Call for community to join Business Development

WHILE the priorities and impact of the Observatory Improvement District have mostly been in the areas of safety and cleanliness, a huge amount of work has quietly been undertaken by the OBSID’s business development committee.

Run by the owner of 33 South Backpackers in Trill Road, Kim Whitaker, the committee aims to market Observatory to Cape Town as a whole, and to help local business thrive by helping them with business tools and compliance.

Kim, who is also the vice chair of the OBSID board of directors, said recent projects of the committee included free social-media workshops showing local businesses how to gain and maintain an online presence.

The effort to put as many Obs businesses as possible on the internet is about to culminate in a website called obsy.co.za, an online interactive directory the things to do, places to eat at, watering holes, products and services in the neighbourhood.

Future projects include an interactive map of businesses and places of interest in Obs, an "Obs welcome pack" for new businesses, containing all the laws and by-laws to help them become good corporate citizens.
Kim called on local business owners to join the committee and help to build a thriving business community in Obs. Anyone interested in seeing what the committee does, is welcome to attend the next meeting on 23 August at the OBSID’s Station Road offices - just let Kim know at kim@obsid.org.za.