'Community Way' Expands From Pilot Scheme
8 November 2004 at 12:11 pm
Community Way, a concept set up to give Not for Profits a business model for successful fundraising, says it’s about to deliver its first profit share cheques at the end of this month – an exciting step for the two entrepreneurs who set it all up.
According to founders Wes Thornton and Peter Edwards their Internet eMegamart allow groups to market their own products, which so far are food and product hampers, and post group news through their own eMegamart site.
Peter Edwards says Community Way had its first information session in Geelong in August where they launched the system in a limited pilot scheme.
Edwards says despite that limited marketing, Community Way now has 12 groups on board, with one group (Lions Club – Geelong) including about half a dozen Lions Clubs in the area.
The smallest group has 17 members, while the largest group has over 25,000 members. The groups range from a girl’s marching group to schools to surf life saving clubs and to a major sporting club.
Edwards says Community Way will be issuing its first profit share cheques at the end of November which is really exciting given the more than two years of work to set up the scheme.
As of 1 November 2004, they have opened up the service to Melbourne and its suburbs.
He says Community Way is the only Internet shopping site that provides online lay-by.
Their ultimate goal is for community groups to eventually take ownership of the operation.
Thornton says as an example the Christmas Hamper market alone is worth $350 million dollars a year. Community Way Hampers will target special occasions all year round. Initially it will offer Christmas Hampers as a start-up in Victoria.
For more information on Community Way and the eMegamart concept log onto www.communityway.com.au.
