Winner of ‘Taking Care of Business’ Says It’s A “Life-Changer” For Their All Abilities Play Centre

By Hope 103.2Monday 26 Oct 2020Hope BreakfastStation NewsReading Time: 1 minute

In an effort to support Sydney businesses during a year of unprecedented challenges, Hope 103.2 partnered with Moove Media and AiiMS to give away a massive marketing package worth over $45,000 – hoping the winning business would receive the lift they needed to keep going and end 2020 on an unexpected high. 

After being inundated with great entries for our Taking Care of Business competition, Breakfast with Sam & Duncan were excited to announce the deserving winner on-air this morning as Shine Shed North West, an all abilities play centre.

Founder Iain said this prize was going to be a “life-changer” for Shine Shed.

“We know how important this type of facility is to the people that need it, and the people that use it. So, we – my wife and I – we’ve been kind of worried, ‘how on earth are we going to last the two years to get everything up to speed?’,” Iaia told Hope 103.2.

Shine Shed North West is a place where your child can meet their sensory needs, develop skills and make friends in a fun, nurturing and supported environment. Our facility includes activities for those who are highly active, to those who have significant physical needs.

“Getting the word out there for people that need that and for others who we just want to bring somewhere for their kids to play, um, just astonishing.”

Listen to the emotional moment Iain was told Shine Shed North West won Taking Care of Business in the player above. 

Breafkast host Sam:

That’s a really hard year, Iain. Especially when you’re trying to get something off the ground.

Shine Shed Founder Iain:

Yeah, for sure.

Sam:

The judges have looked at your entry, along with all of the others, fantastic entries all round but they have decided that you and the Shine Shed Northwest are the winners of Taking Care of Business.

Breakfast host Duncan:

You’ve won the $45,000 package.

Iain:

Oh my gosh. I… I…

Duncan:

Mate, that includes the eight weeks of bus/billboard advertising, it’s got the custom digital package, it’s got the three-month on-air campaign – it’s all in there, it’s all happening.

Iain:

Ah, guys. I’m in tears. [Crying and laughter noises] Thank you so much. That is just astonishing. Um, ah Boys, this is, you know it’s a passion project of ours and, um, we didn’t expect we were going to make money. We’re not doing it to make money. My goal with it has always been if we can break even we can keep doing this forever. You know we sunk our, I won’t quite say all of our life savings in it, but we sunk a lot of money in the fit out and we kind of… um, we thought… um, the plan was we’d be able to get probably take two years to get up to speed and get ourselves to the point, and it wasn’t, it’s not about bringing, it’s not even about recovering those life savings because we know how important this type of facility is to the people that need it, and the people that use it. Um, so, we – my wife and I – we’ve been kind of worried, ‘how on earth are we going to last the two years to get everything up to speed?’. I’m blown away… I’m just… I’m blown away. Thank you so much. [Crying] Thank you so much.

Sam:

Iain, you’re welcome. We love what you’re doing there.

Duncan:

Yeah.

Sam:

So excited you’ve won. Can you… can you try and fathom what this marketing package is going to do for your business?

Iain:

Ah, look I… the key for us I think, well the key for me is that we found that, um… ah… anyone that comes – not anyone – lots of people that come, go ‘wow, we didn’t know about this place, this is amazing, we will definitely be back’. And, we’re gradually building a clientele of people who are, um, who are returning and it’s that core of people that a) we want to support and give them the opportunity to play. Um, but it’s building that base for us. Um, getting the word out there and getting people in the first time makes us kind of, you know we’re pretty confident that what we’re offering is unique – particularly in our part of Sydney. Um, and ah, one of the things that we try to do is, as we said in the application, we try to, ah… um, ah… we try to make it… to partner with the community. We try to make it a safe space for people so we’ve already, um, been partnering with Project CFC, which is a group run by the Salvos out of northwest Sydney, specifically for disability groups.

Duncan:

Yeah

Iain:

We’ve had people come in and say, ‘there is such a peace in this place’. In all the chaos and joy of kids running around screaming, that they just find a peace, and that’s what we want to do. Um, you know, this package – getting the word out there for people that need that and for others who we just want to bring somewhere for their kids to play, um, just astonishing. Um, it’s just a life-changer for us