ABOUT – Adelaide Business Collective

Adelaide Business Collective is a not-for-profit body that works on behalf of its business members in the City and North Adelaide to create a vibrant and prosperous business environment.

OUR VISION :

Successfully deliver a PILOT Business Improvement District in the CBD or North Adelaide.

WHO ARE WE?

The Adelaide Business Collective represents over 300 businesses based in the CBD and North Adelaide. Since forming as an incorporated body in 2018 the group has advocated for a Feasibility Study into the positive impacts that a Citywide Business Model could have on the economic performance of the CBD. Council completed a study in 2019 with input from our ABC Member survey that highlighted business needs and priorities. The ABC Committee presented the findings of our Member survey to Council to help shape the next stage in the development of a Citywide Model. In 2020 we worked alongside Council on behalf of businesses to ensure their business voice was heard. Following additional consultation the Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) was launched in 2021 and the ABC provides a valuable link between AEDA and CBD and North Adelaide businesses. We continue to advocate for an independent business-led Citywide Improvement District that would be tested with a Pilot model to demonstrate the benefits.

WHY ARE WE HERE?

The Adelaide Business Collective was created initially with the main purpose of investigating the feasibility of creating a best practice business led Citywide Business Model to represent City businesses and support them as they faced challenges from suburban centres and online retail and now post pandemic effects. More than 3000 Cities and Towns overseas including Auckland, Dublin and London are reaping the benefits of business partnerships such as Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) that bring businesses together making them more resilient. The consistent focus of the ABC has been to work with all City business stakeholders to develop a City-wide business group that is inclusive, transparent, accountable, collaborative and effective. We have worked constructively with the City of Adelaide, elected members and key precincts to educate and inform key stakeholders about the benefits of BIDs. We have also presented our case to the State Government for due consideration. The NSW Government has embraced the BID concept by establishing a New Sydney Waterfront BID and developing a new PILOT program to encourage more communities to set up BIDs. We applaud this positive action.

WHAT ARE OUR AIMS?

Establish a citywide (CBD & North Adelaide Business Improvement District)
Promote best practice BID models from over 3000 examples worldwide
Ensure the voice of all retail, hospitality and service businesses in the City is heard
Define the business priorities from the broader business community and ensure they are being addressed
Represent the views of our Members City-wide to Council and State Government
Engage with our City business Members through surveys and communications to understand and meet their needs
Leverage promotional activity and marketing campaigns to ensure the optimal benefits for businesses
Develop a collaborative working arrangement with the Adelaide Economic Development Agency and Council
Work closely with Rundle Mall, Adelaide Central Market, Precincts, mainstreet businesses and independents
Consider opportunities that may reduce business costs for ABC Members
Engage with property owners to attract new businesses and reduce vacancies
Partner with key agencies and the State Government to drive economic growth in the City
Develop a Terms of Reference with AEDA as a key partner
Launch a PILOT program to test the benefits of this modern concept

WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED SO FAR?

Established an Incorporated Association called the Adelaide Business Collective (2018)
Developed a skills-based Committee representative of the various business sectors and geographical locations of the City and North Adelaide (2018)
Sought funding from the City of Adelaide (Council) to conduct a Feasibility Study of a Citywide business partnership consistent with overseas models of Business Improvement Districts (Council provided funding for the Study in 2019)
Ensured that our ABC Members including traders in Rundle Mall, Central Market and Precinct Groups were engaged in the Feasibility Study (online consultation, Members survey)
Shared outcomes with ABC Members and stakeholders, to progress with Council to a 3-year pilot period. The ABC welcomes the new ADELAIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY that commenced operating in January 2021
We lobbied Council & the new Agency to establish an Advisory Committee to represent the business sector right across the City and this has been achieved. Andrew Wallace and David West have served on the Committee from 2021-2023.
Jaimee Charlton an important ABC Committee Member has been appointed to the AEDA Board.

THE ABC COMMITTEE

ANDREW WALLACE – CHAIR/PUBLIC OFFICER

Andrew Wallace is the Program Director of Interior Architecture at Uni SA in the West End of the city. He was formerly the President of the Adelaide West End Association and an advocate for improving business conditions in this part of Adelaide for the last 20 years.

Andrew has been part of the foundation group of the ABC for the last 8 years and has been Chair and Secretary. Andrew is a recipient of Mainstreet SA’s most valuable contribution to a main street award. As an interior Designer he has delivered projects in Adelaide, Sydney, London, for major corporates, furniture manufacturers, property developers and major infrastructure organisations. He is a past president of the Design Institute of Australia (SA).a

FRANZ KNOLL – DEPUTY CHAIR

Franz has 40 years experience in the food industry across management, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing. Strategically growing Barossa Fine Foods over 32 years successfully transitioning the management to the next generation. The business successfully acquired multiple businesses that supported the company to grow in a mature highly regulated market., he has been recognised with the Bickfords Food Industry Leaders Award 2012, South Australian Telstra Medium Business Award 2016, Honorary AMIC Master Butcher 2018, Sausage King Hall of Fame 2020 Telstra Business Awards Judge 2022 and numerous quality and product awards. Franz is passionate about the City of Adelaide and he has served as an Elected Member on Council.

DAVID WEST – SECRETARY/TREASURER

David is an experienced Westfield shopping centre manager, Rundle Mall Manager and a retail consultant for 24 years. He formed the Rundle Mall Management Authority in 2008 which moved under AEDA in 2021. David developed and implemented the 2015-2020 Experience Adelaide City Retail Strategy. He is a founding member of the Adelaide Business Collective and he believes a city business improvement model could deliver excellent outcomes for the city.

He has promoted Improvement Districts for 20 years after visiting Philadelphia. In 2024 he visited Toronto where the first ever Improvement Area was established in 1970. He wrote the Mainstreet Management – Successful Retail Strategies book to promote best practices.

MICHAEL GRAY – COMMITTEE MEMBER

Michael Gray is a Partner of DFK GRAY PERRY a CBD based Chartered Accountancy practice. Michael provides leadership to the firm and as a business owner is well placed to deliver valuable advice to a wide variety of business combining good communication style and technical skill with a business approach. His passion for SME has seen his career span educator, publisher and community involvement.

Michael was Chair of the City South Precent in the CBD for many years and he also sat on the board of The Fringe.