Public’s best business ideas backed

FEEDBACK platform Suggest it has found Ballarat’s Best Ideas following a recent effort to crowd-sourced visions for local businesses and organisations.

Judged by experts in economics and enterprise, residents’ creative and actionable suggestions for Plate Up Ballarat, 1816 Bakehouse, and Haymes Paint Shop have won the competition.

With each receiving a $500 to realise the ideas, Plate Up Ballarat will publish a cookbook showcasing the city’s hospitality venues and chefs’ best dishes, 1816 Bakehouse will develop a weekly bread subscription and delivery service, and Haymes Paint Shop will star in a Paint the City campaign, refreshing historic Sturt Street façades.

Community member Kate Tol submitted the suggestion for Haymes. She’s one of three ‘gurus’ receiving a $500 voucher to spend at a Commerce Ballarat member business.

“It could be an amazing tourism thing for Ballarat for people to come here, see a real-life Haymes colour swatch on buildings, and go home with some sample pots,” she said.

1816 Bakehouse head baker Josh Chapman said integrating the crowd-sourced idea for their business will boost production levels and help plan employee rosters around demand.

“It’s such a good idea. I know that lots of our regular customers would use and love this subscription service,” he said.

Plate Up Ballarat director Kate Davis said a cookbook was discussed early in the organisation’s early days.

“To have someone else suggest that idea reinforces where we’re at with hospitality. Ballarat is a leading regional dining destination,” she said.

“A cookbook will celebrate and shine a spotlight on our chefs, and our producers.”

Haymes Paint’s Andrew Senyard said his team is looking forward to further exploration of the Paint the City campaign.

“Innovation is key to business success, and platforms like Suggest it give the local community the opportunity play a part in the success of local businesses,” he said.

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney congratulated the businesses and gurus.

“There are plenty of great ideas in Ballarat but connecting those ideas to businesses and council can sometimes be hard,” he said.

“This competition showed the wonderful community spirit that we have. We want to share ideas to help our businesses and city to thrive. These ideas have the potential to make a difference in big and small ways.

“We also give our love and best wishes to the Haymes family on the passing of David.”

Federation Business School’s Professor Christina Lee, Regional Development Victoria’s Tammy Fitzgerald, City of Ballarat economic growth team leader Kelli Moran, and Runway HQ’s Nichola Sleight judged the Ballarat’s Best Ideas competition; an initiative of Suggest it founders Ben Wearne and Nick Clare.

“Although the competition has ended, Suggest it continues as a platform for people to give positive, constructive ideas for local businesses,” Mr Wearne said.

“We really want Ballarat people to keep giving ideas. If you walk into a business and see something they could do, suggest it.”