Local businesses are a vital part of our local, state and federal economy. Unlike the corporate world or unions, they have few groups to represent their issues or to market their services and products. Small and local business owners are entrepreneurs looking to make a living from their skills and ideas and to accomplish this they take significant financial risk.
In other words, to look to live the ultimatum Australian dream they are prepared to put themselves at risk. If successful in doing so, they are not only building a living for themselves but many of them also go onto providing part and full-time work for others.
It can take several tears to build a small to a medium-sized local business that can successfully stand on its feet financially. This is especially important where it can place itself into a position to provide a decent profit, which can lead to the employment of staff. To arrive at this position to be able to afford and allocate a marketing budget is crucial.
It is the goal of the community forum to make that marketing much more affordable and far more accessible.
At the community forum, we are prepared to put in the hard yards, before writing to any business, or placing them on a subscribers list or any of our business directories available via this web site, we walk their streets and visit EVERY business to introduce ourselves. We do this by visiting one suburb at a time and one shopping strip and or business district at a time.
At this point in time, we have over 800 businesses on our lists and this is growing with each passing week. Our goal by the end of 2020 is to have visited each business in every suburb from Carlton to Mentone all the way along the bayside suburbs of Melbourne's South East and suburbs surrounding the three major shopping centers at Melbourne Central, Chadstone & Southland. We anticipate by the time we achieve this that we will have over 10,000 businesses on our lists in some of Melbourne's wealthiest suburbs.
To find out more about what we have to offer your business contact us via our email below.
admin@thecommunityforum.com.au
Highett Dental Group, Highett: Family Dentistry Three Doors From Highett Station
Highett Dental Group provides complete dental care for you and your family from 294 Highett Road, just three doors from ...
Highett Neighbourhood Community House, Highett: Low-Cost Classes and Social Groups for All Ages, 30 Years On
Highett Neighbourhood Community House (HNCH) has been part of local life for more than 30 years. Together with Hampton Community ...
Melbourne Steel Security Locksmiths, Highett: Custom Security Doors and Window Grilles Made to Match Your Home
Melbourne Steel Security Locksmiths (MSSL) at 541 Highett Road, Highett, helps homeowners and businesses improve their security with steel security ...
Pursue Health, Highett: Physios Who Work With Local Footy and Netball Clubs, Plus a StrongHER Program
"Helping active people stay strong, confident, and active for longer." That's the focus at Pursue Health, a clinic at Suite ...
A & G Optique, Toorak: Dry Eye Care and Handmade Spectacles in Toorak Village Since 2003
For more than two decades, A & G Optique has been looking after the eyes of Toorak locals from the ...
AudioLogic Hearing, Toorak: Independent Hearing Care, With Support for the Life of Your Hearing Aids
Hearing is something most of us take for granted until it starts to change. AudioLogic Hearing, which has a clinic ...
Ember on Toorak, Toorak: Steaks Finished Over Charcoal in an Upstairs Room Made for Long Lunches
Ember on Toorak is built around the flame. Upstairs at Level 1, 32 Jackson Street, this fire-led steakhouse is open ...
K&M Parse Leather, Toorak: Choose From More Than 1,000 One-of-a-Kind Cowhide and Kilim Rugs
If you're looking for a statement piece for your floor, K&M Parse Leather on Toorak Road is worth a visit ...
Lost Designer, Toorak: Where Three Brothers Authenticate Every Pre-Loved Luxury Piece
"Pre-loved luxury, loved again." That's the idea behind Lost Designer, a boutique at 428E Toorak Road dedicated to pre-owned luxury, ...
Toorak Uniting Church, Toorak: A Welcome for Everyone, Sunday Music and a Quiet Space on Weekdays
"Wherever you are on your faith journey, wherever you have come from and wherever you are going to, whatever you ...
Ozone Organics, Cheltenham: The Local Team Keeping Melbourne Cafes Stocked With Plant Milks and Chai
Ever wondered who keeps your favourite cafe stocked with oat milk, chai and kombucha? For many Melbourne cafes, it's Ozone ...
