Schmooze Case Studies

By virtue of our wide spectrum of events, membership and scope, we can provide opportunities for organisations and individuals of all types. The following provides some ideas on how you can leverage the opportunities we offer. 

You can view an overview of our membership and subscriber base on this page and the graphic below outlines the various options you have to make the most of your membership.

We're available to meet with you to discuss how we can assist you, just contact us.

Private Sector

We offer a unique environment to foster business opportunities for our members, and for them to promote their expertise in a targeted and personalised fashion. 

Besides the contacts you can make through our events each month and online using our own database and Linkedin Groups, you can promote any event, service or news through our eNews and social media.

At anytime our team are on hand to advise you on how to reach the market you want, and raise your profile. Members also receive business referrals as they arise, and a range of exclusive offers from other members.

By virtue of being an independent and neutral, we provide a collaborate space for organisations and individuals to meet and work together.

Last financial year surveyed members enjoyed an average benefit of $18,000 through sales, contacts, PR and other benefits through their membership.

We also work with other professional groups through joint events and cross promotion to enhance the opportunities for our respective memberships.

Example: Since Professional package memberships are shared among your team, you can keep your visibility up each month by sending your team to different events, depending on their age or position so their networking with their peers.   Your company can also do a mix of online activity such as contributing articles or resources for the website to position your expertise, or perhaps host a workshop or event of ours.

We can also assist through our range of services to ensure you meet the right people, or target your messages to the right audience through our social media.

Our program also offers a cost effective means to conduct client relationship through our events, or skilling up your team at our workshops and seminars.

Sole Trader Example: It can be isolating working by yourself and its vital to have a space to meet your peers, but also tap into their experiences and ideas. Schmooze offers a supportive and collaborative space to do that, as well as connect to established players. 

Members can also advertise their products, events and services through us, getting profile they couldn't by themselves. They can contribute articles to our website, be invited to be a guest speaker, and find kindred business owners to learn from and keep their motivation up.

We also offer a Start-Up package for brand new enterprises to get a boost!

Other Ideas

• contribute articles and news to our website to keep top of mind and showcase your expertise
• make an offer to other members by way of introduction via our website and eNews
• use our Concierge service to meet other members you want to meet
• use our workshops and seminars to learn from experts and other members
• host an event, or invite members to something your hosting to start building a relationship and profile

Arts and Cultural Sector

Schmooze also always attracts many creative practitioners, artists, musicians as it offers a vibrant milieu in which to learn business skills, network and promote their activities.

Our events also frequently feature live music from local artists or showcase upcoming acts and festivals like the National Folk Festival.

We also feature regularly live music and creative practitioners at our events, held events at the National Portrait Gallery on several occasions, held art exhibitions as part of our monthly Schmooze program, as well as having produced the Schmooze Deluxe album that features original songs by Canberra region artists.

Schmooze provides a great platform to advertise your events, and seek new clients, audiences and sponsors.  We also offer a reduced Associate membership rate for Arts and Cultural sector organisations.

Each year we also offer a special Artist in Residence program and have run Business and Arts sector mentoring programs.

Example: We offer a cost effective way to engage new audiences beyond the usual suspects, as well as potential buyers or sponsors.  Venues like galleries could host an event, such as a workshop or networking function.

You can advertise your openings on our website and eNews, and we can assist we 'rent a crowd' from our members and subscribers to attract more people to your event.

Other Ideas

• attend our Busines Lunch Club or workshops to meet a wide range of professionals and invite them to an opening
• offer to host a mini- Schmooze or ask us to bring a posse to an event your hosting
• share your successes and news via our website, social media and eNews- just send us the info for publication
• create a members-only experience such as a tour or talk

Community, aRTS and Not-for Profit

From our start in 2003, we have sought to contribute to the community by bringing together otherwise disparate sectors, and to support charities wherever possible. We offer free publicity through our website and enews to any charity event or fundraising activity, as well as sponsor causes throughout the year. 

Thanks to our range of contacts we can also foster contacts between groups and individuals for mutual benefit, and we've also worked with the ACT Government's Live in Canberra campaign to stage welcome events for new Canberran's.

