Ken is an authorised civil celebrant specializing in wedding ceremonies across Victoria, including Melbourne CBD and the Mornington Peninsula. 
Ken lives on the Mornington Peninsula with his wife Barbie and has two daughters. He loves his family dearly.

“If you’re looking for a fun and relaxed celebrant with a sense of humour, then maybe I’m your man.”

IT’S YOUR DAY CEREMONIES
Ken: 0416 808 448
W: www.itsyourdayceremonies.com.au

Ink Hearts Paper create beautifully unique, top quality wedding invitations and matching stationery. Choose a design from their Collection or create something new!

Customise from your own inspiration or utilise their design expertise to ensure your wedding stationery is remembered forever. From traditional to contemporary, fun or intimate, Ink Hearts Paper can set the style of your wedding day and give your guests the ultimate first impression. And, for lovers of all things local, this boutique business is based on the Mornington Peninsula.

INK HEARTS PAPER
W: inkheartspaper.com.au
FB: @InkHeartsPaper
Instagram: @inkheartspaper

When it comes to your special day, whether it be a wedding or special occasion, everybody wants perfection.

Event Perfection is a leading Mornington Peninsula wedding and function decoration hire and set-up service. This award-winning business will work with you to create something special, whilst being mindful of your budget and preferred theme.

Event Perfection is a one-stop shop for DIY hire and full service set-up.

From ceremony products such as arches, carpets, chairs and decorations to wedding and event centerpieces, draping, backdrops and more.  And feast your eyes on this – they have a huge range of apothecary and cocktail jars and décor for a DIY Lolly Buffet!

Event Perfection is also a leader in corporate and private function set-up, styling and hire. Talk to the experienced team about the perfect look for your event.  You can simply email them for a quote, or make a time to visit their showroom and have some fun working with items to create something special.

EVENT PERFECTION
W: eventperfection.com.au
M: 0450 700 679
FB /EventPerfection
Instagram: @ eventperfection

Looking for a brighter smile on your big day?  Chelsea Dental is offering great specials on both in-chair Zoom Whitening and take-home kits.

Chelsea Dental’s in-chair Zoom Whitening can take your teeth up to four shades whiter in one session in the comfort of this beautiful practice, while take-home whitening is a great way of gradually whitening your teeth in the convenience of your own home.

Call Chelsea Dental’s friendly staff, book your appointment and receive these great specials:
In-Chair Zoom Whitening $495 - book in your bridal party and receive $50 off per patient (must book together);
Take-Home Zoom Whitening $299 - includes custom tray and three syringes of whitening gel;
Summer promotion – a check-up, clean, polish and fluoride treatment for only $149 (usually $215).
Chelsea Dental also offers high-quality cosmetic and general dentistry.

CHELSEA DENTAL
A: 442 Nepean Highway, Chelsea
T: 8774 0441
W: www.chelseadental.com.au

There could be few better accommodation options for your Peninsula wedding than the Boathouse Resort.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the seaside village of Blairgowrie and across the road from the beautiful and calm waters of the Blairgowrie foreshore, the Boathouse Resort has everything you could want for your wedding right at your fingertips, from spectacular wedding venues such as The Baths and All Smiles in Sorrento to all of the Peninsula’s stunning attractions.

The resort’s 20 climate-controlled suites include deluxe, balcony, spa and garden family studios - all with king beds and luxurious furnishings – while there’s a swimming pool and barbecue facilities on site as well as the award-winning Cafe' Legend restaurant.

BOATHOUSE RESORT
A: 2871 Point Nepean Rd, Blairgowrie
T: 5988 8088
E: [email protected]
W: boathouseresort.com.au

On Wednesday, March 22, many of the individuals behind the thriving startup and entrepreneurial culture in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula areas will gather for the inaugural BIG Small Business Expo.

Organised by The Garden – Mind Body Business co-founders Emily Jones and Jo Schutt, the BIG Small Business Expo at Functions by the Bay in Frankston aims to showcase the diverse and innovative range of businesses in our region.

This one big day of inspiration, innovation and collaboration will include a conference featuring six world-class keynote speakers and an expo with 50 exhibitors.