Rouge Jewellers, Cheltenham: Grandmother's Diamonds Reset at a Working Bench on Station Road
"A jeweller in the old sense - where pieces are chosen, cared for, and made to last." That is how ...
St Matthew's Anglican Church, Cheltenham: A Remembrance Day Mass, a 50-Year-Old Op Shop and a Warm Welcome
St Matthew's Anglican Parish in Cheltenham warmly invites the whole community to a Special Remembrance Day Mass on Wednesday 11 ...
The Buckingham International, Highett: Function Rooms, Weddings and a French Restaurant Near Southland
Whether you're hosting a birthday, a business meeting or a wedding, The Buckingham International at 1130 Nepean Highway, Highett, has ...
Diamonds Blinds, Highett: A Family Blind Business Started as a Repair Shop Over 40 Years Ago
Diamonds Blinds started out over 40 years ago as a blind repair business. As demand for custom-made blinds grew, it ...
White & Co, Malvern East: Book a Free Personal Styling Session at a Female-Founded Label's Original Home
On Waverley Road, Malvern East, there's a boutique with a story many locals will love. White & Co began life ...
Evolve Skate Store, Prahran: Hand-Picked Decks and Expert Advice on Chapel Street Since 1999
On Chapel Street in Prahran, a little skate store with a big history is still going strong. Evolve Skate Store ...
Fragranzi, South Yarra: Design Your Own Perfume in About an Hour at Chapel Street's Make-Your-Own Studio
Most of us choose a perfume from a shelf. At Fragranzi MYO Perfumes on Chapel Street, South Yarra, you make ...
Handworks Nouveau Paperie, Prahran: Cards, Stationery and Stocking Fillers From a Chapel Street Shop of 30 Years
In an age of mass-produced everything, Handworks Nouveau Paperie on Chapel Street, Prahran, is a refreshing place to browse. For ...
Nikoo Jewellery, South Yarra: Custom Engagement Rings, Fine Jewellery and a Lifetime of Care on Chapel Street
"Jewellery as art. Designed to be remembered." That's how Nikoo Jewellery introduces itself, and its South Yarra store at 587 ...
Tibbs & Bones, Prahran: Colourful Independent Fashion on Greville Street Where Everyone Is Celebrated
Just around the corner from Chapel Street, next to Prahran station, is a shop that calls itself a "rainbow world" ...
Prahran Uniting Op Shop, Prahran: Bargain Hunting on Chapel Street That Funds Emergency Relief and Community Meals
If you love op shopping, vintage fashion, treasure hunting and eclectic finds, Chapel Street is the place to be. Among ...
Be A Star Bridal, Cheltenham: Wedding Gowns, Alterations and Dry Cleaning Under One Nepean Highway Roof
"Every bride deserves to feel like an absolute superstar." That's the promise at Be A Star Bridal, a bridal boutique ...
Cheltenham Custom Framing, Cheltenham: Footy Jumpers, Medals and Vinyl Records Framed in an Onsite Workshop
"We can frame just about anything, right here from our own onsite workshop." That's the promise at Cheltenham Custom Framing, ...
Eureka! Beads, Cheltenham: Over 1,000 Styles of Glass Beads and a 25-Metre Wall of Findings
If you make jewellery, Eureka! Beads is worth the trip. This family-run bead shop at Shop 3A, 1295 Nepean Highway, ...
Raffaele Ciuca Bridal, Armadale: Find Your Wedding Gown at a Four-Generation Bridal House on High Street
This year Raffaele Ciuca Bridal celebrates a remarkable milestone: seventy years of dressing Melbourne's brides. Since 1956, the family business ...
Simon West Fine Jewellery, Armadale: Design Your Own Engagement Ring With a Goldsmith Who Started as an Apprentice on the Murray
Some people walk into a jeweller with a clear picture of the ring they want. Many more don't, and at ...
