Blog entry by Michael ToddMarketing Manager
Penrith Valley Economic Development Corporation (PVEDC)
Fifty attendees filled the seats in the Nepean Room at Penrith City Council for Penrith’s and the PVEDC’s last Small Business September event for this year.
In what was a very shiny day, the first speaker for the seminar, Bob Jeal, consultant for our Western Sydney Innovation Advisory Service (WSIAS) made it more so with a hot pink shirt and an even brighter same coloured tie – I quite liked it. He covered the question of: what is innovation? A tough question to answer given he had 25 minutes.
He managed it in almost double what was allocated but pointed out that innovation has to improve on something or be new, there is no point in it costing more than it sells for. I found it surprising that people often struggle with this point.
In what was a very shiny day, the first speaker for the seminar, Bob Jeal, consultant for our Western Sydney Innovation Advisory Service (WSIAS) made it more so with a hot pink shirt and an even brighter same coloured tie – I quite liked it. He covered the question of: what is innovation? A tough question to answer given he had 25 minutes.
He managed it in almost double what was allocated but pointed out that innovation has to improve on something or be new, there is no point in it costing more than it sells for. I found it surprising that people often struggle with this point.
Roger Johnston, consultant for the WSIAS and our second speaker, was much more reserved in his choice of clothing though he did sport a brightly coloured tie and based his presentation on marketing - another tough area to cover in a short amount of time but he mastered it, covering the four Ps (product, price, promotion & place) of the marketing mix, and even introducing a further four(people, proof, process & positioning) which were obviously overlooked during my time studying. He got it in one I thought when he stated that if you understand your target market and what they really want, then you will go a long way.
Our third and final speaker was a patent attorney, Dale Watson, who I must say looked the best out of the three, spoke on 'Making the intangible' more tangible and valuable. In a nutshell, how to protect your business idea and where to go for advice relating to intellectual property. His question time went for longer than his presentation in what capped off a magnificent morning where so many of the attendees gave great feedback and wanted to make additional appointments to meet with Bob & Roger which is what we're here for.
The fact that there is so much to think about regarding the whole process of an innovation was eye opening but I was reassured by the three presenters that innovators aren’t alone and there are methods of assistance which can be accessed.
More information on the FREE WSIAS can be sought from our office on (02) 4731 5711 and we will be pleased to assist your needs.
Photo caption (L-R) : Guest speaker and WSIAS consultants Bob Jeal & Roger Johnston, PVEDC Acting CEO Steve Willingale, PVEDC Marketing Manager Michael Todd & Guest Speaker & Patent Attorney Dale Watson.