Topics will include Podcasting with Karly Nimmo, How To Develop Your Pitch with Frazer Yendell, Life Integration with The Happiness Hunter Fiona Redding, Sales For Entrepreneurs with Jordan D'Urbano, Developing A Strong Business Mindset with Dr Ben Carvosso, and the highlight being the award-winning founder of Braaap Motorcycles, Brad Smith.

To become an exhibitor or buy conference tickets, visit www.thebigsmallbusinessexpo.com.au

THE GARDEN – MIND BODY BUSINESS
A: 4 Ross Smith Ave, Frankston
T: 0425 785 161
W: thegardenfrankston.com.au

LogoLogix has evolved from Priscilla’s many years in the creative industry, giving her a breadth of experience outside of general graphic design.  Whether it be illustrating and designing stamps for Australia Post, a creative director of some of Melbourne’s largest advertising agencies or designing some of Australia’s iconic packaging and logos, LogoLogix has been the outcome now providing clients an identity that is both visually appealing with a marketing strategy combined.

LogoLogix’s customers range from single operators through to the larger corporates. With affordability as one of LogoLogix’s mainstays, it’s no wonder happy clients are raving about their new logo, or their ‘logo reno’ where their logo has been given a graphic makeover to refresh and revitalise their brand.

In addition to your new identity, LogoLogix provides a comprehensive design service from business stationery, brochure design, signage, website design, packaging, apparel and subsequent print management. Feel free to contact Priscilla on 9598 6995 or visit online at www.logologix.com.au

LogoLogix is situated in Sandringham Village, just opposite the Sandringham station.

LOGO LOGIX
A: Suite 13A, 18-34 Station St, Sandringham
T: 9598 6995
W: logologix.com.au

With the wealth of knowledge available at our fingertips and access to a huge range of supportive services, there has never been a better time to start a business - and Frankston has been named one of the leading places in Victoria to make that happen.  The launch of the inaugural Big Small Business Expo combines the essential ingredients required for a successful start-up.  

Jo Schutt and Emily Jones had been running their separate businesses for several years before joining forces to create The Garden in Frankston and both agree there is nothing more effective in terms of growing a business than face-to-face networking and authentic relationship-building.  Their vast experience in events and passion for business development has lead them to create Frankston’s first large-scale event where local start-ups, SMEs and entrepreneurs could find inspiration, discover innovative business tools and potential businesses owners with whom to collaborate.

The Big Small Business Expo is on March 22 at Functions by the Bay in Frankston and will include an expo with spaces for 50 sponsors and exhibitors, a conference with six high-profile keynote speakers and a networking event in the evening. The event would not be possible without the likes of GOLD Sponsors PWR Consulting Group - To join PWR & other high calibre businesses through sponsorship or exhibiting, or to purchase conference tickets visit www.thebigsmallbusinessexpo.com.au.

THE GARDEN – MIND BODY BUSINESS
A: 4 Ross Smith Ave, Frankston
T: 0425 785 161
W: thegardenfrankston.com.au

This year is the perfect opportunity to make a new start and become qualified to pursue the career that you want.

BRACE Education and Training offers high-quality, adult community education through its pre-accredited courses and nationally accredited qualifications, ranging from short one-day courses to Diploma level qualifications. It works closely with the Peninsula community and has strong industry partnerships to improve job outcomes for its students.

BRACE is well-known for delivering quality training in Frankston, so is excited to bring its vocational courses to Mornington, Rosebud and Hastings, where there is a high demand for jobs in the community services sector.

Start a rewarding career and make a difference in the lives of people in your community by training for a job in the healthcare, aged care, disability or education industries.

If you want to change your career path, get a job or learn something new, then contact BRACE today and make a change in 2017.

BRACE
A: Level 2, 54-58 Wells St, Frankston
T: 9781 3388
W: www.brace.com.au

This year has flown by and we’ve suddenly hit December. It’s now time to set aside a day or two to reflect on how your business has performed in 2016, as well as a strategy for a bigger and better 2017. If you can’t block out a whole day or two, break it down it into three-hour blocks. Here’s a few tips for what to think about and questions to ask yourself:

1.     What have been my biggest achievements this year?

2.     Why did they work?

3.     What hasn’t worked well for my business this year?

4.     Why hasn’t it worked?

5.     What could I have done differently for a better result?

Next, ask yourself ‘What do I want to achieve in the new year?’  And then break it down into quarters and set three goals per quarter, one big goal per month.

