BAM gives business a rev

Sports journalist Ben Beazley has built a business here in Docklands around getting stories in the media.

As general manager of BAM Media, Ben’s mission is to use his connections, reputation, passion and knowledge of motor sport to place media stories featuring his clients.

The art of media placement as an alternative to advertising has been around in the guise of public relations for decades.  But with news organisations paring back journalists, “media management” is on the rise.

BAM started in Queensland in 1991.  Founder Brett Murray still runs the Gold Coast operation and also runs a offices in the US and London.

The Melbourne operation comprises Ben (pictured left) and associate Chris Jordan (right) and operates out of Aquavista.

BAM is a motor sports specialist agency and represents a number of racing team sponsors as well as some individual drivers.

Ben said the business had grown this year based on the firm’s reputation for getting results.

“We just went out and proved ourselves as adding value for all our clients,” he said.

He said many of his competitors employed non-journalists which meant they floundered when it came to understanding the business from the other side of the fence.

Ben wanted a city fringe location and looked at Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and Fisherman’s Bend before selecting Docklands as BAM’s Victorian headquarters.

“As soon as we walked into Docklands it was obvious that this was the place to be,” he said.

“We really enjoy being here. There are a lot of young businesses like ourselves and it’s got a great feel to it.”

BAM is at 1114, 401 Docklands Drive and can be contacted on 9001 1358.

Luke is fitness personified

Yarra’s Edge resident Luke Scott is a walking advertisement for his personal training business, Revolution Health and Lifestyle.

At 25 years old, Luke positively reeks of good health and fitness.

His business is five years old and employs 12 active trainers who operates in the inner city and western and northern suburbs.

One of the major differences with Luke’s business is that he and his trainers visit their clients where they live or work.

“We work around our clients and fit in when it best suits them,” he said.

Luke said the other major difference was that he personally sees all clients every six weeks to review progress and their relationship with their trainer.

“If there are any issues, we link them up with someone else,” he said.  “And it’s very useful to have a constant review of goals and personal progress.”

Luke said it was important to him to maintain the “personal” aspects of personal training.  While he would accept group training bookings, he said one-on-one was best for all concerned.

“Once it gets beyond that, there is little value and you might as well just go and train in a gym somewhere,” he said.

Luke is looking for premises here in Docklands to establish a private training studio and an administrative hub for the business.

He said Dockland’s demographic of time-poor professionals was an ideal market for Revolution Health and Lifestyle.

When he’s not training or running the business, Luke keeps fit with weight training, martial arts, golf, triathlons and football.

Revolution Health and Lifestyle can be contacted on 1300 362 311.

Monkey Mania comes to town

Monkey Mania has come to Docklands, which is great news for parents of young children.

The themed play centre is ideal for birthday parties and for anytime your child says, “I’m bored, there’s nothing to do”.

Monkey Mania opened its doors at Harbour Town on May 22 and, according to general manager Elenore Bunsell, business has been brisk. Ms Bunsell said Monkey Mania was very child-focused. 

“Although sometimes it’s the adults who have the most fun,” she laughed.

arents are catered for with a full-service café and a “drop and shop” scheme which allows children over five years-old to be dropped off for three hours for $25.  For other children, adult supervision is required at all times. 

Ms Bunsell explained that Monkey Mania was a unique concept which combined play with learning.  She said there was a special under-five early learning section of the centre which was designed to stimulate children’s developing brains.

The variously themed party rooms are the highlight, each having a unique centre-piece.  The centre has three differently priced party packages to choose from.

Ms Bunsell worked in hospitality until she joined Monkey Mania in May.  She spent some time at Monkey Mania’s other centres in Sydney and Canberra before the Docklands centre opened.

“It’s such a great job,” she said.  “I just love kids and the best part is seeing their faces when they walk into the centre”

Monkey Mania is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm and 6.pm on weekends. Entry is free for under-one-year-olds, $8.50 for one to three-year-olds, $10.50 for over threes and $3.50 for adults (including coffee).

Phone 9600 3772 or visit http://www.monkeymania.com.au.

The Kellys are really back now

Lyn and Peter Kelly can’t help themselves. They have to be in Docklands and they have to be  in business.

Four years ago they sold their 200-strong serviced apartments business, but now they’re back with Docklands Private Collection of Apartments.

Whereas in 2002 they started building their first business in a newly-developed NewQuay precinct, today they are doing the same thing in the new LifeLab development at Digital Harbour.

Three of their 10 LifeLab apartments are ready for occupancy and the other seven are due to come on stream soon, thanks to the interior decoration skills of former VicUrban local identity Nicqui Merlino.

Nicqui is working with the Kellys on more than just interior design.  She is to work with Peter in planning itineraries and helping out when the Kellys expand to include tours of Docklands later this year.

As well as their central core of LifeLab apartments, Lyn and Peter have a small number of NewQuay owners on their books and are looking to expand further.

Lyn said LifeLab was ideally suited to business delegates wishing to take advantage of Digital Harbour facilities such as conference rooms and a theatrette.  The particular apartments on offer come complete with an adjacent and interconnected vacant office which would be ideal for showing new products.

The Kellys point to ideal positioning by road and public transport as further reasons to stay at LifeLab.

After selling their serviced apartment business in 2005, the Kelly’s fortunes dipped with business failure and illness. They left Docklands but returned last year and contented themselves with voluntary work.

Docklands Private Collection of Apartments is at Shop 7, 198 Harbour Esplanade, and can be contacted on 0417 116 793 or 0417 581 455.