We also highlight a local cause or charity to be highlighted through our weekly enews, website, Facebook and monthly Schmooze events as our Featured Cause of the Month.

Schmooze also offers free advertising for any charity event on our website, and we were part of the Cerebral Palsy Celebrity Apprentice challenge in 2012 with 11 other companies, together raising over $125,000 for them.

Community, Arts and Non-for-Profit groups can join at the reduced Associate membership rate, and enjoy the full benefits of members including professional introductions and being able to promote their own expertise and events to our members and subscribers.

Example: Organisations can be supported by us through our social media channels to promote an event or campaign, or assist with fundraising through our eNews.

We can source volunteer 'strike-teams' to assist with an event or campaign, and also assist with introductions for potential sponsors.

We can also support your awareness raising of your activities by publishing  newsletters on our website or  presentations on their outcomes.

Schmooze's professional development program also provides a very cost effective means of skilling staff on a wide range of subjects.

Other Ideas

• Present at a seminar or workshop to share your organisation's insights to a wider audience
• Call for volunteers or expert 'strike-teams' through us to assist on a project or event
• Use our events to provide skills and experience for your team
• Share news of your sucesses via our social media and eNews to raise awareness of your work 

Public Sector Organisations

Whilst some of our members are public servants by day, and business people by night, we often work with government agencies who join to offer professional development opportunities for their staff, to engage with the private sector and to promote their activities.

We pioneered the first Government-Small Business Exchange event in 2012 that brought together the ACCC, AusIndustry, the ATO, Fair Work Ombudsman, Business.gov.au and other agencies who support small business and attracted over 200 business owners for a mini expo and presentations.

We also worked with the Australian Bureau of Statistics ACT Regional Office to host a special briefing to business owners on the ways they can use the data tools the ABS offers in 2013.

We also seek to create opportunities for the private and public sector to engage constructively and to share ideas through workshops and forums.

Since we are neutral with no lobbying or policy agenda, Schmooze offers a unique opportunity for the private and public sector to meet, learn from each other and network.

In 2012 we partnered with business.gov.au to present the Government - Small Business Exchange bringing together several agencies to introduce their services to small business owners.

Example: A Department can use our professional development program to providing interpersonal skills training for their graduates.

Alternately, managers may wish to engage with stakeholders on an informal basis at our events, or also use our communication channels, including social media to promote their events, resources and opportunities for business or the community in a very targeted fashion. 

Other Ideas

• engage Schmooze to run in-house workshops on networking and professional relations for your team
• attend particular events likely to attract the stakeholders you want to engage with
• We can also publish your events and articles on our website, and support your campaigns through our social media
• purchase social memberships for your new managers who are new to town to assist in their settling in and meeting some local professionals

Students and Young Professionals

Schmooze offers a comprehensive program of events and opportunities for students via our Schmooze@Campus program and our Young Professional Lifeskills seminar program.

By providing a relaxed and supportive environment we offer a great way to get a career off on the right foot with contacts, experience, and essential expert skills on topics suggested to us by our members.

Our program also provides the opportunity for employers for their staff to gain professional development opportunities and valuable interpersonal skills. We also offer internships to work with us on short term projects to help run these programs.

We also offer a very popular and effective Internship program.

Example: An individual can wanting to building up their range of contacts and professional skills will come along to our Lifeskills Seminars for under 30's. They can also attend any other event, such as the Monthly Schmooze networking events to mix with more established and seasoned professionals. 

Or they may have new business and want to mix with other young entrepreneurs or sound out their peers on lessons they've learnt.  They can also ask our help to make contacts for mentors or potential investors.

Students attending our Schmooze@Campus events also have the opportunity to be introduced to our members for internships and may be even a job!

Other Ideas

• ask Schmooze to assist you with connections for work experience or professional opportunities
• provide some in-kind support at an event or offer to members to boost your new company's profile
• attend our dedicated young professional events to learn from your peers and build your own network of contacts
• use the online contacts database on our website to find potential clients or employers and reach out to them personally.