Docklands offers new opportunities

Docklands offers new opportunities

After successfully owning a Cartridge Bay store in Port Melbourne since 2006, Adriana Valencia and her husband Mark decided to expand the family business and open up a shop in Docklands’ Harbour Town.

Adriana, who originally worked in real estate, said she and her husband started the business as they wanted to do something different and her husband was already working in the industry.

Opening on December 21, Adriana said they saw Docklands as a great opportunity to expand their business and tap into a new and dynamic area. “Anything you need is at your doorstep,” Adriana said.

Having recycled over 11,000 cartridges over the last four years at their Port Melbourne store, Adriana and Mark are thrilled to be part of the Docklands community.

“Being an up and coming suburb and being so close to the city, the opportunity is great,” she said.

Adriana, who enjoys working near the water and in Docklands’ open spaces, said she also enjoys the restaurants and entertainment for the kids, especially during the school holidays.

Adriana and Mark provide cartridge recycling services and Adriana said that you can save money at Cartridge Bay when you refill your old cartridges.

Cartridge Bay Harbour Town offers everything for your printing needs including: cartridges, compatibles, toner/laser cartridges, printing and copy papers, A3/A4 colour photocopy and fax services and other printing supplies.

Matt aims to make a difference

Ambitious young entrepreneur Matt Nesci is sure to make a splash in the Docklands business community.

At 26 years old, Matt has done it all and he’s just warming up.  With energy to burn, he radiates enthusiasm which is squarely focussed on customer service.

Matt has just opened FoneIT, a telecommunications business which is a hybrid retail telco and service centre.  He plans to use the new shop at LifeLab in Harbour Esplanade as a base from which he service customers both near and far.

“It’s the energy of Docklands that first attracted me here,” he said.  “But how well connected is it with freeway access?  It’s so central and easy to get to.”

Matt moved FoneIT from Williamstown and opened for business in mid-February.  FoneIT supplies services from a number of carriers across a range of platforms.

“Our point of difference is that we understand the frustrations that businesses have when dealing with telcos, so we come to you and look after everything for you,” Matt said.

Matt has an old head on his young shoulders.  He grew up in a small business family and has been retailing since he was old enough to peer over the counter of his family’s numerous northern and western suburbs bakeries.

He struck out on his own with an Australia Post outlet when he was 18 and started working in telecommunications at aged 20.  More recently he did a stint on the other side of the counter within Optus.

Not only did this reinforce his desire to build his own business, Matt says it gave him a valuable insight into how the corporate side of things work.

He plans to build a small staff at his new location to manage incoming calls and also look after front-of-house customers.  This will allow him to travel to customers’ premises.

“We’re looking for new customers to service but we don’t ever want to be so big that we lose that personal connection,” he said.

FoneIT is at 04/198 Harbour Esplanade, Digital Harbour and can be reached
on 0404 114 224.

New Docklands childcare centre

There is a new childcare facility in Docklands.  And the director of Penguin Childcare Melbourne, Rebecca Zammitt, says it is the best.

The brand new centre at 750 Collins St is Melbourne’s only ground floor childcare centre and is now open for business.

Rebecca has worked in the childcare industry for 12 years and has been a director for the last three years.

She says her passion and commitment is still the same as the day she started.

“We are focused on best practice and results for the children,” she said.  “And we are great advocates for the childcare industry.”

Rebecca holds a Diploma in Childcare Services, First Aid and Anaphylaxis Certificate and she is also currently studying her Advanced Diploma.

She believes in working closely with the local community to ensure centre practices, procedures and policies reflect the needs and wants of the community members.

Rebecca wants to demonstrate to the community that Penguin Childcare is the best childcare provider that the state has to offer.

“Penguin Childcare has fantastic programs for children of all ages and also has a bachelor-trained kindergarten teacher that runs a fully funded kindergarten program,” she said.  “Come and see the Penguin difference.”

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