Moosh Hair Salon, Malvern East: Colour With a Metal Detox Built In, at a Community-Minded Waverley Road Salon
"Life is better when you meet the right hairdresser." That's the promise at Moosh Hair Salon, a boutique salon at ...
Stonnington Community Uniting Church, Malvern East: A Warm Welcome at Burke Road's Church Since 1886
You may have driven past the Stonnington Community Uniting Church a thousand times, the church itself suggests: on the way ...
The Art Barbers, Malvern East: A Sharp Cut in a Barbershop That Doubles as an Art Gallery
A haircut, says The Art Barbers, is not just a quick trim but a true work of art. It's a ...
The Jazz Centre, Malvern East: Dance, Song and Performance Classes on Burke Road for Almost 40 Years
For almost four decades, a studio on Burke Road has been teaching Malvern East's children, teenagers and adults to dance ...
Gaudion Furniture, Armadale: Free Styling Advice and European Furniture From a High Street Showroom of Over 30 Years
For Melbourne's most passionate interior lovers, a visit to Gaudion Furniture at 1001 High Street, Armadale, is a treat. The ...
Libertine Parfumerie, Armadale: Find Your Signature Scent With a Consultation or Masterclass on High Street
Some shops sell perfume. Libertine Parfumerie sets out to open a door into the whole world of fragrance. Its boutique ...
Natural Floorcovering Centre, Armadale: Sisal, Seagrass, Wool and Coir Floors From a Specialist Importing Since 1968
Some things simply have to be felt. The Natural Floorcovering Centre puts it perfectly: photographs will never do justice to ...
Armadale Baptist Church, Armadale: Sunday Services, Community Arts and a Shared Garden on Kooyong Road
On Kooyong Road, Armadale Baptist Church describes itself as a contemporary church with a long history. It is also much ...
Highett Podiatry, Highett: Foot and Ankle Care for All Ages Since 1997
Halfway between Highett Station and Bluff Road, at the Spring Road shops, Highett Podiatry has been looking after local feet ...
Abba Persian Rugs, Armadale: Handmade Rugs, Repairs and Expert Advice on High Street Since 1978
A beautiful rug can change a room, and a good rug dealer can change the way you see rugs altogether ...
Albert's Wine Bar, Armadale: A Neighbourhood Wine Bar Behind Kings Arcade
Step off High Street at Kings Arcade, wander a few metres into the leafy backstreets of Armadale, and you will ...
Alder Fine Jewellery, Armadale: Two Sisters, Natural Diamonds and Heirlooms on High Street
High Street in Armadale has long been Melbourne's address for fine jewellery and bridal, and one of its newer names ...
Armadale Angling: A Family Fishing Tackle Shop on High Street Since 1954
Among the fashion houses, bridal salons and galleries of High Street, Armadale, there is a shop that has been quietly ...
Le Salon Aux Fleurs, Armadale: Seasonal Flowers, Fine Perfume and Candles on High Street
Walk into a good florist and the first thing that greets you is the scent. At Le Salon Aux Fleurs, ...
Phillippa's, Armadale: Slow Sourdough, Real Ingredients and No Shortcuts on High Street
Some smells stop you in your tracks, and fresh bread is near the top of the list. On High Street, ...
Loafers, Malvern East: A Family-Owned Sandwich, Banh Mi and Bakery Favourite Since 1999
Some local shops become part of the daily routine, and Loafers at 338 Waverley Road, Malvern East, is one of ...
JoJo's Greens, Cheltenham: Indoor Plants, Unique Pots and Locally Grown Microgreens on Weatherall Road
On the corner at 176 Weatherall Road, Cheltenham, is a shop that believes everyone deserves a bit of greenery in ...
My Pet Treats, Cheltenham: Super Premium Australian Pet Treats Inspired by Dr Remy
In a factory unit at 5/23 Park Road, Cheltenham, a family business is making treats for some very lucky dogs ...
