Sixty-three small businesses will share $2.6 million in government grants announced under the Australian Government’s Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Small Business Program.
The government grants, ranging from $17,000 to $50,000, have been awarded to help these businesses become more innovative and strengthen the business culture of Australia’s TCF industries.
Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, said the program was aimed at making TCF small businesses more competitive by developing new processes, especially at the niche, high-value end of the market.
“This round has again been extremely competitive, with over 250 businesses applying for grants,” Senator Carr said.
“The strong response shows that the TCF sector is keen to embrace a culture of innovation and enterprise, and power through the tough market conditions.
“Typical of the innovative approaches of government grant recipients are projects to improve production processes, explore export markets, and embrace the internet as part of their business strategy.
“These small businesses represent the next generation of TCF industries that employ 45,000 people, including many in regional Australia. A vibrant TCF sector will lead to more high-value, high-skill jobs.”
The TCF Small Business Program is providing $25 million in grants over 10 years to Australia’s small designers and manufacturers.
Successful round five projects include:
- Jongs Tailor and Dress House, in the Northern Territory – a grant of $32,165 directed at improving the business’s design and manufacturing capability with strategic business mentoring and the implementation of CAD software and equipment. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Contact: Mrs Fifi Tse (08) 8947 0654]
- J’Aton Couture, in Victoria – a grant of $43,600 to develop and implement a business strategy for the high-end fashion label, with supporting administrative and business processes. It includes research to identify alternative export and domestic markets. [Contact: Mr Jacob Luppino (03) 9533 8666]
- Besmitten in Tasmania – a grant of $45,920, to mentor the principals and build the capability of the business as producers of superfine merino clothing (Smitten Merino), by implementing communications and marketing plans. [Contact: Mr Carl Mason 0408 094 594]
The full list of recipients is detailed below:
| Applicant Name | Project Title | Grant |
| Romance Was Born | Business mentoring | $43,898 |
| Alice McCall | Managing the total business to sustain growth | $50,000 |
| Anna & Boy | Business mentoring program – Strategic Channel Management | $33,608 |
| Berczelly, Irene E | Designs, patterns and improved production | $30,000 |
| Birdee Golf Apparel | Heading “Out of Bounds” – riding the winds of e-commerce | $47,238 |
| Brigid Mclaughlin | Implement and integrate a computerised patternmaking system | $27,849 |
| Ology | Hannah McNicol’s journey to wholesale: a business sophistication project | $40,000 |
| Ellery, Kimberley Jean Kahurangi | Enterprise Management Software, operational management and procedures project | $49,643 |
| Friedrich Gray | Shades of gray to black & white – bringing certainty and confidence to the production process | $50,000 |
| Grandma Takes a Trip | Brand and marketing strategy for Grandma Takes a Trip | $40,000 |
| Hussy Clothing | Website upgrade to e-commerce platform | $42,500 |
| High Tea with Mrs Woo | Unravelling the Threads | $50,000 |
| Katie Perry | Review and expand operational, marketing and product development opportunities | $25,700 |
| Johanna Johnson | Computer management system for wholesale production, supply & distribution | $50,000 |
| Josh Goot | Business mentoring | $43,128 |
| Kirrily Johnston | Marketing and e-commerce | $50,000 |
| Konstantina | Developing capabilities with systems and mentoring | $48,000 |
| Lee, Dion Robert John | Business mentoring program | $35,148 |
| McDonald, Andrew Robert | Successfully exporting into culturally different markets | $31,900 |
| Muhan Corporate | Total control a necessity for customer service | $30,000 |
| Nundle Woollen Mill | Strategic marketing approach to the future of Nundle Woollen Mill | $30,000 |
| Rawsthorne Group | Digital communications & marketing strategy | $48,260 |
| Rittenhouse | Strategic growth operations | $44,244 |
| Soul Sports | Marketing and sales strategy | $33,660 |
| Embryo Designs | Embryo’s rebranding and operational improvement project | $42,340 |
| Sumakhi | Building an accessible storehouse of accurate and up to date information | $50,000 |
| Sundara Productions | Technology and change | $28,000 |
| Tluxe Clothing Company | Strategic review and implementation of an integrated Enterprise Management System | $50,000 |
| Jiva Clothing | Business mentoring – E-commerce and digital marketing | $35,862 |
| Woolerina | Marketing and operational improvement project | $50,000 |
| Zeus Sports | Zeus Sports 2010 – 2011 Driving Technology Program | $44,500 |
| Bassham, Mette | Strategic product review & manufacturing assessment project | $17,000 |
| Bima Wear | Bima Wear goes Global | $35,420 |
| Jongs Tailor and Dress House | Business development through product, marketing and internal systems improvement | $32,165 |
| Certton | Management and communications systems improvement | $50,000 |
| Promomotto | The Red Thread | $27,980 |
| Southgap | Diversifying the sales model | $50,000 |
| The Mackay-Payne Group | Bringing design capability in-house | $30,000 |
| Footwear Plus | Improving last production | $48,297 |
| Elsdon, Nicole | Pattern making tools to drive generational change | $39,000 |
| Falstaff | Implement an in-house pattern making system | $30,000 |
| A’West Trading | Tasmanian super fine Merino clothing- a Global Opportunity | $45,920 |
| Uniform City | Develop a customised online marketing and manufacturing service | $50,000 |
| Arnsdorf | 2010-2011 professional and digital development project | $43,000 |
| Bared | Bared direct sales model systems development & integration | $47,600 |
| Impact Sports Promotions | Automated sportswear fabric laser cutter | $50,000 |
| C74 | Implementing an EMS | $50,000 |
| Cashmere Connections | Implementation of process change | $42,000 |
| C E Wise | Tailored and integrated Enterprise Management System | $46,640 |
| Formula Screen Printing | Process engineering for market differentiation and growth. | $50,000 |
| Hancock, Walter Michael | Knitting software for niche markets | $47,436 |
| J’aton Couture | Developing a strategy to reach commercial growth potential | $43,600 |
| Sportivo Hosiery | Implementation of Information Management System | $40,500 |
| Lisa Barron | Re-structuring product development workflows for growth | $50,000 |
| Nicolangela | Business growth through operational excellence | $50,000 |
| UGG.com.au | Expanding Real Australia UGG Boots market success in China | $50,000 |
| Roshan Textile | Deployment of E-Commerce as part of overall EMS Strategy | $43,068 |
| Sold Out Knitwear | Breaking out of Melbourne with online marketing | $46,000 |
| The Silk Touch | Develop e-commerce website and marketing strategy | $34,000 |
| T-Sugi Agency | Extending the communications and management systems. | $50,000 |
| TV Fashions | Strategic future markets | $46,642 |
| YB Concept | E-commerce Project | $50,000 |
| Bond, Louise Margaret | Computerising Heatseeker wetsuits | $32,335 |
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