Maroondah HomeBiz is a business network representing small and home based businesses. The association meets on a monthly basis to provide a range of speakers for its members.

Tonight’s topic was called ‘sell your service, not your soul and was led by Peter Watts, a consultant for service based businesses and a teacher in Small Business Management at Swinburne University. Peter spoke about the unique challenges facing service based businesses and the importance of undertaking a marketing plan that reflects the current and desired attributes of the business.

Peter highlighted the importance of market research in understanding the marketplace, potential customers and competitors. Peter also discussed each aspect of the marketing mix and the need for complementary marketing objectives. The marketing mix comprises of elements such as the price, the processes involved in undertaking the service, the premises, the people involved and the promotional strategies. These elements comprise a marketing strategy and allow a business to differentiate itself from competitors.

Maroondah HomeBiz provides an opportunity to foster the development of small and home based businesses. Maroondah HomeBiz meets at the Coach and Horses Hotel in Ringwood on the first Tuesday of each month.