Bayside Mediation, Highett: A Kinder, Calmer Path Through Separation
Separation is rarely easy, and Bayside Mediation at 539 Highett Road, Highett, exists to make it a little less stressful ...
Family Life Op Shop, Highett: Shop for Social Good on Railway Parade
Every treasure on the racks at the Family Life Op Shop in Highett, at 12-14 Railway Parade, does double duty ...
The Cinnamon Club, Cheltenham: Indian Buffet, Banquets and Celebrations on the Nepean Highway
"Fabulous food, great fun." That is the promise of The Cinnamon Club at 1291–1293 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham. The restaurant brings ...
Drip Cafe, Cheltenham: All-Day Brunch and Specialty Coffee on Chesterville Road
Just a short hop from Westfield Southland, at 88 Chesterville Road, Cheltenham, is a corner the team at Drip Cafe ...
The Garden of Good & Evil, Cheltenham: Tapas, Cocktails and a Hidden Garden on Station Road
Step through the doors at 13 Station Road, Cheltenham, and, according to the team behind it, you will feel you ...
Gill's Nursery, Cheltenham: Bayside's Largest Nursery and a Tradition of Quality Since 1920
Gardeners across Bayside know the way to Gill's Nursery. Found at 266 Bay Road, Cheltenham, with the entrance on Brixton ...
Mind My Lead, Highett: Calm, Confidence-Building Dog Daycare on Advantage Road
At 1/22 Advantage Road, Highett, Mind My Lead is a social dog daycare with a simple idea: dogs do best ...
The Icing Artist, Highett: Bespoke Cakes with a Personal Touch
Behind a cake that makes a whole party gasp, there is usually someone like Simone Clarke. As owner, baker and ...
The Pole Room, Highett: Pole, Lyra, Silks and Hammock Classes on Graham Road
Tucked just off Bay Road at 1/5 Graham Road, Highett, The Pole Room Highett is a double-storey pole and aerial ...
Colin Moxey Hairdressing, South Yarra: Personalised Cuts, Colour and a Sustainable Salon
"Great hair doesn't have to cost the earth." That line from Colin Moxey Hairdressing captures what the South Yarra salon ...
Entrecôte, Prahran: A Little Piece of Paris on Greville Street
Take a seat on the terrasse at 142 Greville Street, Prahran, and you could almost be in Paris. Entrecôte takes ...
Oriental Teahouse, South Yarra: Handmade Dumplings and House-Blended Teas on Chapel Street
In Shanghai, the saying goes, teahouses are where life happens. They are loud, bustling places filled with aroma, conversation and ...
PMI Victorian History Library, Prahran: A Community-Owned Treasure House of Victorian History
Tucked away at 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, is one of the most remarkable libraries in Melbourne. The PMI Victorian ...
URKU Chocolate House, Prahran: Ecuadorian Cacao, Aged Chocolate and Tastings on Greville Street
Step through the modern glass storefront at 126 Greville Street, Prahran, look up at the "126" on the window, and ...
Yūgen Dining, South Yarra: Subterranean Japanese Fine Dining Beneath Chapel Street
On the corner of Chapel Street and Toorak Road, a doorway at 605 Chapel Street, South Yarra, leads somewhere unexpected ...
Cucina Toorak: Fresh Handmade Pasta and Family Recipes on Toorak Road
Cucina Toorak, at 472 Toorak Road, has a motto that tells you exactly what to expect: "We don't sell food, ...
The Country Women's Association of Victoria, Toorak: Women Supporting Women Since 1928
Behind the address 3 Lansell Road, Toorak, is an organisation that reaches every corner of the state. This is the ...
Dan's Deli, Toorak: Fresh Bagels and Good Cheer in Toorak Village
A good bagel can brighten a morning, and Dan's Deli on Toorak Road aims to make that happen with a ...