Think about these goals now:

1.     Why do I want to achieve these?

2.     How will I achieve these?

3.     What action can I take each week, to contribute towards achieving my quarterly goals?

4.     How will I measure my progress?

5.     How will I reward myself for achieving each quarter’s goals?

Goal setting and planning should be fun! Grab some A3 paper and map out each quarter. Use different coloured markers or post-its for different types of goals, for instance: sales metrics (product/service package), revenue and/or profit goals, number of customers/clients, brand awareness/marketing, etc.

When setting goals for yourself, make sure they are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound.

Enjoy the process!

April Hewat has always had a creative mind.  Even as a “typical lipstick tomboy” growing up on a farm in Carrum Downs, she “thought constantly about new ideas for this or that”.

After travelling around Australia, Europe and the US, April returned home with a desire to design swimwear, knowing she needed for find her own niche in this extremely competitive market.  The “eureka” moment came at 3 o’clock one cold morning:  “I jumped out of bed and ran into my little farm office and scanned in a postcard of a beach on my little outdated bubble jet printer, then ironed it on to a white bikini pant - and I knew that was it.”
She found a company in Denmark that had the machine she needed to professionally print photographic images on to fabric, and the world was now her canvas.

In 2007 April launched her label – April Marie Swimwear - at the inaugural Australian Swim Fashion Week on the Gold Coast.  It was a “mindblowing experience” and was followed by a show at the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in Sydney in 2009.  Now employing the extraordinary talents of Melbourne photographer Rebecca Le Souef and Frankston model Monique Wardley, April gained valuable exposure in Vogue Australia and Cleo magazines, her leopard print featuring on Vogue’s cover.

In 2011 she slowed down her production and concentrated selling online while she had her three children in the space of four years, but next season she is producing some amazing structured bikini tops and one-pieces as well as skirts and dresses.

“Celebrities, parties, catwalk shows and trade shows can entice you to become completely wrapped up in this world of glamour and fashion, but I soon discovered that it’s just not me.  I keep my socialising in this world to a minimum and I look to our beautiful Mornington Peninsula for all public events and location shoots and really try to convey that you don’t have to live in Milan, Sydney or Paris to produce a stunning international label when the talent is right here under your nose.”

You can check out April’s stunning range at aprilmarieswimwear.com.au

Frankston Business Network members will this month be able to see first-hand the work being done on Sages Cottage.

Wallara and Baxter Barn are hosting the next social networking night on Wednesday, November 16, and are inviting members to see the progress made on the property since Wallara was made custodian of Sages Cottage in December 2013.  Since then, the organisation has worked tirelessly with a team of volunteers to restore the property to its former glory.

The members-only social networking night will be held on Wednesday, November 16, from 5.30-7.30pm at Sages Cottage, 85 Sages Rd, Baxter.

On Tuesday, November 22, Frankston RSL will host a networking night from 5.30-8pm at 183 Cranbourne Rd, Frankston.  These networking nights are extremely well supported, with more than 100 people attending each function, and are a great opportunity to join other like-minded business operators, meet other chamber members, catch up with old friends and forge new business relationships - all over a glass or two of wine and some finger food.

To register for this event, phone 9781 1422 or visit frankstonbusinessnetwork.com.au

The disability sector is experiencing a boost in jobs due to the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.  The NDIS is expected to create up to 20,000 jobs in Victoria and fund supports for 105,000 people with a disability.

Abbey McRae and Katie Absolom chose BRACE as their preferred training provider.  Both have previously completed qualifications with BRACE, and returned earlier this year to complete their Certificate IV in Disability (CHC43115).

“I wanted to change my career path and already knew from past experience that BRACE is a really good training provider. I like that it is a really welcoming environment where everyone says ‘hello’ to each other. My trainer (Susanne) also organised our practical placements, which was a big plus,” said Katie.

Abbey smiled and nodded, adding “Our trainer was always available.  When I needed help, I just contacted her and she always responded.  I loved completing my qualification with BRACE.”

Abbey and Katie are now both working for a local disability service provider. They explain that it is very rewarding working with people with disabilities.  They enjoy helping people to enhance their independence and become more confident.

BRACE
A: Level 2, 54-58 Wells St, Frankston
T: 9781 3388
W: brace.com.au