GAWLER has been chosen as the pilot town for a “world-first” telecommunications initiative aimed at encouraging businesses to support one another, and stimulate the local economy.
Titled ‘Pay It Forward’, the scheme, which has been created by telco Connexus and launched this past week, will provide free digital phone services to local small and medium-sized businesses in Gawler for the next 12 months.
In exchange, participants of the program are asked to spend the money that would’ve been used on phone bills with other Gawler businesses – hence, paying it forward – to help give them a boost.
Connexus general manager Lee Atkinson visited around 20 towns to try and find the right community in which to launch the initiative, and said Gawler stood out from the rest.
“What did it for me in Gawler was I met with the Gawler Business Development Group, the Business Innovation Hub guys, and the fact there was the foresight to do something like the hub was a big drawcard,” he said.
“On top of that I spent a lot of time going in and around all the small businesses there, and what I found was an area that had the right appetite to get on board with a project like this.”
Businesses that participate in Pay It Forward are not bound by a contract, and can leave the program at any time, nor are they obligated to spend the savings earned from being part of the initiative.
However, Mr Atkinson said that “wouldn’t be in the spirit of what we’re trying to do”.
“What we are going to do is incentivise it,” he said.
“In the coming months we’ll announce cash rewards for the companies that are paying it forward the most times, once we figure out the mechanics of that.”
Connexus, which is owned by Australian-funded MNF Group, will use the program to increase its brand awareness and building its following, with the intention of rolling out the Pay It Forward
scheme to more regional communities in the future.
Gawler mayor Karen Redman said the fact the telco selected Gawler as the program’s pilot is a testament to the town’s strong business community, and willingness to embrace innovation.
“I think from council’s point of view, it’s exactly the type of initiative the Business Innovation Hub is attracting, and I think it demonstrates that the investment council put into the Civic Centre is
starting to pay off,” she said.
“We’re getting approached by companies such as Connexus to invest in Gawler, to bring innovative ideas, and we’re becoming known as a can-do business community.
“I think it’s a great outcome, and hopefully it’s a great success for our businesses.”
Ms Redman’s sentiments were echoed by Gawler Business Development Group chairperson Louise Drummond, who said Pay It Forward would help build “a stronger, more vibrant Gawler economy for everybody”.
“It’s a way of not only encouraging shopping local, but really investing in the other businesses in the town,” she said.
