Flashy Bits founder Maryann Wall with some flashing Australia Day items at Noble Park RSL’s Flash 4 Cash fundraiser last Friday.By Shaun Inguanzo
THIS is one business that’s no flash in the pan, despite its name.
Flashy Bits, a mobile stall that appears at community festivals, RSL events and even concerts, is the brainchild of Chelsea residents Maryann and Phil Wall.
The couple sells anything from badges through to drinking mugs, that in some way, flash neon coloured lights.
But what sets Flashy Bits apart from other stalls is that at most community events, particularly RSL clubs, Flashy Bits donates 10 per cent of each sale to the community organisation responsible.
The Walls call this fundraiser the Flash 4 Cash.
Mrs Wall described the business’ role in the fundraiser as ‘autonomous’.
She said it cost nothing to have Flashy Bits set its stall up at a festival or function, making it the ideal fundraiser for community groups.
“They (the organisation) do not have to pay for staff, it’s no cost to them,” she said.
“And at the end of the night they get a bonus which is 10 per cent of our sales.”
On Australia Day last Friday, the Walls took Flashy Bits to the Noble Park RSL, where hundreds of patrons invested in the popular flashing Australian flag badges.
“It’s just a bit of fun,” Mr Wall said.
“Most people buy something for a bit of a laugh.”
Popular items include a belt buckle with an electronic screen that flashes a custom message across it.
There’s also a series of mugs and glasses, wrist bands, jewellery, T-shirts, hats and other paraphernalia that the Walls source from a variety of interstate suppliers to ensure they have the cream of the crop of flashing items.
“We’ve been doing it for about 12 months,” Mr Wall said.
“We started off selling badges and glasses and are now getting more and more sophisticated products to sell.”
For more information on Flashy Bits, or to have Flash 4 Cash at a function, call Maryann and Phil Wall on 9772 7849.
