Building networks: Dandenong Retail Traders’ Association president Roy Aspinall, Dandenong Plaza marketing manager Julie MacDougall, Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce executive officer Deanne Johnson, DRTA member Jennifer Puppa and Chamber of Commerce member Peter Helmore at last week’s joint chamber and DRTA networking night.By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG’S peak retail body is playing a strong role in restoring networks between the city’s business groups.
Dandenong Retail Traders’ Association (DRTA) and the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce last week hosted a joint network evening allowing members of both groups to mingle.
DRTA chairman Roy Aspinall said the association catered mainly for small retailers while the Chamber of Commerce tended to have larger businesses as members.
But he said building a relationship between the two groups was a key part of keeping both groups alive and the Dandenong business community strong.
The renewed partnership follows a failed attempt to unite business groups from across Greater Dandenong, Mr Aspinall said.
Several years ago Greater Dandenong council helped start the Business Association Round Table (BART) meetings. But Mr Aspinall said groups had gradually dropped out of the roundtable, leaving the business community fragmented.
“Unfortunately the BART initiative failed, but hopefully the DRTA now having the chamber president on its executive will help us to continue close liaisons between DRTA and the chamber,” he said.
Mr Aspinall said any good group was “just a matter of keeping a structure together”.
He said it wasn’t difficult for the DRTA to recruit members, but he said the challenge lay in business owners finding the time for the extra work.
“We really need someone who can work one day a week for a few months a year, probably July to Christmas, and just go around and talk to traders,” he said.
Last week new Chamber of Commerce president Renae MacNamara said building stronger networks with other business groups would be one of her aims as president.