Craft Republic, Malvern East: Rare Craft Beers, Premium Wines and a Cosy Bar on Waverley Road
For beer lovers in Melbourne's south-east, 340 Waverley Road, Malvern East, is a happy address. It is home to Craft ...
L'Olivo, Malvern East: Family-Owned Mediterranean Tapas, Pizza and Pasta on Waverley Road
On Waverley Road in East Malvern, a small, family-owned restaurant is serving up a menu that wanders happily around the ...
mecwacare Malvern East Op Shop: Fifty Years of Bargains That Give Back on Waverley Road
On a busy stretch of Waverley Road, with a tram stop right outside its door, sits one of Malvern East's ...
Norsu Interiors, Malvern East: Scandi-Inspired Homewares and Art on Burke Road
Some of the best local businesses start with a conversation between friends. Norsu Interiors started at mother's group. Today the ...
San Lorenzo Pizzeria, Toorak: Wood-Fired Pizza with Italian Ingredients on Grange Road
Tucked into the shops at 1A Grange Road, Toorak, San Lorenzo Pizzeria is a local favourite for anyone who loves ...
Toorak Manor: Old-World Charm in an 1880s Heritage Building on Williams Road
Visitors coming to stay in Melbourne's inner south-east have a charming option at 220 Williams Road, Toorak. Toorak Manor describes ...
Tremayne, Toorak: Luxury Hair and Beauty on Toorak Road
On Toorak Road, at number 412, Tremayne promises a salon visit like no other. Home to what it calls a ...
The Suite, Highett: A Co-Working Salon for Hair, Makeup, Beauty and Bridal on Highett Road
Most salons are built around one team. The Suite, at Shop 1, 535 Highett Road, Highett, takes a different approach: ...
The Happy Baby Clinic, Highett: GPs, a Psychologist and a Dietitian for Unsettled Babies and Tired Parents
Caring for an unsettled baby is hard, and the people who know that best are often parents who have been ...
Knots + Niggles Therapy, Highett: Myotherapy and Remedial Massage Near Spring Street
Everyone has a niggle: a tight neck after a week at a desk, a sore shoulder after the weekend's gardening ...
Ellie's Upholstery & Furniture, Highett: A Second-Generation Furniture Workshop Since 1979
A favourite armchair rarely wears out all at once. It sags a little, the fabric fades, and the frame still ...
De Kretser Law, Highett: Plain-English Legal Advice from a Bayside Firm Since 2004
"We will listen to you and fight for you because we care. It's about you." That is how De Kretser ...
Bayside Psychotherapy, Highett: Counselling, Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy Since 2009
Starting therapy is a big step, and it is normal to have questions or worries. Bayside Psychotherapy, at 8/539 Highett ...
The Fruit Men, Cheltenham: A Family-Owned Gourmet Grocer on Charman Road
"A better way to shop fresh." That is how The Fruit Men describes its Cheltenham grocery, a family-owned store on ...
Park Road Dental, Cheltenham: A Family Practice with Same-Day Crowns and In-House Implants
"Genuine care, remarkable dentistry." That is the promise from Park Road Dental, a family-owned, local dental practice at 155 Park ...
Modern Furniture, Cheltenham: A Family-Owned Designer-Style Showroom on Bay Road
Furniture is easier to choose when you can sit on it. That is the idea behind the Melbourne showroom at ...
Healthy Bodies Physiotherapy, Cheltenham: Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology and Clinical Pilates on Centre Dandenong Road
Whether it is a sore knee, a sports injury or a long-term health goal, getting the right plan matters. Healthy ...
El Mercado Bakehouse, Cheltenham: Handmade Empanadas, Medialunas and Alfajores on Follett Road
"Freshly baked every day." That is the first thing you read on the El Mercado Bakehouse website, and the second ...
AT Dance School, Cheltenham: Ballet, Jazz, Acro, Hip Hop and More on Bay Road
"Let's get dancing." That is the invitation on the front page of AT Dance School, a dance studio at 314A ...
