enhance our online solutions.   

In April 2008, we set out with a vision to be ‘Australia’s leader in web marketing solutions, achieved by a network of dedicated and innovative design experts.’  Although we’re not there yet, we think we are well on our way.  Our Mission Statement to achieve this vision was  “We go the distance to create customer delight by providing customised web marketing solutions that deliver results.”  And we do.  And we will keep doing so.  

But as you know – at Design Experts ‘it’s all about you baby!’ – and we think this is much better reflected in our new mission statement:

To educate our customers about the potential of the web

This keeps us focused to achieve our new Vision:

Our clients understand the power of the internet and in partnership we deliver results.

So, what does it mean to you?

Our new mission and vision statements shows how we are different to other on-line marketing companies – it really says ‘we want to give you control.’  It means we’ll educate you about ALL the possibilities and give you the knowledge and tools to make the right decisions to harness the potential of the internet to really achieve the outcomes you want.

So, why now?

We wrote our original mission statement as a brand new start up – bright eyed and bushy tailed.  It definitely provided the focus we needed at the beginning.  But our business has evolved and more to the point –as a team we have evolved.  Our drive used to be websites, very service specific.  We have become more and more involved with education, through the seminars, workshops and webinars that we facilitate.  

Knowledge is power – we give you the power to drive your on-line marketing strategy to eclipse your expectations.

…So what do you think?  We'd love your feedback? – post a comment below to share your thoughts…

An Annual Performance Review – a great idea for anything that works for you, from your team to your website!

Want to ensure the on-going success of your online solution?  Book an Annual Performance Review.  

In a one-hour meeting, we review your website’s objectives.  We look at what’s working and what’s not and then we work out ways to improve it. We look at new online trends and how you might make them a part of your online solution to maximize your results.  At the end of the meeting we prepare a formal report to be the basis for your action plan.  

Email or call the Studio today 03 5482 6777 to book your Annual Performance Review.

And just to prove we walk the talk – we’ve just conducted an Annual Performance Review on our website…  

So we’ll be spring cleaning our website over the next few weeks – watch out for the changes and innovations we realised we need to keep our site performing.  A new simplified menu, virtual tours and some really exciting developments in tools for online learning.  Stay tuned…same bat station…

It’s not hard to see that educating people about the potential of the internet to realise their business potential is what rocks our world.  For both Blair and Tim sharing their knowledge and seeing people inspired to seize the tools to implement a great online solution for their business is what drives them.

The AusIndustry Small Business Online Program (SBOL) is a powerful forum for small business owners to start gaining the skills and knowledge to be active and effective in the online world.  And it is even more relevant to small businesses in regional areas to use the internet to expand their potential customer base.

Check out our seminar and workshops page for more information on each of the topics.  You’ll also find the links to the timetable in your geographic area to see where Blair and Tim will be popping up next. Workshops are mostly free or upto $25 a session. Enrol Today.

What’s that saying…? ‘give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach him how to fish and he’ll eat for ever’ – Know someone in small business that could benefit from a great online presence – please forward the link…  Small Business Online Seminars & Workshops

We’ve run quite a few Small Business Online Workshops so far this year.  In the last edition of our studio news we were showing off some of the websites created by our DIY Website attendees.  This time we would like to share with you an email Tim received last week as response to the automatic email we send to all workshop attendees.  (Thanks again Susan for your permission to share your email – good luck with the move interstate!)

(BTW - a big Hello! to our workshop attendees who are receiving Studio News for the first time – see the Customer Relationship Management Tool really works!)

Dear Tim

Thanks for last evening's workshop; each one starts to add up to a better knowledge for me.   Small business for me is opening up lots of imaginative prospects largely to do with art /textiles.

Doing the catalogue /shopping trolley exercise last night was a good way of documenting the types of services I envisage offering. The types I things I am planning in a new small business have an international focus, as well as having a sound local/Aust. audience. As a consequence much will be reliant on a fantastic presence on line.

I am wondering how you might evaluate my involvement with Design Experts. I would love to just say I will buy the integrated system you spoke of last night $79 per month), as well as a complete web package.   BUT - my limitation at the moment is liquidity, not imagination or skills! 

However, one way or another, I would like to see your company involved in the development of my business.    It’s an exciting time to be at the birth of a new business, perhaps you might have advice how I might progress with what Design Experts offers?
Sincere regards

Susan Fell.

Check out Susan’s work at her Blog - and we’ll keep you up to date next time there is a development in Susan’s Design Experts journey.

Chris Hawking joined us at the end of August and  it didn’t take him long to knock our socks off with his juicy designs and take a real shot at the top of the Design Experts Pinball Leader board (see the pinball action on Facebook)

Chris joins our team as a Digital and Graphic Designer. His specialty is creating visually clever and usable design.  (Did you see the new Studio News he designed?)   His excellent production skills make him pretty handy with flash animation and creating virtual tours too.

After graduating from a Bachelor of Design/Multimedia with Honours at the Swinburne School of Design, Chris spent almost ten years moving through the ranks at Six Degrees Digital in Melbourne.  Staring off as a junior designer then graduating to a role as a Video and Digital Production Specialist and finishing out his time as the Studio and Project Manager.  

Chris’s background in all aspects of studio operation make him super experienced in the online market but his current role at Design Experts has allowed him to return to his first love – design.  

A well rounded all-rounder, Chris’s strength is finding a creative approach to every challenge to reach a successful outcome.

So Chris what do you do when you’re not flexing your creative muscle for our clients?

Road and mountain bike riding. I have raced downhill in the Victorian and National series. I’m into… Golf, Gaming, Family, Gadgets, Music, Photography.

What does the future hold for you?

To be a killer designer making cutting edge design that blows everyone’s eyes out of their head!  Personally, to settle into Bendigo and start planning a family of my own.

Get my handicap down to single figures…

Check out Chris Hawking - photos and bio

Check out the rest of the team

Design Experts came out on top amongst the most popular category in this 2009 Powercor Australia Campaspe Murray New Business.

It's been a lot of hard work, a lot of tears & laughter- it couldn't have been done without my team. We would like to thank all of our clients for their support & we hope that we have helped you grow your business as well.

From L-R The Design Experts Team : Morgan Davies, Gabby Quirk, Douglas Thomson, Kylie Gentle, Tim Gentle & Blair Stonehouse

It is with great enthusiasm that the Design Experts team launch their new website today.   Its an opportunity for Design Experts to showcase our combined creative talents.

News - The Australian Entrepreneur Tim-Gentle 31082008 (994 KB)