Toorak Village Podiatry: Specialist Foot Care and Sports Podiatry on Toorak Road Since 1997
Foot pain has a way of affecting everything else: how you walk, run, work and sleep. Toorak Village Podiatry, at ...
Toorak Dental Studio: TMJ Care, Early Orthodontics and Digital Smile Design, Backed by 35 Years in Toorak
Good dental care is about more than teeth. At Toorak Dental Studio, 707 Malvern Road, Toorak, the team takes a ...
Lavish Skin & Body, Toorak: A Private Dermal Clinic Where Skin Science Meets Luxury
"Dermal skin science meets ultimate luxury" is the promise on the front page of Lavish Skin & Body. The clinic, ...
KE Fitness Studio, Toorak: A Private Personal Training Studio with a View Above Toorak Road
Not everyone feels comfortable in a big gym. That simple observation is behind KE Fitness Studio, a private personal training ...
Ira Bale Brows, Toorak Village: Brow and Lash Specialists on Toorak Road
Brows frame the face, and Ira Bale Brows has built a business around getting them just right. The salon at ...
Botanic Cafe, Toorak: A Light-Filled Dining Room and Heated Terrace on Jackson Street
"If we can't do great things, we do small things in great ways." That is the motto at Botanic Cafe, ...
Spencer & Co, South Yarra: A Boutique Salon for Colour, Cutting and Extensions on Toorak Road
At the quieter eastern end of Toorak Road, between the Como Centre and Rockley Gardens, Spencer & Co offers a ...
South Yarra Barber: Old-School Cuts and Hot Towel Shaves by the Station on Toorak Road
"No theatrics, just classic, well done, and affordable haircuts right by South Yarra Station." That is how Emilio, the barber ...
Pilates Bodyworks, South Yarra: Boutique Small-Group and Private Pilates on Toorak Road
Up a flight of stairs at 72 Toorak Road, Pilates Bodyworks keeps classes small and the equipment varied. The studio ...
Melbourne Luxury Tailoring, South Yarra: Alterations and Made-to-Measure Craft Since 1989
A well-cut garment changes the way you look and feel. That belief started a small workroom in South Yarra in ...
Mary Titchener Antique Jewels, South Yarra: Georgian to Art Deco Jewellery on Toorak Road
Every antique jewel carries a story, and at Mary Titchener Antique Jewels, 35 Toorak Road, South Yarra, those stories are ...
Artvisory, South Yarra: Single-Owner Auction Specialists and Gallery in a Landmark Toorak Road Building
Some collections tell the story of a life. Artvisory, based at 310 Toorak Road in South Yarra, specialises in helping ...
Theio Theo Greek Tavern, Malvern East: Souvlaki, Meze and Greek Hospitality on Waverley Road
On Waverley Road in Malvern East, a Greek taverna has become a favourite for family dinners and long, noisy tables ...
Return Pilates, Malvern East: A Physio-Led Reformer Studio for Every Level on Wattletree Road
On the first floor at 293 Wattletree Road in Malvern East, Return Pilates has built a reformer studio with a ...
Mapel & Co., Malvern East: Wearable Hair and Honest Advice on Waverley Road
Good hair, honest advice and a space you will love coming back to: that is how Mapel & Co. sums ...
ME Physio, Malvern East: Physiotherapy, Clinical Pilates and Hydrotherapy on Waverley Road
At 153 Waverley Road in Malvern East, a physiotherapy clinic has a motto that is easy to remember: "Happiness is ...
Clancy's Bakehouse, Malvern East: A Family-Owned Bakery Serving the Neighbourhood on Waverley Road
Every neighbourhood has a bakery that people drive past a dozen others to reach. In Malvern East, Clancy's Bakehouse, at ...
Central Park Dental, Malvern East: A Calm, One-Dentist Clinic Serving Burke Road Since 1983
For more than four decades, one clinic on Burke Road has looked after Malvern East's teeth. Central Park Dental, at ...